diff -Nurd -Xfreeciv/diff_ignore freeciv-1.11.12/server/srv_main.c f-r-swap/server/srv_main.c
--- freeciv-1.11.12/server/srv_main.c	Mon Aug  6 22:41:21 2001
+++ f-r-swap/server/srv_main.c	Fri Aug 10 16:11:54 2001
@@ -1780,11 +1780,6 @@
   init_our_capability();
   game_init();
 
-  /* load a script file */
-
-  if (srvarg.script_filename)
-    read_init_script(srvarg.script_filename);
-
   /* load a saved game */
   
   if(srvarg.load_filename) {
@@ -1810,6 +1805,7 @@
   /* init network */  
   init_connections(); 
   server_open_socket();
+
   if(!(srvarg.metaserver_no_send)) {
     freelog(LOG_NORMAL, _("Sending info to metaserver [%s]"),
 	    meta_addr_port());
@@ -1821,6 +1817,11 @@
   /* accept new players, wait for serverop to start..*/
   freelog(LOG_NORMAL, _("Now accepting new client connections."));
   server_state=PRE_GAME_STATE;
+
+  /* load a script file */
+
+  if (srvarg.script_filename)
+    read_init_script(NULL,srvarg.script_filename);
 
   while(server_state==PRE_GAME_STATE)
     sniff_packets(); /* Accepting commands. */
diff -Nurd -Xfreeciv/diff_ignore freeciv-1.11.12/server/stdinhand.c f-r-swap/server/stdinhand.c
--- freeciv-1.11.12/server/stdinhand.c	Tue Aug  7 15:35:06 2001
+++ f-r-swap/server/stdinhand.c	Fri Aug 10 16:04:46 2001
@@ -1700,9 +1700,8 @@
 
 /**************************************************************************
 ...
-(Should this take a 'caller' argument for output? --dwp)
 **************************************************************************/
-void read_init_script(char *script_filename)
+void read_init_script(struct connection *caller, char *script_filename)
 {
   FILE *script_file;
   char buffer[MAX_LEN_CONSOLE_LINE];
@@ -1717,6 +1716,8 @@
     fclose(script_file);
 
   } else {
+    cmd_reply(CMD_READ_SCRIPT, caller, C_FAIL,
+	_("Cannot read command line scriptfile '%s'."), script_filename);
     freelog(LOG_ERROR,
 	_("Could not read script file '%s'."), script_filename);
   }
@@ -1729,7 +1730,7 @@
 static void read_command(struct connection *caller, char *arg)
 {
   /* warning: there is no recursion check! */
-  read_init_script(arg);
+  read_init_script(caller,arg);
 }
 
 /**************************************************************************
diff -Nurd -Xfreeciv/diff_ignore freeciv-1.11.12/server/stdinhand.h f-r-swap/server/stdinhand.h
--- freeciv-1.11.12/server/stdinhand.h	Sat Apr 14 12:25:06 2001
+++ f-r-swap/server/stdinhand.h	Fri Aug 10 16:00:40 2001
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 void report_server_options(struct conn_list *dest, int which);
 void set_ai_level_direct(struct player *pplayer, int level);
 void set_ai_level_directer(struct player *pplayer, int level);
-void read_init_script(char *script_filename);
+void read_init_script(struct connection *caller, char *script_filename);
 void show_players(struct connection *caller);
 
 void quit_game(struct connection *caller);