diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
index 60f8a2c76..aa2ae9601 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
@@ -762,7 +762,16 @@ u3_king_commence()
 
   //  boot the ivory pill
   //
-  _king_boot_ivory();
+  {
+    struct timeval b4, f2, d0;
+    gettimeofday(&b4, 0);
+
+    _king_boot_ivory();
+
+    gettimeofday(&f2, 0);
+    timersub(&f2, &b4, &d0);
+    fprintf(stderr, "lite: boot %lu ms\r\n", (d0.tv_sec * 1000) + (d0.tv_usec / 1000));
+  }
 
   //  disable core dumps (due to lmdb size)
   //