diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1579805..9aca25d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Execute scripts on IMAP mailbox changes (new/deleted/updated messages) using IDL
   "password": "",
   "onNotify": "/usr/bin/mbsync test-%s",
   "onNotifyPost": {"mail": "/usr/bin/notmuch new && notify-send 'New mail arrived'"},
+  "executeOnStartup": true,
   "boxes":
     [
       "box1",
@@ -27,10 +28,13 @@ Execute scripts on IMAP mailbox changes (new/deleted/updated messages) using IDL
 		[string]: shell command to run on any event
 		[object]: shell commands to run on for each type of event
 			keys: "mail" for new mail, "update" for existing messages updates, "expunge" for messages deletions
-    onNotifyPost:
+  onNotifyPost:
 		[string]: shell command to run after onNotify event
 		[object]: shell commands to run after onNotify for each type of event
 			keys: "mail" for new mail, "update" for existing messages updates, "expunge" for messages deletions
+  executeOnStartup:
+		[boolean]: execute the onNotify and onNotifyPost shell command at startup as
+      well, if new mail is available (execute the command for the 'mail' event)
 ```
 
 ### extra options
@@ -82,6 +86,7 @@ follows.  Assuming the script ~/getpass.sh prints out your password.
     exports.password = getStdout("~/getpass.sh");
     exports.onNotify = "<sync command>"
     exports.onNotifyPost = "<command>"
+    exports.executeOnStartup = true
     exports.boxes = [ "box1", "box2", "some/other/box" ];
 ```
 
diff --git a/bin/imapnotify b/bin/imapnotify
index 5ee657c..71360c7 100755
--- a/bin/imapnotify
+++ b/bin/imapnotify
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ function Notifier(config) {
     this.logger = logger.child({'server': this.config.server})
 }
 
-Notifier.prototype.add_box = function(box, cb, debug) {
+Notifier.prototype.add_box = function(box, cb, executeOnStartup, debug) {
   if (typeof cb !== 'function') {
     cb = function() {}
   }
@@ -58,6 +58,16 @@ Notifier.prototype.add_box = function(box, cb, debug) {
       delimiter = connection.namespaces.personal[0].delimiter;
     }
 
+    //retrieve status information about the box before opening it
+    if (executeOnStartup) {
+      connection.status(replace(box, '/', delimiter), function(err, boxStatus) {
+        if (err) throw err;
+        if (boxStatus.messages.unseen > 0) {
+          cb(box, 'mail');
+        }
+      });
+    }
+
     connection.openBox(replace(box, '/', delimiter), true, function(err) {
       if (err) throw err;
       function addConnectionListener(event, message) {
@@ -240,10 +250,13 @@ function executeOnNotify(config) {
 	return function notify(box, event) {
 		var formattedBox = replace(box.toLowerCase(), '/', '-')
 		, formattedCommand = printf(commandIsEventMap ? command[event] || '': command, formattedBox)
-		, formattedPostCommand = printf(postCommandIsEventMap ? postCommand[event] || '': command, formattedBox)
+		, formattedPostCommand = printf(postCommandIsEventMap ? postCommand[event] || '' : (postCommand ? postCommand : ''), formattedBox);
 		return executeCommands(formattedCommand, formattedPostCommand)
 	}
 }
+function executeOnStartup(config) {
+  return (config.executeOnStartup || false);
+}
 
 function runOnSig(signal, config, cb) {
   signal = 'SIG' + signal
@@ -275,13 +288,13 @@ function main(cb) {
   var notifier = new Notifier(config);
 
   config.boxes.forEach(function (box) {
-    notifier.add_box(box, executeOnNotify(config), process.env['DEBUG'] === 'imap' ? logger.debug : null)
+    notifier.add_box(box, executeOnNotify(config), executeOnStartup(config), process.env['DEBUG'] === 'imap' ? logger.debug : null)
   })
 
   process.on('SIGINT', function() {
     logger.info('Caught Ctrl-C, exiting...')
     notifier.stop(function() {
-      logger.info('imap-inotify stoped')
+      logger.info('imap-inotify stopped')
       runOnSig('INT', config, function() {process.exit(0)})
     })
   })
@@ -289,7 +302,7 @@ function main(cb) {
   process.on('SIGTERM', function() {
     logger.info('Caught SIGTERM, exiting...')
     notifier.stop(function() {
-      logger.info('imap-inotify stoped')
+      logger.info('imap-inotify stopped')
       runOnSig('TERM', config, function() {process.exit(2)})
     })
   })
diff --git a/imapnotify@.service b/imapnotify@.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2624c71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imapnotify@.service
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Execute scripts on new messages using IDLE imap command
+After=network.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=/home/user/node-imapnotify/bin/imapnotify -c %h/.config/imapnotify/%I
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=20
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=default.target