diff --git a/screenkey/Screenkey/screenkey.py b/screenkey/Screenkey/screenkey.py
index efe6eb3..906fa17 100644
--- a/screenkey/Screenkey/screenkey.py
+++ b/screenkey/Screenkey/screenkey.py
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 # the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
 # (at your option) any later version.
-# 
+#
 # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 # but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 # MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 # GNU General Public License for more details.
-# 
+#
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
@@ -53,11 +53,13 @@ class Screenkey(gtk.Window):
         MODE_NORMAL:_('Normal'),
     }
 
-    STATE_FILE = os.path.join(glib.get_user_cache_dir(), 
+    STATE_FILE = os.path.join(glib.get_user_cache_dir(),
                               'screenkey.dat')
 
-    def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position, opacity, bgcolor, font#, color):
-            ):
+    def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position,
+                 opacity, bgcolor, font, nohide#, color):
+                ):
+
         gtk.Window.__init__(self)
 
         self.timer = None
@@ -79,6 +81,10 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position, opacity, bgc
             self.logger.debug("Detach from the parent.")
             self.drop_tty()
 
+        self.no_hide = nohide
+        if nohide:
+            self.show()
+
         self.set_skip_taskbar_hint(True)
         self.set_skip_pager_hint(True)
         self.set_keep_above(True)
@@ -91,7 +97,7 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position, opacity, bgc
         self.modify_bg(gtk.STATE_NORMAL, bgcolor)
         self.set_opacity(self.options['opacity'])
 
-        gobject.signal_new("text-changed", gtk.Label, 
+        gobject.signal_new("text-changed", gtk.Label,
                         gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_FIRST, gobject.TYPE_NONE, ())
         self.label = gtk.Label()
         self.label.set_justify(gtk.JUSTIFY_RIGHT)
@@ -107,7 +113,7 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position, opacity, bgc
         self.set_gravity(gtk.gdk.GRAVITY_CENTER)
         self.set_xy_position(self.options['position'])
 
-        self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger, 
+        self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger,
                                    mode=self.options['mode'])
         self.listenkbd.start()
 
@@ -143,8 +149,8 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position, opacity, bgc
 
         try:
             import appindicator
-            self.systray = appindicator.Indicator(APP_NAME, 
-                           'indicator-messages', 
+            self.systray = appindicator.Indicator(APP_NAME,
+                           'indicator-messages',
                             appindicator.CATEGORY_APPLICATION_STATUS)
             self.systray.set_status(appindicator.STATUS_ACTIVE)
             self.systray.set_attention_icon("indicator-messages-new")
@@ -156,7 +162,7 @@ def __init__(self, logger, nodetach, timeout, size, mode, position, opacity, bgc
             self.systray = gtk.StatusIcon()
             self.systray.set_from_icon_name(
                     "preferences-desktop-keyboard-shortcuts")
-            self.systray.connect("popup-menu", 
+            self.systray.connect("popup-menu",
                     self.on_statusicon_popup, menu)
             self.logger.debug("Using StatusIcon.")
 
@@ -178,7 +184,7 @@ def load_state(self):
             except:
                 f.close()
         except IOError:
-            self.logger.debug("file %s does not exists." % 
+            self.logger.debug("file %s does not exists." %
                               self.STATE_FILE)
         return options
 
@@ -226,7 +232,7 @@ def on_statusicon_popup(self, widget, button, timestamp, data=None):
         if button == 3:
             if data:
                 data.show()
-                data.popup(None, None, gtk.status_icon_position_menu, 
+                data.popup(None, None, gtk.status_icon_position_menu,
                            3, timestamp, widget)
 
     def on_label_change(self, widget, data=None):
@@ -244,20 +250,21 @@ def on_label_change(self, widget, data=None):
 
     def on_timeout(self):
         gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
-        self.hide()
+        if not self.no_hide:
+            self.hide()
         self.label.set_text("")
         gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
 
     def on_change_mode(self, mode):
         self.listenkbd.stop()
-        self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger, 
+        self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger,
                                    mode=mode)
         self.listenkbd.start()
 
     def on_show_keys(self, widget, data=None):
         if widget.get_active():
             self.logger.debug("Screenkey enabled.")
-            self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger, 
+            self.listenkbd = ListenKbd(self.label, logger=self.logger,
                                        mode=self.options['mode'])
             self.listenkbd.start()
         else:
@@ -265,8 +272,8 @@ def on_show_keys(self, widget, data=None):
             self.listenkbd.stop()
 
     def on_preferences_dialog(self, widget, data=None):
-        prefs = gtk.Dialog(APP_NAME, None, 
-                    gtk.DIALOG_MODAL | gtk.DIALOG_DESTROY_WITH_PARENT, 
+        prefs = gtk.Dialog(APP_NAME, None,
+                    gtk.DIALOG_MODAL | gtk.DIALOG_DESTROY_WITH_PARENT,
                     (gtk.STOCK_CLOSE, gtk.RESPONSE_CLOSE))
 
         def on_sb_time_changed(widget, data=None):
@@ -312,11 +319,11 @@ def on_cbox_changed(widget, data=None):
         sb_time.set_update_policy(gtk.UPDATE_IF_VALID)
         sb_time.set_value(self.options['timeout'])
         sb_time.connect("value-changed", on_sb_time_changed)
-        hbox_time.pack_start(lbl_time1, expand=False, 
+        hbox_time.pack_start(lbl_time1, expand=False,
                              fill=False, padding=6)
-        hbox_time.pack_start(sb_time, expand=False, 
+        hbox_time.pack_start(sb_time, expand=False,
                              fill=False, padding=4)
-        hbox_time.pack_start(lbl_time2, expand=False, 
+        hbox_time.pack_start(lbl_time2, expand=False,
                              fill=False, padding=4)
         frm_time.add(hbox_time)
         frm_time.show_all()
@@ -337,9 +344,9 @@ def on_cbox_changed(widget, data=None):
         cbox_positions.set_active(self.options['position'])
         cbox_positions.connect("changed", on_cbox_changed)
 
-        hbox1_aspect.pack_start(lbl_positions, expand=False, 
+        hbox1_aspect.pack_start(lbl_positions, expand=False,
                                 fill=False, padding=6)
-        hbox1_aspect.pack_start(cbox_positions, expand=False, 
+        hbox1_aspect.pack_start(cbox_positions, expand=False,
                                 fill=False, padding=4)
 
         hbox2_aspect = gtk.HBox()
@@ -352,9 +359,9 @@ def on_cbox_changed(widget, data=None):
         cbox_sizes.set_active(self.options['size'])
         cbox_sizes.connect("changed", on_cbox_sizes_changed)
 
-        hbox2_aspect.pack_start(lbl_sizes, expand=False, 
+        hbox2_aspect.pack_start(lbl_sizes, expand=False,
                                 fill=False, padding=6)
-        hbox2_aspect.pack_start(cbox_sizes, expand=False, 
+        hbox2_aspect.pack_start(cbox_sizes, expand=False,
                                 fill=False, padding=4)
 
         vbox_aspect.pack_start(hbox1_aspect)
@@ -373,9 +380,9 @@ def on_cbox_changed(widget, data=None):
             cbox_modes.insert_text(key, value)
         cbox_modes.set_active(self.options['mode'])
         cbox_modes.connect("changed", on_cbox_modes_changed)
-        hbox_kbd.pack_start(lbl_kbd, expand=False, 
+        hbox_kbd.pack_start(lbl_kbd, expand=False,
                             fill=False, padding=6)
-        hbox_kbd.pack_start(cbox_modes, expand=False, 
+        hbox_kbd.pack_start(cbox_modes, expand=False,
                             fill=False, padding=4)
         frm_kbd.add(hbox_kbd)
 
diff --git a/screenkey/screenkey b/screenkey/screenkey
index 4295c8d..46ba7e8 100755
--- a/screenkey/screenkey
+++ b/screenkey/screenkey
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 # the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
 # (at your option) any later version.
-# 
+#
 # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 # but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 # MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 # GNU General Public License for more details.
-# 
+#
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ gtk.gdk.threads_init()
 
 def Main():
     parser = OptionParser(description=APP_DESC, version=VERSION)
-    parser.add_option("--no-detach", action="store_true", 
-        dest="nodetach", default=False, 
+    parser.add_option("--no-detach", action="store_true",
+        dest="nodetach", default=False,
         help=_("do not detach from the parent"))
     parser.add_option("-d", "--debug", action="store_true",
         dest="debug", default=False, help=_("show debug information"))
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ def Main():
         help=_("bgcolor"), default='black')
     parser.add_option("-f", "--font", type="string", dest="font",
         help=_("font"), default='Sans')
+    parser.add_option("-n", "--no-hide", action="store_true",
+        dest="nohide", default=False, help=_("do not hide"))
     #parser.add_option("-c", "--color", type="string",
         #dest="color", help=_("color"), default='TODO')
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args()
@@ -60,7 +62,7 @@ def Main():
             # Send debug messages to standard output
             logfile = None
         else:
-            logfile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), 
+            logfile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'),
                                    '.screenkey.log')
             username = os.environ.get('SUDO_USER')
             if username:
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ def Main():
             position=options.position,
             opacity=options.opacity,
             bgcolor=options.bgcolor,
+            nohide=options.nohide,
             font=options.font#,
             #color=options.color)
             )