diff --git a/_pytest/junitxml.py b/_pytest/junitxml.py
index 5240e0e28..301633706 100644
--- a/_pytest/junitxml.py
+++ b/_pytest/junitxml.py
@@ -226,19 +226,14 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
         metavar="str",
         default=None,
         help="prepend prefix to classnames in junit-xml output")
-    group.addoption(
-        '--junitsuitename', '--junit-suite-name',
-        action="store",
-        metavar="name",
-        default="pytest",
-        help="set the name attribute of root <testsuite> tag")
+    parser.addini("junit_suite_name", "Test suite name for JUnit report", default="pytest")
 
 
 def pytest_configure(config):
     xmlpath = config.option.xmlpath
     # prevent opening xmllog on slave nodes (xdist)
     if xmlpath and not hasattr(config, 'slaveinput'):
-        config._xml = LogXML(xmlpath, config.option.junitprefix, config.option.junitsuitename)
+        config._xml = LogXML(xmlpath, config.option.junitprefix, config.getini("junit_suite_name"))
         config.pluginmanager.register(config._xml)
 
 
diff --git a/testing/test_junitxml.py b/testing/test_junitxml.py
index 417f8cca6..9735f45ef 100644
--- a/testing/test_junitxml.py
+++ b/testing/test_junitxml.py
@@ -616,8 +616,9 @@ def test_dont_configure_on_slaves(tmpdir):
             self.pluginmanager = self
             self.option = self
 
+        getini = lambda self, name: "pytest"
+
         junitprefix = None
-        junitsuitename = "pytest"
         # XXX: shouldnt need tmpdir ?
         xmlpath = str(tmpdir.join('junix.xml'))
         register = gotten.append
@@ -1042,7 +1043,7 @@ def test_set_suite_name(testdir):
         def test_func():
             pass
     """)
-    result, dom = runandparse(testdir, '--junit-suite-name', "my_suite")
+    result, dom = runandparse(testdir, '-o', "junit_suite_name=my_suite")
     assert result.ret == 0
     node = dom.find_first_by_tag("testsuite")
     node.assert_attr(name="my_suite")