diff --git a/src/server/simpleslave.c b/src/server/simpleslave.c
--- a/src/server/simpleslave.c
+++ b/src/server/simpleslave.c
@@ -126,6 +126,19 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   int haveWork = 0;
   int quit = 0;
 
+  fprintf(stderr,"DistRenSimpleSlave Pre-Alpha\n\t- this version of DistRen is still experimental\n\t  so things might go horribly wrong!\n");
+
+  int benchmarkTime = 0;
+  int renderPower = 0;
+  if(slaveBenchmark(datadir, &benchmarkTime, &renderPower)){
+    fprintf(stderr,"Benchmark failed! Exiting.\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
+  else{
+    fprintf(stderr,"Benchmark successful, time taken was %d seconds, giving you a render power of %d.\n", benchmarkTime, renderPower);
+    _web_setrenderpower(slavekey, password, renderPower);
+  }
+
   // Main loop
   while(!quit)
     {