diff --git a/mininet/cli.py b/mininet/cli.py
index 5418d69..8ea0345 100644
--- a/mininet/cli.py
+++ b/mininet/cli.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from subprocess import call
 from cmd import Cmd
 
 from mininet.log import info, output, error
+from mininet.xterm import makeXterms
 
         
 class CLI( Cmd ):
@@ -162,6 +163,18 @@ class CLI( Cmd ):
         else:
             self.mn.configLinkStatus( *args )
 
+    def do_xterm( self, args ):
+        "Spawn xterm for the given node."
+        args = args.split()
+        if not args:
+            error( 'please specify node list: xterm node1 node2 ...\n' )
+        else:
+            for arg in args:
+                if arg not in self.nodemap:
+                    error( 'arg not in network: %s\n' % arg )
+                else:
+                    self.mn.terms += makeXterms( [ self.nodemap[ arg ] ] )
+
     def do_exit( self, args ):
         "Exit"
         return 'exited by user command'
diff --git a/mininet/xterm.py b/mininet/xterm.py
index e493366..8883d83 100644
--- a/mininet/xterm.py
+++ b/mininet/xterm.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import re
 from subprocess import Popen
 from mininet.util import quietRun
 
-def makeXterm( node, title ):
+def makeXterm( node, title = '' ):
     """Run screen on a node, and hook up an xterm.
        node: Node object
        title: base title
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def cleanUpScreens():
         if m:
             quietRun( 'screen -S ' + m.group( 1 ) + ' -X kill' )
 
-def makeXterms( nodes, title ):
+def makeXterms( nodes, title = '' ):
     """Create XTerms.
        nodes: list of Node objects
        title: base title for each