diff --git a/python/spot/impl.i b/python/spot/impl.i
index 6affd03f8..d723a70f1 100644
--- a/python/spot/impl.i
+++ b/python/spot/impl.i
@@ -761,6 +761,11 @@ def state_is_accepting(self, src) -> "bool":
     return self->new_univ_edge(src, v.begin(), v.end(), cond, acc);
   }
 
+  void set_univ_init_state(const std::vector<unsigned>& v)
+  {
+    self->set_univ_init_state(v.begin(), v.end());
+  }
+
   void report_univ_dest(unsigned src)
   {
     if (self->is_univ_dest(src))
diff --git a/spot/graph/graph.hh b/spot/graph/graph.hh
index 88a3b7feb..d5940028e 100644
--- a/spot/graph/graph.hh
+++ b/spot/graph/graph.hh
@@ -766,6 +766,27 @@ namespace spot
       return t;
     }
 
+    /// \brief Create a new universal destination group
+    ///
+    /// The resulting state number can be used as the destination of
+    /// an edge.
+    ///
+    /// \param dst_begin start of a non-empty container of destination states
+    /// \param dst_end end of a non-empty container of destination states
+    template <typename I>
+    state
+    new_univ_dests(I dst_begin, I dst_end)
+    {
+      unsigned sz = std::distance(dst_begin, dst_end);
+      if (sz == 1)
+        return *dst_begin;
+      SPOT_ASSERT(sz > 1);
+      unsigned d = dests_.size();
+      dests_.emplace_back(sz);
+      dests_.insert(dests_.end(), dst_begin, dst_end);
+      return ~d;
+    }
+
     /// \brief Create a new universal edge
     ///
     /// \param src the source state
@@ -776,14 +797,8 @@ namespace spot
     edge
     new_univ_edge(state src, I dst_begin, I dst_end, Args&&... args)
     {
-      unsigned sz = std::distance(dst_begin, dst_end);
-      if (sz == 1)
-        return new_edge(src, *dst_begin, std::forward<Args>(args)...);
-      SPOT_ASSERT(sz > 1);
-      unsigned d = dests_.size();
-      dests_.emplace_back(sz);
-      dests_.insert(dests_.end(), dst_begin, dst_end);
-      return new_edge(src, ~d, std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+      return new_edge(src, new_univ_dests(dst_begin, dst_end),
+                      std::forward<Args>(args)...);
     }
 
     /// \brief Create a new universal edge
diff --git a/spot/parseaut/parseaut.yy b/spot/parseaut/parseaut.yy
index 1db58e981..8b6e64ebc 100644
--- a/spot/parseaut/parseaut.yy
+++ b/spot/parseaut/parseaut.yy
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ extern "C" int strverscmp(const char *s1, const char *s2);
       std::vector<bdd>::const_iterator cur_guard;
       map_t dest_map;
       std::vector<state_info> info_states; // States declared and used.
-      std::vector<std::pair<spot::location, unsigned>> start; // Initial states;
+      std::vector<std::pair<spot::location,
+                            std::vector<unsigned>>> start; // Initial states;
       std::unordered_map<std::string, bdd> alias;
       struct prop_info
       {
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ extern "C" int strverscmp(const char *s1, const char *s2);
 %left '&'
 %nonassoc '!'
 
-%type <states> state-conj-2 state-conj-checked
+%type <states> init-state-conj-2 state-conj-2 state-conj-checked
 %type <num> checked-state-num state-num acc-set sign
 %type <b> label-expr
 %type <mark> acc-sig acc-sets trans-acc_opt state-acc_opt
@@ -348,13 +349,14 @@ header: format-version header-items
 	    {
 	      unsigned states = res.states;
 	      for (auto& p : res.start)
-		if ((unsigned) res.states <= p.second)
-		  {
-		    error(p.first,
-			  "initial state number is larger than state count...");
-		    error(res.states_loc, "... declared here.");
-		    states = std::max(states, p.second + 1);
-		  }
+                for (unsigned s: p.second)
+                  if ((unsigned) res.states <= s)
+                    {
+                      error(p.first, "initial state number is larger "
+                            "than state count...");
+                      error(res.states_loc, "... declared here.");
+                      states = std::max(states, s + 1);
+                    }
 	      if (res.opts.want_kripke)
 		res.h->ks->new_states(states, bddfalse);
 	      else
@@ -631,12 +633,12 @@ header-item: "States:" INT
 	   }
            | "Start:" init-state-conj-2
 	     {
-	       error(@2, "alternation is not yet supported for initial states");
-	       YYABORT;
+               res.start.emplace_back(@$, *$2);
+               delete $2;
 	     }
            | "Start:" state-num
 	     {
-	       res.start.emplace_back(@$, $2);
+	       res.start.emplace_back(@$, std::vector<unsigned>{$2});
 	     }
            | aps
            | "Alias:" ANAME label-expr
@@ -819,10 +821,17 @@ state-conj-2: checked-state-num '&' checked-state-num
               $$->emplace_back($3);
             }
 
-	      // Currently we do not check the number of these states
-	      // since we do not support alternation for initial states.
+// Same as state-conj-2 except we cannot check the state numbers
+// against a number of state that may not have been declared yet.
 init-state-conj-2: state-num '&' state-num
+            {
+              $$ = new std::vector<unsigned>{$1, $3};
+            }
             | init-state-conj-2 '&' state-num
+            {
+              $$ = $1;
+              $$->emplace_back($3);
+            }
 
 label-expr: 't'
 	    {
@@ -983,17 +992,16 @@ acceptance-cond: IDENTIFIER '(' acc-set ')'
 body: states
       {
 	for (auto& p: res.start)
-	  if (p.second >= res.info_states.size()
-	      || !res.info_states[p.second].declared)
-	    {
-	      error(p.first,
-		    "initial state " + std::to_string(p.second) +
-		    " has no definition");
-	      // Pretend that the state is declared so we do not
-	      // mention it in the next loop.
-	      if (p.second < res.info_states.size())
-		res.info_states[p.second].declared = true;
-	    }
+          for (unsigned s: p.second)
+            if (s >= res.info_states.size() || !res.info_states[s].declared)
+              {
+                error(p.first, "initial state " + std::to_string(s) +
+                      " has no definition");
+                // Pretend that the state is declared so we do not
+                // mention it in the next loop.
+                if (s < res.info_states.size())
+                  res.info_states[s].declared = true;
+              }
 	unsigned n = res.info_states.size();
 	// States with number above res.states have already caused a
 	// diagnostic, so let not add another one.
@@ -1498,7 +1506,7 @@ dstar_sizes:
   }
   | dstar_sizes "Start:" INT
   {
-    res.start.emplace_back(@3, $3);
+    res.start.emplace_back(@3, std::vector<unsigned>{$3});
   }
   | dstar_sizes aps
 
@@ -1654,7 +1662,7 @@ nc-ident-list: nc-one-ident
       if (res.start.empty())
 	{
 	  // The first state is initial.
-	  res.start.emplace_back(@$, n);
+	  res.start.emplace_back(@$, std::vector<unsigned>{n});
 	}
       $$ = $1;
     }
@@ -1843,7 +1851,7 @@ lbtt: lbtt-header lbtt-body ENDAUT
 	      rename[i.second] = s++;
 	    assert(s == (unsigned) res.states);
 	    for (auto& i: res.start)
-	      i.second = rename[i.second];
+	      i.second.front() = rename[i.second.front()];
 	    res.h->aut->get_graph().defrag_states(std::move(rename), s);
 	  }
 	 res.info_states.resize(res.h->aut->num_states());
@@ -1899,7 +1907,8 @@ lbtt-state: STATE_NUM INT lbtt-acc
 		res.cur_state = $1;
 	      }
 	    if ($2)
-	      res.start.emplace_back(@1 + @2, res.cur_state);
+	      res.start.emplace_back(@1 + @2,
+                                     std::vector<unsigned>{res.cur_state});
 	    res.acc_state = $3;
 	  }
 lbtt-acc:               { $$ = 0U; }
@@ -2121,13 +2130,20 @@ static void fix_acceptance(result_& r)
 
 static void fix_initial_state(result_& r)
 {
-  std::vector<unsigned> start;
+  std::vector<std::vector<unsigned>> start;
   start.reserve(r.start.size());
+  unsigned ssz = r.info_states.size();
   for (auto& p : r.start)
-    // Ignore initial states without declaration
-    if (p.second < r.info_states.size()
-	&& r.info_states[p.second].declared)
-      start.push_back(p.second);
+    {
+      std::vector<unsigned> v;
+      v.reserve(p.second.size());
+      for (unsigned s: p.second)
+        // Ignore initial states without declaration
+        if (s < ssz && r.info_states[s].declared)
+          v.emplace_back(s);
+      if (!v.empty())
+        start.push_back(v);
+    }
 
   if (start.empty())
     {
@@ -2149,9 +2165,10 @@ static void fix_initial_state(result_& r)
   if (start.size() == 1)
     {
       if (r.opts.want_kripke)
-	r.h->ks->set_init_state(start.front());
+	r.h->ks->set_init_state(start.front().front());
       else
-	r.h->aut->set_init_state(start.front());
+	r.h->aut->set_univ_init_state(start.front().begin(),
+                                      start.front().end());
     }
   else
     {
@@ -2167,24 +2184,38 @@ static void fix_initial_state(result_& r)
       auto& aut = r.h->aut;
       std::vector<unsigned char> has_incoming(aut->num_states(), 0);
       for (auto& t: aut->edges())
-	has_incoming[t.dst] = 1;
+        for (unsigned ud: aut->univ_dests(t))
+          has_incoming[ud] = 1;
 
       bool found = false;
       unsigned init = 0;
-      for (auto p: start)
-	if (!has_incoming[p])
-	  {
-	    init = p;
-	    found = true;
-	  }
+      for (auto& pp: start)
+        {
+          if (pp.size() != 1)
+            {
+              r.h->errors.emplace_front(r.start.front().first,
+                                        "alternating automata only support "
+                                        "a single initial state");
+              return;
+            }
+          unsigned p = pp.front();
+          if (!has_incoming[p])
+            {
+              init = p;
+              found = true;
+            }
+        }
       if (!found)
 	// We do need a fake initial state
 	init = aut->new_state();
       aut->set_init_state(init);
-      for (auto p: start)
-	if (p != init)
-	  for (auto& t: aut->out(p))
-	    aut->new_edge(init, t.dst, t.cond);
+      for (auto& pp: start)
+        {
+          unsigned p = pp.front();
+          if (p != init)
+            for (auto& t: aut->out(p))
+              aut->new_edge(init, t.dst, t.cond);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/spot/twa/twagraph.hh b/spot/twa/twagraph.hh
index c1963ca56..b4960939c 100644
--- a/spot/twa/twagraph.hh
+++ b/spot/twa/twagraph.hh
@@ -268,6 +268,23 @@ namespace spot
       set_init_state(state_number(s));
     }
 
+    template<class I>
+    void set_univ_init_state(I dst_begin, I dst_end)
+    {
+      auto ns = num_states();
+      for (I i = dst_begin; i != dst_end; ++i)
+        if (SPOT_UNLIKELY(*i >= ns))
+          throw std::invalid_argument
+            ("set_univ_init_state() called with nonexisiting state");
+      init_number_ = g_.new_univ_dests(dst_begin, dst_end);
+    }
+
+    template<class I>
+    void set_univ_init_state(const std::initializer_list<state_num>& il)
+    {
+      set_univ_init_state(il.begin(), il.end());
+    }
+
     state_num get_init_state_number() const
     {
       // If the automaton has no state, it has no initial state.
diff --git a/spot/twaalgos/dot.cc b/spot/twaalgos/dot.cc
index 0cd3c8f23..15ee5bd08 100644
--- a/spot/twaalgos/dot.cc
+++ b/spot/twaalgos/dot.cc
@@ -360,6 +360,19 @@ namespace spot
         return bdd_format_formula(aut_->get_dict(), label);
       }
 
+      void
+      print_dst(int dst, const char* style = nullptr)
+      {
+        os_ << "    " << dst << " [label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]\n";
+        for (unsigned d: aut_->univ_dests(dst))
+          {
+            os_ << "    " << dst << " -> " << d;
+            if (style && *style)
+              os_ << " [" << style << ']';
+            os_ << '\n';
+          }
+      }
+
       void
       start()
       {
@@ -444,7 +457,17 @@ namespace spot
           os_ << "  " << extra << '\n';
         os_ << "  I [label=\"\", style=invis, ";
         os_ << (opt_vertical_ ? "height" : "width");
-        os_ << "=0]\n  I -> " << aut_->get_init_state_number() << '\n';
+        int init = (int) aut_->get_init_state_number();
+        os_ << "=0]\n  I -> " << init;
+        if (init >= 0)
+          {
+            os_ << '\n';
+          }
+        else
+          {
+            os_ << " [dir=none]\n";
+            print_dst(init);
+          }
       }
 
       void
@@ -608,17 +631,7 @@ namespace spot
           os_ << ", dir=none";
         os_ << "]\n";
         if ((int)t.dst < 0)     // Universal destination
-          {
-            os_ << "    " << (int)t.dst
-                << "[label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]\n";
-            for (unsigned d: aut_->univ_dests(t))
-              {
-                os_ << "    " << (int)t.dst << " -> " << d;
-                if (!highlight.empty())
-                  os_ << " [" << highlight << ']';
-                os_ << '\n';
-              }
-          }
+          print_dst(t.dst, highlight.c_str());
       }
 
       void print(const const_twa_graph_ptr& aut)
diff --git a/spot/twaalgos/hoa.cc b/spot/twaalgos/hoa.cc
index 1bd1a332f..49f984e17 100644
--- a/spot/twaalgos/hoa.cc
+++ b/spot/twaalgos/hoa.cc
@@ -317,6 +317,19 @@ namespace spot
     if (acceptance == Hoa_Acceptance_States && !md.has_state_acc)
       acceptance = Hoa_Acceptance_Transitions;
 
+    auto print_dst = [&os, &aut](unsigned dst)
+      {
+        bool notfirst = false;
+        for (unsigned d: aut->univ_dests(dst))
+          {
+            if (notfirst)
+              os << '&';
+            else
+              notfirst = true;
+            os << d;
+          }
+      };
+
     unsigned num_states = aut->num_states();
     unsigned init = aut->get_init_state_number();
 
@@ -327,7 +340,9 @@ namespace spot
       escape_str(os << "name: \"", *n) << '"' << nl;
     unsigned nap = md.vap.size();
     os << "States: " << num_states << nl
-       << "Start: " << init << nl
+       << "Start: ";
+    print_dst(init);
+    os << nl
        << "AP: " << nap;
     auto d = aut->get_dict();
     for (auto& i: md.vap)
@@ -548,19 +563,6 @@ namespace spot
 
     os << "--BODY--" << nl;
 
-    auto print_dst = [&](unsigned dst)
-      {
-        bool notfirst = false;
-        for (unsigned d: aut->univ_dests(dst))
-          {
-            if (notfirst)
-              os << '&';
-            else
-              notfirst = true;
-            os << d;
-          }
-      };
-
     auto sn = aut->get_named_prop<std::vector<std::string>>("state-names");
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < num_states; ++i)
       {
diff --git a/tests/core/alternating.test b/tests/core/alternating.test
index 49d55afe3..718f77351 100644
--- a/tests/core/alternating.test
+++ b/tests/core/alternating.test
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ set -e
 cat >alt.hoa <<EOF
 HOA: v1.1
 States: 7
-Start: 0
+Start: 0&2
 acc-name: co-Buchi
 Acceptance: 1 Fin(0)
 AP: 2 "b" "a"
@@ -62,14 +62,17 @@ digraph G {
   label="Fin(⓿)"
   labelloc="t"
   I [label="", style=invis, width=0]
-  I -> 0
+  I -> -11 [dir=none]
+    -11 [label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
+    -11 -> 0
+    -11 -> 2
   0 [label="((((a) U (b)) && GF(b)) && FG(a))"]
   0 -> -1 [label="b", dir=none]
-    -1[label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
+    -1 [label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
     -1 -> 3
     -1 -> 1
   0 -> -4 [label="a & !b", style=bold, color="#F15854", dir=none]
-    -4[label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
+    -4 [label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
     -4 -> 5 [style=bold, color="#F15854"]
     -4 -> 3 [style=bold, color="#F15854"]
     -4 -> 1 [style=bold, color="#F15854"]
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@ digraph G {
   3 [label="GF(b)"]
   3 -> 3 [label="b"]
   3 -> -8 [label="!b", style=bold, color="#FAA43A", dir=none]
-    -8[label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
+    -8 [label=<>,width=0,height=0,shape=none]
     -8 -> 4 [style=bold, color="#FAA43A"]
     -8 -> 3 [style=bold, color="#FAA43A"]
   4 [label="F(b)\n⓿"]
diff --git a/tests/core/parseaut.test b/tests/core/parseaut.test
index a0abda2dc..fb17a50b9 100755
--- a/tests/core/parseaut.test
+++ b/tests/core/parseaut.test
@@ -1921,8 +1921,7 @@ State: 11 "t"
 EOF
 
 expecterr input <<EOF
-input:4.8-12: alternation is not yet supported for initial states
-autfilt: failed to read automaton from input
+input:4.1-12: alternating automata only support a single initial state
 EOF
 
 # Some alternation errors
diff --git a/tests/python/alternating.py b/tests/python/alternating.py
index a043c48b2..51b958338 100755
--- a/tests/python/alternating.py
+++ b/tests/python/alternating.py
@@ -74,3 +74,23 @@ aut2 = spot.automaton(h)
 h2 = aut2.to_str('hoa')
 print(h2)
 assert h == h2
+
+aut2.set_univ_init_state([0, 1])
+h3 = aut2.to_str('hoa')
+print(h3)
+assert h3 == """HOA: v1
+States: 3
+Start: 0&1
+AP: 2 "p1" "p2"
+acc-name: Buchi
+Acceptance: 1 Inf(0)
+properties: univ-branch trans-labels explicit-labels trans-acc
+--BODY--
+State: 0
+[0] 1&2 {0}
+[1] 0&1
+State: 1
+[0&1] 0&2&1
+State: 2
+[0 | 1] 2
+--END--"""