diff --git a/src/emu/diimage.cpp b/src/emu/diimage.cpp
index c95e9c6a60e..ded57d4dc83 100644
--- a/src/emu/diimage.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/diimage.cpp
@@ -539,6 +539,34 @@ UINT32 device_image_interface::crc()
 	return crc;
 }
 
+
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  support_command_line_image_creation - do we
+//	want to support image creation from the front
+//	end command line?
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+bool device_image_interface::support_command_line_image_creation() const
+{
+	bool result;
+	switch (image_type())
+	{
+	case IO_PRINTER:
+	case IO_SERIAL:
+	case IO_PARALLEL:
+		// going by the assumption that these device image types should support this
+		// behavior; ideally we'd get rid of IO_* and just push this to the specific
+		// devices
+		result = true;
+		break;
+	default:
+		result = false;
+		break;
+	}
+	return result;
+}
+
+
 // ****************************************************************************
 // Battery functions
 //
@@ -1158,6 +1186,16 @@ image_init_result device_image_interface::finish_load()
 }
 
 
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  create - create a image
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+image_init_result device_image_interface::create(const std::string &path)
+{
+	return create(path, nullptr, nullptr);
+}
+
+
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  create - create a image
 //-------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/emu/diimage.h b/src/emu/diimage.h
index 3ec5f46a52a..f8928012d81 100644
--- a/src/emu/diimage.h
+++ b/src/emu/diimage.h
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ public:
 	virtual bool is_creatable() const = 0;
 	virtual bool must_be_loaded() const = 0;
 	virtual bool is_reset_on_load() const = 0;
+	virtual bool support_command_line_image_creation() const;
 	virtual const char *image_interface() const { return nullptr; }
 	virtual const char *file_extensions() const = 0;
 	virtual const option_guide *create_option_guide() const { return nullptr; }
@@ -235,6 +236,7 @@ public:
 	image_init_result finish_load();
 	void unload();
 	image_init_result create(const std::string &path, const image_device_format *create_format, util::option_resolution *create_args);
+	image_init_result create(const std::string &path);
 	bool load_software(software_list_device &swlist, const char *swname, const rom_entry *entry);
 	int reopen_for_write(const std::string &path);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/image.cpp b/src/emu/image.cpp
index 06998ad37e6..8ce958fc79f 100644
--- a/src/emu/image.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/image.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ image_manager::image_manager(running_machine &machine)
 			if (result != image_init_result::PASS)
 				result = image.load(image_name);
 
+			// failing that, try creating it (if appropriate)
+			if (result != image_init_result::PASS && image.support_command_line_image_creation())
+				result = image.create(image_name);
+
 			// did the image load fail?
 			if (result != image_init_result::PASS)
 			{