diff --git a/pyfpdb/HUD_main.pyw b/pyfpdb/HUD_main.pyw
index 098ff57a..cb2d7b3f 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/HUD_main.pyw
+++ b/pyfpdb/HUD_main.pyw
@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ class HUD_main(object):
 
     #    a main window
             self.main_window = gtk.Window()
+            if options.minimized:
+                self.main_window.iconify()
+            if options.hidden:
+                self.main_window.hide()        
+            
             if options.xloc is not None or options.yloc is not None:
                 if options.xloc is None:
                     options.xloc = 0
@@ -126,7 +131,8 @@ class HUD_main(object):
                 self.main_window.set_icon_from_file('/usr/share/pixmaps/fpdb-cards.png')
             else:
                 self.main_window.set_icon_stock(gtk.STOCK_HOME)
-            self.main_window.show_all()
+            if not options.hidden:
+                self.main_window.show_all()
             gobject.timeout_add(100, self.check_tables)
 
         except:
diff --git a/pyfpdb/Options.py b/pyfpdb/Options.py
index 9f5778ea..fb23d43c 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Options.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Options.py
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ def fpdb_options():
                       help=_("Y location to open Window"))
     parser.add_option("--autoimport", action="store_true", dest="autoimport",
                       help=_("Auto-start Auto-import"))
+    parser.add_option("--minimized", action="store_true", dest="minimized",
+                      help=_("Start Minimized"))
+    parser.add_option("--hidden", action="store_true", dest="hidden",
+                      help=_("Start Hidden"))
 
 
     (options, argv) = parser.parse_args()
diff --git a/pyfpdb/fpdb.pyw b/pyfpdb/fpdb.pyw
index 90ce59e8..9ba1dfea 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/fpdb.pyw
+++ b/pyfpdb/fpdb.pyw
@@ -1140,6 +1140,11 @@ You can find the full license texts in agpl-3.0.txt, gpl-2.0.txt, gpl-3.0.txt an
         self.nb_tab_names=[]  # list of tab names currently displayed in notebook
 
         self.tab_main_help(None, None)
+        
+        if options.minimized:
+            self.window.iconify()
+        if options.hidden:
+            self.window.hide()        
 
         self.window.show()
         self.visible = True     # Flip on