diff --git a/qubes/tools/qubes_monitor_layout_notify.py b/qubes/tools/qubes_monitor_layout_notify.py
index adf95407..7280a38a 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qubes_monitor_layout_notify.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qubes_monitor_layout_notify.py
@@ -35,9 +35,7 @@ import qubes.tools
 
 parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
     description='Send monitor layout to one qube or to all of them',
-    want_app=True,
-    want_vm=True,
-    want_vm_optional=True)
+    want_app=True, vmname_nargs='?')
 
 
 def main(args=None):
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_kill.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_kill.py
index ce23985b..6bfbe6d1 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_kill.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_kill.py
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ import qubes.exc
 import qubes.tools
 
 parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
-    description='forceful shutdown of a domain',
-    want_vm=True)
+    description='forceful shutdown of a domain', vmname_nargs='+')
 
 
 def main(args=None):
@@ -43,12 +42,15 @@ def main(args=None):
 
     args = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-    try:
-        args.vm.force_shutdown()
-    except (IOError, OSError, qubes.exc.QubesException) as e:
-        parser.error_runtime(str(e))
+    exit_code = 0
+    for domain in args.domains:
+        try:
+            domain.force_shutdown()
+        except (IOError, OSError, qubes.exc.QubesException) as e:
+            exit_code = 1
+            parser.print_error(str(e))
 
-    return 0
+    return exit_code
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_pause.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_pause.py
index 77932e37..5bb20abf 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_pause.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_pause.py
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ import sys
 import qubes
 
 
-parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
-    want_vm=True,
-    description='pause a domain')
+parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(vmname_nargs='+',
+                                         description='pause a domain')
 
 
 def main(args=None):
@@ -41,7 +40,8 @@ def main(args=None):
     '''
 
     args = parser.parse_args(args)
-    args.vm.pause()
+    for domain in args.domains:
+        domain.pause()
 
     return 0
 
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py
index df7295e7..ee536011 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_prefs.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import qubes.vm
 
 parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
     want_force_root=True,
-    want_vm=True)
+    vmname_nargs=1)
 
 parser.add_argument('--help-properties',
     action=qubes.tools.HelpPropertiesAction,
@@ -63,18 +63,18 @@ def main(args=None):
     args = parser.parse_args(args)
 
     if args.property is None:
-        properties = args.vm.property_list()
+        properties = args.domain.property_list()
         width = max(len(prop.__name__) for prop in properties)
 
         for prop in sorted(properties):
             try:
-                value = getattr(args.vm, prop.__name__)
+                value = getattr(args.domain, prop.__name__)
             except AttributeError:
                 print('{name:{width}s}  U'.format(
                     name=prop.__name__, width=width))
                 continue
 
-            if args.vm.property_is_default(prop):
+            if args.domain.property_is_default(prop):
                 print('{name:{width}s}  D  {value!s}'.format(
                     name=prop.__name__, width=width, value=value))
             else:
@@ -83,21 +83,22 @@ def main(args=None):
 
         return 0
 
-    if args.property not in [prop.__name__ for prop in args.vm.property_list()]:
+    if args.property not in [prop.__name__
+                             for prop in args.domain.property_list()]:
         parser.error('no such property: {!r}'.format(args.property))
 
     if args.value is not None:
-        setattr(args.vm, args.property, args.value)
+        setattr(args.domain, args.property, args.value)
         args.app.save()
         return 0
 
     if args.delete:
-        delattr(args.vm, args.property)
+        delattr(args.domain, args.property)
         args.app.save()
         return 0
 
 
-    print(str(getattr(args.vm, args.property)))
+    print(str(getattr(args.domain, args.property)))
 
     return 0
 
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_run.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_run.py
index dcbd8bdc..e2ffeb37 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_run.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_run.py
@@ -31,9 +31,7 @@ import qubes.exc
 import qubes.tools
 
 
-parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
-    want_vm=True,
-    want_vm_all=True)
+parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(vmname_nargs='+')
 
 parser.add_argument('--user', '-u', metavar='USER',
     help='run command in a qube as USER')
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ def main(args=None):
     if args.color_output is None and args.filter_esc:
         args.color_output = '31'
 
-    if len(args.vm) > 1 and args.passio:
+    if len(args.domains) > 1 and args.passio:
         parser.error('--passio cannot be used when more than 1 qube is chosen')
     if args.localcmd and not args.passio:
         parser.error('--localcmd have no effect without --pass-io')
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ def main(args=None):
         parser.error('--color-output must be used with --filter-escape-chars')
 
     retcode = 0
-    for vm in args.vm:
+    for vm in args.domains:
         if args.autostart and not vm.is_running():
             vm.start()
 
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_shutdown.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_shutdown.py
index 40c88840..60695e89 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_shutdown.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_shutdown.py
@@ -25,17 +25,14 @@
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 
-import qubes.config
-import qubes.tools
-
 import sys
 import time
 
+import qubes.config
+import qubes.tools
 
 parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
-    description='gracefully shut down a qube',
-    want_vm=True,
-    want_vm_all=True)
+    description='gracefully shut down a qube', vmname_nargs='+')
 
 parser.add_argument('--force',
     action='store_true', default=False,
@@ -56,14 +53,14 @@ parser.add_argument('--timeout',
 def main(args=None):
     args = parser.parse_args(args)
 
-    for vm in args.vm:
+    for vm in args.domains:
         vm.shutdown(force=args.force)
 
     if not args.wait:
         return
 
     timeout = args.timeout
-    current_vms = list(sorted(args.vm))
+    current_vms = list(sorted(args.domains))
     while timeout >= 0:
         current_vms = [vm for vm in current_vms
             if vm.get_power_state() != 'Halted']
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_start.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_start.py
index 9ba0e34e..bc376359 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_start.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_start.py
@@ -21,17 +21,19 @@
 # with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 # 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
 #
-
 '''qvm-start - Start a domain'''
 
 # TODO notification in tray
 
 import argparse
 import sys
+
 import qubes
 
+
 class DriveAction(argparse.Action):
     '''Action for argument parser that stores drive image path.'''
+
     # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin,too-few-public-methods
     def __init__(self,
             option_strings,
@@ -49,10 +51,8 @@ class DriveAction(argparse.Action):
         setattr(namespace, self.dest, self.prefix + values)
 
 
-parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
-    want_vm=True,
-    description='start a domain')
-
+parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(vmname_nargs=1,
+                                         description='start a domain')
 
 parser_drive = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
 
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ parser.add_argument('--skip-if-running',
 
 parser.set_defaults(drive=None)
 
+
 def main(args=None):
     '''Main routine of :program:`qvm-start`.
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def main(args=None):
 #   if options.tray:
 #       tray_notify_init()
 
-    vm = args.vm
+    vm = args.domains[0]
 
     if args.skip_if_running and vm.is_running():
         return
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_unpause.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_unpause.py
index c12611fb..206efe81 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_unpause.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_unpause.py
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@ import qubes
 
 
 parser = qubes.tools.QubesArgumentParser(
-    want_vm=True,
+    vmname_nargs=1,
     description='unpause a domain')
 
+
 def main(args=None):
     '''Main routine of :program:`qvm-unpause`.
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ def main(args=None):
     '''
 
     args = parser.parse_args(args)
-    args.vm.unpause()
+    args.domains[0].unpause()
 
     return 0