diff --git a/holman/holman.py b/holman/holman.py
index afb1643..9c5ff84 100644
--- a/holman/holman.py
+++ b/holman/holman.py
@@ -224,6 +224,8 @@ def stop(self):
 
     def characteristic_write_value_succeeded(self, characteristic):
         self._refresh_state()
+        if self.listener and characteristic == self._manual_characteristic:
+            self.listener.timer_written()
 
     def characteristic_write_value_failed(self, characteristic, error):
         self._refresh_state()
diff --git a/holmanctl.py b/holmanctl.py
index 55b17a1..25a9b12 100755
--- a/holmanctl.py
+++ b/holmanctl.py
@@ -29,14 +29,18 @@ def started_disconnecting(self):
     def disconnect_succeeded(self):
         self.print("disconnected")
 
+    def timer_written(self):
+        self.print("timer written")
+
     def print(self, string):
         print("Holman tap timer " + self.tap_timer.mac_address + " " + string)
 
-
 class TapTimerTestListener(TapTimerPrintListener):
-    def __init__(self, tap_timer, auto_reconnect=False):
+    def __init__(self, tap_timer, auto_reconnect=False, auto_start=None, auto_exit=False):
         super().__init__(tap_timer)
         self.auto_reconnect = auto_reconnect
+        self.auto_start = auto_start
+        self.auto_exit = auto_exit
 
     def connect_failed(self, error):
         super().connect_failed(error)
@@ -54,6 +58,21 @@ def disconnect_succeeded(self):
             tap_timer_manager.stop()
             sys.exit(0)
 
+    def connect_succeeded(self):
+        super().connect_succeeded()
+        if self.auto_start is not None:
+            if self.auto_start == 0:
+                self.tap_timer.stop()
+            else:
+                self.tap_timer.start(self.auto_start)
+            self.auto_start = None
+
+    def timer_written(self):
+        super().timer_written()
+        if self.auto_exit:
+            self.print('exiting')
+            tap_timer_manager.stop()
+
 
 class TapTimerManagerPrintListener(holman.TapTimerManagerListener):
     def tap_timer_discovered(self, tap_timer):
@@ -90,11 +109,36 @@ def main():
         metavar='address',
         type=str,
         help="Disconnect a Holman tap timer with a given MAC address")
+
+    arg_run_group = arg_parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=False)
+    arg_run_group.add_argument(
+        '--run',
+        default=None,
+        metavar='MINUTES',
+        type=int,
+        help="Run the timer for the specified number of minutes")
+    arg_run_group.add_argument(
+        '--stop',
+        action='store_const',
+        const=True,
+        default=False,
+        help="Stop the timer")
     args = arg_parser.parse_args()
 
     global tap_timer_manager
     tap_timer_manager = holman.TapTimerManager(adapter_name=args.adapter)
 
+    if args.run is not None and not (args.connect or args.auto):
+        arg_parser.error('--run can only be used with --auto or --connect.')
+        return
+
+    if args.stop and not (args.connect or args.auto):
+        arg_parser.error('--stop can only be used with --auto or --connect.')
+        return
+
+    run_time = 0 if args.stop else args.run
+    auto_exit = run_time is not None
+
     if args.discover:
         tap_timer_manager.listener = TapTimerManagerPrintListener()
         tap_timer_manager.start_discovery()
@@ -104,18 +148,19 @@ def main():
         return
     elif args.connect:
         tap_timer = holman.TapTimer(mac_address=args.connect, manager=tap_timer_manager)
-        tap_timer.listener = TapTimerTestListener(tap_timer=tap_timer)
+        tap_timer.listener = TapTimerTestListener(tap_timer=tap_timer, auto_start=run_time, auto_exit=auto_exit)
         tap_timer.connect()
     elif args.auto:
         tap_timer = holman.TapTimer(mac_address=args.auto, manager=tap_timer_manager)
-        tap_timer.listener = TapTimerTestListener(tap_timer=tap_timer, auto_reconnect=True)
+        tap_timer.listener = TapTimerTestListener(tap_timer=tap_timer, auto_reconnect=True, auto_start=run_time, auto_exit=auto_exit)
         tap_timer.connect()
     elif args.disconnect:
         tap_timer = holman.TapTimer(mac_address=args.disconnect, manager=tap_timer_manager)
         tap_timer.disconnect()
         return
 
-    print("Terminate with Ctrl+C")
+    if not auto_exit:
+        print("Terminate with Ctrl+C")
     try:
         tap_timer_manager.run()
     except KeyboardInterrupt: