diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 53226dc8..37162912 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ It includes many new rules, including all new techniques introduced in MITRE ATT
 - show-features: don't show features from library functions #569 @williballenthin
 - linter: summarize results at the end #571 @williballenthin
 - linter: check for `or` with always true child statement, e.g. `optional`, colors #348 @mr-tz
+- explorer: add argument to control whether to automatically analyze when running capa explorer #548 @Ana06
 
 ### Breaking Changes
 
diff --git a/capa/ida/plugin/README.md b/capa/ida/plugin/README.md
index b40d6ff5..846e74a0 100644
--- a/capa/ida/plugin/README.md
+++ b/capa/ida/plugin/README.md
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ You can install capa explorer using the following steps:
 
 1. Open IDA and analyze a supported file type (select the `Manual Load` and `Load Resources` options in IDA for best results)
 2. Open capa explorer in IDA by navigating to `Edit > Plugins > FLARE capa explorer` or using the keyboard shortcut `Alt+F5`
+   You can also use `ida_loader.load_and_run_plugin("capa_explorer", arg)`. `arg` is a bitflag for which setting the LSB enables automatic analysis. See `capa.ida.plugin.form.Options` for more details.
 3. Select the `Program Analysis` tab
 4. Click the `Analyze` button
 
diff --git a/capa/ida/plugin/__init__.py b/capa/ida/plugin/__init__.py
index 2738a97e..97c11e18 100644
--- a/capa/ida/plugin/__init__.py
+++ b/capa/ida/plugin/__init__.py
@@ -54,8 +54,14 @@ class CapaExplorerPlugin(idaapi.plugin_t):
         pass
 
     def run(self, arg):
-        """called when IDA is running the plugin as a script"""
-        self.form = CapaExplorerForm(self.PLUGIN_NAME)
+        """
+        called when IDA is running the plugin as a script
+
+        args:
+          arg (int): bitflag. Setting LSB enables automatic analysis upon
+          loading. The other bits are currently undefined. See `form.Options`.
+        """
+        self.form = CapaExplorerForm(self.PLUGIN_NAME, arg)
         return True
 
 
diff --git a/capa/ida/plugin/form.py b/capa/ida/plugin/form.py
index 215ec2d7..29d8305c 100644
--- a/capa/ida/plugin/form.py
+++ b/capa/ida/plugin/form.py
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ class CapaSettingsInputDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
 class CapaExplorerForm(idaapi.PluginForm):
     """form element for plugin interface"""
 
-    def __init__(self, name):
+    def __init__(self, name, option=0):
         """initialize form elements"""
         super(CapaExplorerForm, self).__init__()
 
@@ -278,6 +278,9 @@ class CapaExplorerForm(idaapi.PluginForm):
 
         self.Show()
 
+        if option == 1:
+            self.analyze_program()
+
     def OnCreate(self, form):
         """called when plugin form is created