diff --git a/defaults/initrd.scripts b/defaults/initrd.scripts
index ff956b0..94b998c 100644
--- a/defaults/initrd.scripts
+++ b/defaults/initrd.scripts
@@ -1033,6 +1033,8 @@ run_emergency_shell() {
 }
 
 run_shell() {
+	splashCmd 'verbose' >/dev/null &
+
 	if ! is_userinteraction_allowed
 	then
 		bad_msg "gk.userinteraction.disabled is set; Spawning a shell is disabled!"
@@ -1197,7 +1199,7 @@ bad_msg() {
 
 	if [ "$2" != '1' ]
 	then
-		splash 'verbose' >/dev/null &
+		splashCmd 'verbose' >/dev/null &
 		printf "%b\n" "${BAD}!!${NORMAL}${BOLD} ${msg_string} ${NORMAL}"
 	fi
 }
@@ -1238,13 +1240,19 @@ crypt_filter() {
 	if [ "${CRYPT_SILENT}" = '1' ]
 	then
 		eval run ${1} >/dev/null 2>&1
+	elif [ "${PLYMOUTH}" = '1' ] && plymouth_running
+	then
+		run plymouth ask-for-password --prompt "Enter LUKS passphrase" \
+			--number-of-tries=3 --command="${2}"
+		res=$?
+		return ${res}
 	else
-		splash 'verbose' >/dev/null &
+		splashCmd 'verbose' >/dev/null &
 		eval run ${1}
 		res=$?
 		if [ ${res} -eq 0 ]
 		then
-			splash set_msg 'Disk unlocked.'
+			splashCmd set_msg 'Disk unlocked.'
 		fi
 		return ${res}
 	fi
@@ -1315,6 +1323,7 @@ prompt_user() {
 	fi
 	[ -n "${3}" ] && local explnt=" or : ${3}" || local explnt="."
 
+	splashCmd 'verbose' >/dev/null &
 	bad_msg "Could not find the ${2} in ${oldvalue}${explnt}"
 
 	if [ -f "${GK_USERINTERACTION_DISABLED_STATEFILE}" ]
@@ -1397,6 +1406,8 @@ prompt_user() {
 			eval ${1}'='${oldvalue}
 			;;
 	esac
+
+	splashCmd 'quiet' >/dev/null &
 }
 
 cmdline_hwopts() {
@@ -1476,7 +1487,7 @@ chooseKeymap() {
 	good_msg "Loading keymaps"
 	if [ -z "${keymap}" ]
 	then
-		splash 'verbose' >/dev/null &
+		splashCmd 'verbose' >/dev/null &
 		run cat /lib/keymaps/keymapList
 		read -t 10 -p '<< Load keymap (Enter for default): ' keymap
 		case ${keymap} in
@@ -1534,12 +1545,12 @@ chooseKeymap() {
 
 		run mkdir -p /etc/sysconfig
 		echo "XKEYBOARD=${keymap}" > /etc/sysconfig/keyboard
-		splash set_msg "Set keymap to '${keymap}'"
+		splashCmd set_msg "Set keymap to '${keymap}'"
 	elif [ -z "${keymap}" ]
 	then
 		good_msg
 		good_msg "Keeping default keymap"
-		splash set_msg "Keeping default keymap"
+		splashCmd set_msg "Keeping default keymap"
 	else
 		bad_msg "Sorry, but keymap '${keymap}' is invalid!"
 		unset keymap
@@ -1562,6 +1573,71 @@ splash() {
 	return 0
 }
 
+splashCmd() {
+	case "${1}" in
+		init)
+		if [ "${FBSPLASH}" = '1' ]
+		then
+			splash 'init'
+		elif [ "${PLYMOUTH}" = '1' ]
+		then
+			plymouthInit
+		fi
+		;;
+
+		verbose)
+		if [ "${FBSPLASH}" = '1' ]
+		then
+			splash 'verbose'
+		elif [ "${PLYMOUTH}" = '1' ]
+		then
+			plymouth_running && run plymouth --hide-splash
+		fi
+		;;
+
+		set_msg)
+		if [ "${FBSPLASH}" = '1' ]
+		then
+			splash 'set_msg' "${2}"
+		elif [ "${PLYMOUTH}" = '1' ]
+		then
+			plymouth_running && run plymouth --update="${2}"
+		fi
+		;;
+
+		quiet)
+		plymouth_running && run plymouth --show-splash
+		;;
+
+		hasroot)
+		plymouth_running && run plymouth --newroot="${2}"
+		;;
+	esac
+}
+
+plymouth_running() {
+	[ -n "${PLYMOUTH_FAIL}" ] && return 1
+	run plymouth --ping 2>/dev/null
+	return $?
+}
+
+plymouthInit() {
+	good_msg "Starting Plymouth..."
+	run mkdir -p -m 0755 /run/plymouth || return 1
+
+	# Make sure that udev is done loading tty and drm
+	run udevadm trigger --action=add --attr-match=class=0x030000 >/dev/null 2>&1
+	run udevadm trigger --action=add --subsystem-match=graphics \
+		--subsystem-match=drm --subsystem-match=tty >/dev/null 2>&1
+	udevsettle
+
+	run plymouthd --mode=boot --attach-to-session \
+		--pid-file=/run/plymouth/pid || { PLYMOUTH_FAIL=1; return 1; }
+
+	plymouth_running && run plymouth --show-splash
+	good_msg "Plymouth initialized"
+}
+
 start_volumes() {
 	# Here, we check for /dev/device-mapper, and if it exists, we setup a
 	# a symlink, which should hopefully fix bug #142775 and bug #147015
@@ -1837,6 +1913,7 @@ openLUKS() {
 	while true
 	do
 		local gpg_cmd=""
+		local ply_cmd=""
 		if [ -e "${OPENED_LOCKFILE}" ]
 		then
 			good_msg "The LUKS device ${LUKS_DEVICE} meanwhile was opened by someone else."
@@ -1957,15 +2034,27 @@ openLUKS() {
 							[ -e /dev/tty ] && run mv /dev/tty /dev/tty.org
 							run mknod /dev/tty c 5 1
 							cryptsetup_options="${cryptsetup_options} -d -"
-							gpg_cmd="gpg --logger-file /dev/null --quiet --decrypt ${mntkey}${LUKS_KEY} |"
+							gpg_cmd="gpg --logger-file /dev/null --quiet --decrypt ${mntkey}${LUKS_KEY} | "
+							ply_cmd="gpg --logger-file /dev/null --quiet --passphrase-fd 0 --batch --no-tty --decrypt ${mntkey}${LUKS_KEY} | "
 						fi
 					else
 						cryptsetup_options="${cryptsetup_options} -d ${mntkey}${LUKS_KEY}"
 					fi
 				fi
 				# At this point, keyfile or not, we're ready!
-				crypt_filter "${gpg_cmd}cryptsetup ${cryptsetup_options} luksOpen ${LUKS_DEVICE} ${LUKS_NAME}"
+				if [ "${PLYMOUTH}" = '1' ]
+				then
+					ply_cmd="${ply_cmd}cryptsetup ${cryptsetup_options} luksOpen ${LUKS_DEVICE} ${LUKS_NAME}"
+					local ply_cmd_file="$(mktemp -t "ply_cmd.XXXXXX")"
+					printf '#!/bin/sh\n%s\n' "${ply_cmd}" > "${ply_cmd_file}"
+					run chmod 500 "${ply_cmd_file}"
+				fi
+				crypt_filter "${gpg_cmd}cryptsetup ${cryptsetup_options} luksOpen ${LUKS_DEVICE} ${LUKS_NAME}" "${ply_cmd_file}"
 				crypt_filter_ret=$?
+				if [ "${PLYMOUTH}" = '1' ]
+				then
+					run rm -f "${ply_cmd_file}"
+				fi
 
 				[ -e /dev/tty.org ] \
 					&& run rm -f /dev/tty \
diff --git a/defaults/linuxrc b/defaults/linuxrc
index ebed7d8..ed94c72 100644
--- a/defaults/linuxrc
+++ b/defaults/linuxrc
@@ -178,6 +178,18 @@ do
 			MLIST=$(echo ${MLIST} ${x#*=} | sed -e 's/^\ *//;s/,/ /g')
 			export MLIST
 		;;
+		splash)
+			if [ -x /usr/bin/plymouth -a -x /usr/sbin/plymouthd ]
+			then
+				PLYMOUTH=1
+			fi
+		;;
+		splash=*)
+			if [ -e /etc/initrd.splash ]
+			then
+				FBSPLASH=1
+			fi
+		;;
 		# /dev/md
 		lvmraid=*)
 			warn_msg "'${x}' kernel command-line argument is deprecated; Use 'dolvm' instead!"
@@ -541,8 +553,6 @@ then
 	FIRSTMODS="${FIRSTMODS} btrfs"
 fi
 
-splash 'init'
-
 cmdline_hwopts
 
 # Mount devfs
@@ -620,6 +630,9 @@ fi
 
 cd /
 
+# start splash; plymouth must start after udev
+splashCmd 'init'
+
 # Start iSCSI
 if hash iscsistart >/dev/null 2>&1
 then
@@ -1296,6 +1309,8 @@ fi # if [ "${CDROOT}" = '1' ]
 # Re-run to ensure $NEWROOT/etc/initramfs.mounts was processed at least once
 process_initramfs_mounts
 
+splashCmd 'hasroot' "${NEW_ROOT}"
+
 # Execute script on the cdrom just before boot to update things if necessary
 cdupdate
 
diff --git a/doc/genkernel.8.txt b/doc/genkernel.8.txt
index aa18496..af44c60 100644
--- a/doc/genkernel.8.txt
+++ b/doc/genkernel.8.txt
@@ -317,6 +317,13 @@ INITIALIZATION
     <theme>  rather than the default theme specified in your splash
     configuration. If *--no-splash* is specified, then splash is disabled.
 
+*--*[*no-*]*plymouth*::
+    Includes or excludes Plymouth from the initramfs. If "splash" is
+    passed at boot, Plymouth will be activated.
+
+*--plymouth-theme*=<theme>::
+    Embeds the given Plymouth theme into the initramfs.
+
 *--do-keymap-auto*::
     Force keymap selection at boot.
 
diff --git a/gen_cmdline.sh b/gen_cmdline.sh
index 33bf1c5..d5cd436 100755
--- a/gen_cmdline.sh
+++ b/gen_cmdline.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ longusage() {
   echo "	--no-mrproper		Do not run 'make mrproper' before compilation"
   echo "	--splash		Install framebuffer splash support into initramfs"
   echo "	--no-splash		Do not install framebuffer splash"
+  echo "	--plymouth		Enable Plymouth support"
+  echo "	--no-plymouth		Do not enable Plymouth support"
   echo "	--install		Install the kernel after building"
   echo "	--no-install		Do not install the kernel after building"
   echo "	--symlink		Manage symlinks in /boot for installed images"
@@ -113,6 +115,7 @@ longusage() {
   echo "	--splash-res=<res>	Select splash theme resolutions to install"
   echo "	--splash=<theme>	Enable framebuffer splash using <theme>"
   echo "	--splash-res=<res>	Select splash theme resolutions to install"
+  echo "	--plymouth-theme=<theme>    Embed the given Plymouth theme"
   echo "	--do-keymap-auto	Forces keymap selection at boot"
   echo "	--keymap		Enables keymap selection support"
   echo "	--no-keymap		Disables keymap selection support"
@@ -600,6 +603,17 @@ parse_cmdline() {
 			SPLASH_RES="${*#*=}"
 			print_info 3 "SPLASH_RES: ${SPLASH_RES}"
 			;;
+		--plymouth)
+			CMD_PLYMOUTH="yes"
+			PLYMOUTH_THEME='text'
+			print_info 3 "CMD_PLYMOUTH: ${CMD_PLYMOUTH}"
+			;;
+		--plymouth-theme=*)
+			CMD_PLYMOUTH="yes"
+			PLYMOUTH_THEME="${*#*=}"
+			print_info 3 "CMD_PLYMOUTH: ${CMD_PLYMOUTH}"
+			print_info 3 "PLYMOUTH_THEME: ${PLYMOUTH_THEME}"
+			;;
 		--install|--no-install)
 			CMD_INSTALL=$(parse_optbool "$*")
 			print_info 3 "CMD_INSTALL: ${CMD_INSTALL}"
diff --git a/gen_determineargs.sh b/gen_determineargs.sh
index 3e6e4dd..5c8470c 100755
--- a/gen_determineargs.sh
+++ b/gen_determineargs.sh
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ determine_real_args() {
 	set_config_with_override STRING MODPROBEDIR                           CMD_MODPROBEDIR                           "/etc/modprobe.d"
 
 	set_config_with_override BOOL   SPLASH                                CMD_SPLASH                                "no"
+	set_config_with_override BOOL   PLYMOUTH                              CMD_PLYMOUTH                              "no"
 	set_config_with_override BOOL   CLEAR_CACHEDIR                        CMD_CLEAR_CACHEDIR                        "no"
 	set_config_with_override BOOL   POSTCLEAR                             CMD_POSTCLEAR                             "no"
 	set_config_with_override BOOL   MRPROPER                              CMD_MRPROPER                              "yes"
@@ -984,6 +985,11 @@ determine_real_args() {
 			fi
 		fi
 
+		if isTrue "${PLYMOUTH}" && isTrue "${SPLASH}"
+		then
+			gen_die "--plymouth and --splash are mutually exclusive!"
+		fi
+
 		if isTrue "${SSH}"
 		then
 			local ssh_authorized_keys_file=$(expand_file "${SSH_AUTHORIZED_KEYS_FILE}")
diff --git a/gen_initramfs.sh b/gen_initramfs.sh
index 9a9f07d..120f53f 100755
--- a/gen_initramfs.sh
+++ b/gen_initramfs.sh
@@ -483,6 +483,7 @@ append_base_layout() {
 	isTrue "${UNIONFS}" && build_parameters+=( --unionfs ) || build_parameters+=( --no-unionfs )
 	isTrue "${ZFS}" && build_parameters+=( --zfs ) || build_parameters+=( --no-zfs )
 	isTrue "${SPLASH}" && build_parameters+=( --splash ) || build_parameters+=( --no-splash )
+	isTrue "${PLYMOUTH}" && build_parameters+=( --plymouth ) || build_parameters+=( --no-plymouth )
 	isTrue "${STRACE}" && build_parameters+=( --strace ) || build_parameters+=( --no-strace )
 	isTrue "${GPG}" && build_parameters+=( --gpg ) || build_parameters+=( --no-gpg )
 	isTrue "${LUKS}" && build_parameters+=( --luks ) || build_parameters+=( --no-luks )
@@ -1284,6 +1285,137 @@ append_splash() {
 	fi
 }
 
+append_plymouth() {
+	local PN=plymouth
+	local TDIR="${TEMP}/initramfs-${PN}-temp"
+	if [ -d "${TDIR}" ]
+	then
+		rm -r "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to clean out existing '${TDIR}'!"
+	fi
+
+	mkdir "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to create '${TDIR}'!"
+	cd "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to chdir to '${TDIR}'!"
+
+	# set plymouth theme
+	if [ -n "${PLYMOUTH_THEME}" ]
+	then
+		plymouth-set-default-theme ${PLYMOUTH_THEME} || gen_die "Failed to set default plymouth theme!"
+	fi
+	if [ -z "${PLYMOUTH_THEME}" -a -e /etc/plymouth/plymouthd.conf ]
+	then
+		PLYMOUTH_THEME=$(plymouth-set-default-theme) || gen_die "Failed to set default plymouth theme!"
+	fi
+	if [ -z "${PLYMOUTH_THEME}" ]
+	then
+		PLYMOUTH_THEME=text
+	fi
+
+	print_info 1 "$(get_indent 1)>> Installing plymouth [ using the '${PLYMOUTH_THEME}' theme ]..."
+
+	/usr/libexec/plymouth/plymouth-populate-initrd -t "${TDIR}" \
+		|| gen_die "Failed to build plymouth cpio archive!"
+
+	# can probably get rid of this; depends if plymouth was built with static libs
+	# rm -f "${TDIR}"/lib*/{ld*,libc*,libz*} \
+		# || gen_die "Failed to clean up plymouth cpio archive!"
+
+	ln -sf "${PLYMOUTH_THEME}/${PLYMOUTH_THEME}.plymouth" "${TDIR}/usr/share/plymouth/themes/default.plymouth" \
+		|| gen_die "Failed to set the default plymouth theme!"
+
+	# this might be better located in append_drm (?)
+	mkdir -p "${TDIR}"/usr/lib/udev/rules.d || gen_die "Failed to create '${TDIR}/usr/lib/udev/rules.d'!"
+	cp -aL /lib/udev/rules.d/70-uaccess.rules "${TDIR}/usr/lib/udev/rules.d" || gen_die "Failed to copy '70-uaccess.rules'!"
+	cp -aL /lib/udev/rules.d/71-seat.rules "${TDIR}/usr/lib/udev/rules.d" || gen_die "Failed to copy '71-seat.rules'!"
+
+	# clean up
+	cd "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to chdir to '${TDIR}'!"
+	log_future_cpio_content
+	find . -print0 | "${CPIO_COMMAND}" ${CPIO_ARGS} --append -F "${CPIO_ARCHIVE}" \
+		|| gen_die "Failed to append ${PN} to cpio!"
+
+	cd "${TEMP}" || die "Failed to chdir to '${TEMP}'!"
+	if isTrue "${CLEANUP}"
+	then
+		rm -rf "${TDIR}"
+	fi
+}
+
+append_drm() {
+	local PN=drm
+	local TDIR="${TEMP}/initramfs-${PN}-${KV}-temp"
+	if [ -d "${TDIR}" ]
+	then
+		rm -r "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to clean out existing '${TDIR}'!"
+	fi
+
+	mkdir "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to create '${TDIR}'!"
+	cd "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to chdir to '${TDIR}'!"
+
+	print_info 1 "$(get_indent 1)>> Appending drm drivers..."
+
+	# mkdir -p "${TDIR}/lib/modules/${KV}"
+
+	local drm_path="/lib/modules/${KV}/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm"
+	local modules
+	if [ -d "${drm_path}" ]
+	then
+		modules=$(strip_mod_paths $(find "${drm_path}" -name "*.ko"))
+	else
+		print_info 1 "$(get_indent 2)Warning :: no drm modules in drivers/gpu/drm..."
+	fi
+
+	rm -f "${TEMP}/moddeps" || gen_die "Failed to clear old moddeps!"
+	gen_deps ${modules}
+	if [ -f "${TEMP}/moddeps" ]
+	then
+		modules=$(cat "${TEMP}/moddeps" | sort | uniq)
+	else
+		print_info 1 "$(get_indent 2)Warning :: module dependencies not generated..."
+	fi
+
+	local mod i fws fw
+	for i in ${modules}
+	do
+		mod=$(find "/lib/modules/${KV}" -name "${i}.ko" 2>/dev/null| head -n 1)
+		if [ -z "${mod}" ]
+		then
+			print_info 1 "$(get_indent 2)Warning :: ${i}.ko not found; skipping..."
+			continue
+		fi
+
+		print_info 1 "$(get_indent 2)>> Copying ${mod}..."
+		cp -ax --parents "${mod}" "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to copy '${mod}'!"
+
+		# check that firmware files exist, then copy them (modinfo may list deprecated firmware)
+		fws=( $(get_firmware_files "${mod}") )
+		for fw in "${fws[@]}"
+		do
+			if [ -e "/lib/firmware/${fw}" ]
+			then
+				print_info 1 "$(get_indent 2)>> Copying firmware ${fw}..."
+				cp -ax --parents "/lib/firmware/${fw}" "${TDIR}" \
+					|| gen_die "Failed to copy ${fw}!"
+			fi
+		done
+	done
+
+	cd "${TDIR}" || gen_die "Failed to chdir to '${TDIR}'!"
+	log_future_cpio_content
+	find . -print0 | "${CPIO_COMMAND}" ${CPIO_ARGS} --append -F "${CPIO_ARCHIVE}" \
+		|| gen_die "Failed to append ${PN} to cpio!"
+
+	cd "${TEMP}" || die "Failed to chdir to '${TEMP}'!"
+	if isTrue "${CLEANUP}"
+	then
+		rm -rf "${TDIR}"
+	fi
+}
+
+get_firmware_files() {
+	local kmod="${1}"
+	modinfo --set-version="${KV}" -F firmware "${kmod}" || gen_die "Failed to get modinfo for ${kmod}!"
+}
+
 append_strace() {
 	local PN=strace
 	local TDIR="${TEMP}/initramfs-${PN}-temp"
@@ -1998,11 +2130,17 @@ create_initramfs() {
 	append_data 'modprobed'
 	append_data 'multipath' "${MULTIPATH}"
 	append_data 'splash' "${SPLASH}"
+	append_data 'plymouth' "${PLYMOUTH}"
 	append_data 'strace' "${STRACE}"
 	append_data 'unionfs_fuse' "${UNIONFS}"
 	append_data 'xfsprogs' "${XFSPROGS}"
 	append_data 'zfs' "${ZFS}"
 
+	if isTrue "${PLYMOUTH}"
+	then
+		append_data 'drm'
+	fi
+
 	if isTrue "${ZFS}"
 	then
 		append_data 'libgcc_s'
diff --git a/genkernel.conf b/genkernel.conf
index 6c350a6..347db14 100644
--- a/genkernel.conf
+++ b/genkernel.conf
@@ -171,6 +171,13 @@ NOCOLOR="false"
 # This supersedes the "SPLASH_THEME" option in '/etc/conf.d/splash'.
 #SPLASH_THEME="gentoo"
 
+# Includes or excludes Plymouth from the initramfs. If "splash" is
+# passed at boot, Plymouth will be activated.
+#PLYMOUTH="no"
+
+# Embeds the given plymouth theme in the initramfs.
+#PLYMOUTH_THEME="text"
+
 # Run "emerge @module-rebuild" automatically when possible and necessary
 # after kernel and modules have been compiled
 #MODULEREBUILD="yes"