diff --git a/plum/service.py b/plum/service.py
index 8e7660a11..254bc9d99 100644
--- a/plum/service.py
+++ b/plum/service.py
@@ -29,10 +29,12 @@ class Service(object):
         while len(self.containers) > num:
             self.stop_container()
 
-    def start_container(self):
+    def start_container(self, **override_options):
+        options = dict(self.options)
+        options.update(override_options)
         number = self.next_container_number()
         name = make_name(self.name, number)
-        container = self.client.create_container(name=name, **self.options)
+        container = self.client.create_container(name=name, **options)
         self.client.start(
             container['Id'],
             links=self._get_links(),
diff --git a/plum/tests/service_test.py b/plum/tests/service_test.py
index 7bd0e0b23..ed2c3db78 100644
--- a/plum/tests/service_test.py
+++ b/plum/tests/service_test.py
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ class NameTestCase(DockerClientTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(service.containers), 0)
 
     def test_start_container_passes_through_options(self):
+        db = self.create_service('db')
+        db.start_container(environment={'FOO': 'BAR'})
+        self.assertEqual(db.inspect()[0]['Config']['Env'], ['FOO=BAR'])
+
+    def test_start_container_inherits_options_from_constructor(self):
         db = self.create_service('db', environment={'FOO': 'BAR'})
         db.start_container()
         self.assertEqual(db.inspect()[0]['Config']['Env'], ['FOO=BAR'])