diff --git a/desmume/src/commandline.cpp b/desmume/src/commandline.cpp
index d67539911..c49f238f4 100644
--- a/desmume/src/commandline.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/commandline.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ CommandLine::CommandLine()
 {
 	load_slot = 0;
 	arm9_gdb_port = arm7_gdb_port = 0;
+	start_paused = FALSE;
 }
 
 CommandLine::~CommandLine()
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ void CommandLine::loadCommonOptions()
 		{ "load-slot", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &load_slot, "Loads savegame from slot NUM", "NUM"},
 		{ "play-movie", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_FILENAME, &_play_movie_file, "Specifies a dsm format movie to play", "PATH_TO_PLAY_MOVIE"},
 		{ "record-movie", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_FILENAME, &_record_movie_file, "Specifies a path to a new dsm format movie", "PATH_TO_RECORD_MOVIE"},
+		{ "start-paused", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE, &start_paused, "Indicates that emulation should start paused", "START_PAUSED"},
 		#ifdef GDB_STUB
 		{ "arm9gdb", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &arm9_gdb_port, "Enable the ARM9 GDB stub on the given port", "PORT_NUM"},
 		{ "arm7gdb", 0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT, &arm7_gdb_port, "Enable the ARM7 GDB stub on the given port", "PORT_NUM"},
diff --git a/desmume/src/commandline.h b/desmume/src/commandline.h
index 9a825b1b4..eb843a468 100644
--- a/desmume/src/commandline.h
+++ b/desmume/src/commandline.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ public:
 	std::string play_movie_file;
 	std::string record_movie_file;
 	int arm9_gdb_port, arm7_gdb_port;
+	int start_paused;
 
 	//load up the common commandline options
 	void loadCommonOptions();
diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp b/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
index 5d4feedd5..24c97f188 100644
--- a/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
@@ -1898,7 +1898,8 @@ int _main()
 #endif
 		{
 			romloaded = TRUE;
-			NDS_UnPause();
+			if(!cmdline.start_paused)
+				NDS_UnPause();
 		}
 	}