diff --git a/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/QmlDesignerBase.json.in b/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/QmlDesignerBase.json.in
index 27c62aeef64..e6b49dcb2a7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/QmlDesignerBase.json.in
+++ b/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/QmlDesignerBase.json.in
@@ -15,5 +15,11 @@
     "Category" : "Qt Quick",
     "Description" : "Provides support code for the qml designer and co..",
     "Url" : "http://www.qt.io",
+    "Arguments" : [
+        {
+            "Name" : "-qml-lite-designer",
+            "Description" : "Enable QML Lite Designer"
+        }
+    ],
     ${IDE_PLUGIN_DEPENDENCIES}
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/qmldesignerbaseplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/qmldesignerbaseplugin.cpp
index b71fb63bd89..339e74fe05c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/qmldesignerbaseplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmldesignerbase/qmldesignerbaseplugin.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ bool QmlDesignerBasePlugin::isLiteModeEnabled()
 
 bool QmlDesignerBasePlugin::initialize(const QStringList &, QString *)
 {
+    if (QCoreApplication::arguments().contains("-qml-lite-designer"))
+        enbableLiteMode();
+
     d = std::make_unique<Data>();
     if (Core::ICore::settings()->value("QML/Designer/StandAloneMode", false).toBool())
         d->studioConfigSettingsPage = std::make_unique<StudioConfigSettingsPage>();