diff --git a/cmd/limactl/clone.go b/cmd/limactl/clone.go
index 18e1c5a6fbd..bd598210d85 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/clone.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/clone.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Not to be confused with 'limactl copy' ('limactl cp').
 		ValidArgsFunction: cloneBashComplete,
 		GroupID:           advancedCommand,
 	}
+	cloneCommand.Flags().Bool("start", false, "Start the instance after cloning")
 	editflags.RegisterEdit(cloneCommand, "[limactl edit] ")
 	return cloneCommand
 }
@@ -98,17 +99,21 @@ func cloneAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if !tty {
-		// use "start" to start it
-		return nil
-	}
-	startNow, err := askWhetherToStart()
+	start, err := flags.GetBool("start")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if !startNow {
+
+	if tty && !flags.Changed("start") {
+		start, err = askWhetherToStart()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if !start {
 		return nil
 	}
+
 	err = networks.Reconcile(ctx, newInst.Name)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/cmd/limactl/edit.go b/cmd/limactl/edit.go
index c503e54abd0..8640d3451c6 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/edit.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/edit.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ func newEditCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		ValidArgsFunction: editBashComplete,
 		GroupID:           basicCommand,
 	}
+	editCommand.Flags().Bool("start", false, "Start the instance after editing")
 	editflags.RegisterEdit(editCommand, "")
 	return editCommand
 }
@@ -140,21 +141,26 @@ func editAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		logrus.Infof("Instance %q configuration edited", inst.Name)
 	}
 
-	if !tty {
-		// use "start" to start it
-		return nil
-	}
 	if inst == nil {
 		// edited a limayaml file directly
 		return nil
 	}
-	startNow, err := askWhetherToStart()
+
+	start, err := flags.GetBool("start")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if !startNow {
+
+	if tty && !flags.Changed("start") {
+		start, err = askWhetherToStart()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if !start {
 		return nil
 	}
+
 	err = networks.Reconcile(ctx, inst.Name)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/cmd/limactl/main.go b/cmd/limactl/main.go
index 39b93421a72..92c2b1b8ca9 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/main.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/main.go
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ func newApp() *cobra.Command {
 		}
 
 		if cmd.Flags().Changed("yes") {
+			switch cmd.Name() {
+			case "clone", "edit":
+				logrus.Warn("--yes flag is deprecated (--tty=false is still supported and works in the same way. Also consider using --start)")
+			}
+
 			// Sets the value of the yesValue flag by using the yes flag.
 			yesValue, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("yes")
 			if yesValue {