diff --git a/src/vorta/__main__.py b/src/vorta/__main__.py
index 41814c2d6..19af00c33 100644
--- a/src/vorta/__main__.py
+++ b/src/vorta/__main__.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def main():
 
     # Init app after database is available
     from vorta.application import VortaApp
-    app = VortaApp(sys.argv, single_app=True)
+    app = VortaApp(sys.argv, single_app=args.profile is None)
     app.updater = get_updater()
 
     sys.exit(app.exec())
diff --git a/src/vorta/application.py b/src/vorta/application.py
index 1219500dd..810a274ba 100644
--- a/src/vorta/application.py
+++ b/src/vorta/application.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+import logging
 import os
 import sys
+import time
+import ast
+
 from PyQt5 import QtCore
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QMessageBox
 
+from vorta.borg.borg_thread import BorgThread
 from vorta.borg.create import BorgCreateThread
 from vorta.borg.version import BorgVersionThread
 from vorta.config import TEMP_DIR
@@ -15,6 +20,8 @@
 from vorta.views.main_window import MainWindow
 from vorta.notifications import VortaNotifications
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 APP_ID = os.path.join(TEMP_DIR, "socket")
 
 
@@ -35,10 +42,18 @@ class VortaApp(QtSingleApplication):
     def __init__(self, args_raw, single_app=False):
 
         super().__init__(APP_ID, args_raw)
-        if self.isRunning() and single_app:
-            self.sendMessage("open main window")
-            print('An instance of Vorta is already running. Opening main window.')
-            sys.exit()
+        args = parse_args()
+        if self.isRunning():
+            if single_app:
+                self.sendMessage("open main window")
+                print('An instance of Vorta is already running. Opening main window.')
+                sys.exit()
+            elif args.profile:
+                self.sendMessage(f"create {args.profile}")
+                print('Creating backups using existing Vorta instance.')
+                sys.exit()
+        elif args.profile:
+            sys.exit('Vorta must already be running for --create to work')
 
         init_translations(self)
 
@@ -50,7 +65,6 @@ def __init__(self, args_raw, single_app=False):
         self.tray = TrayMenu(self)
         self.main_window = MainWindow(self)
 
-        args = parse_args()
         if getattr(args, 'daemonize', False):
             pass
         elif SettingsModel.get(key='foreground').value:
@@ -63,8 +77,25 @@ def __init__(self, args_raw, single_app=False):
         self.set_borg_details_action()
         self.installEventFilter(self)
 
+    def create_backups_cmdline(self, profiles):
+        self.completedProfiles = []
+        self.validProfiles = []
+        for profile_name in profiles:
+            profile = BackupProfileModel.get_or_none(name=profile_name)
+            if profile is not None:
+                if profile.repo is None:
+                    logger.warning(f"Add a repository to {profile_name}")
+                    continue
+                self.validProfiles.append(profile_name)
+                # Wait a bit in case something is running
+                while BorgThread.is_running():
+                    time.sleep(0.1)
+                self.create_backup_action(profile_id=profile.id)
+            else:
+                logger.warning(f"Invalid profile name {profile_name}")
+
     def eventFilter(self, source, event):
-        if event.type() == QtCore.QEvent.ApplicationPaletteChange and type(source) == MainWindow:
+        if event.type() == QtCore.QEvent.ApplicationPaletteChange and isinstance(source, MainWindow):
             self.main_window.set_icons()
             self.main_window.repoTab.set_icons()
             self.main_window.archiveTab.set_icons()
@@ -110,6 +141,13 @@ def backup_cancelled_event_response(self):
     def message_received_event_response(self, message):
         if message == "open main window":
             self.open_main_window_action()
+        elif message.startswith("create"):
+            message = message[7:]  # Remove create
+            profiles = ast.literal_eval(message)  # Safely parse string array
+            if BorgThread.is_running():
+                logger.warning("Cannot run while backups are already running")
+            else:
+                self.create_backups_cmdline(profiles)
 
     def set_borg_details_action(self):
         params = BorgVersionThread.prepare()
diff --git a/src/vorta/borg/create.py b/src/vorta/borg/create.py
index 341ce15bb..bf0b4c563 100644
--- a/src/vorta/borg/create.py
+++ b/src/vorta/borg/create.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ def started_event(self):
 
     def finished_event(self, result):
         self.app.backup_finished_event.emit(result)
+        self.result.emit(result)
         self.pre_post_backup_cmd(self.params, cmd='post_backup_cmd', returncode=result['returncode'])
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/src/vorta/utils.py b/src/vorta/utils.py
index c3ae92d57..eaa940f5c 100644
--- a/src/vorta/utils.py
+++ b/src/vorta/utils.py
@@ -237,6 +237,12 @@ def parse_args():
     parser.add_argument('--daemonize', '-d',
                         action='store_true',
                         help="Fork to background and don't open window on startup.")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--create',
+        nargs='+',
+        dest='profile',
+        help='Create a backup in the background using the given profile(s). '
+        'Vorta must already be running for this to work.')
 
     return parser.parse_known_args()[0]