diff --git a/udevtest.c b/udevtest.c
index 418d43de14..7b3ea6311d 100644
--- a/udevtest.c
+++ b/udevtest.c
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ out:
 int main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 {
 	int force = 0;
-	char *action = "add";
-	char *subsystem = NULL;
-	char *devpath = NULL;
+	const char *action = "add";
+	const char *subsystem = NULL;
+	const char *devpath = NULL;
 	struct udevice *udev;
 	struct sysfs_device *dev;
 	struct udev_rules rules = {};
diff --git a/udevtrigger.8 b/udevtrigger.8
index 58a379495f..5ef9e8f812 100644
--- a/udevtrigger.8
+++ b/udevtrigger.8
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 udevtrigger \- request kernel devices events for coldplug
 .SH "SYNOPSIS"
 .HP 12
-\fBudevtrigger\fR [\fB\-\-verbose\fR] [\fB\-\-dry\-run\fR] [\fB\-\-retry\-failed\fR] [\fB\-\-help\fR] [\fB\-\-subsystem\-match=\fR\fB\fIsubsystem\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-subsystem\-nomatch=\fR\fB\fIsubsystem\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-attr\-match=\fR\fB\fIattribute=value\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-attr\-nomatch=\fR\fB\fIattribute=value\fR\fR]
+\fBudevtrigger\fR [\fB\-\-verbose\fR] [\fB\-\-dry\-run\fR] [\fB\-\-retry\-failed\fR] [\fB\-\-help\fR] [\fB\-\-action=\fR\fB\fIaction\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-subsystem\-match=\fR\fB\fIsubsystem\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-subsystem\-nomatch=\fR\fB\fIsubsystem\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-attr\-match=\fR\fB\fIattribute=value\fR\fR] [\fB\-\-attr\-nomatch=\fR\fB\fIattribute=value\fR\fR]
 .SH "DESCRIPTION"
 .PP
 Trigger kernel device uevents to replay missing events at system coldplug.
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ Do not actually trigger the event.
 Trigger only the events which are failed during a previous run.
 .RE
 .PP
+\fB\-\-action=\fR\fB\fIaction\fR\fR
+.RS 4
+Type of event to be triggered. The default value is "add".
+.RE
+.PP
 \fB\-\-subsystem\-match=\fR\fB\fIsubsystem\fR\fR
 .RS 4
 Trigger events for devices which belong to a matching subsystem. This option can be specified multiple times and supports shell style pattern matching.
diff --git a/udevtrigger.c b/udevtrigger.c
index 3b5be2006e..4ef9612af0 100644
--- a/udevtrigger.c
+++ b/udevtrigger.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ static int device_list_insert(const char *path)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void trigger_uevent(const char *devpath)
+static void trigger_uevent(const char *devpath, const char *action)
 {
 	char filename[PATH_SIZE];
 	int fd;
@@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ static void trigger_uevent(const char *devpath)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (write(fd, "add", 3) < 0)
-		info("error on triggering %s: %s", filename, strerror(errno));
+	if (write(fd, action, strlen(action)) < 0)
+		info("error writing '%s' to '%s': %s", action, filename, strerror(errno));
 
 	close(fd);
 }
 
-static void exec_list(void)
+static void exec_list(const char *action)
 {
 	struct name_entry *loop_device;
 	struct name_entry *tmp_device;
@@ -137,14 +137,14 @@ static void exec_list(void)
 		if (delay_device(loop_device->name))
 			continue;
 
-		trigger_uevent(loop_device->name);
+		trigger_uevent(loop_device->name, action);
 		list_del(&loop_device->node);
 		free(loop_device);
 	}
 
 	/* trigger remaining delayed devices */
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(loop_device, tmp_device, &device_list, node) {
-		trigger_uevent(loop_device->name);
+		trigger_uevent(loop_device->name, action);
 		list_del(&loop_device->node);
 		free(loop_device);
 	}
@@ -425,11 +425,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 {
 	int failed = 0;
 	int option;
+	const char *action = "add";
 	static const struct option options[] = {
 		{ "verbose", 0, NULL, 'v' },
 		{ "dry-run", 0, NULL, 'n' },
 		{ "retry-failed", 0, NULL, 'F' },
 		{ "help", 0, NULL, 'h' },
+		{ "action", 1, NULL, 'c' },
 		{ "subsystem-match", 1, NULL, 's' },
 		{ "subsystem-nomatch", 1, NULL, 'S' },
 		{ "attr-match", 1, NULL, 'a' },
@@ -443,7 +445,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 	sysfs_init();
 
 	while (1) {
-		option = getopt_long(argc, argv, "vnFhs:S:a:A:", options, NULL);
+		option = getopt_long(argc, argv, "vnFhc:s:S:a:A:", options, NULL);
 		if (option == -1)
 			break;
 
@@ -457,6 +459,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 		case 'F':
 			failed = 1;
 			break;
+		case 'c':
+			action = optarg;
+			break;
 		case 's':
 			name_list_add(&filter_subsystem_match_list, optarg, 0);
 			break;
@@ -511,7 +516,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 				scan_block();
 		}
 	}
-	exec_list();
+	exec_list(action);
 
 exit:
 	name_list_cleanup(&filter_subsystem_match_list);
diff --git a/udevtrigger.xml b/udevtrigger.xml
index 60a7b1eaf7..eb2b9851cd 100644
--- a/udevtrigger.xml
+++ b/udevtrigger.xml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
           <arg><option>--dry-run</option></arg>
           <arg><option>--retry-failed</option></arg>
           <arg><option>--help</option></arg>
+          <arg><option>--action=<replaceable>action</replaceable></option></arg>
           <arg><option>--subsystem-match=<replaceable>subsystem</replaceable></option></arg>
           <arg><option>--subsystem-nomatch=<replaceable>subsystem</replaceable></option></arg>
           <arg><option>--attr-match=<replaceable>attribute=value</replaceable></option></arg>
@@ -60,6 +61,12 @@
               <para>Trigger only the events which are failed during a previous run.</para>
             </listitem>
           </varlistentry>
+          <varlistentry>
+            <term><option>--action=<replaceable>action</replaceable></option></term>
+            <listitem>
+              <para>Type of event to be triggered. The default value is "add".</para>
+            </listitem>
+          </varlistentry>
           <varlistentry>
             <term><option>--subsystem-match=<replaceable>subsystem</replaceable></option></term>
             <listitem>