diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b7242f7..c064cc6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ shut down immediately. They leave no traces (outside of `/nix/store`) on the hos
   NixOps can be used to deploy to various other backends like cloud providers.\
   Requires: [Nix](https://nixos.org/nix/), [VirtualBox](https://www.virtualbox.org)
 
+Run the examples with option `--interactive` or `-i` to start a shell for interacting with
+the node:
+```bash
+./deploy-qemu-vm.sh -i
+```
+
 #### Tests
 The internal test suite is also useful for exploring features.  
 The following `run-tests.sh` commands leave no traces (outside of `/nix/store`) on
diff --git a/examples/deploy-container.sh b/examples/deploy-container.sh
index 1cc1030..17c3496 100755
--- a/examples/deploy-container.sh
+++ b/examples/deploy-container.sh
@@ -17,12 +17,9 @@ fi
 if [[ ! -v IN_NIX_SHELL ]]; then
     echo "Running script in nix shell env..."
     cd "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}"
-    exec nix-shell --run "./${BASH_SOURCE[0]##*/}"
+    exec nix-shell --run "./${BASH_SOURCE[0]##*/} $*"
 fi
 
-# Uncomment to start a container shell session
-# interactive=1
-
 # These commands can also be executed interactively in a shell session
 demoCmds='
 echo
@@ -42,11 +39,14 @@ echo "Bitcoind data dir:"
 sudo ls -al /var/lib/containers/demo-node/var/lib/bitcoind
 '
 
-if [[ ${interactive:-} ]]; then
-    runCmd=
-else
-    runCmd=(--run bash -c "$demoCmds")
-fi
+case ${1:-} in
+    -i|--interactive)
+        runCmd=
+        ;;
+    *)
+        runCmd=(--run bash -c "$demoCmds")
+        ;;
+esac
 
 # Build container.
 # Learn more: https://github.com/erikarvstedt/extra-container
diff --git a/examples/deploy-nixops.sh b/examples/deploy-nixops.sh
index 1f54901..568bbcd 100755
--- a/examples/deploy-nixops.sh
+++ b/examples/deploy-nixops.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 if [[ ! -v IN_NIX_SHELL ]]; then
     echo "Running script in nix shell env..."
     cd "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}"
-    exec nix-shell --run "./${BASH_SOURCE[0]##*/}"
+    exec nix-shell --run "./${BASH_SOURCE[0]##*/} $*"
 fi
 
 # Cleanup on exit
@@ -40,7 +40,11 @@ nixops deploy -d bitcoin-node
 nixops ssh bitcoin-node systemctl status bitcoind
 
 c() { nixops ssh bitcoin-node "$@"; }
-# Uncomment to start a shell session here
-# . start-bash-session.sh
+
+case ${1:-} in
+    -i|--interactive)
+        . start-bash-session.sh
+        ;;
+esac
 
 # Cleanup happens at exit (see above)
diff --git a/examples/deploy-qemu-vm.sh b/examples/deploy-qemu-vm.sh
index 6a7541f..e155126 100755
--- a/examples/deploy-qemu-vm.sh
+++ b/examples/deploy-qemu-vm.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 if [[ ! -v IN_NIX_SHELL ]]; then
     echo "Running script in nix shell env..."
     cd "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}"
-    exec nix-shell --run "./${BASH_SOURCE[0]##*/}"
+    exec nix-shell --run "./${BASH_SOURCE[0]##*/} $*"
 fi
 
 tmpDir=/tmp/nix-bitcoin-qemu-vm
@@ -91,7 +91,10 @@ echo
 echo "Node info:"
 c nodeinfo
 
-# Uncomment to start a shell session here
-# . start-bash-session.sh
+case ${1:-} in
+    -i|--interactive)
+        . start-bash-session.sh
+        ;;
+esac
 
 # Cleanup happens at exit (see above)
diff --git a/examples/start-bash-session.sh b/examples/start-bash-session.sh
index 37ba4fc..a91d91f 100644
--- a/examples/start-bash-session.sh
+++ b/examples/start-bash-session.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@
 USAGE_INFO='
 Starting shell...
 Run "c COMMAND" to execute a command on the bitcoin node
-Run "c" to start a shell session inside the node'
+Run "c" to start a shell session inside the node
+
+Example:
+c systemctl status bitcoind
+'
 
 # BASH_ENVIRONMENT contains definitions of read-only variables like 'BASHOPTS' that
 # cause warnings on evaluation. Suppress these warnings while sourcing.