diff --git a/arcade/application.py b/arcade/application.py
index 6a748d7505..6779af70ad 100644
--- a/arcade/application.py
+++ b/arcade/application.py
@@ -402,15 +402,20 @@ def rect(self) -> Rect:
         """Return a Rect describing the size of the window."""
         return LBWH(0, 0, self.width, self.height)
 
-    def run(self) -> None:
+    def run(self, view: View | None = None) -> None:
         """
-        Run the event loop.
+        Run the event loop. Optionally start with a specified view.
 
         After the window has been set up, and the event hooks are in place, this
         is usually one of the last commands on the main program. This is a blocking
         function starting pyglet's event loop meaning it will start to dispatch
         events such as ``on_draw`` and ``on_update``.
+
+        Args:
+            view: The view to display when starting the run. Defaults to None.
         """
+        if view is not None:
+            self.show_view(view)
         arcade.run()
 
     def close(self) -> None:
diff --git a/arcade/window_commands.py b/arcade/window_commands.py
index f4d1c22718..9bb6302fc1 100644
--- a/arcade/window_commands.py
+++ b/arcade/window_commands.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from arcade import Window
-
+    from arcade.application import View
 
 _window: Window | None = None
 
@@ -97,17 +97,23 @@ def close_window() -> None:
     gc.collect()
 
 
-def run():
+def run(view: View | None = None) -> None:
     """
-    Run the main loop.
+    Run the main loop. Optionally start with a specified view.
 
     After the window has been set up, and the event hooks are in place,
     this is usually one of the last commands on the main program.
     This is a blocking function starting pyglet's event loop meaning
     it will start to dispatch events such as ``on_draw`` and ``on_update``.
+
+    Args:
+        view: The view to display when starting the run. Defaults to None.
     """
     window = get_window()
 
+    if view is not None:
+        window.show_view(view)
+
     # Used in some unit test
     if os.environ.get("ARCADE_TEST"):
         window.on_update(1.0 / 60.0)
diff --git a/tests/unit/window/test_window.py b/tests/unit/window/test_window.py
index ba41d7ee25..4635e51632 100644
--- a/tests/unit/window/test_window.py
+++ b/tests/unit/window/test_window.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def test_window(window: arcade.Window):
     assert v[3] == height
 
     factor = window.get_pixel_ratio()
-    assert isinstance(factor, float) 
+    assert isinstance(factor, float)
     assert factor > 0
 
     def f():
@@ -52,6 +52,19 @@ def f():
     arcade.unschedule(f)
     window.test()
 
+def test_window_with_view_arg(window: arcade.Window):
+    class TestView(arcade.View):
+        def __init__(self):
+            super().__init__()
+            self.on_show_called = False
+
+        def on_show_view(self):
+            self.on_show_called = True
+    v = TestView()
+    window.run(view=v)
+
+    assert v.on_show_called
+    assert window.current_view is v
 
 def test_start_finish_render(window):
     """Test start and finish render"""
@@ -68,7 +81,7 @@ def test_start_finish_render(window):
     # Only allowed to call start_render once
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         arcade.start_render()
-  
+
     arcade.finish_render()
 
     # Make sure we rendered something to the screen