diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index 5c046bab..167e14fd 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -2224,7 +2224,9 @@ class QubesHVm(QubesVm):
             backend_domain = ""
             if drive_path.startswith("hd:"):
                 type_mode = ",w"
-                drive_path = drive_path[3:]
+            elif drive_path.startswith("cdrom:"):
+                type_mode = ":cdrom,r"
+                drive_path = drive_path[6:]
             backend_split = re.match(r"^([a-zA-Z0-9]*):(.*)", drive_path)
             if backend_split:
                 backend_domain = "," + backend_split.group(1)
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start
index 9b4f5995..4f3c3732 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-start
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ def main():
     parser.add_option ("--console", action="store_true", dest="debug_console", default=False,
                       help="Attach debugging console to the newly started VM")
     parser.add_option ("--drive", dest="drive", default=None,
+                      help="Temporarily attach specified drive as CD/DVD or hard disk (can be specified with prefix 'hd:' or 'cdrom:', default is cdrom)")
+    parser.add_option ("--hddisk", dest="drive_hd", default=None,
+                      help="Temporarily attach specified drive as hard disk")
+    parser.add_option ("--cdrom", dest="drive_cdrom", default=None,
                       help="Temporarily attach specified drive as CD/DVD")
     parser.add_option ("--dvm", action="store_true", dest="preparing_dvm", default=False,
                       help="Do actions necessary when preparing DVM image")
@@ -59,6 +63,16 @@ def main():
         print >> sys.stderr, "A VM with the name '{0}' does not exist in the system.".format(vmname)
         exit(1)
 
+    if bool(options.drive_hd) + bool(options.drive_cdrom) + bool(options.drive) > 1:
+        print >> sys.stderr, "Only one of --drive, --cdrom, --hddisk can be specified"
+        exit(1)
+
+    if options.drive_hd:
+        options.drive = 'hd:' + options.drive_hd
+
+    if options.drive_cdrom:
+        options.drive = 'cdrom:' + options.drive_hd
+
     if options.drive:
         if hasattr(vm, 'drive'):
             vm.drive = options.drive