diff --git a/lib/API.js b/lib/API.js
index 8f1a482aa..2fc78d008 100644
--- a/lib/API.js
+++ b/lib/API.js
@@ -887,8 +887,11 @@ class API {
       if (!app.env) { app.env = {}; }
       app.env.io = app.io;
       // --only <app>
-      if (opts.only && opts.only != app.name)
-        return false;
+      if (opts.only) {
+        var apps = opts.only.split(/,| /)
+        if (apps.indexOf(app.name) == -1)
+          return false
+      }
       // --watch
       if (!app.watch && opts.watch && opts.watch === true)
         app.watch = true;
diff --git a/lib/binaries/Runtime4Docker.js b/lib/binaries/Runtime4Docker.js
index 837daa4b3..52df81174 100644
--- a/lib/binaries/Runtime4Docker.js
+++ b/lib/binaries/Runtime4Docker.js
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ var Runtime = {
         if (err)
           return cb(err);
         if (obj && obj.length == 0)
-          return cb(new Error('Failed to start application'))
+          return cb(new Error(`0 application started (no apps to run on ${cmd})`))
 
         if (commander.web) {
           var port = commander.web === true ? cst.WEB_PORT : commander.web;
diff --git a/test/e2e/process-file/json-file.sh b/test/e2e/process-file/json-file.sh
index c6c984f5a..733c2b102 100644
--- a/test/e2e/process-file/json-file.sh
+++ b/test/e2e/process-file/json-file.sh
@@ -108,4 +108,9 @@ should 'should start processes' 'online' 4
 $pm2 reload all.json --only child
 should 'should all script been restarted one time' 'restart_time: 2' 4
 
+######## multu only
+
+$pm2 start all.json --only "echo,child"
+should 'should start processes' 'online' 5
+
 $pm2 kill