diff --git a/dfhack.init-example b/dfhack.init-example
index c1cd1ac86..638f61aa1 100644
--- a/dfhack.init-example
+++ b/dfhack.init-example
@@ -72,9 +72,13 @@ keybinding add Ctrl-Shift-Z@dwarfmode/Default "stocks show"
 # open an overview window summarising some stocks (dfstatus)
 keybinding add Ctrl-Shift-I@dwarfmode/Default "gui/dfstatus"
 
-# q->stockpile; p - copy & paste stockpiles
+# q->stockpile - copy & paste stockpiles
 keybinding add Alt-P copystock
 
+# q->stockpile - load and save stockpile settings out of game
+keybinding add Alt-L@dwarfmode/QueryBuilding/Some/Stockpile "gui/stockpiles -load"
+keybinding add Alt-S@dwarfmode/QueryBuilding/Some/Stockpile "gui/stockpiles -save"
+
 # q->workshop - duplicate the selected job
 keybinding add Ctrl-D job-duplicate
 
@@ -189,7 +193,7 @@ enable search
 enable automaterial
 
 # Other interface improvement tools
-enable dwarfmonitor mousequery automelt autotrade buildingplan resume trackstop zone stocks autochop
+enable dwarfmonitor mousequery automelt autotrade buildingplan resume trackstop zone stocks autochop stockpiles
 
 # allow the fortress bookkeeper to queue jobs through the manager
 stockflow enable
diff --git a/plugins/lua/stockpiles.lua b/plugins/lua/stockpiles.lua
index 66a9d2898..c2ac67c44 100644
--- a/plugins/lua/stockpiles.lua
+++ b/plugins/lua/stockpiles.lua
@@ -14,9 +14,13 @@ local gui = require 'gui'
 local script = require 'gui.script'
 local persist = require 'persist-table'
 
-if persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles == nil then
-    persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles = {}
-    persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles['settings_path'] = './stocksettings'
+function init()
+    if dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+        if persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles == nil then
+            persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles = {}
+            persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles['settings_path'] = './stocksettings'
+        end
+    end
 end
 
 function tablify(iterableObject)
@@ -28,6 +32,7 @@ function tablify(iterableObject)
 end
 
 function load_settings()
+    init()
     script.start(function()
         local path = persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles['settings_path']
         local list = stockpiles_list_settings(path)
@@ -40,6 +45,7 @@ function load_settings()
 end
 
 function save_settings(stockpile)
+    init()
     script.start(function()
         --local sp = dfhack.gui.geSelectedBuilding(true)
         local suggested = stockpile.name
@@ -55,6 +61,7 @@ function save_settings(stockpile)
 end
 
 function manage_settings(sp)
+    init()
     if not guard() then return false end
     script.start(function()
         local list = {'Load', 'Save'}
@@ -78,7 +85,13 @@ function guard()
 end
 
 function set_path(path)
+    init()
     persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles['settings_path'] = path
 end
 
+function get_path()
+    init()
+    return persist.GlobalTable.stockpiles['settings_path']
+end
+
 return _ENV
diff --git a/scripts/gui/stockpiles.lua b/scripts/gui/stockpiles.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..557692fda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/gui/stockpiles.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+-- lave/load stockpile settings with a GUI
+
+local stock = require 'plugins.stockpiles'
+
+function world_guard()
+    if not dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+        qerror("World is not loaded")
+        return false
+    end
+    return true
+end
+function guard()
+    if not string.match(dfhack.gui.getCurFocus(), '^dwarfmode/QueryBuilding/Some/Stockpile') then
+        qerror("This script requires a stockpile selected in the 'q' mode")
+        return false
+    end
+    return true
+end
+
+utils = require('utils')
+validArgs = validArgs or utils.invert({
+    'help',
+    'load',
+    'save',
+    'dir',
+})
+
+args = utils.processArgs({...}, validArgs)
+
+function usage()
+    print("")
+    print("Stockpile Settings. Arguments: ")
+    print("-save   to save the current stockpile")
+    print("-load   to load settings into the current stockpile")
+    print("-dir    set the default directory to save settings into")
+    if dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+        print("        Current directory is: " .. stock.get_path())
+    end
+    print("")
+end
+
+if args.load then
+    if not guard() then return end
+    stock.load_settings()
+elseif args.save then
+    if not guard() then return end
+    local sp = dfhack.gui.getSelectedBuilding(true)
+    stock.save_settings(sp)
+elseif args.dir then
+    if not world_guard() then return end
+    stock.set_path(args.dir)
+else
+    usage()
+end
+