diff --git a/electron-webpack.json5 b/electron-webpack.json5
index cdc507b..29051a5 100644
--- a/electron-webpack.json5
+++ b/electron-webpack.json5
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
         "webpackConfig": "webpack.main.additions.js"
     },
     "renderer": {
+        "template": "src/renderer/index.html",
         "webpackConfig": "webpack.renderer.additions.js"
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.html b/src/renderer/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65d8ed3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+<head>
+    <meta charset="utf-8">
+    <style>
+        .splash {
+            font-size: xx-large;
+            margin: 0;
+            position: absolute;
+            top: 50%;
+            left: 50%;
+            transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+        }
+    </style>
+</head>
+<body>
+    <div id="app"><p class="splash">Scratch Desktop is loading...</p></div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.js b/src/renderer/index.js
index 9b8fe6b..4ca0734 100644
--- a/src/renderer/index.js
+++ b/src/renderer/index.js
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
-import './app.jsx';
+// this is an async import so that it doesn't block the first render
+// index.html contains a loading/splash screen which will display while this import loads
+import('./app.jsx');
