diff --git a/archivebox/cli/archivebox_server.py b/archivebox/cli/archivebox_server.py
index 05ac96e4..f25cc0c4 100644
--- a/archivebox/cli/archivebox_server.py
+++ b/archivebox/cli/archivebox_server.py
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ def main(args: Optional[List[str]]=None, stdin: Optional[IO]=None, pwd: Optional
         action='store_true',
         help='Run archivebox manage createsuperuser before starting the server',
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '--daemonize',
+        action='store_true',
+        help='Run the server in the background as a daemon',
+    )
     command = parser.parse_args(args or ())
     reject_stdin(__command__, stdin)
     
@@ -68,6 +73,7 @@ def main(args: Optional[List[str]]=None, stdin: Optional[IO]=None, pwd: Optional
         init=command.init,
         quick_init=command.quick_init,
         createsuperuser=command.createsuperuser,
+        daemonize=command.daemonize,
         out_dir=Path(pwd) if pwd else DATA_DIR,
     )
 
diff --git a/archivebox/queues/supervisor_util.py b/archivebox/queues/supervisor_util.py
index 71094235..a109828e 100644
--- a/archivebox/queues/supervisor_util.py
+++ b/archivebox/queues/supervisor_util.py
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ def stop_worker(supervisor, daemon_name):
 
 
 
-def start_server_workers(host='0.0.0.0', port='8000'):
-    supervisor = get_or_create_supervisord_process(daemonize=False)
+def start_server_workers(host='0.0.0.0', port='8000', daemonize=False):
+    supervisor = get_or_create_supervisord_process(daemonize=daemonize)
     
     bg_workers = [
         {
@@ -303,18 +303,19 @@ def start_server_workers(host='0.0.0.0', port='8000'):
         start_worker(supervisor, worker)
     print()
 
-    try:
-        watch_worker(supervisor, "worker_daphne")
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        print("\n[🛑] Got Ctrl+C, stopping gracefully...")
-    except SystemExit:
-        pass
-    except BaseException as e:
-        print(f"\n[🛑] Got {e.__class__.__name__} exception, stopping web server gracefully...")
-        raise
-    finally:
-        stop_worker(supervisor, "worker_daphne")
-        time.sleep(0.5)
+    if not daemonize:
+        try:
+            watch_worker(supervisor, "worker_daphne")
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            print("\n[🛑] Got Ctrl+C, stopping gracefully...")
+        except SystemExit:
+            pass
+        except BaseException as e:
+            print(f"\n[🛑] Got {e.__class__.__name__} exception, stopping web server gracefully...")
+            raise
+        finally:
+            stop_worker(supervisor, "worker_daphne")
+            time.sleep(0.5)
 
 
 def start_cli_workers(watch=False):