diff --git a/demo/clean.sh b/demo/clean.sh
index d5649fee8..c5dabd476 100755
--- a/demo/clean.sh
+++ b/demo/clean.sh
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ fi
 find "$DIR" -name "*.log" -delete
 find "$DIR" -name "*.db" -delete
 
+rm -rf $DIR/etc
diff --git a/demo/start.sh b/demo/start.sh
index 7e33feca8..fc6cd6303 100755
--- a/demo/start.sh
+++ b/demo/start.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ cd "$DIR/.."
 
 mkdir -p demo/etc
 
+# Check the --no-rate-limit param
+PARAMS=""
+if [ $# -eq 1 ]; then
+    if [ $1 = "--no-rate-limit" ]; then
+	    PARAMS="--rc-messages-per-second 1000 --rc-message-burst-count 1000"
+    fi
+fi
+
 for port in 8080 8081 8082; do
     echo "Starting server on port $port... "
 
@@ -23,7 +31,8 @@ for port in 8080 8081 8082; do
         -d "$DIR/$port.db" \
         -D --pid-file "$DIR/$port.pid" \
         --manhole $((port + 1000)) \
-        --tls-dh-params-path "demo/demo.tls.dh"
+        --tls-dh-params-path "demo/demo.tls.dh" \
+		$PARAMS
 
     python -m synapse.app.homeserver \
         --config-path "demo/etc/$port.config" \