diff --git a/stepmania/configure.ac b/stepmania/configure.ac
index 895c444333..f8018167c7 100644
--- a/stepmania/configure.ac
+++ b/stepmania/configure.ac
@@ -45,9 +45,17 @@ fi
 
 AM_PATH_SDL
 
-AM_PATH_ALSA(0.9.0, alsa=true ,alsa=0 )
+AM_PATH_ALSA(0.9.0,AC_DEFINE([HAVE_ALSA],1,[Define presence of ALSA]),alsa=false)
+
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(gtk2,[  --enable-gtk2             enable debug mode [default=yes]], , enable_gtk2=yes)
+
+if test x$enable_gtk2 = xyes; then
+  AM_PATH_GTK_2_0(2.0.0,AC_DEFINE([HAVE_GTK],1,[Define presence of GTK]),gtk=false)
+fi
+
 AC_CHECK_HEADER(linux/soundcard.h, [AC_DEFINE(HAVE_OSS, 1, [OSS support available])])
-AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_ALSA, test x$alsa = xtrue )
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_ALSA, test x$alsa != xfalse )
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_GTK, test x$gtk != xfalse )
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_OSS, test x$ac_cv_header_linux_soundcard_h = xyes )
 
 # We could do this more cleanly with an AC_CHECK_FUNCS wrapper.
@@ -88,6 +96,8 @@ case $host in
 esac
 AM_CONDITIONAL(DARWIN, test x$darwin = xtrue)
 
+CFLAGS="$CFLAGS $GTK_CFLAGS"
+CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS $GTK_CFLAGS"
 
 # sdl-config puts -L/usr/lib in the library search path, which reorders things
 # in a way that breaks some configurations.
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Makefile.am b/stepmania/src/Makefile.am
index b5ab57527f..2680ba05c7 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/stepmania/src/Makefile.am
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ endif
 AM_CXXFLAGS += -O2 -ISDL-1.2.5/include -ISDL_sound-1.0.0
 AM_CFLAGS   += -O2
 
-
 # This is a little hacky; we use our own version of SDL and SDL_sound, and I don't
 # want to have to integrate their entire build systems.
 # <B.Anderson> Why --disable-alsa --disable-oss? Because SDL and our own
@@ -31,6 +30,7 @@ AM_CFLAGS   += -O2
 #              hanging, because... you get the idea.) Setting these switches
 #              keep SDL from trying to grab the soundcard, so we have it all
 #              to ourselves, thus preventing that nasty hang on boot.
+
 SDL-1.2.5/src/.libs/libSDL.a:
 	cd SDL-1.2.5 && ./configure \
 		--disable-nasm --disable-arts --disable-esd --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-debug --disable-alsa --disable-oss 
@@ -82,10 +82,8 @@ TitleSubstitution.cpp TitleSubstitution.h Inventory.cpp Inventory.h PlayerNumber
 LyricsLoader.cpp LyricsLoader.h NoteFieldPositioning.cpp NoteFieldPositioning.h \
 PlayerAI.cpp PlayerAI.h Character.cpp Character.h ArrowBackdrop.cpp ArrowBackdrop.h
 
-
 FileTypes = IniFile.cpp IniFile.h MsdFile.cpp MsdFile.h
 
-
 StepMania = global.h ScreenDimensions.h StdString.h StepMania.cpp StepMania.h
 
 Transitions = Transition.cpp Transition.h
@@ -168,22 +166,32 @@ Sound_Null = \
 	arch/Sound/RageSoundDriver_Null.h
 
 Sound = $(Sound_Null)
+
 if HAVE_ALSA
 Sound += $(Sound_ALSA9)
 endif
+
 if HAVE_OSS
 Sound += $(Sound_OSS)
 endif
 
+Loading = arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_SDL.cpp \
+	  arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_SDL.h \
+	  arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Null.h
+
+if HAVE_GTK
+  Loading += arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.cpp \
+	     arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.h
+endif
+
 stepmania_SOURCES = $(Rage) $(DataStructures) $(FileTypes) $(StepMania) $(Transitions) \
 		    $(Actors) $(ActorsInMenus) $(ActorsInGameplay) $(Screens) $(GlobalSingletons) \
 		    $(PCRE) \
+		    $(Loading) \
 	            arch/arch.cpp \
+		    arch/arch.h \
 		    arch/InputHandler/InputHandler_SDL.cpp \
 		    arch/InputHandler/InputHandler_SDL.h \
-		    arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_SDL.cpp \
-		    arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_SDL.h \
-		    arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Null.h \
 		    arch/MovieTexture/MovieTexture.cpp \
 		    $(Sound) \
 		    arch/LowLevelWindow/LowLevelWindow.h \
@@ -196,11 +204,13 @@ stepmania_SOURCES = $(Rage) $(DataStructures) $(FileTypes) $(StepMania) $(Transi
 # for SDL_image.  This is annoying, but it's not a major problem.  The
 # "fix" would be to statically link SDL_image, but that would mean
 # dealing with its build and libjpeg, png, etc--not worth it.
+
 stepmania_LDADD = \
 		  $(GL_LIBS) \
 		  $(srcdir)/SDL-1.2.5/src/.libs/libSDL.a \
 		  $(srcdir)/SDL_sound-1.0.0/.libs/libSDL_sound.a \
-		  $(SDL_LIBS)
+		  $(SDL_LIBS) \
+		  $(GTK_LIBS)
 
 INCLUDES = $(SDL_CFLAGS)
 # -O0 -g
diff --git a/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp b/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
index 305b595a1c..7f8cce7bbf 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@
 /* This is also a global class; we own it. */
 ArchHooks *HOOKS = NULL;
 
-
 #ifdef WIN32
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
@@ -65,6 +64,10 @@ HWND g_hWndMain = NULL;
 
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_GTK
+#  include <gtk/gtk.h>
+#endif
+
 static bool g_bHasFocus = true;
 static bool g_bQuitting = false;
 
@@ -433,6 +436,10 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	 * Do it after ChangeToDirOfExecutable, so the log ends up in the right place. */
 	LOG			= new RageLog();
 
+#ifdef HAVE_GTK
+	gtk_init(&argc,&argv);
+#endif
+
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	LOG->ShowConsole();
 #endif
diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.cpp b/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f449af05bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#include <gtk/gtk.h>
+
+static GtkWidget *label;
+static GtkWidget *window;
+
+void CreateGtkLoadingWindow() {
+  GtkWidget *vbox;
+  GtkWidget *loadimage;
+
+  loadimage = gtk_image_new_from_file("loading.xpm");
+  label = gtk_label_new(NULL);
+  gtk_label_set_justify(GTK_LABEL(label),GTK_JUSTIFY_CENTER);
+  vbox = gtk_vbox_new(FALSE,0);
+  window = gtk_window_new(GTK_WINDOW_TOPLEVEL);
+  gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(window),vbox);
+  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox),loadimage,FALSE,FALSE,10);
+  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox),label,TRUE,TRUE,20);
+  gtk_widget_show(loadimage);
+  gtk_widget_show(label);
+  gtk_widget_show(vbox);
+  gtk_widget_show(window);
+}
+
+void DestroyGtkLoadingWindow() {
+  gtk_widget_destroy(window);
+}
+
+void SetGtkLoadingWindowText(const char *s) {
+  gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(label),s);
+}
diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.h b/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fcad3ef8c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.h
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#ifndef LOADING_WINDOW_GTK
+#define LOADING_WINDOW_GTK
+
+#include "LoadingWindow_Null.h"
+
+extern void CreateGtkLoadingWindow();
+extern void DestroyGtkLoadingWindow();
+extern void SetGtkLoadingWindowText(const char *s);
+
+class LoadingWindow_Gtk : public LoadingWindow {
+public:
+	LoadingWindow_Gtk() { CreateGtkLoadingWindow(); }
+	~LoadingWindow_Gtk() { DestroyGtkLoadingWindow(); }
+
+	void SetText(CString str) { SetGtkLoadingWindowText(str.c_str()); }
+	void Paint() { }
+};
+
+#undef ARCH_LOADING_WINDOW
+#define ARCH_LOADING_WINDOW LoadingWindow_Gtk
+
+#endif
diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/arch_linux.h b/stepmania/src/arch/arch_linux.h
index 692aef6986..6c3b8787b7 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/arch_linux.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/arch_linux.h
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef LINUX_ARCH_H
 #define LINUX_ARCH_H
 
+#include "global.h"
+
 #ifdef HAVE_ALSA
 #  include "Sound/RageSoundDriver_ALSA9.h"
 #endif
@@ -16,6 +18,10 @@
  * and fix our code, not have it silently fall back on a broken driver. -glenn */
 // #include "Sound/RageSoundDriver_SDL.h"
 
+#ifdef HAVE_GTK
+#  include "LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Gtk.h"
+#endif
+
 #endif
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2002 by the person(s) listed below.  All rights reserved.