diff --git a/import_mailman3_list_config.py b/import_mailman3_list_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47fff86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/import_mailman3_list_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#!/bin/env python3
+
+import sys
+import requests
+import argparse
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from requests.auth import HTTPBasicAuth
+
+REST_USER="restadmin"
+REST_PATH="http://127.0.0.1:8001/3.0/lists"
+
+BANNER="""
+            _) |                 __ /                _|_)
+  ` \   _` | | |  ` \   _` |   \  _ \  _|  _ \   \   _| |  _` |
+_|_|_|\__,_|_|_|_|_|_|\__,_|_| _|___/\__|\___/_| _|_|  _|\__, |
+                                                         ____/
+"""
+
+
+def parse_args(args):
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser("load a json config into local mailman configuration")
+
+    parser.add_argument("list", help="list name (eg `test`)")
+    parser.add_argument("patch", help="config to push to list", type=Path)
+
+    return parser.parse_args(args)
+
+def main(args):
+    print(BANNER)
+    pargs = parse_args(args[1:])
+
+    if (not pargs.patch.exists()):
+        print("need input patchfile (json)")
+        return 1
+    with pargs.patch.open() as inf:
+        p = json.load(inf)
+
+    rest_pass = Path("/run/secrets/mailman_rest_password").read_text().strip()
+    rest_auth = HTTPBasicAuth(REST_USER, rest_pass)
+
+    # determine if list exists, if not create with defaults
+    result = requests.get(REST_PATH, auth=rest_auth)
+    if result.ok:
+        if (not (pargs.list in [x['fqdn_listname'] for x in result.json()['entries']])):
+            # create list
+            print("list not found: creating")
+            result = requests.post(f"{REST_PATH}", auth=rest_auth, json={"fqdn_listname": pargs.list})
+            if (result.ok):
+                print("success")
+                print(result)
+                print(result.text)
+            else:
+                print("failed")
+                print(result)
+                print(result.reason)
+                return 1
+            # list exists
+    else:
+        print("cannot get list of lists")
+        print(result)
+        print(result.reason)
+        return 1
+
+
+    # patch config
+    result = requests.patch(f"{REST_PATH}/{pargs.list}/config", auth=rest_auth, json=p)
+    if result.ok:
+        print("success")
+        print(result)
+        print(result.text)
+    else:
+        print("failed")
+        print(result)
+        print(result.reason)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main(sys.argv))