diff --git a/frontend/runelf b/frontend/runelf
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..94d8ec9ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/runelf
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import argparse
+from artiq.devices import corecom_serial
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Core device ELF loading tool")
+    parser.add_argument("-e", default=False, action="store_true",
+                        help="show environment")
+    parser.add_argument("-f", default="run",
+                        help="function to run")
+    parser.add_argument("file",
+                        help="ELF binary to load")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    with open(args.file, "rb") as f:
+        binary = f.read()
+    with corecom_serial.CoreCom() as com:
+        runtime_env = com.get_runtime_env()
+        if args.e:
+            print(runtime_env)
+        com.load(binary)
+        com.run(args.f)
+        com.serve(dict(), dict())
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()