diff --git a/companion/src/CMakeLists.txt b/companion/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 2fdfedd2e8a..42604efbf33 100644
--- a/companion/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/companion/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -325,6 +325,17 @@ if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL "Linux")
   install(TARGETS ${SIMULATOR_NAME}
           DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
 
+  # configure custom AppRun script from template
+  configure_file(${COMPANION_TARGETS_DIR}/AppRun.in ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/AppDir/AppRun @ONLY
+  )
+
+  # Make it executable
+  file(CHMOD ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/AppDir/AppRun
+      PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE OWNER_EXECUTE
+                  GROUP_READ GROUP_EXECUTE
+                  WORLD_READ WORLD_EXECUTE
+  )
+
   # configure and set variables used by package script
   set(COMPANION_DESKTOP_FILE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${COMPANION_NAME}.desktop)
   configure_file(${COMPANION_TARGETS_DIR}/companion.desktop.in ${COMPANION_DESKTOP_FILE} @ONLY)
diff --git a/companion/targets/linux/AppRun.in b/companion/targets/linux/AppRun.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf46d159d75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/companion/targets/linux/AppRun.in
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# ARGV0 is what the AppImage was called as (includes symlink name)
+# APPDIR is set by AppImage runtime to the mount point
+CALLED_AS="$(basename "${ARGV0}")"
+CALLED_AS_LOWER="${CALLED_AS,,}"  # converts to lowercase
+
+# Check if called via symlink with "simulator" in name
+if [[ "$CALLED_AS_LOWER" == *"simulator"* ]]; then
+    exec "${APPDIR}/usr/bin/@SIMULATOR_NAME@" "$@"
+fi
+
+# Check for command-line parameter
+case "$1" in
+    --simulator)
+        shift
+        exec "${APPDIR}/usr/bin/@SIMULATOR_NAME@" "$@"
+        ;;
+    --help)
+        echo "EdgeTX Companion @VERSION@ AppImage"
+        echo ""
+        echo "AppImage Options:"
+        echo "  --simulator      Launch Simulator instead"
+        echo "  --apprun-help    Show AppImage routing help"
+        echo ""
+        echo "Companion Help:"
+        exec "${APPDIR}/usr/bin/@COMPANION_NAME@" --help
+        ;;
+    --apprun-help)
+        echo "EdgeTX Companion AppImage Usage: $0 [OPTIONS]"
+        echo ""
+        echo "Routing Options:"
+        echo "  (no options)     Launch Companion"
+        echo "  --simulator      Launch Simulator"
+        echo "  --help           Show Companion help (with AppImage options)"
+        echo "  --apprun-help    Show this AppImage routing help only"
+        echo ""
+        echo "Symlink Usage:"
+        echo "  Create a symlink with 'simulator' in the name to launch Simulator:"
+        echo "  ln -s @COMPANION_NAME@.AppImage @SIMULATOR_NAME@.AppImage"
+        echo "  ./@SIMULATOR_NAME@.AppImage"
+        echo ""
+        echo "Examples:"
+        echo "  $0                    # Launch Companion"
+        echo "  $0 --simulator        # Launch Simulator"
+        echo "  $0 --simulator --help # Show Simulator help"
+        exit 0
+        ;;
+    *)
+        exec "${APPDIR}/usr/bin/@COMPANION_NAME@" "$@"
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/companion/targets/linux/CPackLinuxDeploy.cmake.in b/companion/targets/linux/CPackLinuxDeploy.cmake.in
index af076ef4cf8..0a32e44bd4d 100644
--- a/companion/targets/linux/CPackLinuxDeploy.cmake.in
+++ b/companion/targets/linux/CPackLinuxDeploy.cmake.in
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ execute_process(COMMAND @CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM@ DESTDIR=@APPIMAGE_DIR@ install
 # This is done by cmake install target
 # setup Companion application
 # add -v0 to linuxdeploy for debug info
-execute_process(COMMAND env LDAI_NO_APPSTREAM=1 @LINUXDEPLOY_APP@ --appdir @APPIMAGE_DIR@ -e @COMPANION_NAME@ -d @COMPANION_DESKTOP_FILE@ --plugin qt --output appimage
+execute_process(COMMAND env LDAI_NO_APPSTREAM=1 @LINUXDEPLOY_APP@ --appdir @APPIMAGE_DIR@ -e @COMPANION_NAME@ -e @SIMULATOR_NAME@ -d @COMPANION_DESKTOP_FILE@ --custom-apprun @CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@/AppDir/AppRun --plugin qt --output appimage
                 WORKING_DIRECTORY @CMAKE_BINARY_DIR@)
diff --git a/companion/targets/linux/simulator.desktop.in b/companion/targets/linux/simulator.desktop.in
index a86cb95765c..e37d18e82c1 100644
--- a/companion/targets/linux/simulator.desktop.in
+++ b/companion/targets/linux/simulator.desktop.in
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Name=EdgeTX Simulator @VERSION@
 GenericName=Transmitter Simulator App
 Comment=The Ultimate Transmitter Simulator
 Icon=@COMPANION_NAME@
-Exec=@SIMULATOR_NAME@
+Exec=@COMPANION_NAME@ --simulator
 Terminal=false
 StartupNotify=false
 Categories=Utility;