diff --git a/bin/cros_run_parallel_vm_tests.py b/bin/cros_run_parallel_vm_tests.py
index 0c0b08b88a..2ca51a3afa 100755
--- a/bin/cros_run_parallel_vm_tests.py
+++ b/bin/cros_run_parallel_vm_tests.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ class ParallelTestRunner(object):
   """
 
   def __init__(self, tests, base_ssh_port=_DEFAULT_BASE_SSH_PORT, board=None,
-               image_path=None, order_output=False, results_dir_root=None):
+               image_path=None, order_output=False, results_dir_root=None,
+               use_emerged=False):
     """Constructs and initializes the test runner class.
 
     Args:
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ class ParallelTestRunner(object):
     self._image_path = image_path
     self._order_output = order_output
     self._results_dir_root = results_dir_root
+    self._use_emerged = use_emerged
 
   def _SpawnTests(self):
     """Spawns VMs and starts the test runs on them.
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ class ParallelTestRunner(object):
       if self._results_dir_root:
         args.append('--results_dir_root=%s/%s.%d' %
                     (self._results_dir_root, test, ssh_port))
+      if self._use_emerged: args.append('--use_emerged')
       Info('Running %r...' % args)
       output = None
       if self._order_output:
@@ -142,6 +145,8 @@ def main():
   parser.add_option('--results_dir_root',
                     help='Root results directory. If none specified, each test '
                     'will store its results in a separate /tmp directory.')
+  parser.add_option('--use_emerged', action='store_true', default=False,
+                    help='Force use of emerged autotest packages')
   (options, args) = parser.parse_args()
 
   if not args:
@@ -150,7 +155,7 @@ def main():
 
   runner = ParallelTestRunner(args, options.base_ssh_port, options.board,
                               options.image_path, options.order_output,
-                              options.results_dir_root)
+                              options.results_dir_root, options.use_emerged)
   runner.Run()
 
 
diff --git a/bin/cros_run_vm_test b/bin/cros_run_vm_test
index 6f5ded2f72..fbbee23c7c 100755
--- a/bin/cros_run_vm_test
+++ b/bin/cros_run_vm_test
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ MAX_RETRIES=3
 get_default_board
 
 DEFINE_string board "$DEFAULT_BOARD" \
-    "The board for which you built autotest."
+    "The board for which you built autotest." b
 DEFINE_string image_path "" "Full path of the VM image"
 DEFINE_string results_dir_root "" "alternate root results directory"
 DEFINE_string test_case "" "Name of the test case to run"
+DEFINE_boolean use_emerged ${FLAGS_FALSE} \
+    "Force use of emerged autotest packages"
 
 set -e
 
@@ -44,6 +46,11 @@ if [ -z "${FLAGS_test_case}" ] && [ -z "${FLAGS_ARGV}" ]; then
   die "You must specify a test case."
 fi
 
+USE_EMERGED=
+if [[ ${FLAGS_use_emerged} -eq ${FLAGS_TRUE} ]]; then
+  USE_EMERGED="--use_emerged"
+fi
+
 tests=( )
 [ -n "${FLAGS_test_case}" ] && tests=( "${FLAGS_test_case}" )
 for test in ${FLAGS_ARGV}; do
@@ -59,4 +66,5 @@ retry_until_ssh ${MAX_RETRIES}
   --ssh_port=${FLAGS_ssh_port} \
   --remote=127.0.0.1 \
   --results_dir_root="${FLAGS_results_dir_root}" \
+  ${USE_EMERGED} \
   "${tests[@]}"