diff --git a/home.admin/config.scripts/internet.sshtunnel.py b/home.admin/config.scripts/internet.sshtunnel.py
index 52ecdc5ee..20b439d8b 100755
--- a/home.admin/config.scripts/internet.sshtunnel.py
+++ b/home.admin/config.scripts/internet.sshtunnel.py
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import sys
 # display config script info
 if len(sys.argv) <= 1 or sys.argv[1] == "-h" or sys.argv[1] == "help":
     print("forward ports from another server to raspiblitz with reverse SSH tunnel")
-    print("internet.sshtunnel.py [on|off|restore] [USER]@[SERVER:PORT] \"[INTERNAL-PORT]<[EXTERNAL-PORT]\"")
-    print("note that [INTERNAL-PORT]<[EXTERNAL-PORT] can one or multiple forwardings")
+    print("internet.sshtunnel.py on|off|restore USER@SERVER:PORT [--m:MONITORINGPORT] \"INTERNAL-PORT<EXTERNAL-PORT\"")
+    print("note that INTERNAL-PORT<EXTERNAL-PORT can one or multiple forwardings")
     sys.exit(1)
 
 #
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ After=network.target
 User=root
 Group=root
 Environment="AUTOSSH_GATETIME=0"
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/autossh -M 0 -N -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o ServerAliveInterval=60 -o ServerAliveCountMax=2 [PLACEHOLDER]
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/autossh [MONITORING-PORT] -N -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no -o ServerAliveInterval=60 -o ServerAliveCountMax=2 [PLACEHOLDER]
 StandardOutput=journal
 
 [Install]
@@ -77,11 +77,24 @@ def on(restore_on_update=False):
 
     # generate additional parameter for autossh (forwarding ports)
     if len(sys.argv) < 4:
-        print("[INTERNAL-PORT]<[EXTERNAL-PORT] missing")
+        print("missing parameters")
         sys.exit(1)
+
+    # check for optional monitoring port parameter
+    i = 3
+    monitoringPort="-M 0"
+    optionalParameter=""
+    if sys.argv[3].count("--m:") > 0:
+         # get monitoring port number
+         monitoringPort = sys.argv[3][4:]
+         optionalParameter= "--m:{} ".format(monitoringPort)
+         monitoringPort = "-M {}".format(monitoringPort)
+         print("# found optional monitoring port: {}".format(monitoringPort))
+         # port forwadings start one parameter later
+         i = 4
+
     ssh_ports = ""
     additional_parameters = ""
-    i = 3
     while i < len(sys.argv):
 
         # check forwarding format
@@ -122,7 +135,8 @@ def on(restore_on_update=False):
 
     # generate custom service config
     service_data = SERVICE_TEMPLATE.replace("[PLACEHOLDER]", additional_parameters)
-
+    service_data = service_data.replace("[MONITORING-PORT]", monitoringPort)
+    
     # debug print out service
     print()
     print("*** New systemd service: {}".format(SERVICE_NAME))
@@ -157,7 +171,7 @@ def on(restore_on_update=False):
         file_content = f.read()
     if file_content.count("sshtunnel=") == 0:
         file_content = file_content + "\nsshtunnel=''"
-    file_content = re.sub("sshtunnel=.*", "sshtunnel='%s %s'" % (ssh_server, ssh_ports), file_content)
+    file_content = re.sub("sshtunnel=.*", "sshtunnel='%s %s%s'" % (ssh_server, optionalParameter, ssh_ports), file_content)
 
     if not restore_on_update:
         server_domain = ssh_server.split("@")[1]