diff --git a/LUA_API.rst b/LUA_API.rst
index d9488d60f..938664379 100644
--- a/LUA_API.rst
+++ b/LUA_API.rst
@@ -598,6 +598,14 @@ One notable difference is that these explicit wrappers allow argument count
 adjustment according to the usual lua rules, so trailing false/nil arguments
 can be omitted.
 
+* ``dfhack.isWorldLoaded()``
+
+  Checks if the world is loaded.
+
+* ``dfhack.isMapLoaded()``
+
+  Checks if the world and map are loaded.
+
 * ``dfhack.TranslateName(name[,in_english,only_last_name])``
 
   Convert a language_name or only the last name part to string.
@@ -950,6 +958,18 @@ Core context specific functions:
 
   Boolean value; *true* in the core context.
 
+* ``dfhack.timeout(time,mode,callback)``
+
+  Arranges for the callback to be called once the specified
+  period of time passes. The ``mode`` argument specifies the
+  unit of time used, and may be one of ``'frames'`` (raw FPS),
+  ``'ticks'`` (unpaused FPS), ``'days'``, ``'months'``,
+  ``'years'`` (in-game time). All timers other than
+  ``'frames'`` are cancelled when the world is unloaded,
+  and cannot be queued until it is loaded again.
+  Returns the timer id, or *nil* if unsuccessful due to
+  world being unloaded.
+
 * ``dfhack.onStateChange.foo = function(code)``
 
   Event. Receives the same codes as plugin_onstatechange in C++.
diff --git a/Lua API.html b/Lua API.html
index 40706d14f..b96d12156 100644
--- a/Lua API.html	
+++ b/Lua API.html	
@@ -855,6 +855,12 @@ One notable difference is that these explicit wrappers allow argument count
 adjustment according to the usual lua rules, so trailing false/nil arguments
 can be omitted.</p>
 <ul>
+<li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal">dfhack.isWorldLoaded()</tt></p>
+<p>Checks if the world is loaded.</p>
+</li>
+<li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal">dfhack.isMapLoaded()</tt></p>
+<p>Checks if the world and map are loaded.</p>
+</li>
 <li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">dfhack.TranslateName(name[,in_english,only_last_name])</span></tt></p>
 <p>Convert a language_name or only the last name part to string.</p>
 </li>
@@ -1151,6 +1157,17 @@ only context that can receive events from DF and plugins.</p>
 <li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal">dfhack.is_core_context</tt></p>
 <p>Boolean value; <em>true</em> in the core context.</p>
 </li>
+<li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal">dfhack.timeout(time,mode,callback)</tt></p>
+<p>Arranges for the callback to be called once the specified
+period of time passes. The <tt class="docutils literal">mode</tt> argument specifies the
+unit of time used, and may be one of <tt class="docutils literal">'frames'</tt> (raw FPS),
+<tt class="docutils literal">'ticks'</tt> (unpaused FPS), <tt class="docutils literal">'days'</tt>, <tt class="docutils literal">'months'</tt>,
+<tt class="docutils literal">'years'</tt> (in-game time). All timers other than
+<tt class="docutils literal">'frames'</tt> are cancelled when the world is unloaded,
+and cannot be queued until it is loaded again.
+Returns the timer id, or <em>nil</em> if unsuccessful due to
+world being unloaded.</p>
+</li>
 <li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal">dfhack.onStateChange.foo = function(code)</tt></p>
 <p>Event. Receives the same codes as plugin_onstatechange in C++.</p>
 </li>
diff --git a/library/Core.cpp b/library/Core.cpp
index 60e380598..d7e4435ce 100644
--- a/library/Core.cpp
+++ b/library/Core.cpp
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ command_result Core::runCommand(color_ostream &con, const std::string &first, ve
                 {
                     string help = getLuaHelp(filename);
                     con.print("%s: %s\n", parts[0].c_str(), help.c_str());
+                    return CR_OK;
                 }
                 con.printerr("Unknown command: %s\n", parts[0].c_str());
             }
@@ -1077,6 +1078,9 @@ int Core::Update()
     // notify all the plugins that a game tick is finished
     plug_mgr->OnUpdate(out);
 
+    // process timers in lua
+    Lua::Core::onUpdate(out);
+
     // Release the fake suspend lock
     {
         lock_guard<mutex> lock(d->AccessMutex);
diff --git a/library/LuaApi.cpp b/library/LuaApi.cpp
index 828e54cbc..ea723df64 100644
--- a/library/LuaApi.cpp
+++ b/library/LuaApi.cpp
@@ -570,9 +570,14 @@ static void OpenModule(lua_State *state, const char *mname,
 #define WRAP(function) { #function, df::wrap_function(function,true) }
 #define WRAPN(name, function) { #name, df::wrap_function(function,true) }
 
-/***** Translation module *****/
+/***** DFHack module *****/
+
+static bool isWorldLoaded() { return Core::getInstance().isWorldLoaded(); }
+static bool isMapLoaded() { return Core::getInstance().isMapLoaded(); }
 
 static const LuaWrapper::FunctionReg dfhack_module[] = {
+    WRAP(isWorldLoaded),
+    WRAP(isMapLoaded),
     WRAPM(Translation, TranslateName),
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
diff --git a/library/LuaTools.cpp b/library/LuaTools.cpp
index 17ad0abde..10ff51ba1 100644
--- a/library/LuaTools.cpp
+++ b/library/LuaTools.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ distribution.
 #include "df/building.h"
 #include "df/unit.h"
 #include "df/item.h"
+#include "df/world.h"
 
 #include <lua.h>
 #include <lauxlib.h>
@@ -1412,13 +1413,135 @@ lua_State *DFHack::Lua::Open(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state)
     return state;
 }
 
+static int next_timeout_id = 0;
+static int frame_idx = 0;
+static std::multimap<int,int> frame_timers;
+static std::multimap<int,int> tick_timers;
+
+int DFHACK_TIMEOUTS_TOKEN = 0;
+
+static const char *const timeout_modes[] = {
+    "frames", "ticks", "days", "months", "years", NULL
+};
+
+int dfhack_timeout(lua_State *L)
+{
+    using df::global::world;
+    using df::global::enabler;
+
+    lua_Number time = luaL_checknumber(L, 1);
+    int mode = luaL_checkoption(L, 2, NULL, timeout_modes);
+    luaL_checktype(L, 3, LUA_TFUNCTION);
+    lua_settop(L, 3);
+
+    if (mode > 0 && !Core::getInstance().isWorldLoaded())
+    {
+        lua_pushnil(L);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    switch (mode)
+    {
+    case 2:
+        time *= 1200;
+        break;
+    case 3:
+        time *= 33600;
+        break;
+    case 4:
+        time *= 403200;
+        break;
+    default:;
+    }
+
+    int id = next_timeout_id++;
+    int delta = time;
+
+    if (delta <= 0)
+        luaL_error(L, "Invalid timeout: %d", delta);
+
+    if (mode)
+        tick_timers.insert(std::pair<int,int>(world->frame_counter+delta, id));
+    else
+        frame_timers.insert(std::pair<int,int>(frame_idx+delta, id));
+
+    lua_rawgetp(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_TIMEOUTS_TOKEN);
+    lua_swap(L);
+    lua_rawseti(L, -2, id);
+
+    lua_pushinteger(L, id);
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static void cancel_tick_timers()
+{
+    using Lua::Core::State;
+
+    Lua::StackUnwinder frame(State);
+    lua_rawgetp(State, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_TIMEOUTS_TOKEN);
+
+    for (auto it = tick_timers.begin(); it != tick_timers.end(); ++it)
+    {
+        lua_pushnil(State);
+        lua_rawseti(State, frame[1], it->second);
+    }
+
+    tick_timers.clear();
+}
+
 void DFHack::Lua::Core::onStateChange(color_ostream &out, int code) {
     if (!State) return;
 
+    switch (code)
+    {
+    case SC_MAP_UNLOADED:
+    case SC_WORLD_UNLOADED:
+        cancel_tick_timers();
+        break;
+
+    default:;
+    }
+
     Lua::Push(State, code);
     Lua::InvokeEvent(out, State, (void*)onStateChange, 1);
 }
 
+void DFHack::Lua::Core::onUpdate(color_ostream &out)
+{
+    using df::global::world;
+
+    Lua::StackUnwinder frame(State);
+    lua_rawgetp(State, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_TIMEOUTS_TOKEN);
+
+    frame_idx++;
+
+    while (!frame_timers.empty() &&
+           frame_timers.begin()->first <= frame_idx)
+    {
+        int id = frame_timers.begin()->second;
+        frame_timers.erase(frame_timers.begin());
+
+        lua_rawgeti(State, frame[1], id);
+        lua_pushnil(State);
+        lua_rawseti(State, frame[1], id);
+
+        Lua::SafeCall(out, State, 0, 0);
+    }
+
+    while (!tick_timers.empty() &&
+           tick_timers.begin()->first <= world->frame_counter)
+    {
+        int id = tick_timers.begin()->second;
+        tick_timers.erase(tick_timers.begin());
+
+        lua_rawgeti(State, frame[1], id);
+        lua_pushnil(State);
+        lua_rawseti(State, frame[1], id);
+
+        Lua::SafeCall(out, State, 0, 0);
+    }
+}
+
 void DFHack::Lua::Core::Init(color_ostream &out)
 {
     if (State)
@@ -1428,12 +1551,18 @@ void DFHack::Lua::Core::Init(color_ostream &out)
 
     Lua::Open(out, State);
 
+    lua_newtable(State);
+    lua_rawsetp(State, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_TIMEOUTS_TOKEN);
+
     // Register events
     lua_rawgetp(State, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_DFHACK_TOKEN);
 
     MakeEvent(State, (void*)onStateChange);
     lua_setfield(State, -2, "onStateChange");
 
+    lua_pushcfunction(State, dfhack_timeout);
+    lua_setfield(State, -2, "timeout");
+
     lua_pop(State, 1);
 }
 
diff --git a/library/PluginManager.cpp b/library/PluginManager.cpp
index 69b8bfe0d..b8619d503 100644
--- a/library/PluginManager.cpp
+++ b/library/PluginManager.cpp
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ command_result PluginManager::InvokeCommand(color_ostream &out, const std::strin
 bool PluginManager::CanInvokeHotkey(const std::string &command, df::viewscreen *top)
 {
     Plugin *plugin = getPluginByCommand(command);
-    return plugin ? plugin->can_invoke_hotkey(command, top) : false;
+    return plugin ? plugin->can_invoke_hotkey(command, top) : true;
 }
 
 void PluginManager::OnUpdate(color_ostream &out)
diff --git a/library/include/LuaTools.h b/library/include/LuaTools.h
index 2ffc5c58a..669d4d38b 100644
--- a/library/include/LuaTools.h
+++ b/library/include/LuaTools.h
@@ -333,6 +333,8 @@ namespace DFHack {namespace Lua {
 
         // Events signalled by the core
         void onStateChange(color_ostream &out, int code);
+        // Signals timers
+        void onUpdate(color_ostream &out);
 
         template<class T> inline void Push(T &arg) { Lua::Push(State, arg); }
         template<class T> inline void Push(const T &arg) { Lua::Push(State, arg); }
diff --git a/scripts/quicksave.lua b/scripts/quicksave.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c54cc730b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/quicksave.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+-- Makes the game immediately save the state.
+
+if not dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+    dfhack.printerr("World and map aren't loaded.")
+    return
+end
+
+local ui_main = df.global.ui.main
+local flags4 = df.global.d_init.flags4
+
+local function restore_autobackup()
+    if ui_main.autosave_request and dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+        dfhack.timeout(10, 'frames', restore_autobackup)
+    else
+        flags4.AUTOBACKUP = true
+    end
+end
+
+-- Request auto-save
+ui_main.autosave_request = true
+
+-- And since it will overwrite the backup, disable it temporarily
+if flags4.AUTOBACKUP then
+    flags4.AUTOBACKUP = false
+    restore_autobackup()
+end
+
+print 'The game should save the state now.'