diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
index 34dfc38..4face28 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
     &paths_overrides,
     exit_notify.clone(),
     &mut worker_run_count,
+    false,
   );
 
   ipc::initialize_and_spawn(&paths.runtime, exit_notify.clone())
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
         }
 
         if !has_timed_out {
-          spawn_worker(&paths, &paths_overrides, exit_notify.clone(), &mut worker_run_count);
+          spawn_worker(&paths, &paths_overrides, exit_notify.clone(), &mut worker_run_count, false);
         } else {
           error!("could not restart worker, as the exit process has timed out");
         }
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
               }
               WORKER_RESTART => {
                 info!("worker requested a restart, spawning a new one...");
-                spawn_worker(&paths, &paths_overrides, exit_notify.clone(), &mut worker_run_count);
+                spawn_worker(&paths, &paths_overrides, exit_notify.clone(), &mut worker_run_count, true);
               }
               _ => {
                 error!("received unexpected exit code from worker {}, exiting", code);
@@ -236,6 +237,7 @@ fn spawn_worker(
   paths_overrides: &PathsOverrides,
   exit_notify: Sender<i32>,
   worker_run_count: &mut i32,
+  manual_start: bool,
 ) {
   info!("spawning the worker process...");
 
@@ -265,12 +267,18 @@ fn spawn_worker(
     };
 
   let mut command = Command::new(&espanso_exe_path.to_string_lossy().to_string());
-  command.args(&[
+
+  let string_worker_run_count = format!("{}", worker_run_count);
+  let mut args = vec![
     "worker",
     "--monitor-daemon",
     "--run-count",
-    &format!("{}", worker_run_count),
-  ]);
+    &string_worker_run_count
+  ];
+  if manual_start {
+    args.push("--manual");
+  }
+  command.args(&args);
   command.with_paths_overrides(paths_overrides);
 
   let mut child = command.spawn().expect("unable to spawn worker process");
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
index f6696e0..bfe799f 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/engine/mod.rs
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ pub fn initialize_and_spawn(
   secure_input_receiver: Receiver<SecureInputEvent>,
   use_evdev_backend: bool,
   run_count: i32,
+  has_been_started_manually: bool,
 ) -> Result<JoinHandle<ExitMode>> {
   let handle = std::thread::Builder::new()
     .name("engine thread".to_string())
@@ -215,8 +216,13 @@ pub fn initialize_and_spawn(
       // TODO: check config
       match run_count {
         0 => ui_remote.show_notification("Espanso is running!"),
-        1 => ui_remote.show_notification("Configuration reloaded! Espanso automatically loads new changes as soon as you save them."),
-        _ => {},
+        n => {
+          if has_been_started_manually {
+            ui_remote.show_notification("Configuration reloaded!");
+          } else if n == 1 {
+            ui_remote.show_notification("Configuration reloaded! Espanso automatically loads new changes as soon as you save them.");
+          }
+        },
       }
 
       let mut engine = crate::engine::Engine::new(&funnel, &mut processor, &dispatcher);
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
index 2364445..ce7f6aa 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
     .unwrap_or(0);
   debug!("starting with run-count = {:?}", cli_args);
 
+  let has_been_started_manually = cli_args.is_present("manual");
+
   // Avoid running multiple worker instances
   let lock_file = acquire_worker_lock(&paths.runtime);
   if lock_file.is_none() {
@@ -129,6 +131,7 @@ fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
     engine_secure_input_receiver,
     use_evdev_backend,
     run_count,
+    has_been_started_manually,
   )
   .expect("unable to initialize engine");
 
diff --git a/espanso/src/main.rs b/espanso/src/main.rs
index 7ed9ac1..782273f 100644
--- a/espanso/src/main.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/main.rs
@@ -345,6 +345,12 @@ fn main() {
             .required(false)
             .takes_value(true),
         )
+        .arg(
+          Arg::with_name("manual")
+            .long("manual")
+            .required(false)
+            .takes_value(false),
+        )
         .arg(
           Arg::with_name("monitor-daemon")
             .long("monitor-daemon")