diff --git a/res/config.ini b/res/config.ini
index 2e3579e..2e015c1 100644
--- a/res/config.ini
+++ b/res/config.ini
@@ -312,6 +312,10 @@ sleep_cmd = null
 # Specifies the key used for sleep (F1-F12)
 sleep_key = F3
 
+# Command executed when starting Ly (before the TTY is taken control of)
+# If null, no command will be executed
+start_cmd = null
+
 # Center the session name.
 text_in_center = false
 
diff --git a/res/lang/ar.ini b/res/lang/ar.ini
index a35d449..0d733c5 100644
--- a/res/lang/ar.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ar.ini
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ err_pwnam = فشل في جلب معلومات المستخدم
 err_sleep = فشل في تنفيذ أمر sleep
 
 
+
 err_tty_ctrl = فشل في نقل تحكم الطرفية (TTY)
 
 
diff --git a/res/lang/bg.ini b/res/lang/bg.ini
index 06cca36..984d44d 100644
--- a/res/lang/bg.ini
+++ b/res/lang/bg.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ err_perm_group = неуспешно понижаване на правата н
 err_perm_user = неуспешно понижаване на правата на потребителя
 err_pwnam = неуспешно получаване на информация за потребителя
 err_sleep = неуспешно изпълнение на командата за заспиване
+
 err_battery = неуспешно зареждане на състоянието на батерията
 err_switch_tty = неуспешна смяна на TTY
 err_tty_ctrl = неуспешно прехвърляне на контрола над TTY
diff --git a/res/lang/cat.ini b/res/lang/cat.ini
index f11930e..526e858 100644
--- a/res/lang/cat.ini
+++ b/res/lang/cat.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = error en obtenir la informació de l'usuari
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = error en establir el GID de l'usuari
 err_user_init = error en inicialitzar usuari
 err_user_uid = error en establir l'UID de l'usuari
diff --git a/res/lang/cs.ini b/res/lang/cs.ini
index ee52e2a..b42a52c 100644
--- a/res/lang/cs.ini
+++ b/res/lang/cs.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = nelze získat informace o uživateli
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = nastavení GID uživatele selhalo
 err_user_init = inicializace uživatele selhala
 err_user_uid = nastavení UID uživateli selhalo
diff --git a/res/lang/de.ini b/res/lang/de.ini
index 0715006..02034b9 100644
--- a/res/lang/de.ini
+++ b/res/lang/de.ini
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ err_pwnam = Abrufen der Benutzerinformationen fehlgeschlagen
 err_sleep = Sleep-Befehl fehlgeschlagen
 
 
+
 err_tty_ctrl = Fehler bei der TTY-Uebergabe
 
 
diff --git a/res/lang/en.ini b/res/lang/en.ini
index 6de93fb..38ad8f5 100644
--- a/res/lang/en.ini
+++ b/res/lang/en.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ err_perm_group = failed to downgrade group permissions
 err_perm_user = failed to downgrade user permissions
 err_pwnam = failed to get user info
 err_sleep = failed to execute sleep command
+err_start = failed to execute start command
 err_battery = failed to load battery status
 err_switch_tty = failed to switch tty
 err_tty_ctrl = tty control transfer failed
diff --git a/res/lang/es.ini b/res/lang/es.ini
index 2fbba01..e14aea9 100644
--- a/res/lang/es.ini
+++ b/res/lang/es.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = error al obtener la información del usuario
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = error al establecer el GID del usuario
 err_user_init = error al inicializar usuario
 err_user_uid = error al establecer el UID del usuario
diff --git a/res/lang/fr.ini b/res/lang/fr.ini
index 046a74d..8236184 100644
--- a/res/lang/fr.ini
+++ b/res/lang/fr.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ err_perm_group = échec du déclassement des permissions de groupe
 err_perm_user = échec du déclassement des permissions utilisateur
 err_pwnam = échec de lecture des infos utilisateur
 err_sleep = échec de l'exécution de la commande de veille
+err_start = échec de l'exécution de la commande de démarrage
 err_battery = échec de lecture de l'état de la batterie
 err_switch_tty = échec du changement de terminal
 err_tty_ctrl = échec du transfert de contrôle du terminal
diff --git a/res/lang/it.ini b/res/lang/it.ini
index 9eac717..7c90a8f 100644
--- a/res/lang/it.ini
+++ b/res/lang/it.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = impossibile ottenere dati utente
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = impossibile impostare GID utente
 err_user_init = impossibile inizializzare utente
 err_user_uid = impossible impostare UID utente
diff --git a/res/lang/ja_JP.ini b/res/lang/ja_JP.ini
index 6cb303e..cb299df 100644
--- a/res/lang/ja_JP.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ja_JP.ini
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ err_pwnam = ユーザー情報の取得に失敗しました
 err_sleep = スリープコマンドの実行に失敗しました
 
 
+
 err_tty_ctrl = TTY制御の転送に失敗しました
 
 
diff --git a/res/lang/lv.ini b/res/lang/lv.ini
index cfaddb5..9b6f6cf 100644
--- a/res/lang/lv.ini
+++ b/res/lang/lv.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ err_perm_group = neizdevās pazemināt grupas atļaujas
 err_perm_user = neizdevās pazemināt lietotāja atļaujas
 err_pwnam = neizdevās iegūt lietotāja informāciju
 err_sleep = neizdevās izpildīt miega komandu
+
 err_battery = neizdevās ielādēt akumulatora stāvokli
 err_switch_tty = neizdevās pārslēgt tty
 err_tty_ctrl = tty vadības nodošana neizdevās
diff --git a/res/lang/pl.ini b/res/lang/pl.ini
index 13bbc4f..40c6895 100644
--- a/res/lang/pl.ini
+++ b/res/lang/pl.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ err_perm_group = nie udało się obniżyć uprawnień grupy
 err_perm_user = nie udało się obniżyć uprawnień użytkownika
 err_pwnam = nie udało się uzyskać informacji o użytkowniku
 err_sleep = nie udało się wykonać polecenia sleep
+
 err_battery = nie udało się sprawdzić statusu baterii
 err_switch_tty = nie można przełączyć tty
 err_tty_ctrl = nie udało się przekazać kontroli tty
diff --git a/res/lang/pt.ini b/res/lang/pt.ini
index f33c363..f0cebd8 100644
--- a/res/lang/pt.ini
+++ b/res/lang/pt.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = erro ao obter informação do utilizador
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = erro ao definir o GID do utilizador
 err_user_init = erro ao iniciar o utilizador
 err_user_uid = erro ao definir o UID do utilizador
diff --git a/res/lang/pt_BR.ini b/res/lang/pt_BR.ini
index bf3c329..a8eb90f 100644
--- a/res/lang/pt_BR.ini
+++ b/res/lang/pt_BR.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = não foi possível obter informações do usuário
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = não foi possível definir o GID do usuário
 err_user_init = não foi possível iniciar o usuário
 err_user_uid = não foi possível definir o UID do usuário
diff --git a/res/lang/ro.ini b/res/lang/ro.ini
index 18c35b7..8e5c6cf 100644
--- a/res/lang/ro.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ro.ini
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ err_perm_user = nu s-a putut face downgrade permisiunilor de utilizator
 
 
 
+
 login = utilizator
 logout = opreşte sesiunea
 
diff --git a/res/lang/ru.ini b/res/lang/ru.ini
index ac1c302..26e9fbf 100644
--- a/res/lang/ru.ini
+++ b/res/lang/ru.ini
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ err_perm_group = не удалось понизить права доступа
 err_perm_user = не удалось понизить права доступа пользователя
 err_pwnam = не удалось получить информацию о пользователе
 err_sleep = не удалось выполнить команду sleep
+
 err_battery = не удалось получить статус батареи
 err_switch_tty = не удалось переключить tty
 err_tty_ctrl = передача управления tty не удалась
diff --git a/res/lang/sr.ini b/res/lang/sr.ini
index f49cbdf..5c9cb64 100644
--- a/res/lang/sr.ini
+++ b/res/lang/sr.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = neuspijesno skupljanje informacija o korisniku
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = neuspijesno postavljanje korisničkog GID-a
 err_user_init = neuspijensa inicijalizacija korisnika
 err_user_uid = neuspijesno postavljanje UID-a korisnika
diff --git a/res/lang/sv.ini b/res/lang/sv.ini
index ec9a372..de329f1 100644
--- a/res/lang/sv.ini
+++ b/res/lang/sv.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = misslyckades att hämta användarinfo
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = misslyckades att ställa in användar-GID
 err_user_init = misslyckades att initialisera användaren
 err_user_uid = misslyckades att ställa in användar-UID
diff --git a/res/lang/tr.ini b/res/lang/tr.ini
index c4e0b1b..0bf1ffe 100644
--- a/res/lang/tr.ini
+++ b/res/lang/tr.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = kullanici bilgileri alinamadi
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = kullanici icin GID ayarlanamadi
 err_user_init = kullanici oturumu baslatilamadi
 err_user_uid = kullanici icin UID ayarlanamadi
diff --git a/res/lang/uk.ini b/res/lang/uk.ini
index cddce01..36e4ce3 100644
--- a/res/lang/uk.ini
+++ b/res/lang/uk.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = не вдалося отримати дані користувача
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = не вдалося змінити GID користувача
 err_user_init = не вдалося ініціалізувати користувача
 err_user_uid = не вдалося змінити UID користувача
diff --git a/res/lang/zh_CN.ini b/res/lang/zh_CN.ini
index c7d51b9..fd7b4ea 100644
--- a/res/lang/zh_CN.ini
+++ b/res/lang/zh_CN.ini
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_pwnam = 获取用户信息失败
 
 
 
+
 err_user_gid = 设置用户GID失败
 err_user_init = 初始化用户失败
 err_user_uid = 设置用户UID失败
diff --git a/src/config/Config.zig b/src/config/Config.zig
index 5ddfe80..a952be8 100644
--- a/src/config/Config.zig
+++ b/src/config/Config.zig
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ shutdown_cmd: []const u8 = "/sbin/shutdown -a now",
 shutdown_key: []const u8 = "F1",
 sleep_cmd: ?[]const u8 = null,
 sleep_key: []const u8 = "F3",
+start_cmd: ?[]const u8 = null,
 text_in_center: bool = false,
 vi_default_mode: ViMode = .normal,
 vi_mode: bool = false,
diff --git a/src/config/Lang.zig b/src/config/Lang.zig
index 55589f2..4134933 100644
--- a/src/config/Lang.zig
+++ b/src/config/Lang.zig
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ err_perm_group: []const u8 = "failed to downgrade group permissions",
 err_perm_user: []const u8 = "failed to downgrade user permissions",
 err_pwnam: []const u8 = "failed to get user info",
 err_sleep: []const u8 = "failed to execute sleep command",
+err_start: []const u8 = "failed to execute start command",
 err_battery: []const u8 = "failed to load battery status",
 err_switch_tty: []const u8 = "failed to switch tty",
 err_tty_ctrl: []const u8 = "tty control transfer failed",
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index 935cf1d..7addd74 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     var lang: Lang = undefined;
     var old_save_file_exists = false;
     var maybe_config_load_error: ?anyerror = null;
+    var start_cmd_exit_code: u8 = 0;
     var can_get_lock_state = true;
     var can_draw_clock = true;
     var can_draw_battery = true;
@@ -282,6 +283,19 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     restart_cmd = try temporary_allocator.dupe(u8, config.restart_cmd);
     commands_allocated = true;
 
+    if (config.start_cmd) |start_cmd| {
+        var sleep = std.process.Child.init(&[_][]const u8{ "/bin/sh", "-c", start_cmd }, allocator);
+        sleep.stdout_behavior = .Ignore;
+        sleep.stderr_behavior = .Ignore;
+
+        handle_start_cmd: {
+            const process_result = sleep.spawnAndWait() catch {
+                break :handle_start_cmd;
+            };
+            start_cmd_exit_code = process_result.Exited;
+        }
+    }
+
     // Initialize termbox
     try log_writer.writeAll("initializing termbox2\n");
     _ = termbox.tb_init();
@@ -351,6 +365,11 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         try log_writer.print("failed to get uid range: {s}; falling back to default\n", .{@errorName(err)});
     }
 
+    if (start_cmd_exit_code != 0) {
+        try info_line.addMessage(lang.err_start, config.error_bg, config.error_fg);
+        try log_writer.print("failed to execute start command: exit code {d}\n", .{start_cmd_exit_code});
+    }
+
     if (maybe_config_load_error) |err| {
         // We can't localize this since the config failed to load so we'd fallback to the default language anyway
         try info_line.addMessage("unable to parse config file", config.error_bg, config.error_fg);