diff --git a/scripts/supybot-botchk b/scripts/supybot-botchk
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f522b93b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/supybot-botchk
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+###
+# Copyright (c) 2005, Jeremiah Fincher
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+#   * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+#     this list of conditions, and the following disclaimer.
+#   * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#     this list of conditions, and the following disclaimer in the
+#     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#   * Neither the name of the author of this software nor the name of
+#     contributors to this software may be used to endorse or promote products
+#     derived from this software without specific prior written consent.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+###
+
+VERBOSE = False
+
+def readPid(filename):
+    fd = file(filename)
+    try:
+        return int(fd.read().strip())
+    finally:
+        fd.close()
+
+def isAlive(pid):
+    try:
+        os.kill(pid, 0)
+        return True
+    except OSError:
+        return False
+
+def debug(s):
+    if VERBOSE:
+        if not s.endswith(os.linesep):
+            s += os.linesep
+        sys.stdout.write(s)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    # XXX I wanted this for conf.version, but this will create directories. We
+    # really need to refactor conf so it either doesn't create directories, or
+    # so that static information (like the version) can be imported from
+    # somewhere else.
+    # import supybot.conf as conf
+    import os
+    import sys
+    import optparse
+
+    parser = optparse.OptionParser(usage='Usage: %prog [options]')
+    parser.add_option('', '--verbose', action='store_true',
+                      help='Makes output verbose.')
+    parser.add_option('', '--botdir',
+                      help='Determines what directory the bot resides in and '
+                      'should be started from.')
+    parser.add_option('', '--pidfile',
+                      help='Determines what file to look in for the pid of '
+                      'the running bot.  This should be relative to the '
+                      'given bot directory.')
+    parser.add_option('', '--supybot', default='supybot',
+                      help='Determines where the supybot executable is '
+                      'located.  If not given, assumes that supybot is '
+                      'in $PATH.')
+    parser.add_option('', '--conffile',
+                      help='Determines what configuration file should be '
+                      'given to the supybot executable when (re)starting the '
+                      'bot.')
+
+    (options, args) = parser.parse_args()
+    VERBOSE = options.verbose
+
+    if args:
+        parser.error('Extra arguments given.')
+    if not options.botdir:
+        parser.error('No botdir given.')
+    if not options.pidfile:
+        parser.error('No pidfile given.')
+    if not options.conffile:
+        parser.error('No conffile given.')
+
+    os.chdir(options.botdir)
+    os.system('touch %s' % options.pidfile)
+
+    pid = None
+    try:
+        pid = readPid(options.pidfile)
+        debug('Found pidFile with proper pid contents of %s' % pid)
+    except ValueError, e:
+        foundBot = False
+
+    if pid is not None:
+        foundBot = isAlive(pid)
+        if foundBot:
+            debug('Pid %s is alive and belongs to us.' % pid)
+        else:
+            debug('Pid %s is not the bot.' % pid)
+
+    if not foundBot:
+        debug('Bot not found, starting.')
+        cmdline = '%s --daemon %s' % (options.supybot, options.conffile)
+        ret = os.system(cmdline)
+        debug('Bot started, command line %r returned %s.' % (cmdline, ret))
+        sys.exit(ret)
+    else:
+        sys.exit(0)
+        
+# vim:set shiftwidth=4 tabstop=8 expandtab textwidth=78:
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4805cfbbb..5916906c9 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ setup(
 
     scripts=['scripts/supybot',
              'scripts/supybot-test',
+             'scripts/supybot-botchk',
              'scripts/supybot-wizard',
              'scripts/supybot-adduser',
              'scripts/supybot-newplugin']