diff --git a/argh/examples/simple_example.rs b/argh/examples/simple_example.rs
index d977495..ade3212 100644
--- a/argh/examples/simple_example.rs
+++ b/argh/examples/simple_example.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@ use {argh::FromArgs, std::fmt::Debug};
 
 #[derive(FromArgs, PartialEq, Debug)]
 /// Top-level command.
+#[argh(lax_descriptions)]
 struct TopLevel {
+    /// Foo
+    #[argh(switch)]
+    common: bool,
+
     #[argh(subcommand)]
     nested: MySubCommandEnum,
 }
diff --git a/argh/src/lib.rs b/argh/src/lib.rs
index 4fb6ff5..56812d1 100644
--- a/argh/src/lib.rs
+++ b/argh/src/lib.rs
@@ -313,6 +313,24 @@
 //!     real_first_arg: String,
 //! }
 //! ```
+//! 
+//! Programs that are not designed to conform to the Fuchsia commandline tools
+//! specification may find the requirement for descriptions to begin with a
+//! lowercase letter too restrictive. This can be disabled by adding the
+//! `lax_descriptions` attribute to the type:
+//! 
+//! ```rust,no_run
+//! use argh::FromArgs;
+//!
+//! #[derive(FromArgs)]
+//! #[argh(lax_descriptions)]
+//! /// Reach new heights.
+//! struct GoUp {
+//!     /// Now you can capitalize descriptions.
+//!     #[argh(switch, short = 'j')]
+//!     jump: bool,
+//! }
+//! ```
 
 #![deny(missing_docs)]
 
diff --git a/argh/tests/lib.rs b/argh/tests/lib.rs
index 713c73d..9ac65ed 100644
--- a/argh/tests/lib.rs
+++ b/argh/tests/lib.rs
@@ -285,6 +285,21 @@ struct DescriptionStartsWithInitialism {
     x: u8,
 }
 
+/// Test that descriptions can start with any case when
+/// the type attribute `lax_descriptions` is specified.
+#[derive(FromArgs)]
+#[argh(lax_descriptions)]
+#[allow(unused)]
+struct LaxDescription {
+    /// Don't be so strict.
+    #[argh(option)]
+    x: u8,
+
+    /// don't be so strict.
+    #[argh(option)]
+    y: u8,
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn default_number() {
     #[derive(FromArgs)]
diff --git a/argh_derive/src/lib.rs b/argh_derive/src/lib.rs
index 94cc437..82b4bb4 100644
--- a/argh_derive/src/lib.rs
+++ b/argh_derive/src/lib.rs
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ fn impl_from_args_struct(
         .named
         .iter()
         .filter_map(|field| {
-            let attrs = FieldAttrs::parse(errors, field);
+            let attrs = FieldAttrs::parse(errors, field, type_attrs);
             StructField::new(errors, field, attrs)
         })
         .collect();
diff --git a/argh_derive/src/parse_attrs.rs b/argh_derive/src/parse_attrs.rs
index 04dcbdd..7f1866b 100644
--- a/argh_derive/src/parse_attrs.rs
+++ b/argh_derive/src/parse_attrs.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ pub struct Description {
 }
 
 impl FieldAttrs {
-    pub fn parse(errors: &Errors, field: &syn::Field) -> Self {
+    pub fn parse(errors: &Errors, field: &syn::Field, type_attrs: &TypeAttrs) -> Self {
         let mut this = Self::default();
 
         for attr in &field.attrs {
@@ -160,8 +160,10 @@ impl FieldAttrs {
             _ => {}
         }
 
-        if let Some(d) = &this.description {
-            check_option_description(errors, d.content.value().trim(), d.content.span());
+        if !type_attrs.lax_descriptions {
+            if let Some(d) = &this.description {
+                check_option_description(errors, d.content.value().trim(), d.content.span());
+            }
         }
 
         this
@@ -298,6 +300,7 @@ pub struct TypeAttrs {
     pub examples: Vec<syn::LitStr>,
     pub notes: Vec<syn::LitStr>,
     pub error_codes: Vec<(syn::LitInt, syn::LitStr)>,
+    pub lax_descriptions: bool,
 }
 
 impl TypeAttrs {
@@ -345,13 +348,15 @@ impl TypeAttrs {
                     if let Some(ident) = errors.expect_meta_word(meta).and_then(|p| p.get_ident()) {
                         this.parse_attr_subcommand(errors, ident);
                     }
+                } else if name.is_ident("lax_descriptions") {
+                    this.lax_descriptions = true;
                 } else {
                     errors.err(
                         &meta,
                         concat!(
                             "Invalid type-level `argh` attribute\n",
                             "Expected one of: `description`, `error_code`, `example`, `name`, ",
-                            "`note`, `subcommand`",
+                            "`note`, `subcommand`, `lax_descriptions`",
                         ),
                     );
                 }
@@ -566,7 +571,15 @@ fn parse_attr_description(errors: &Errors, m: &syn::MetaNameValue, slot: &mut Op
 /// Checks that a `#![derive(FromArgs)]` enum has an `#[argh(subcommand)]`
 /// attribute and that it does not have any other type-level `#[argh(...)]` attributes.
 pub fn check_enum_type_attrs(errors: &Errors, type_attrs: &TypeAttrs, type_span: &Span) {
-    let TypeAttrs { is_subcommand, name, description, examples, notes, error_codes } = type_attrs;
+    let TypeAttrs {
+        is_subcommand,
+        name,
+        description,
+        examples,
+        notes,
+        error_codes,
+        lax_descriptions: _,
+    } = type_attrs;
 
     // Ensure that `#[argh(subcommand)]` is present.
     if is_subcommand.is_none() {