diff --git a/scripts/sloth.in b/scripts/sloth.in
index 17b2a17..1e6fd5b 100644
--- a/scripts/sloth.in
+++ b/scripts/sloth.in
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
   "(Listof String) -> Int
 program entrypoint; handle commandline args and call appropriate procedures"
   (define options (getopt-config-auto args %configuration))
-  (core-loop))
+  (start-loop #:file (option-ref options '(file) #f)))
 
 ;;; Local Variables:
 ;;; mode: scheme
diff --git a/sloth/editor.scm b/sloth/editor.scm
index 54737f0..6db469c 100644
--- a/sloth/editor.scm
+++ b/sloth/editor.scm
@@ -2,11 +2,17 @@
   #:use-module (sloth interface)
   #:use-module (ncurses curses)
   #:use-module (ts)
-  #:export (core-loop))
+  #:use-module (ice-9 textual-ports)
+  #:export (start-loop))
 
 (define modes '(#:normal-mode #:insert-mode))
 
-(define* (core-loop #:optional (win (init-win)) (mode #:normal-mode))
+(define* (start-loop #:key (win (init-win))
+                           (file #f))
+  (if file (find-file win file))
+  (core-loop win))
+
+(define* (core-loop win #:optional (mode #:normal-mode))
   (define process-result
     (case mode
       ((#:normal-mode) (normal-mode-process-input win (getch win)))
@@ -50,3 +56,8 @@
    ((eqv? key #\q)
     (endwin)
     (quit))))
+
+(define (find-file win file)
+  (when (file-exists? file)
+    (addstr win (call-with-input-file file get-string-all))
+    (refresh win)))