diff --git a/src/pipboy.cc b/src/pipboy.cc
index 5b58020..2240628 100644
--- a/src/pipboy.cc
+++ b/src/pipboy.cc
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "window_manager.h"
 #include "word_wrap.h"
 #include "worldmap.h"
+#include "sfall_config.h"
 
 namespace fallout {
 
@@ -394,12 +395,14 @@ unsigned char _stat_flag;
 
 static int gPipboyPrevTab;
 
+bool PipBoyAvailableAtGameStart = false;
+
 static FrmImage _pipboyFrmImages[PIPBOY_FRM_COUNT];
 
 // 0x497004
 int pipboyOpen(int intent)
 {
-    if (!wmMapPipboyActive()) {
+    if (!wmMapPipboyActive() && !PipBoyAvailableAtGameStart) {
         // You aren't wearing the pipboy!
         const char* text = getmsg(&gMiscMessageList, &gPipboyMessageListItem, 7000);
         showDialogBox(text, NULL, 0, 192, 135, _colorTable[32328], NULL, _colorTable[32328], 1);
@@ -741,6 +744,9 @@ static void pipboyWindowFree()
 // 0x497918
 static void _pip_init_()
 {
+    int configValue = 2;
+    configGetInt(&gSfallConfig, SFALL_CONFIG_MISC_KEY, SFALL_CONFIG_PIPBOY_AVAILABLE_AT_GAMESTART, &configValue);
+    PipBoyAvailableAtGameStart = configValue == 1;
 }
 
 // NOTE: Uncollapsed 0x497918.
diff --git a/src/sfall_config.cc b/src/sfall_config.cc
index 353bb37..753208d 100644
--- a/src/sfall_config.cc
+++ b/src/sfall_config.cc
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ bool sfallConfigInit(int argc, char** argv)
     configSetString(&gSfallConfig, SFALL_CONFIG_SCRIPTS_KEY, SFALL_CONFIG_INI_CONFIG_FOLDER, "");
     configSetString(&gSfallConfig, SFALL_CONFIG_SCRIPTS_KEY, SFALL_CONFIG_GLOBAL_SCRIPT_PATHS, "");
 
+    configSetInt(&gSfallConfig, SFALL_CONFIG_MISC_KEY, SFALL_CONFIG_PIPBOY_AVAILABLE_AT_GAMESTART, 2);
+
     char path[COMPAT_MAX_PATH];
     char* executable = argv[0];
     char* ch = strrchr(executable, '\\');
diff --git a/src/sfall_config.h b/src/sfall_config.h
index da2c298..08515e8 100644
--- a/src/sfall_config.h
+++ b/src/sfall_config.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ namespace fallout {
 #define SFALL_CONFIG_INI_CONFIG_FOLDER "IniConfigFolder"
 #define SFALL_CONFIG_GLOBAL_SCRIPT_PATHS "GlobalScriptPaths"
 #define SFALL_CONFIG_AUTO_QUICK_SAVE "AutoQuickSave"
+#define SFALL_CONFIG_PIPBOY_AVAILABLE_AT_GAMESTART "PipBoyAvailableAtGameStart"
 
 #define SFALL_CONFIG_BURST_MOD_DEFAULT_CENTER_MULTIPLIER 1
 #define SFALL_CONFIG_BURST_MOD_DEFAULT_CENTER_DIVISOR 3