diff --git a/src/cli/backup/exchange.go b/src/cli/backup/exchange.go
index 83b455117..6621c8464 100644
--- a/src/cli/backup/exchange.go
+++ b/src/cli/backup/exchange.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/config"
+	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/options"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/print"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/utils"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/pkg/logger"
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ func addExchangeCommands(parent *cobra.Command) *cobra.Command {
 			"data",
 			nil,
 			"Select one or more types of data to backup: "+dataEmail+", "+dataContacts+", or "+dataEvents)
+		options.AddOperationFlags(c)
 	case listCommand:
 		c, _ = utils.AddCommand(parent, exchangeListCmd)
 	case detailsCommand:
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ func createExchangeCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	sel := exchangeBackupCreateSelectors(exchangeAll, user, exchangeData)
 
-	bo, err := r.NewBackup(ctx, sel)
+	bo, err := r.NewBackup(ctx, sel, options.OperationOptions())
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to initialize Exchange backup")
 	}
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.go b/src/cli/cli.go
index b61f1a377..a7e43fcea 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.go
+++ b/src/cli/cli.go
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ var corsoCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 // the root-level flags
 var (
-	version bool
 	cfgFile string
+	version bool
 )
 
 func init() {
diff --git a/src/cli/options/options.go b/src/cli/options/options.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c0cbf6ce4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/options/options.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package options
+
+import (
+	"github.com/alcionai/corso/internal/operations"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+var (
+	fastFail bool
+)
+
+// AddFlags adds the operation option flags
+func AddOperationFlags(parent *cobra.Command) {
+	fs := parent.Flags()
+	fs.BoolVar(&fastFail, "fast-fail", false, "stop processing immediately if any error occurs")
+	// TODO: reveal this flag when fail-fast support is implemented
+	cobra.CheckErr(fs.MarkHidden("fast-fail"))
+}
+
+// OperationOptions produces the operation options based on the user's flags.
+func OperationOptions() operations.Options {
+	return operations.NewOptions(fastFail)
+}
diff --git a/src/cli/restore/exchange.go b/src/cli/restore/exchange.go
index 3fea01832..b558cdd1d 100644
--- a/src/cli/restore/exchange.go
+++ b/src/cli/restore/exchange.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/config"
+	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/options"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/cli/utils"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/pkg/logger"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/pkg/repository"
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ func addExchangeCommands(parent *cobra.Command) *cobra.Command {
 		fs.StringVar(&backupID, "backup", "", "ID of the backup to restore")
 		cobra.CheckErr(c.MarkFlagRequired("backup"))
 		fs.StringVar(&user, "user", "", "ID of the user whose exchange data will get restored")
+		options.AddOperationFlags(c)
 	}
 	return c
 }
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ func restoreExchangeCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 	defer utils.CloseRepo(ctx, r)
 
-	ro, err := r.NewRestore(ctx, backupID, exchangeRestoreSelectors(user, emailFolder, email))
+	ro, err := r.NewRestore(ctx, backupID, exchangeRestoreSelectors(user, emailFolder, email), options.OperationOptions())
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "Failed to initialize Exchange restore")
 	}
diff --git a/src/internal/operations/operation.go b/src/internal/operations/operation.go
index 5165496ee..3153378ad 100644
--- a/src/internal/operations/operation.go
+++ b/src/internal/operations/operation.go
@@ -38,8 +38,14 @@ type operation struct {
 
 // Options configure some parameters of the operation
 type Options struct {
+	FailFast bool `json:"failFast"`
 	// todo: collision handling
-	// todo: fast fail vs best attempt
+}
+
+func NewOptions(failFast bool) Options {
+	return Options{
+		FailFast: failFast,
+	}
 }
 
 func newOperation(
diff --git a/src/pkg/repository/repository.go b/src/pkg/repository/repository.go
index 53fdbc709..71fbab84a 100644
--- a/src/pkg/repository/repository.go
+++ b/src/pkg/repository/repository.go
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ func (r *Repository) Close(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // NewBackup generates a BackupOperation runner.
-func (r Repository) NewBackup(ctx context.Context, selector selectors.Selector) (operations.BackupOperation, error) {
+func (r Repository) NewBackup(ctx context.Context, selector selectors.Selector, opts operations.Options) (operations.BackupOperation, error) {
 	return operations.NewBackupOperation(
 		ctx,
-		operations.Options{},
+		opts,
 		r.dataLayer,
 		store.NewKopiaStore(r.modelStore),
 		r.Account,
@@ -139,10 +139,15 @@ func (r Repository) NewBackup(ctx context.Context, selector selectors.Selector)
 }
 
 // NewRestore generates a restoreOperation runner.
-func (r Repository) NewRestore(ctx context.Context, backupID string, sel selectors.Selector) (operations.RestoreOperation, error) {
+func (r Repository) NewRestore(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	backupID string,
+	sel selectors.Selector,
+	opts operations.Options,
+) (operations.RestoreOperation, error) {
 	return operations.NewRestoreOperation(
 		ctx,
-		operations.Options{},
+		opts,
 		r.dataLayer,
 		store.NewKopiaStore(r.modelStore),
 		r.Account,
diff --git a/src/pkg/repository/repository_test.go b/src/pkg/repository/repository_test.go
index 5525b6766..5b1809fea 100644
--- a/src/pkg/repository/repository_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/repository/repository_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/suite"
 
+	"github.com/alcionai/corso/internal/operations"
 	ctesting "github.com/alcionai/corso/internal/testing"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/pkg/account"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/pkg/repository"
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ func (suite *RepositoryIntegrationSuite) TestNewBackup() {
 	r, err := repository.Initialize(ctx, acct, st)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	bo, err := r.NewBackup(ctx, selectors.Selector{})
+	bo, err := r.NewBackup(ctx, selectors.Selector{}, operations.Options{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.NotNil(t, bo)
 }
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ func (suite *RepositoryIntegrationSuite) TestNewRestore() {
 	r, err := repository.Initialize(ctx, acct, st)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	ro, err := r.NewRestore(ctx, "backup-id", selectors.Selector{})
+	ro, err := r.NewRestore(ctx, "backup-id", selectors.Selector{}, operations.Options{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.NotNil(t, ro)
 }