diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c43f9967..f0b27cf7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# loadup interim steps
+
+tmp/*
+loadups/init*
 
 #compiled code -- leave in for now
 
diff --git a/scripts/loadup-init.sh b/scripts/loadup-init.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..a7cae529
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/loadup-init.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+export MEDLEYDIR=`pwd`
+
+if [ ! -f run-medley ] ; then
+    echo run from MEDLEYDIR
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+export LOADUPDIR="$MEDLEYDIR"
+mkdir -p "$MEDLEYDIR/tmp"
+
+./run-medley -greet "$MEDLEYDIR"/sources/LOADUP-INIT.LISP -full
+
+ls -l tmp loadups/init*
+
diff --git a/sources/LOADUP-INIT.LISP b/sources/LOADUP-INIT.LISP
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f4ce49f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sources/LOADUP-INIT.LISP
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+(* "make init files")
+
+(CNDIR (MEDLEYDIR "tmp"))
+
+(LOAD (MEDLEYDIR "sources" "MAKEINITGREET.LCOM"))
+(PROGN (DRIBBLE "makeinit.dribble")
+       (BKSYSBUF " ")
+       (MAKEINITGREET)
+       (DRIBBLE)
+       (LOGOUT T))