diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py
index c9e7f6f86..32a8c1000 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, init_logger
 
 def get_argparser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="ARTIQ master")
-    parser.add_argument(
+    group = parser.add_argument_group("network")
+    group.add_argument(
         "--bind", default="::1",
         help="hostname or IP address to bind to")
-    parser.add_argument(
+    group.add_argument(
         "--port-notify", default=3250, type=int,
         help="TCP port to listen to for notifications")
-    parser.add_argument(
+    group.add_argument(
         "--port-control", default=3251, type=int,
         help="TCP port to listen to for control")
     verbosity_args(parser)
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/lda_controller.py b/artiq/frontend/lda_controller.py
index 65ebfaf1a..e96151bab 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/lda_controller.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/lda_controller.py
@@ -4,17 +4,14 @@ import argparse
 
 from artiq.devices.lda.driver import Lda, Ldasim
 from artiq.protocols.pc_rpc import simple_server_loop
-from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, init_logger
+from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, simple_network_args, init_logger
 
 
 def get_argparser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
     parser.add_argument('-d', '--device', default="LDA-102",
                         choices=["LDA-102", "LDA-602", "sim"])
-    parser.add_argument('--bind', default="::1",
-                        help="hostname or IP address to bind to")
-    parser.add_argument('-p', '--port', default=3253, type=int,
-                        help="TCP port to listen to")
+    simple_network_args(parser, 3253)
     parser.add_argument('-s', '--serial', default=None,
                         help="USB serial number of the device")
     verbosity_args(parser)
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/pdq2_controller.py b/artiq/frontend/pdq2_controller.py
index dd86de0ce..8885b2d04 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/pdq2_controller.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/pdq2_controller.py
@@ -4,15 +4,12 @@ import argparse
 
 from artiq.devices.pdq2.driver import Pdq2
 from artiq.protocols.pc_rpc import simple_server_loop
-from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, init_logger
+from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, init_logger, simple_network_args
 
 
 def get_argparser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="PDQ2 controller")
-    parser.add_argument("--bind", default="::1",
-                        help="hostname or IP address to bind to")
-    parser.add_argument("-p", "--port", default=3252, type=int,
-                        help="TCP port to listen to")
+    simple_network_args(parser, 3252)
     parser.add_argument(
         "-s", "--serial", default=None,
         help="device (FT245R) serial string [first]")
@@ -25,7 +22,6 @@ def get_argparser():
 
 def main():
     args = get_argparser().parse_args()
-
     init_logger(args)
 
     dev = Pdq2(serial=args.serial)
diff --git a/artiq/tools.py b/artiq/tools.py
index 384ae9f09..f8e5a24b7 100644
--- a/artiq/tools.py
+++ b/artiq/tools.py
@@ -38,5 +38,13 @@ def verbosity_args(parser):
                        help="decrease logging level")
 
 
+def simple_network_args(parser, default_port):
+    group = parser.add_argument_group("network")
+    group.add_argument("--bind", default="::1",
+                       help="hostname or IP address to bind to")
+    group.add_argument("-p", "--port", default=default_port, type=int,
+                       help="TCP port to listen to")
+
+
 def init_logger(args):
     logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING + args.quiet*10 - args.verbose*10)