diff --git a/src/watchdog/watchmedo.py b/src/watchdog/watchmedo.py
index 27a1bf12b..ce891f83b 100755
--- a/src/watchdog/watchmedo.py
+++ b/src/watchdog/watchmedo.py
@@ -418,6 +418,9 @@ def log(args):
      default=False,
      help="Ignore events that occur while command is still being executed " \
           "to avoid multiple simultaneous instances")
+@arg('--debug-force-polling',
+     default=False,
+     help='[debug] forces polling')
 @expects_obj
 def shell_command(args):
     """
@@ -426,12 +429,16 @@ def shell_command(args):
     :param args:
         Command line argument options.
     """
-    from watchdog.observers import Observer
     from watchdog.tricks import ShellCommandTrick
 
     if not args.command:
         args.command = None
 
+    if args.debug_force_polling:
+        from watchdog.observers.polling import PollingObserver as Observer
+    else:
+        from watchdog.observers import Observer
+
     patterns, ignore_patterns = parse_patterns(args.patterns,
                                                args.ignore_patterns)
     handler = ShellCommandTrick(shell_command=args.command,