diff --git a/stepmania/src/Character.cpp b/stepmania/src/Character.cpp
index c1d23b7df2..85676e616a 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Character.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Character.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "IniFile.h"
 #include "RageUtil.h"
 #include "RageTextureID.h"
+#include "ActorUtil.h"
 
 Character::Character()
 {
@@ -58,8 +59,13 @@ bool Character::Load( RString sCharDir )
 			ini.GetValue( "Character", ssprintf("Level%dAttack%d",i+1,j+1), m_sAttacks[i][j] );
 	}
 
-	// get display name (if any)
+	// get optional display name
 	ini.GetValue( "Character", "DisplayName", m_sDisplayName );
+	
+	// get optional InitCommand
+	RString s;
+	ini.GetValue( "Character", "InitCommand", s );
+	m_cmdInit = ActorUtil::ParseActorCommands( s );
 
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Character.h b/stepmania/src/Character.h
index 13e686c966..152bb9b8cb 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Character.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/Character.h
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ private:
 
 public:
 
+	apActorCommands m_cmdInit;
+
 	// All the stuff below will be filled in if this character is playable in Rave mode
 	bool	m_bUsableInRave;	
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp b/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp
index 8310b97bcc..ddf7fa3755 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ DancingCharacters::DancingCharacters()
 			m_pCharacter[p]->SetX( MODEL_X_TWO_PLAYERS[p] );
 		else
 			m_pCharacter[p]->SetX( MODEL_X_ONE_PLAYER );
-
+	
 		switch( GAMESTATE->m_PlayMode )
 		{
 		case PLAY_MODE_BATTLE:
@@ -131,6 +131,8 @@ DancingCharacters::DancingCharacters()
 		m_pCharacter[p]->LoadMilkshapeAsciiBones( "warmup", pChar->GetWarmUpAnimationPath() );
 		m_pCharacter[p]->LoadMilkshapeAsciiBones( "dance", pChar->GetDanceAnimationPath() );
 		m_pCharacter[p]->SetCullMode( CULL_NONE );	// many of the models floating around have the vertex order flipped
+
+		m_pCharacter[p]->RunCommands( pChar->m_cmdInit );
 	}
 }