diff --git a/config/index.js b/config/index.js
index 2ac8f0f9..357bbbd3 100644
--- a/config/index.js
+++ b/config/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 var f = {
-  fakeApp: process.env['START_APP']
+  autoStartApps: process.env['START_APP']
 };
 var fs = require('fs');
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index af3780a8..52b62eae 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -643,7 +643,13 @@ function onlineSetup(callback) {
         Matrix.banner();
 
         //if START_APP is set
-        if (Matrix.config.fakeApp) Matrix.service.manager.start(Matrix.config.fakeApp);
+        if (Matrix.config.autoStartApps) {
+          let appsSplit = Matrix.config.autoStartApps.split(' ');
+          for (let i = 0; i < appsSplit.length; i++) {
+            Matrix.service.manager.start(Matrix.config.appsSplit[i]);
+          }       
+        }
+        
         //for tests
         Matrix.events.emit('matrix-ready');