diff --git a/applications/sh/batch.asm b/applications/sh/batch.asm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..747ab01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applications/sh/batch.asm
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+; batch file routines
+
+; run a batch file whose name is pointed to by [shell_batch_filename_ptr]
+; the batch file must end with `exit;`
+; inputs:
+; none
+; outputs:
+; none (does not return)
+shell_run_batch:
+    ; open the batch file
+    call get_current_disk_id
+    mov r1, r0
+    mov r0, [shell_batch_filename_ptr]
+    mov r2, shell_batch_file_struct
+    call open
+    cmp r0, 0
+    ifz jmp shell_run_batch_failed_to_open
+
+shell_run_batch_next:
+    cmp.8 [shell_redirect_next], 0
+    ifnz mov [shell_stream_struct_ptr], [shell_old_stream_struct_ptr]
+    ifnz dec.8 [shell_redirect_next]
+    call shell_clear_buffer
+shell_run_batch_loop:
+    ; read a character from the file
+    mov r0, 1
+    mov r1, shell_batch_file_struct
+    mov r2, shell_batch_file_char_buffer
+    call read
+
+    ; if it isn't a semicolon or linefeed, push it to the command buffer
+    ; if it is a semicolon, run the command
+    movz.8 r0, [shell_batch_file_char_buffer]
+    cmp.8 r0, ';'
+    ifz jmp shell_run_batch_end_of_line
+    cmp.8 r0, 10
+    ifnz call shell_push_character
+
+    call yield_task
+    rjmp shell_run_batch_loop
+shell_run_batch_end_of_line:
+    mov r0, 0
+    call shell_push_character
+    call shell_parse_line
+    rjmp shell_run_batch_next
+
+shell_run_batch_failed_to_open:
+    mov r0, shell_run_batch_failed_to_open_string
+    call print_str_to_terminal
+    call end_current_task
+
+shell_batch_file_struct: data.fill 0, 32
+shell_batch_file_char_buffer: data.8 0
+shell_run_batch_failed_to_open_string: data.str "failed to open batch file" data.8 10 data.8 0
diff --git a/applications/sh/main.asm b/applications/sh/main.asm
index e7431f5..a18992d 100644
--- a/applications/sh/main.asm
+++ b/applications/sh/main.asm
@@ -9,9 +9,15 @@ const SET_COLOR:   0xF2
 const REDRAW_LINE: 0xFE
 
     pop [shell_stream_struct_ptr]
+    pop [shell_batch_filename_ptr]
     cmp [shell_stream_struct_ptr], 0
     ifz call end_current_task
 
+    ; before dropping to an interactive prompt,
+    ; check if an argument was passed
+    cmp [shell_batch_filename_ptr], 0
+    ifnz jmp shell_run_batch
+
 shell_task_return:
     cmp.8 [shell_redirect_next], 0
     ifnz mov [shell_stream_struct_ptr], [shell_old_stream_struct_ptr]
@@ -322,8 +328,10 @@ shell_stream_struct_ptr: data.32 0
 shell_old_stream_struct_ptr: data.32 0
 shell_redirect_next: data.8 0
 shell_redirect_stream_struct: data.fill 0, 32
+shell_batch_filename_ptr: data.32 0
 shell_char_buffer: data.32 0
 
+    #include "batch.asm"
     #include "commands/commands.asm"
     #include "launch.asm"