diff --git a/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py b/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py
index 90121254..b6af2856 100644
--- a/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py
+++ b/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
         description='start GUI or AUDIO for qube(s)',
         vmname_nargs='*'
     )
-parser.add_argument('--debug', action='store_true',
+parser.add_argument('--debug', '-d', action='store_true',
                     help='Show debug messages')
 parser.add_argument('--watch', action='store_true',
                     help='Keep watching for further domain startups')