diff --git a/mitmproxy/script/script.py b/mitmproxy/script/script.py
index 48efcde54..9d149f4d8 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/script/script.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/script/script.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ by the mitmproxy-specific ScriptContext.
 # Do not import __future__ here, this would apply transitively to the inline scripts.
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, division
 
+import inspect
 import os
 import shlex
 import sys
 import contextlib
+import warnings
 
 import six
 
@@ -20,8 +22,10 @@ from mitmproxy import exceptions
 def setargs(args):
     oldargs = sys.argv
     sys.argv = args
-    yield
-    sys.argv = oldargs
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        sys.argv = oldargs
 
 
 class Script(object):
@@ -98,7 +102,15 @@ class Script(object):
         finally:
             sys.path.pop()
             sys.path.pop()
-        return self.run("start", self.args)
+
+        start_fn = self.ns.get("start")
+        if len(inspect.getargspec(start_fn).args) == 2:
+            warnings.warn(
+                "The 'args' argument of the start() script hook is deprecated. "
+                "Please use sys.argv instead."
+            )
+            return self.run("start", self.args)
+        return self.run("start")
 
     def unload(self):
         try: