diff --git a/bin/agent.sh b/bin/agent.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..fee93e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/agent.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# makes sure agent is active and adds keys
+if [ -z $SSH_AGENT_SOCK ] ; then
+    # agent unset
+    eval $(ssh-agent -s)
+    if [ "$(ssh-add -l)" = "The agent has no identities." ] ; then
+        if [ -e ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 ] ; then
+            ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
+        else
+            kill $SSH_AGENT_PID
+            echo -e "No ed25519 keys found! Killing $SSH_AGENT_PID!"
+        fi
+    else
+        kill $SSH_AGENT_PID
+        echo "Killing $SSH_AGENT_PID!"
+    fi
+fi
+
diff --git a/zshrc b/zshrc
index a6710db..674f300 100644
--- a/zshrc
+++ b/zshrc
@@ -134,4 +134,5 @@ export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin
 # ranger alias
 alias ranger="python3 $HOME/.ranger.py"
 
-#adding ranger to path
+# adding agent startup alias
+alias agent="source $HOME/.dotfiles/bin/agent.sh"