diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 98cb1cf..559d267 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ libfmasa_la_SOURCES     = masa.f90
 BUILT_SOURCES += $(srcdir)/masa_wrap.c
 SWIG_SOURCES=masa.i
 
-pkgpython_PYTHON = masa.py
+pkgpython_PYTHON = masa.py __init__.py
 pkgpyexec_LTLIBRARIES = _masa.la
 _masa_la_SOURCES = $(srcdir)/masa_wrap.c $(SWIG_SOURCES)
 _masa_la_CFLAGS = $(SWIG_PYTHON_CFLAGS) -I$(top_srcdir)/src
diff --git a/src/__init__.py b/src/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c143c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# masa __init__.py
+#
+#  allow masa to be loaded via an import statement
+#
+
+
+#
+# nick 
+# 7/9/13
+#