diff --git a/man/mu-scm.1.org b/man/mu-scm.1.org
index 2e8766ba..42e7652e 100644
--- a/man/mu-scm.1.org
+++ b/man/mu-scm.1.org
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ It can either open a shell ("REPL") or run scripts.
 
 Using *mu scm*, you can script *mu*.
 
+* SCM OPTIONS
+
+#+include: "muhome.inc" :minlevel 2
+
 #+include: "common-options.inc" :minlevel 1
 
 #+include: "exit-code.inc" :minlevel 1
diff --git a/mu/mu-options.cc b/mu/mu-options.cc
index 41876504..f9593a2c 100644
--- a/mu/mu-options.cc
+++ b/mu/mu-options.cc
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ AssocPairs<SubCommand, CommandInfo, Options::SubCommandNum> SubCommandInfos= {{
 		  "remove", "Remove message from file-system and database", sub_remove }
 		},
 		{ SubCommand::Scm,
-		  {Category::None,
+		  {Category::NeedsReadOnlyStore,
 		   "scm", "Start Guile/Scheme shell",sub_scm}
 		},
 		{ SubCommand::Script,
diff --git a/scm/mu-scm-store.cc b/scm/mu-scm-store.cc
index f11ef834..cd43a8d7 100644
--- a/scm/mu-scm-store.cc
+++ b/scm/mu-scm-store.cc
@@ -142,13 +142,13 @@ Mu::Scm::init_store(const Store& store)
 		return;
 
 	store_type = scm_make_foreign_object_type(
-		scm_from_utf8_symbol("store"),
-		scm_list_1 (scm_from_utf8_symbol("data")),
-		{}); // no finalizer
+		make_symbol("store"),
+		scm_list_1(make_symbol("data")),
+		{});// no finalizer
 
 	default_store = scm_make_foreign_object_1(
 		store_type, const_cast<Store*>(&store));
-	scm_c_define("default-store-object", default_store);
+	scm_c_define("%default-store-object", default_store);
 
 	init_subrs();
 
diff --git a/scm/mu-scm-test.scm b/scm/mu-scm-test.scm
index d6c9325e..6438efb5 100644
--- a/scm/mu-scm-test.scm
+++ b/scm/mu-scm-test.scm
@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@
 
   (test-end "test-mfind"))
 
+
+(define (test-misc)
+  (let ((opts (options)))
+    (test-assert (>= (length opts) 4))
+    (test-equal (assoc-ref opts 'quiet) #f)
+    (test-equal (assoc-ref opts 'debug) #f)
+    (test-equal (assoc-ref opts 'verbose) #f)
+    (test-equal (assoc-ref opts 'muhome) #f)))
+
 (define (test-helpers)
   (test-begin "test-helpers")
   (test-equal 1750077792 (iso-date->time-t "2025-06-16T12:43:12"))
@@ -70,6 +79,7 @@
       (test-basic)
       (test-basic-mfind)
       (test-mfind)
+      (test-misc)
       (test-helpers)
 
       (test-end "mu-scm-tests")
diff --git a/scm/mu-scm.cc b/scm/mu-scm.cc
index 374716c2..9595b6e2 100644
--- a/scm/mu-scm.cc
+++ b/scm/mu-scm.cc
@@ -37,26 +37,30 @@ static SCM mu_mod; // The mu module
 }
 
 /**
- * Create a plist for the relevant configuration items
+ * Create a plist for the relevant option items
  *
  * @param opts
  */
 static void
-init_config (const Options& opts)
+init_options(const Options& opts)
 {
-	scm_c_define("options",
-		     alist_add(
-			     SCM_EOL,
-			     make_symbol("mu-home"), opts.muhome,
-			     make_symbol("verbose"), opts.verbose,
-			     make_symbol("debug"), opts.debug,
-			     make_symbol("quiet"), opts.quiet));
+	SCM scm_opts = alist_add(SCM_EOL,
+				 make_symbol("verbose"), opts.verbose,
+				 make_symbol("debug"), opts.debug,
+				 make_symbol("quiet"), opts.quiet);
+
+	if (opts.muhome.empty())
+		scm_opts = alist_add(scm_opts, make_symbol("mu-home"), SCM_BOOL_F);
+	else
+		scm_opts = alist_add(scm_opts, make_symbol("mu-home"), opts.muhome);
+
+	scm_c_define("%options", scm_opts);
 }
 
 static void
 init_module_mu(void* _data)
 {
-	init_config(config->options);
+	init_options(config->options);
 	init_store(config->store);
 }
 
@@ -83,7 +87,6 @@ static std::string mu_scm_path;
 static std::string mu_scm_shell_path;
 }
 
-
 static Result<void>
 prepare_run(const Mu::Scm::Config& conf)
 {
diff --git a/scm/mu-scm.scm b/scm/mu-scm.scm
index 44350daa..3861ffa0 100644
--- a/scm/mu-scm.scm
+++ b/scm/mu-scm.scm
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
   #:export (
   ;; classes
   <store>
-  *default-store*
 
   mfind
   mcount
@@ -69,6 +68,9 @@
   cc
   bcc
 
+  ;; misc
+  options
+
   ;; helpers
   iso-date->time-t
   time-t->iso-date))
@@ -289,12 +291,12 @@ not found."
 
 ;; Store
 ;;
-;; Note: we have a *default-store*, which is the store we opened during
+;; Note: we have a %default-store, which is the store we opened during
 ;; startup; for now that's the only store supported, but we keep things
 ;; open.
 ;;
 ;; Since it's the default store, we'd like to call the methods without
-;; explicitly using *default-store*; with GOOPS, we cannot pass a default for
+;; explicitly using %default-store; with GOOPS, we cannot pass a default for
 ;; that, nor can we use keyword arguments (I think?). So use define* for that.
 
 ;; the 'store-object' is a foreign object wrapping a const Store*.
@@ -306,23 +308,23 @@ not found."
   "Make a store from some STORE-OBJECT."
   (make <store> #:store-object store-object))
 
-(define *default-store*
-  ;; default-store-object is defined in mu-scm-store.cc
-  (make-store default-store-object))
+(define %default-store
+  ;; %default-store-object is defined in mu-scm-store.cc
+  (make-store %default-store-object))
 
 (define* (mfind query
 	       #:key
-	       (store *default-store*)
+	       (store %default-store)
 	       (related? #f)
 	       (skip-dups? #f)
 	       (sort-field 'date)
 	       (reverse? #f)
 	       (max-results #f))
-   "Find messages matching some query. The query is mandatory,
-the other (keyword) arguments are optional.
+   "Find messages matching some query.
 
+The query is mandatory, the other (keyword) arguments are optional. 
 (mfind QUERY
-    #:store       *default-store*. Leave at default.
+    #:store       %default-store. Leave at default.
     #:related?    include related messages?  Default: false
     #:skip-dups?  skip duplicates? Default: false
     #:sort-field? field to sort by, a symbol. Default: date
@@ -335,25 +337,36 @@ the other (keyword) arguments are optional.
 
 (define* (mcount
 	  #:key
-	  (store *default-store*))
+	  (store %default-store))
   "Get the number of messages."
   (store-mcount (store-object store)))
 
 (define* (cfind pattern
 		#:key
-		(store *default-store*)
+		(store %default-store)
 		(personal? #f)
 		(after #f)
 		(max-results #f))
-  "Find contacts matching some regex pattern, similar to 'mu-cfind(1).
+  "Find contacts matching some regex pattern, similar to mu-cfind(1).
+
 The pattern is mandatory; the other (keyword) arguments are optional.
 (cfind PATTERN
-    #:store       *default-store*. Leave at default.
+    #:store       %default-store. Leave at default.
     #:personal?   only include 'personal' contacts. Default: all
     #:after       only include contacts last seen time_t: Default all
     #:max-results max. number of matches. Default: false (unlimited))."
   (store-cfind (store-object store) pattern personal? after max-results))
 
+;;; Misc
+
+(define (options)
+  "Get an alist with the general options this instance of \"mu\" started with.
+These are based on the command-line arguments, environment etc., see
+the mu-scm(1) manpage for details.
+
+The alist maps symbols to values; a value of #f indicates that the value
+is at its default."
+  %options)
 
 ;;; Helpers
 
diff --git a/scm/mu-scm.texi b/scm/mu-scm.texi
index 07fccbd9..a9b02977 100644
--- a/scm/mu-scm.texi
+++ b/scm/mu-scm.texi
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ I.e., the information from @code{mu cfind}
 @menu
 * Store:: the database of all information
 * Message:: inspecting individual messages
+* Miscellaneous:: other functions
 * Helpers:: some helper functions
 @end menu
 
@@ -599,6 +600,19 @@ For example:
 @c billion-dollar startup on it), but it can be useful for development and
 @c debugging.
 
+@node Miscellaneous
+@section Miscellaneous
+
+@deffn {Scheme Procedure} options
+@end deffn
+
+This yields an association-list (alist) of general options passed to @command{mu
+scm}. Values at @t{#f} indicate that the value is at its default.
+@lisp
+ (options)
+=> ((mu-home . #f) (quiet . #f) (debug . #f) (verbose . #f))
+@end lisp
+
 @node Helpers
 @section Helpers
 
