diff --git a/tmux.conf b/tmux.conf
index 933febf..330f0d8 100644
--- a/tmux.conf
+++ b/tmux.conf
@@ -62,3 +62,6 @@ bind-key -n "S-Left"  select-window -t :-
 bind-key -n "S-Right" select-window -t :+
 bind-key -nr "C-Left" select-window -t :-
 bind-key -nr "C-Right" select-window -t :+
+
+# if run as "tmux attach", create a session if one does not already exist
+new-session -n $HOST