diff --git a/launcher.py b/launcher.py
index 3233660..f4e164d 100644
--- a/launcher.py
+++ b/launcher.py
@@ -14,32 +14,9 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     psutil = None
 
-def main():
-    import argparse
-
-    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Starts an instance of PyLink IRC Services.')
-    parser.add_argument('config', help='specifies the path to the config file (defaults to pylink.yml)', nargs='?', default='pylink.yml')
-    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="displays the program version and exits", action='store_true')
-    parser.add_argument("-c", "--check-pid", help="no-op; kept for compatiblity with PyLink 1.x", action='store_true')
-    parser.add_argument("-n", "--no-pid", help="skips generating and checking PID files", action='store_true')
-    parser.add_argument("-r", "--restart", help="restarts the PyLink instance with the given config file", action='store_true')
-    parser.add_argument("-s", "--stop", help="stops the PyLink instance with the given config file", action='store_true')
-    parser.add_argument("-R", "--rehash", help="rehashes the PyLink instance with the given config file", action='store_true')
-    parser.add_argument("-d", "--daemonize", help="[experimental] daemonizes the PyLink instance on POSIX systems", action='store_true')
-    args = parser.parse_args()
-
-    if args.version:  # Display version and exit
-        print('PyLink %s (in VCS: %s)' % (__version__, real_version))
-        sys.exit()
-
-    # XXX: repetitive
-    elif args.no_pid and (args.restart or args.stop or args.rehash):
-        print('ERROR: --no-pid cannot be combined with --restart or --stop')
-        sys.exit(1)
-    elif args.rehash and os.name != 'posix':
-        print('ERROR: Rehashing via the command line is not supported outside Unix.')
-        sys.exit(1)
+args = {}
 
+def _main():
     # FIXME: we can't pass logging on to conf until we set up the config...
     conf.load_conf(args.config)
 
@@ -178,3 +155,42 @@ def main():
     world.started.set()
     log.info("Loaded plugins: %s", ', '.join(sorted(world.plugins.keys())))
     selectdriver.start()
+
+def main():
+    import argparse
+
+    global args
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Starts an instance of PyLink IRC Services.')
+    parser.add_argument('config', help='specifies the path to the config file (defaults to pylink.yml)', nargs='?', default='pylink.yml')
+    parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="displays the program version and exits", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-c", "--check-pid", help="no-op; kept for compatiblity with PyLink 1.x", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-n", "--no-pid", help="skips generating and checking PID files", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-r", "--restart", help="restarts the PyLink instance with the given config file", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-s", "--stop", help="stops the PyLink instance with the given config file", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-R", "--rehash", help="rehashes the PyLink instance with the given config file", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-d", "--daemonize", help="[experimental] daemonizes the PyLink instance on POSIX systems", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-t", "--trace", help="traces through running Python code; do not use in production instances!", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument('--trace-ignore-mods', help='comma-separated list of extra modules to ignore when tracing', action='store', default='')
+    parser.add_argument('--trace-ignore-dirs', help='comma-separated list of extra directories to ignore when tracing', action='store', default='')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if args.version:  # Display version and exit
+        print('PyLink %s (in VCS: %s)' % (__version__, real_version))
+        sys.exit()
+
+    # XXX: repetitive
+    elif args.no_pid and (args.restart or args.stop or args.rehash):
+        print('ERROR: --no-pid cannot be combined with --restart or --stop')
+        sys.exit(1)
+    elif args.rehash and os.name != 'posix':
+        print('ERROR: Rehashing via the command line is not supported outside Unix.')
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if args.trace:
+        import trace
+        tracer = trace.Trace(ignoremods=args.trace_ignore_mods.split(','),
+                             ignoredirs=args.trace_ignore_dirs.split(','))
+        tracer.runctx('_main()', globals=globals(), locals=locals())
+    else:
+        _main()