diff --git a/sample_configs/default_config.toml b/sample_configs/default_config.toml
index bab1833d..3df841e5 100644
--- a/sample_configs/default_config.toml
+++ b/sample_configs/default_config.toml
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@
 # Override layout default widget
 #default_widget_type = "proc"
 #default_widget_count = 1
+# Expand selected widget upon starting the app
+#expanded_on_startup = true
 # Use basic mode
 #basic = false
 # Use the old network legend style
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 5c41249a..a2bffe95 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ pub struct App {
     #[builder(default, setter(skip))]
     pub help_dialog_state: AppHelpDialogState,
 
-    #[builder(default = false, setter(skip))]
+    #[builder(default = false)]
     pub is_expanded: bool,
 
     #[builder(default = false, setter(skip))]
diff --git a/src/clap.rs b/src/clap.rs
index 19922458..1d11096d 100644
--- a/src/clap.rs
+++ b/src/clap.rs
@@ -316,6 +316,12 @@ use CPU (3) as the default instead.
         .help("Sets the default widget type, use --help for info.")
         .long_help(DEFAULT_WIDGET_TYPE_STR);
 
+    let expanded_on_startup = Arg::new("expanded_on_startup")
+        .long("expanded")
+        .short('e')
+        .help("Expand selected widget upon starting the app.")
+        .long_help("Expand selected widget upon starting the app. Same as pressing \"e\" inside the app. Use with \"default_widget_type\" and \"default_widget_count\" to select desired expanded widget. This flag has no effect in basic mode (--basic)");
+
     let rate = Arg::new("rate")
         .short('r')
         .long("rate")
@@ -407,7 +413,8 @@ use CPU (3) as the default instead.
         .arg(unnormalized_cpu)
         .arg(use_old_network_legend)
         .arg(whole_word)
-        .arg(retention);
+        .arg(retention)
+        .arg(expanded_on_startup);
 
     #[cfg(feature = "battery")]
     {
diff --git a/src/constants.rs b/src/constants.rs
index b42bbfab..4c5fac59 100644
--- a/src/constants.rs
+++ b/src/constants.rs
@@ -518,6 +518,8 @@ pub const CONFIG_TEXT: &str = r##"# This is a default config file for bottom.  A
 # Override layout default widget
 #default_widget_type = "proc"
 #default_widget_count = 1
+# Expand selected widget upon starting the app
+#expanded_on_startup = true
 # Use basic mode
 #basic = false
 # Use the old network legend style
diff --git a/src/options.rs b/src/options.rs
index 8a07d6b1..c5010976 100644
--- a/src/options.rs
+++ b/src/options.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ pub struct ConfigFlags {
     pub hide_time: Option<bool>,
     pub default_widget_type: Option<String>,
     pub default_widget_count: Option<u64>,
+    pub expanded_on_startup: Option<bool>,
     pub use_old_network_legend: Option<bool>,
     pub hide_table_gap: Option<bool>,
     pub battery: Option<bool>,
@@ -406,6 +407,8 @@ pub fn build_app(
     let net_filter =
         get_ignore_list(&config.net_filter).context("Update 'net_filter' in your config file")?;
 
+    let expanded_upon_startup = get_expanded_on_startup(matches, config);
+
     Ok(App::builder()
         .app_config_fields(app_config_fields)
         .cpu_state(CpuState::init(cpu_state_map))
@@ -419,6 +422,7 @@ pub fn build_app(
         .current_widget(widget_map.get(&initial_widget_id).unwrap().clone()) // TODO: [UNWRAP] - many of the unwraps are fine (like this one) but do a once-over and/or switch to expect?
         .widget_map(widget_map)
         .used_widgets(used_widgets)
+        .is_expanded(expanded_upon_startup && !use_basic_mode)
         .filters(DataFilters {
             disk_filter,
             mount_filter,
@@ -751,6 +755,15 @@ fn get_autohide_time(matches: &ArgMatches, config: &Config) -> bool {
     false
 }
 
+fn get_expanded_on_startup(matches: &ArgMatches, config: &Config) -> bool {
+    matches.is_present("expanded_on_startup")
+        || config
+            .flags
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|x| x.expanded_on_startup)
+            .unwrap_or(false)
+}
+
 fn get_default_widget_and_count(
     matches: &ArgMatches, config: &Config,
 ) -> error::Result<(Option<BottomWidgetType>, u64)> {