diff --git a/cmd/Makemodule.am b/cmd/Makemodule.am
index 203a840..d6ed4fc 100644
--- a/cmd/Makemodule.am
+++ b/cmd/Makemodule.am
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ service_SOURCES = cmd/service/servicecmd.c cmd/service/help.c
 service_SOURCES += cmd/service/enable.c cmd/service/disable.c
 service_SOURCES += cmd/service/dumpscript.c cmd/service/list.c
 service_SOURCES += cmd/service/status.c cmd/service/loadsvc.c
+service_SOURCES += cmd/service/startstop.c
 service_SOURCES += $(SRVHEADERS)
 service_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS)
 service_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS)
diff --git a/cmd/service/service.8 b/cmd/service/service.8
index 1f021db..8bcb651 100644
--- a/cmd/service/service.8
+++ b/cmd/service/service.8
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ exact commands executed when starting the service.
 Print a status report of all supervised services, i.e. if they are currently
 running, have exited or waiting to be scheduled. A specific list of services
 can be specified. Shell globbing patterns can be used.
+.TP
+.BR start " " \fIservices...\fP
+Start one or more currently not running services. Shell globbing patterns can be used.
+.TP
+.BR stop " " \fIservices...\fP
+Stop one or more currently running services. Shell globbing patterns can be used.
 .SH AVAILABILITY
 This program is part of the Pygos init system.
 .SH COPYRIGHT
diff --git a/cmd/service/startstop.c b/cmd/service/startstop.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffc33de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/service/startstop.c
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: ISC */
+#include "servicecmd.h"
+#include "initsock.h"
+#include "service.h"
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <fnmatch.h>
+#include <getopt.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+static void free_resp(init_status_response_t *resp)
+{
+	free(resp->filename);
+	free(resp->service_name);
+}
+
+static int cmd_startstop(int argc, char **argv,
+			 E_SERVICE_STATE filter, E_INIT_REQUEST action)
+{
+	int i, fd, ret = EXIT_FAILURE;
+	init_status_response_t resp;
+	char tmppath[256];
+	bool found;
+
+	if (check_arguments(argv[0], argc, 2, 2))
+		return EXIT_FAILURE;
+
+	sprintf(tmppath, "/tmp/svcstatus.%d.sock", (int)getpid());
+	fd = init_socket_open(tmppath);
+
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		unlink(tmppath);
+		return EXIT_FAILURE;
+	}
+
+	if (init_socket_send_request(fd, EIR_STATUS, filter))
+		goto out;
+
+	for (;;) {
+		memset(&resp, 0, sizeof(resp));
+
+		if (init_socket_recv_status(fd, &resp)) {
+			perror("reading from initd socket");
+			free_resp(&resp);
+			goto out;
+		}
+
+		if (resp.state == ESS_NONE) {
+			free_resp(&resp);
+			break;
+		}
+
+		found = false;
+
+		for (i = optind; i < argc; ++i) {
+			if (fnmatch(argv[i], resp.service_name, 0) == 0) {
+				found = true;
+				break;
+			}
+			if (fnmatch(argv[i], resp.filename, 0) == 0) {
+				found = true;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (found) {
+			if (init_socket_send_request(fd, action, resp.id))
+				goto out;
+		}
+
+		free_resp(&resp);
+	}
+
+	ret = EXIT_SUCCESS;
+out:
+	close(fd);
+	unlink(tmppath);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int cmd_start(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+	return cmd_startstop(argc, argv, ESS_NONE, EIR_START);
+}
+
+static int cmd_stop(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+	return cmd_startstop(argc, argv, ESS_NONE, EIR_STOP);
+}
+
+static command_t start = {
+	.cmd = "start",
+	.usage = "services...",
+	.s_desc = "start a currently not running service",
+	.l_desc = "Start one or more service that are currently not running. "
+		  "Shell style globbing patterns can used for service names.",
+	.run_cmd = cmd_start,
+};
+
+static command_t stop = {
+	.cmd = "stop",
+	.usage = "services...",
+	.s_desc = "stop a currently running service",
+	.l_desc = "Stop one or more service that are currently running. "
+		  "Shell style globbing patterns can used for service names.",
+	.run_cmd = cmd_stop,
+};
+
+REGISTER_COMMAND(start)
+REGISTER_COMMAND(stop)