diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 55b9f31d..26072788 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ Available options::
                     [--cinder-vol-id CINDER_VOL_ID] [--nova-inst-id NOVA_INST_ID]
                     [--cindernative-vol-id CINDERNATIVE_VOL_ID]
                     [--download-limit DOWNLOAD_LIMIT]
-                    [--sql-server-conf SQL_SERVER_CONF] [--vssadmin]
+                    [--sql-server-conf SQL_SERVER_CONF]
                     [--command COMMAND] [--compression {gzip,bzip2,xz}]
                     [--storage {local,swift,ssh}] [--ssh-key SSH_KEY]
                     [--ssh-username SSH_USERNAME] [--ssh-host SSH_HOST]
@@ -966,8 +966,6 @@ Available options::
                             Set the SQL Server configuration file where freezer
                             retrieve the sql server instance. Following is an
                             example of config file: instance = <db-instance>
-      --vssadmin            Create a backup using a snapshot on windows using
-                            vssadmin. Options are: True and False, default is True
       --command COMMAND     Command executed by exec action
       --compression {gzip,bzip2,xz}
                             compression algorithm to use. gzip is default
diff --git a/freezer/arguments.py b/freezer/arguments.py
index 59f02bdd..df7b6b43 100644
--- a/freezer/arguments.py
+++ b/freezer/arguments.py
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ DEFAULT_PARAMS = {
     'upload_limit': None, 'always_level': False, 'version': False,
     'dry_run': False, 'lvm_snapsize': DEFAULT_LVM_SNAPSIZE,
     'restore_abs_path': False, 'log_file': None, 'log_level': "info",
-    'mode': 'fs', 'action': 'backup',
-    'vssadmin': False, 'shadow': '', 'shadow_path': '',
+    'mode': 'fs', 'action': 'backup', 'shadow': '', 'shadow_path': '',
     'windows_volume': '', 'command': None, 'metadata_out': False,
     'storage': 'swift', 'ssh_key': '', 'ssh_username': '', 'ssh_host': '',
     'ssh_port': 22, 'compression': 'gzip'
@@ -150,7 +149,8 @@ def backup_arguments():
         '-s', '--snapshot', action='store_true',
         help=('Create a snapshot of the fs containing the resource to backup.'
               ' When used, the lvm parameters will be guessed and/or the '
-              'default values will be used'),
+              'default values will be used, on windows it will invoke '
+              'vssadmin'),
         dest='snapshot', default=False)
     arg_parser.add_argument(
         '--lvm-auto-snap', action='store',
@@ -385,11 +385,6 @@ def backup_arguments():
         Following is an example of config file:
         instance = <db-instance>''',
         dest='sql_server_conf', default=False)
-    arg_parser.add_argument(
-        '--vssadmin', action='store_true',
-        help='''Create a backup using a snapshot on windows
-        using vssadmin. Options are: True and False, default is True''',
-        dest='vssadmin', default=False)
     arg_parser.add_argument(
         '--command', action='store',
         help='Command executed by exec action',
diff --git a/freezer/backup.py b/freezer/backup.py
index a8eea028..8d3fa83f 100644
--- a/freezer/backup.py
+++ b/freezer/backup.py
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def backup_mode_sql_server(backup_opt_dict, storage):
         winutils.stop_sql_server(sql_server_instance)
         backup(backup_opt_dict, storage, backup_opt_dict.engine)
     finally:
-        if not backup_opt_dict.vssadmin:
-            # if vssadmin is false, wait until the backup is complete
+        if not backup_opt_dict.snapshot:
+            # if snapshot is false, wait until the backup is complete
             # to start sql server again
             winutils.start_sql_server(sql_server_instance)
 
@@ -213,10 +213,7 @@ def snapshot_create(backup_opt_dict):
     """
 
     if winutils.is_windows():
-        # vssadmin is to be deprecated in favor of the --snapshot flag
         if backup_opt_dict.snapshot:
-            backup_opt_dict.vssadmin = True
-        if backup_opt_dict.vssadmin:
             # Create a shadow copy.
             backup_opt_dict.shadow_path, backup_opt_dict.shadow = \
                 vss.vss_create_shadow_copy(backup_opt_dict.windows_volume)