diff --git a/initscripts/howard b/initscripts/howard
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..86c6ab7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/initscripts/howard
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+#! /bin/bash
+
+### BEGIN INIT INFO
+# Provides:          howard
+# Required-Start:    $local_fs $network
+# Required-Stop:     $local_fs
+# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
+# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
+# Short-Description: howard sound monitoring service
+# Description:       Run howard sound monitoring service
+### END INIT INFO
+
+BINARY=/usr/local/bin/howard
+CONFIG=/etc/howard.conf
+PIDFILE="/var/run/howard.pid"
+
+
+rv=0
+# Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system
+case "$1" in
+  start)
+    if [[ ! -e $CONFIG ]]; then
+        echo "Config file '$CONFIG' is missing"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    echo -n "Starting howard... "
+    OPTS=$(cat $CONFIG | tr '\n' ' ')
+    $BINARY $OPTS
+    rv=$?
+    [[ $rv -eq 0 ]] && echo "ok" || echo "failed"
+    ;;
+  stop)
+    echo -n "Stopping howard... "
+    if [[ -e $PIDFILE ]]; then
+        kill $(cat "$PIDFILE") 
+        rv=$?
+    else
+        pkill howard
+        rv=$?
+    fi
+    [[ $rv -eq 0 ]] && echo "ok" || echo "failed"
+    ;;
+  status)
+    if [[ -e $PIDFILE ]]; then
+        pid=$(cat "$PIDFILE")
+        if ps -p $pid >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "howard is running (PID $pid)"
+            rv=0
+        else
+            realpid=$(pgrep howard)
+            if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+                echo "howard is running (PID $realpid) but pidfile has pid $pid"
+                rv=0
+            else
+                echo "howard pidfile exists but pid $pid isn't running."
+                rv=1
+            fi
+        fi
+    else
+        realpid=$(pgrep -f $BINARY)
+        if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+            echo "howard is running (PID $realpid) but pidfile is missing."
+            rv=0
+        else
+            echo "howard is not running."
+            rv=1
+        fi
+    fi
+    ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/howard {start|stop|status}"
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+exit $rv