diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_ctlmgr.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_ctlmgr.py
index 100eae10b..74b2b5191 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_ctlmgr.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_ctlmgr.py
@@ -28,8 +28,15 @@ def get_argparser():
 
 
 class Controllers:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.host_filter = None
+
     def __setitem__(self, k, v):
-        print("set {} {}".format(k, v))
+        if (isinstance(v, dict) and v["type"] == "controller"
+                and v["host"] == self.host_filter):
+            command = v["command"].format(bind=self.host_filter,
+                                          port=v["port"])
+            print("start controller {}: {}".format(k, command))
 
     def __delitem__(self, k):
         print("del {}".format(k))
@@ -64,8 +71,13 @@ def main():
         subscriber = Subscriber("devices", controller_db.sync_struct_init)
         while True:
             try:
+                def set_host_filter():
+                    s = subscriber.writer.get_extra_info("socket")
+                    localhost = s.getsockname()[0]
+                    controller_db.current_controllers.host_filter = localhost
                 loop.run_until_complete(
-                    subscriber.connect(args.server, args.port))
+                    subscriber.connect(args.server, args.port,
+                                       set_host_filter))
                 try:
                     loop.run_until_complete(subscriber.receive_task)
                 finally:
diff --git a/examples/ddb.pyon b/examples/ddb.pyon
index 4d55f30f1..4f666f7db 100644
--- a/examples/ddb.pyon
+++ b/examples/ddb.pyon
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
         "host": "::1",
         "port": 3253,
         "target_name": "lda",
-        "command": "lda_controller -p {port} -d sim"
+        "command": "lda_controller -p {port} --bind {bind} -d sim"
     },
 
     "pmt": "pmt0",