diff --git a/aqt/__init__.py b/aqt/__init__.py
index be49c7d56..ccfde23b3 100644
--- a/aqt/__init__.py
+++ b/aqt/__init__.py
@@ -233,11 +233,23 @@ def run():
                              "Please notify support of this error:\n\n"+
                              traceback.format_exc())
 
-def _run():
+def _run(argv=None, exec=True):
+    """Start AnkiQt application or reuse an existing instance if one exists.
+
+    If the function is invoked with exec=False, the AnkiQt will not enter
+    the main event loop - instead the application object will be returned.
+
+    The 'exec' and 'argv' arguments will be useful for testing purposes.
+
+    If no 'argv' is supplied then 'sys.argv' will be used.
+    """
     global mw
 
+    if argv is None:
+        argv = sys.argv
+
     # parse args
-    opts, args = parseArgs(sys.argv)
+    opts, args = parseArgs(argv)
     opts.base = opts.base or ""
     opts.profile = opts.profile or ""
 
@@ -250,7 +262,7 @@ def _run():
     QCoreApplication.setAttribute(Qt.AA_EnableHighDpiScaling)
 
     # create the app
-    app = AnkiApp(sys.argv)
+    app = AnkiApp(argv)
     QCoreApplication.setApplicationName("Anki")
     if app.secondInstance():
         # we've signaled the primary instance, so we should close
@@ -285,4 +297,7 @@ environment points to a valid, writable folder.""")
     # load the main window
     import aqt.main
     mw = aqt.main.AnkiQt(app, pm, args)
-    app.exec_()
+    if exec:
+        app.exec()
+    else:
+        return app