diff --git a/src/usr/doc/NEWS b/src/usr/doc/NEWS
index f264043..c6bb8aa 100644
--- a/src/usr/doc/NEWS
+++ b/src/usr/doc/NEWS
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ sbopkg xxxVERSIONxxx (xxxDATExxx)
         * The 'Build' option in a package's info menu has been renamed
           to 'Process', along with many other minor informational
           changes throughout the UI.
+        * It is now possible to combine the -r flag with other flags
+          such that a sync is performed first. For example 'sbopkg -ri
+          foo' will synchronize with the repo and install the latest
+          foo.
 
 sbopkg 0.35.0 (2011-04-28 02:48 UTC)
 
diff --git a/src/usr/sbin/sbopkg b/src/usr/sbin/sbopkg
index 41384d4..acbe72f 100755
--- a/src/usr/sbin/sbopkg
+++ b/src/usr/sbin/sbopkg
@@ -4743,6 +4743,11 @@ if [[ $DIAG ]]; then
     fi
     main_menu
 else
+    if [[ $SYNC ]]; then
+        crunch_fmt "Syncing with the remote repository into $REPO_DIR."
+        sync_repo
+    fi
+
     if [[ $BUILDLIST ]]; then
         > $STARTQUEUE
         > $USERQUEUE_LOCK
@@ -4859,11 +4864,6 @@ else
         list_packages
     fi
 
-    if [[ $SYNC ]]; then
-        crunch_fmt "Syncing with the remote repository into $REPO_DIR."
-        sync_repo
-    fi
-
     if [[ -n $SEARCH ]]; then
         search_and_display "${SEARCH[*]}"
     fi