diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index ea00786..453196a 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -93,11 +93,13 @@ func PreRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 	noPull, _ := f.GetBool("no-pull")
 	includeStopped, _ := f.GetBool("include-stopped")
+	reviveStopped, _ := f.GetBool("revive-stopped")
 	removeVolumes, _ := f.GetBool("remove-volumes")
 
 	client = container.NewClient(
 		!noPull,
 		includeStopped,
+		reviveStopped,
 		removeVolumes,
 	)
 
diff --git a/docs/arguments.md b/docs/arguments.md
index db51c95..dc2c0ee 100644
--- a/docs/arguments.md
+++ b/docs/arguments.md
@@ -97,6 +97,16 @@ Environment Variable: WATCHTOWER_INCLUDE_STOPPED
              Default: false
 ```   
 
+## Revive stopped
+Start any stopped containers that have had their image updated. This argument is only usable with the `--include-stopped` argument.
+
+```
+            Argument: --revive-stopped
+Environment Variable: WATCHTOWER_REVIVE_STOPPED
+                Type: Boolean
+             Default: false
+```   
+
 ## Poll interval
 Poll interval (in seconds). This value controls how frequently watchtower will poll for new images.
 
diff --git a/internal/flags/flags.go b/internal/flags/flags.go
index 6e9ea55..a8f330b 100644
--- a/internal/flags/flags.go
+++ b/internal/flags/flags.go
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@ func RegisterSystemFlags(rootCmd *cobra.Command) {
 		viper.GetBool("WATCHTOWER_INCLUDE_STOPPED"),
 		"Will also include created and exited containers")
 
+	flags.BoolP(
+		"revive-stopped",
+		"",
+		viper.GetBool("WATCHTOWER_REVIVE_STOPPED"),
+		"Will also start stopped containers that were updated, if include-stopped is active")
+
 	flags.BoolP(
 		"enable-lifecycle-hooks",
 		"",
@@ -128,7 +134,7 @@ func RegisterNotificationFlags(rootCmd *cobra.Command) {
 		"",
 		viper.GetString("WATCHTOWER_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL_TO"),
 		"Address to send notification emails to")
-	
+
 	flags.IntP(
 		"notification-email-delay",
 		"",
diff --git a/pkg/container/client.go b/pkg/container/client.go
index 0dc22db..5877eb4 100644
--- a/pkg/container/client.go
+++ b/pkg/container/client.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ type Client interface {
 //  * DOCKER_HOST			the docker-engine host to send api requests to
 //  * DOCKER_TLS_VERIFY		whether to verify tls certificates
 //  * DOCKER_API_VERSION	the minimum docker api version to work with
-func NewClient(pullImages bool, includeStopped bool, removeVolumes bool) Client {
+func NewClient(pullImages bool, includeStopped bool, reviveStopped bool, removeVolumes bool) Client {
 	cli, err := dockerclient.NewClientWithOpts(dockerclient.FromEnv)
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ func NewClient(pullImages bool, includeStopped bool, removeVolumes bool) Client
 		pullImages:     pullImages,
 		removeVolumes:  removeVolumes,
 		includeStopped: includeStopped,
+		reviveStopped:  reviveStopped,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ type dockerClient struct {
 	pullImages     bool
 	removeVolumes  bool
 	includeStopped bool
+	reviveStopped  bool
 }
 
 func (client dockerClient) ListContainers(fn t.Filter) ([]Container, error) {
@@ -203,7 +205,7 @@ func (client dockerClient) StartContainer(c Container) (string, error) {
 
 	}
 
-	if !c.IsRunning() {
+	if !c.IsRunning() && !client.reviveStopped {
 		return createdContainer.ID, nil
 	}