diff --git a/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py b/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py
index 7982b1f2..4b0f0611 100644
--- a/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py
+++ b/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_start_daemon.py
@@ -495,6 +495,8 @@ def common_guid_args(self, vm):
         config_path = self.guid_config_file(vm.xid)
         self.write_guid_config(config_path, config)
         guid_cmd.extend(['-C', config_path])
+        if self.kde:
+            guid_cmd.extend(self.kde_guid_args(vm))
         return guid_cmd
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -537,8 +539,6 @@ async def start_gui_for_vm(self, vm, monitor_layout=None):
             local X server.
         """
         guid_cmd = self.common_guid_args(vm)
-        if self.kde:
-            guid_cmd.extend(self.kde_guid_args(vm))
         guid_cmd.extend(['-d', str(vm.xid)])
 
         if vm.virt_mode == 'hvm':