diff --git a/src/toplevel.pl b/src/toplevel.pl
index e45de8d7..fdc5c18f 100644
--- a/src/toplevel.pl
+++ b/src/toplevel.pl
@@ -10,12 +10,14 @@
 :- use_module(library('$project_atts')).
 :- use_module(library('$atts')).
 
+:- dynamic(disabled_init_file/0).
+
 load_scryerrc :-
     (  '$home_directory'(HomeDir) ->
        append(HomeDir, "/.scryerrc", ScryerrcFile),
        (  file_exists(ScryerrcFile) ->
           atom_chars(ScryerrcFileAtom, ScryerrcFile),
-          catch(use_module(ScryerrcFileAtom), E, print_exception(E))
+          catch(consult(ScryerrcFileAtom), E, print_exception(E))
        ;  true
        )
     ;  true
@@ -31,8 +33,8 @@ load_scryerrc :-
     ;   asserta('$toplevel':argv([])),
         Args = Args0
     ),
-    load_scryerrc,
     delegate_task(Args, []),
+    (\+ disabled_init_file -> load_scryerrc ; true),
     repl.
 '$repl'(_) :-
     (   \+ argv(_) -> asserta('$toplevel':argv([]))
@@ -44,14 +46,17 @@ load_scryerrc :-
 delegate_task([], []).
 delegate_task([], Goals0) :-
     reverse(Goals0, Goals),
+    (\+ disabled_init_file -> load_scryerrc ; true),
     run_goals(Goals),
     repl.
+
 delegate_task([Arg0|Args], Goals0) :-
     (   member(Arg0, ["-h", "--help"]) -> print_help
     ;   member(Arg0, ["-v", "--version"]) -> print_version
     ;   member(Arg0, ["-g", "--goal"]) -> gather_goal(g, Args, Goals0)
+    ;   member(Arg0, ["-f"]) -> disable_init_file
     ;   atom_chars(Mod, Arg0),
-        catch(use_module(Mod), E, print_exception(E))
+        catch(consult(Mod), E, print_exception(E))
     ),
     delegate_task(Args, Goals0).
 
@@ -59,12 +64,14 @@ print_help :-
     write('Usage: scryer-prolog [OPTIONS] [FILES] [-- ARGUMENTS]'),
     nl, nl,
     write('Options:'), nl,
-    write('   -h, --help           '),
+    write('   -h, --help             '),
     write('Display this message'), nl,
-    write('   -v, --version        '),
+    write('   -v, --version          '),
     write('Print version information and exit'), nl,
-    write('   -g, --goal GOAL      '),
+    write('   -g, --goal GOAL        '),
     write('Run the query GOAL'), nl,
+    write('   -f                     '),
+    write('Fast startup. Do not load initialization file (~/.scryerrc)'),nl,
     % write('                        '),
     halt.
 
@@ -82,6 +89,9 @@ gather_goal(Type, Args0, Goals) :-
     Gs =.. [Type, Gs1],
     delegate_task(Args, [Gs|Goals]).
 
+disable_init_file :-
+    asserta('disabled_init_file').
+
 arg_type(g).
 arg_type(t).
 arg_type(g(_)).