diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b35d9d..58ff8f3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ It can also be displayed automatically from the `SHOW_DEV_TOOLS` environment var
 SHOW_DEV_TOOLS=true npm start
 ```
 
+or from the application `--show-dev-tools` command line flag.
+
 #### Building the production distribution
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 285c84f..296741d 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const URL = require('url');
 const config = require('./app/features/config');
 
-const showDevTools = Boolean(process.env.SHOW_DEV_TOOLS);
+const showDevTools = Boolean(process.env.SHOW_DEV_TOOLS) || (process.argv.indexOf('--show-dev-tools') > -1);
 
 // We need this because of https://github.com/electron/electron/issues/18214
 app.commandLine.appendSwitch('disable-site-isolation-trials');