diff --git a/qvm-tools/qvm-shutdown b/qvm-tools/qvm-shutdown
index 98f19d23..81b1fab4 100755
--- a/qvm-tools/qvm-shutdown
+++ b/qvm-tools/qvm-shutdown
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def main():
                             "repeated)")
 
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args ()
-    if not options.shutdown_all and (len (args) != 1):
+    if not options.shutdown_all and not args:
         parser.error ("You must specify VM name!")
 
     qvm_collection = QubesVmCollection()
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ def main():
             if vm.is_running():
                 vms_list.append (vm)
     else:
-        vmname = args[0]
-        vm = qvm_collection.get_vm_by_name(vmname)
-        if vm is None:
-            print >> sys.stderr, "A VM with the name '{0}' does not exist in the system!".format(vmname)
-            exit(1)
-        vms_list.append(vm)
+        for vmname in args:
+            vm = qvm_collection.get_vm_by_name(vmname)
+            if vm is None:
+                print >> sys.stderr, "A VM with the name '{0}' does not exist in the system!".format(vmname)
+                exit(1)
+            vms_list.append(vm)
 
     # Check VMs network dependencies
     if not options.force: