diff --git a/sys/man/1/vmx b/sys/man/1/vmx
index 8d014c294..fef51735c 100644
--- a/sys/man/1/vmx
+++ b/sys/man/1/vmx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ vmx \- virtual PC
 .I blockfile
 ]
 [
-.B -v
+.BR -v | -w
 .I vga
 ]
 [
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ argument.
 If
 .B -v
 is specified, a graphics device, PS/2 keyboard and mouse are simulated.
+The
+.B -w
+flag behaves the same as
+.B -v
+but also creates a new window for the screen.
 Clicking on the screen "grabs" the mouse; pressing Ctrl and Alt simultaneously releases the grab.
 Valid values for the argument are
 .TP
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vga.c b/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vga.c
index 9fadff15e..eea5c8deb 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vga.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vga.c
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ vgafbparse(char *fbstring)
 
 
 void
-vgainit(void)
+vgainit(int new)
 {
 	char buf[512];
 	int i;
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ vgainit(void)
 			sysfatal("got nil ptr for framebuffer");
 	}
 	snprint(buf, sizeof(buf), "-dx %d -dy %d", maxw+50, maxh+50);
-	if(newwindow(buf) < 0 || initdraw(nil, nil, "vmx") < 0)
+	if((new && newwindow(buf) < 0) || initdraw(nil, nil, "vmx") < 0)
 		sysfatal("failed to initialize graphics: %r");
 	screeninit(1);
 	flushimage(display, 1);
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vmx.c b/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vmx.c
index 1a974a042..64536c522 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vmx.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/vmx/vmx.c
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ sendnotif(void (*f)(void *), void *arg)
 		send(notifch, &notif);
 }
 
-extern void vgainit(void);
+extern void vgainit(int);
 extern void pciinit(void);
 extern void pcibusmap(void);
 extern void cpuidinit(void);
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ usage(void)
 	for(p = blanks; *p != 0; p++)
 		*p = ' ';
 	fprint(2, "usage: %s [ -M mem ] [ -c com1rd[,com1wr] ] [ -C com2rd[,com2r] ] [ -n nic ]\n", argv0);
-	fprint(2, "       %s [ -d blockfile ] [ -m module ] [ -v vga ] [ -9 srv ] kernel [ args ... ]\n", blanks);
+	fprint(2, "       %s [ -d blockfile ] [ -m module ] [ -v|-w vga ] [ -9 srv ] kernel [ args ... ]\n", blanks);
 	threadexitsall("usage");
 }
 
@@ -590,6 +590,7 @@ threadmain(int argc, char **argv)
 	static uvlong gmemsz = 64*1024*1024;
 	static char *srvname;
 	extern uintptr fbsz, fbaddr;
+	int newwin = 0;
 	int i;
 
 	quotefmtinstall();
@@ -637,6 +638,8 @@ threadmain(int argc, char **argv)
 		gmemsz = siparse(EARGF(usage()));
 		if(gmemsz != (uintptr) gmemsz) sysfatal("too much memory for address space");
 		break;
+	case 'w':
+		newwin = 1;
 	case 'v':
 		vgafbparse(EARGF(usage()));
 		break;
@@ -673,7 +676,7 @@ threadmain(int argc, char **argv)
 	loadkernel(argv[0]);
 	pciinit();
 
-	vgainit();
+	vgainit(newwin);
 	for(i = 0; i < edevn; i++)
 		if(edev[i](edevaux[i]) < 0)
 			sysfatal("%s: %r", edevt[i]);