diff --git a/compiler/src/cli.rs b/compiler/src/cli.rs
index eebb74d..68681ac 100644
--- a/compiler/src/cli.rs
+++ b/compiler/src/cli.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ pub struct WatchArgs {
     /// Path to a file or directory to watch
     pub watch: String,
 
+    /// Initially compile the document when watch is started
+    #[arg(short = 'i', long, action)]
+    pub initial_make: bool,
+
     #[command(flatten)]
     pub com: CommonArgGroup,
 }
diff --git a/compiler/src/main.rs b/compiler/src/main.rs
index 11f336d..2d19020 100644
--- a/compiler/src/main.rs
+++ b/compiler/src/main.rs
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ fn main() {
                     &str_to_pathbuf(&o.com.outdir, true)?,
                     &str_to_pathbuf(&o.watch, true)?,
                     args_to_comp_verbosity_enum(o.com.verbose),
+                    o.initial_make,
                 )?;
 
                 return Ok(());
diff --git a/compiler/src/watch.rs b/compiler/src/watch.rs
index f47bcae..068f3dd 100644
--- a/compiler/src/watch.rs
+++ b/compiler/src/watch.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pub fn watch_sync<P: AsRef<Path> + Debug>(
     outdir: P,
     watch: P,
     verbosity: compiler::OutputVerbosity,
+    initial_make: bool,
 ) -> CompResult<()> {
     let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
     let texpdfc = &texpdfc.as_ref().to_path_buf();
@@ -48,6 +49,12 @@ pub fn watch_sync<P: AsRef<Path> + Debug>(
         .verbosity(verbosity)
         .to_owned();
 
+    // first compilation done here, if it is specified
+    if initial_make {
+        log::info("Initial pre-watch compilation (-i) specified...");
+        watch_compile(&compiler);
+    }
+
     // set up debouncer watcher
     let mut debouncer = new_debouncer(
         Duration::from_millis(500), // this value seems to debounce successfully without too long of a delay
@@ -88,15 +95,7 @@ pub fn watch_sync<P: AsRef<Path> + Debug>(
 
                 // check if any of the recieved errors are to be tracked
                 if evs.iter().any(|ev| tracked_evs.contains(&ev.kind)) {
-                    // handle the error here (safely) instead of in main -- we don't want to exit the program on error when watching.
-                    if let Err(e) = || -> CompResult<CompileOutput> {
-                        compiler
-                            .compile()
-                            .map_err(|_| CompError::CompilationError("Compile error".to_string()))
-                    }() {
-                        // this just prints the error without stopping the process
-                        e.handle_safe();
-                    }
+                    watch_compile(&compiler);
                 }
             }
             Err(errs) => {
@@ -109,3 +108,15 @@ pub fn watch_sync<P: AsRef<Path> + Debug>(
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+fn watch_compile(compiler: &Compiler) {
+    // handle the error here (safely) instead of in main -- we don't want to exit the program on error when watching.
+    if let Err(e) = || -> CompResult<CompileOutput> {
+        compiler
+            .compile()
+            .map_err(|_| CompError::CompilationError("Compile error".to_string()))
+    }() {
+        // this just prints the error without stopping the process
+        e.handle_safe();
+    }
+}