diff --git a/docs/RUNBOOK-PhaseC.md b/docs/RUNBOOK-PhaseC.md
index 572b2e5..e9faf24 100644
--- a/docs/RUNBOOK-PhaseC.md
+++ b/docs/RUNBOOK-PhaseC.md
@@ -179,6 +179,10 @@ waits for the guest, runs the build, collects artifacts, and destroys the
 clone. It is exactly what the runner invokes on each push, and you can run it
 by hand too.
 
+The examples use `Simone/burnin-dummy`, whose `build.sh` simulates a real build
+(sleeps ~30 s, then writes `dist/build-info.txt`) — so the run exercises the
+full clone → build → artifact-collect → destroy path end to end.
+
 ```bash
 ci job \
   --job-id manual-$(date +%s) \
@@ -246,6 +250,19 @@ ci vm new \
   --start                          # prints the clone's VMX path on stdout
 ```
 
+`--start` boots the clone headless. To watch it in the Workstation GUI instead,
+add `--gui` (needs an X display — see [§4.7](#47-open-a-vm-in-the-workstation-gui)):
+
+```bash
+ci vm new \
+  --template /var/lib/ci/templates/LinuxBuild2404/LinuxBuild2404.vmx \
+  --snapshot BaseClean-Linux \
+  --clone-base-dir /var/lib/ci/build-vms \
+  --job-id dbg-1 \
+  --guest-os linux \
+  --start --gui
+```
+
 ### 4.2 Wait until reachable
 
 Prints the guest IP once ready. Use `--ip-address` to skip polling, or
diff --git a/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/vm.py b/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/vm.py
index 10eeecf..73ba735 100644
--- a/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/vm.py
+++ b/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/vm.py
@@ -406,7 +406,15 @@ def vm_cleanup(
     "start_vm",
     is_flag=True,
     default=False,
-    help="Start the clone headless immediately after creation.",
+    help="Start the clone immediately after creation.",
+)
+@click.option(
+    "--gui/--nogui",
+    "gui",
+    default=False,
+    show_default=True,
+    help="With --start, open the Workstation GUI window (--gui, needs an X "
+    "display) or start headless (--nogui, the default).",
 )
 def vm_new(
     template: str,
@@ -416,6 +424,7 @@ def vm_new(
     vmrun_path: str | None,
     guest_os: str,
     start_vm: bool,
+    gui: bool,
 ) -> None:
     """Create a linked clone of the template VM for an ephemeral CI build.
 
@@ -475,9 +484,10 @@ def vm_new(
     click.echo(f"[vm new] clone created in {elapsed:.1f}s", err=True)
 
     if start_vm:
-        click.echo("[vm new] starting VM headless...", err=True)
+        mode = "GUI" if gui else "headless"
+        click.echo(f"[vm new] starting VM ({mode})...", err=True)
         try:
-            backend.start(handle, headless=True)
+            backend.start(handle, headless=not gui)
         except BackendError as exc:
             raise click.ClickException(f"vmrun start failed: {exc}") from exc
         click.echo("[vm new] VM started.", err=True)