diff --git a/src/adapters/ExplicitModelAdapter.h b/src/adapters/ExplicitModelAdapter.h
index edde6925d..38758fce7 100644
--- a/src/adapters/ExplicitModelAdapter.h
+++ b/src/adapters/ExplicitModelAdapter.h
@@ -95,12 +95,10 @@ namespace storm {
              * @param program The program to translate.
              * @param constantDefinitionString A string that contains a comma-separated definition of all undefined
              * constants in the model.
-             * @param rewardModelName The name of reward model to be added to the model. This must be either a reward
-             * model of the program or the empty string. In the latter case, the constructed model will contain no 
-             * rewards.
+             * @param rewardModel The reward model that is to be built.
              * @return The explicit model that was given by the probabilistic program.
              */
-            static std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>> translateProgram(storm::prism::Program program, std::string const& constantDefinitionString = "", std::string const& rewardModelName = "") {
+            static std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>> translateProgram(storm::prism::Program program, storm::prism::RewardModel const& rewardModel = storm::prism::RewardModel(), std::string const& constantDefinitionString = "") {
                 // Start by defining the undefined constants in the model.
                 // First, we need to parse the constant definition string.
                 std::map<std::string, storm::expressions::Expression> constantDefinitions = storm::utility::prism::parseConstantDefinitionString(program, constantDefinitionString);
@@ -113,21 +111,21 @@ namespace storm {
                 // constants in the state (i.e., valuation).
                 preparedProgram = preparedProgram.substituteConstants();
                 
-                ModelComponents modelComponents = buildModelComponents(preparedProgram, rewardModelName);
+                ModelComponents modelComponents = buildModelComponents(preparedProgram, rewardModel);
                 
                 std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>> result;
                 switch (program.getModelType()) {
                     case storm::prism::Program::ModelType::DTMC:
-                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Dtmc<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
+                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Dtmc<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModel.hasStateRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModel.hasTransitionRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
                         break;
                     case storm::prism::Program::ModelType::CTMC:
-                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Ctmc<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
+                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Ctmc<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModel.hasStateRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModel.hasTransitionRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
                         break;
                     case storm::prism::Program::ModelType::MDP:
-                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Mdp<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
+                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Mdp<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModel.hasStateRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModel.hasTransitionRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
                         break;
                     case storm::prism::Program::ModelType::CTMDP:
-                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Ctmdp<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModelName != "" ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
+                        result = std::unique_ptr<storm::models::AbstractModel<ValueType>>(new storm::models::Ctmdp<ValueType>(std::move(modelComponents.transitionMatrix), std::move(modelComponents.stateLabeling), rewardModel.hasStateRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.stateRewards) : boost::optional<std::vector<ValueType>>(), rewardModel.hasTransitionRewards() ? std::move(modelComponents.transitionRewardMatrix) : boost::optional<storm::storage::SparseMatrix<ValueType>>(), std::move(modelComponents.choiceLabeling)));
                         break;
                     default:
                         LOG4CPLUS_ERROR(logger, "Error while creating model from probabilistic program: cannot handle this model type.");
@@ -634,11 +632,10 @@ namespace storm {
              * Explores the state space of the given program and returns the components of the model as a result.
              *
              * @param program The program whose state space to explore.
-             * @param rewardModelName The name of the reward model that is to be considered. If empty, no reward model
-             * is considered.
+             * @param rewardModel The reward model that is to be considered.
              * @return A structure containing the components of the resulting model.
              */
-            static ModelComponents buildModelComponents(storm::prism::Program const& program, std::string const& rewardModelName) {
+            static ModelComponents buildModelComponents(storm::prism::Program const& program, storm::prism::RewardModel const& rewardModel) {
                 ModelComponents modelComponents;
                 
                 VariableInformation variableInformation;
@@ -654,9 +651,6 @@ namespace storm {
                 // Create the structure for storing the reachable state space.
                 StateInformation stateInformation;
                 
-                // Get the selected reward model or create an empty one if none is selected.
-                storm::prism::RewardModel const& rewardModel = rewardModelName != "" ? program.getRewardModel(rewardModelName) : storm::prism::RewardModel();
-                
                 // Determine whether we have to combine different choices to one or whether this model can have more than
                 // one choice per state.
                 bool deterministicModel = program.getModelType() == storm::prism::Program::ModelType::DTMC || program.getModelType() == storm::prism::Program::ModelType::CTMC;
diff --git a/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.cpp b/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.cpp
index d04ec0d25..ece0d9a00 100644
--- a/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ namespace storm {
                                 .addArgument(storm::settings::ArgumentBuilder::createStringArgument("transition filename", "The name of the file from which to read the transitions.").addValidationFunctionString(storm::settings::ArgumentValidators::existingReadableFileValidator()).build())
                                 .addArgument(storm::settings::ArgumentBuilder::createStringArgument("labeling filename", "The name of the file from which to read the state labeling.").addValidationFunctionString(storm::settings::ArgumentValidators::existingReadableFileValidator()).build()).build());
                 this->addOption(storm::settings::OptionBuilder(moduleName, symbolicOptionName, false, "Parses the model given in a symbolic representation.").setShortName(symbolicOptionShortName)
-                                .addArgument(storm::settings::ArgumentBuilder::createStringArgument("filename", "The name of the file from which to read the symbolic model.").addValidationFunctionString(storm::settings::ArgumentValidators::existingReadableFileValidator()).build()).build());
+                                .addArgument(storm::settings::ArgumentBuilder::createStringArgument("filename", "The name of the file from which to read the symbolic model.").addValidationFunctionString(storm::settings::ArgumentValidators::existingReadableFileValidator()).build())
+                                .addArgument(storm::settings::ArgumentBuilder::createStringArgument("rewardmodel", "The name of the reward model to use.").setDefaultValueString("").setIsOptional(true).build()).build());
                 this->addOption(storm::settings::OptionBuilder(moduleName, pctlOptionName, false, "Specifies a PCTL formula that is to be checked on the model.")
                                 .addArgument(storm::settings::ArgumentBuilder::createStringArgument("formula", "The formula to check.").build()).build());
                 this->addOption(storm::settings::OptionBuilder(moduleName, pctlFileOptionName, false, "Specifies the PCTL formulas that are to be checked on the model.")
@@ -154,6 +155,14 @@ namespace storm {
                 return this->getOption(symbolicOptionName).getArgumentByName("filename").getValueAsString();
             }
             
+            bool GeneralSettings::isSymbolicRewardModelNameSet() const {
+                return this->getOption(symbolicOptionName).getArgumentByName("rewardmodel").getHasBeenSet();
+            }
+            
+            std::string GeneralSettings::getSymbolicRewardModelName() const {
+                return this->getOption(symbolicOptionName).getArgumentByName("rewardmodel").getValueAsString();
+            }
+            
             bool GeneralSettings::isPctlPropertySet() const {
                 return this->getOption(pctlOptionName).getHasOptionBeenSet();
             }
diff --git a/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.h b/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.h
index c65ab57a2..22f8fe58f 100644
--- a/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.h
+++ b/src/settings/modules/GeneralSettings.h
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ namespace storm {
                  */
                 bool isVersionSet() const;
 				
-				
                 /*!
                  * Retrieves the name of the module for which to show the help or "all" to indicate that the full help
                  * needs to be shown.
@@ -127,6 +126,20 @@ namespace storm {
                  * @return The name of the file that contains the symbolic model specification.
                  */
                 std::string getSymbolicModelFilename() const;
+                
+                /*!
+                 * Retrieves whether the name of a reward model was passed to the symbolic option.
+                 *
+                 * @return True iff the name of a reward model was passed to the symbolic option.
+                 */
+                bool isSymbolicRewardModelNameSet() const;
+                
+                /*!
+                 * Retrieves the name of the reward model if one was set using the symbolic option.
+                 *
+                 * @return The name of the selected reward model.
+                 */
+                std::string getSymbolicRewardModelName() const;
 
                 /*!
                  * Retrieves whether the pctl option was set.
diff --git a/src/storage/prism/Program.cpp b/src/storage/prism/Program.cpp
index f053c93e8..5392a7949 100644
--- a/src/storage/prism/Program.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/prism/Program.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ namespace storm {
             return variableNameToModuleIndexPair->second;
         }
         
+        bool Program::hasRewardModel() const {
+            return !this->rewardModels.empty();
+        }
+        
         std::vector<storm::prism::RewardModel> const& Program::getRewardModels() const {
             return this->rewardModels;
         }
@@ -159,6 +163,11 @@ namespace storm {
             return this->getRewardModels()[nameIndexPair->second];
         }
         
+        RewardModel const& Program::getRewardModel(uint_fast64_t index) const {
+            STORM_LOG_THROW(this->getNumberOfRewardModels() > index, storm::exceptions::OutOfRangeException, "Reward model with index " << index << " does not exist.");
+            return this->rewardModels[index];
+        }
+        
         std::vector<Label> const& Program::getLabels() const {
             return this->labels;
         }
diff --git a/src/storage/prism/Program.h b/src/storage/prism/Program.h
index 2a618ff7a..56321600d 100644
--- a/src/storage/prism/Program.h
+++ b/src/storage/prism/Program.h
@@ -219,6 +219,13 @@ namespace storm {
              */
             uint_fast64_t getModuleIndexByVariable(std::string const& variableName) const;
             
+            /*!
+             * Retrieves whether the program has reward models.
+             *
+             * @return True iff the program has at least one reward model.
+             */
+            bool hasRewardModel() const;
+            
             /*!
              * Retrieves the reward models of the program.
              *
@@ -241,6 +248,14 @@ namespace storm {
              */
             RewardModel const& getRewardModel(std::string const& rewardModelName) const;
             
+            /*!
+             * Retrieves the reward model with the given index.
+             *
+             * @param index The index of the reward model to return.
+             * @return The reward model with the given index.
+             */
+            RewardModel const& getRewardModel(uint_fast64_t index) const;
+            
             /*!
              * Retrieves all labels that are defined by the probabilitic program.
              *
diff --git a/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.cpp b/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.cpp
index a6c68b34f..3576dece9 100644
--- a/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ namespace storm {
             return this->rewardModelName;
         }
         
+        bool RewardModel::empty() const {
+            return !this->hasStateRewards() && !this->hasTransitionRewards();
+        }
+        
         bool RewardModel::hasStateRewards() const {
             return this->stateRewards.size() > 0;
         }
diff --git a/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.h b/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.h
index 3bb68d1b5..62841ef5e 100644
--- a/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.h
+++ b/src/storage/prism/RewardModel.h
@@ -40,6 +40,13 @@ namespace storm {
              */
             std::string const& getName() const;
             
+            /*!
+             * Checks whether the reward model is empty, i.e. contains no state or transition rewards.
+             *
+             * @return True iff the reward model is empty.
+             */
+            bool empty() const;
+            
             /*!
              * Retrieves whether there are any state rewards.
              *
diff --git a/src/utility/cli.h b/src/utility/cli.h
index df8aa248a..a185a56a2 100644
--- a/src/utility/cli.h
+++ b/src/utility/cli.h
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ namespace storm {
                     storm::prism::Program program = storm::parser::PrismParser::parse(programFile);
                     
                     // Then, build the model from the symbolic description.
-                    result = storm::adapters::ExplicitModelAdapter<double>::translateProgram(program, constants);
+                    result = storm::adapters::ExplicitModelAdapter<double>::translateProgram(program, settings.isSymbolicRewardModelNameSet() ? program.getRewardModel(settings.getSymbolicRewardModelName()) : storm::prism::RewardModel(), constants);
                 } else {
                     STORM_LOG_THROW(false, storm::exceptions::InvalidSettingsException, "No input model.");
                 }