diff --git a/repo2docker/__main__.py b/repo2docker/__main__.py
index 2f9887ff..1b52b1ae 100644
--- a/repo2docker/__main__.py
+++ b/repo2docker/__main__.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ def make_r2d(argv=None):
         )
         sys.exit(1)
 
-    if args.ports and not r2d.run_cmd:
+    if args.ports and len(args.ports) > 1 and not r2d.run_cmd:
         print(
             "To publish user defined port mapping, user must specify "
             "the command to run in the container"
diff --git a/repo2docker/app.py b/repo2docker/app.py
index d9a114a4..e11f36b6 100755
--- a/repo2docker/app.py
+++ b/repo2docker/app.py
@@ -595,8 +595,24 @@ class Repo2Docker(Application):
         self.hostname = host_name
 
         if not self.run_cmd:
-            port = str(self._get_free_port())
-            self.port = port
+            if len(self.ports) == 1:
+                # single port mapping specified
+                # retrieve container and host port from dict
+                # {'8888/tcp': ('hostname', 'port')}
+                # or
+                # {'8888/tcp': 'port'}
+                container_port_proto, host_port = next(iter(self.ports.items()))
+                if isinstance(host_port, tuple):
+                    # (hostname, port) tuple or string port
+                    host_name, host_port = host_port
+                    self.hostname = host_name
+                host_port = int(host_port)
+                container_port = int(container_port_proto.split("/", 1)[0])
+            else:
+                # no port specified, pick a random one
+                container_port = host_port = str(self._get_free_port())
+                self.ports = {f"{container_port}/tcp": host_port}
+            self.port = host_port
             # To use the option --NotebookApp.custom_display_url
             # make sure the base-notebook image is updated:
             # docker pull jupyter/base-notebook
@@ -606,20 +622,13 @@ class Repo2Docker(Application):
                 "--ip",
                 "0.0.0.0",
                 "--port",
-                port,
-                "--NotebookApp.custom_display_url=http://{}:{}".format(host_name, port),
+                container_port,
+                f"--NotebookApp.custom_display_url=http://{host_name}:{host_port}"
                 "--NotebookApp.default_url=/lab",
             ]
-            ports = {"%s/tcp" % port: port}
         else:
             # run_cmd given by user, if port is also given then pass it on
             run_cmd = self.run_cmd
-            if self.ports:
-                ports = self.ports
-            else:
-                ports = {}
-        # store ports on self so they can be retrieved in tests
-        self.ports = ports
 
         container_volumes = {}
         if self.volumes:
@@ -634,7 +643,7 @@ class Repo2Docker(Application):
 
         run_kwargs = dict(
             publish_all_ports=self.all_ports,
-            ports=ports,
+            ports=self.ports,
             command=run_cmd,
             volumes=container_volumes,
             environment=self.environment,
diff --git a/repo2docker/utils.py b/repo2docker/utils.py
index ef61814b..e8833bd8 100644
--- a/repo2docker/utils.py
+++ b/repo2docker/utils.py
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ def validate_and_generate_port_mapping(port_mappings):
             raise ValueError(
                 'Port specification "{}" has ' "an invalid port.".format(mapping)
             )
-        if p > 65535:
+        if not 0 < p <= 65535:
             raise ValueError(
                 'Port specification "{}" specifies '
-                "a port above 65535.".format(mapping)
+                "a port outside 1-65535.".format(mapping)
             )
         return port
 
@@ -168,7 +168,12 @@ def validate_and_generate_port_mapping(port_mappings):
         return ports
 
     for mapping in port_mappings:
-        parts = mapping.split(":")
+        if ":" in mapping:
+            parts = mapping.split(":")
+        else:
+            # single port '8888' specified,
+            # treat as '8888:8888'
+            parts = [mapping, mapping]
 
         *host, container_port = parts
         # just a port
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_args.py b/tests/unit/test_args.py
index 5e8c2484..e5fd2c1a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_args.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_args.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ Test argument parsing and r2d construction
 """
 import os
 import pytest
-import logging
 from repo2docker.__main__ import make_r2d
 from repo2docker import __version__
 
@@ -71,10 +70,6 @@ def test_run_required():
     with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
         make_r2d(["--no-run", "-p", "8000:8000", "."])
 
-    # Can't publish any ports while running if we don't specify a command explicitly
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
-        make_r2d(["-p", "8000:8000", "."])
-
 
 def test_clean():
     """
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_ports.py b/tests/unit/test_ports.py
index edb71424..09944e87 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_ports.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_ports.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import docker
 import pytest
 
 from repo2docker.app import Repo2Docker
+from repo2docker.__main__ import make_r2d
 
 
 def read_port_mapping_response(
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ def read_port_mapping_response(
         else:
             break
     else:
-        pytest.fail("Never succeded in talking to %s" % url)
+        pytest.fail(f"Never succeeded in talking to {url}")
     assert "Directory listing" in r.text
 
 
@@ -113,3 +114,16 @@ def test_port_mapping(request, tmpdir, host, protocol):
     """Test a port mapping"""
     port = str(random.randint(50000, 51000))
     read_port_mapping_response(request, tmpdir, host=host, port=port, protocol=protocol)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "port_str, port_dict",
+    [
+        ("8000", {"8000/tcp": "8000"}),
+        ("8000:9000", {"9000/tcp": "8000"}),
+        ("127.0.0.1:8000:9000", {"9000/tcp": ("127.0.0.1", "8000")}),
+    ],
+)
+def test_port_args(port_str, port_dict):
+    app = make_r2d(["-p", port_str, "."])
+    assert app.ports == port_dict