diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index 1279f41859..c0b6112801 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -1141,6 +1141,7 @@ static const vshCmdOptDef opts_create[] = {
 #ifndef WIN32
     {"console", VSH_OT_BOOL, 0, N_("attach to console after creation")},
 #endif
+    {"paused", VSH_OT_BOOL, 0, N_("leave the guest paused after creation")},
     {NULL, 0, 0, NULL}
 };
 
@@ -1155,6 +1156,7 @@ cmdCreate(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd)
 #ifndef WIN32
     int console = vshCommandOptBool(cmd, "console");
 #endif
+    unsigned int flags = VIR_DOMAIN_NONE;
 
     if (!vshConnectionUsability(ctl, ctl->conn, TRUE))
         return FALSE;
@@ -1166,7 +1168,10 @@ cmdCreate(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd)
     if (virFileReadAll(from, VIRSH_MAX_XML_FILE, &buffer) < 0)
         return FALSE;
 
-    dom = virDomainCreateXML(ctl->conn, buffer, 0);
+    if (vshCommandOptBool(cmd, "paused"))
+        flags |= VIR_DOMAIN_START_PAUSED;
+
+    dom = virDomainCreateXML(ctl->conn, buffer, flags);
     VIR_FREE(buffer);
 
     if (dom != NULL) {
diff --git a/tools/virsh.pod b/tools/virsh.pod
index 08e361dc61..cf27e17a31 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.pod
+++ b/tools/virsh.pod
@@ -265,11 +265,13 @@ The option I<--disable> disables autostarting.
 
 Connect the virtual serial console for the guest.
 
-=item B<create> I<FILE>
+=item B<create> I<FILE> optional I<--console> I<--paused>
 
 Create a domain from an XML <file>. An easy way to create the XML
 <file> is to use the B<dumpxml> command to obtain the definition of a
-pre-existing guest.
+pre-existing guest.  The domain will be paused if the I<--paused> option
+is used and supported by the driver; otherwise it will be running.
+If I<--console> is requested, attach to the console after creation.
 
 B<Example>