diff --git a/lib/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks.ex b/lib/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks.ex
index 9f6bcf7..129582d 100644
--- a/lib/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks.ex
+++ b/lib/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks.ex
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ defmodule Pinchflat.Boot.PreJobStartupTasks do
   def init(state) do
     reset_executing_jobs()
     create_blank_yt_dlp_files()
+    create_blank_user_script_file()
     apply_default_settings()
 
     {:ok, state}
@@ -65,6 +66,18 @@ defmodule Pinchflat.Boot.PreJobStartupTasks do
     end)
   end
 
+  defp create_blank_user_script_file do
+    base_dir = Application.get_env(:pinchflat, :extras_directory)
+    filepath = Path.join([base_dir, "user-scripts", "lifecycle"])
+
+    if !File.exists?(filepath) do
+      Logger.info("Creating blank file and making it executable: #{filepath}")
+
+      FilesystemUtils.write_p!(filepath, "")
+      File.chmod(filepath, 0o755)
+    end
+  end
+
   defp apply_default_settings do
     {:ok, yt_dlp_version} = yt_dlp_runner().version()
     {:ok, apprise_version} = apprise_runner().version()
diff --git a/test/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks_test.exs b/test/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks_test.exs
index 66ecfce..2aca8cf 100644
--- a/test/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks_test.exs
+++ b/test/pinchflat/boot/pre_job_startup_tasks_test.exs
@@ -53,6 +53,30 @@ defmodule Pinchflat.Boot.PreJobStartupTasksTest do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "create_blank_user_script_file" do
+    test "creates a blank script file" do
+      base_dir = Application.get_env(:pinchflat, :extras_directory)
+      filepath = Path.join([base_dir, "user-scripts", "lifecycle"])
+      File.rm(filepath)
+
+      refute File.exists?(filepath)
+
+      PreJobStartupTasks.init(%{})
+
+      assert File.exists?(filepath)
+    end
+
+    test "gives it 755 permissions" do
+      base_dir = Application.get_env(:pinchflat, :extras_directory)
+      filepath = Path.join([base_dir, "user-scripts", "lifecycle"])
+      File.rm(filepath)
+
+      PreJobStartupTasks.init(%{})
+
+      assert File.stat!(filepath).mode == 0o100755
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "apply_default_settings" do
     test "sets yt_dlp version" do
       Settings.set(yt_dlp_version: nil)