diff --git a/integration/util.py b/integration/util.py
index 41327bead..3371762c2 100644
--- a/integration/util.py
+++ b/integration/util.py
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ def _create_node(reactor, request, temp_dir, introducer_furl, flog_gatherer, nam
             '--shares-needed', unicode(needed),
             '--shares-happy', unicode(happy),
             '--shares-total', unicode(total),
+            '--helper',
         ]
         if not storage:
             args.append('--no-storage')
diff --git a/newsfragments/3235.feature b/newsfragments/3235.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..57908d4b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragments/3235.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Enable the helper when creating a node with `tahoe create-node --helper`
diff --git a/src/allmydata/scripts/create_node.py b/src/allmydata/scripts/create_node.py
index 084530f21..2634e0915 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/scripts/create_node.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/scripts/create_node.py
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ class CreateNodeOptions(CreateClientOptions):
     optFlags = [
         ("no-storage", None, "Do not offer storage service to other nodes."),
         ("storage-dir", None, "Path where the storage will be placed."),
+        ("helper", None, "Enable helper"),
     ] + TOR_FLAGS + I2P_FLAGS
 
     synopsis = "[options] [NODEDIR]"
@@ -334,7 +335,10 @@ def write_client_config(c, config):
 
     c.write("[helper]\n")
     c.write("# Shall this node run a helper service that clients can use?\n")
-    c.write("enabled = false\n")
+    if config.get("helper"):
+        c.write("enabled = true\n")
+    else:
+        c.write("enabled = false\n")
     c.write("\n")