diff --git a/demo/start.sh b/demo/start.sh
index 4701872926..1e591aabb8 100755
--- a/demo/start.sh
+++ b/demo/start.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ CWD=$(pwd)
 
 cd "$DIR/.."
 
-for port in "8080" "8081" "8082"; do
+for port in 8080 8081 8082; do
     echo "Starting server on port $port... "
 
     python -m synapse.app.homeserver \
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ for port in "8080" "8081" "8082"; do
         -f "$DIR/$port.log" \
         -d "$DIR/$port.db" \
         -vv \
-        -D --pid-file "$DIR/$port.pid"
+        -D --pid-file "$DIR/$port.pid" \
+        --manhole $((port + 1000))
 done
 
 echo "Starting webclient on port 8000..."
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index 40e3561ee5..f210d26629 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from synapse.api.urls import (
 )
 
 from daemonize import Daemonize
+import twisted.manhole.telnet
 
 import argparse
 import logging
@@ -238,6 +239,8 @@ def setup():
                         default="hs.pid")
     parser.add_argument("-W", "--webclient", dest="webclient", default=True,
                         action="store_false", help="Don't host a web client.")
+    parser.add_argument("--manhole", dest="manhole", type=int, default=None,
+                        help="Turn on the twisted telnet manhole service.")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     verbosity = int(args.verbose) if args.verbose else None
@@ -281,6 +284,13 @@ def setup():
 
     hs.build_db_pool()
 
+    if args.manhole:
+        f = twisted.manhole.telnet.ShellFactory()
+        f.username = "matrix"
+        f.password = "rabbithole"
+        f.namespace['hs'] = hs
+        reactor.listenTCP(args.manhole, f, interface='127.0.0.1')
+
     if args.daemonize:
         daemon = Daemonize(
             app="synapse-homeserver",