diff --git a/src/etc/rc.syshook.d/early/15-templates b/src/etc/rc.syshook.d/early/15-templates
index 31cafa602b..c6918182ad 100755
--- a/src/etc/rc.syshook.d/early/15-templates
+++ b/src/etc/rc.syshook.d/early/15-templates
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 echo -n "Generating configuration: "
-configctl -w 10 template reload \*
+/usr/local/opnsense/service/template_ctl.py \*
diff --git a/src/opnsense/service/template_ctl.py b/src/opnsense/service/template_ctl.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..fd0834b8e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/opnsense/service/template_ctl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#!/usr/local/bin/python3
+
+"""
+    Copyright (c) 2025 Ad Schellevis <ad@opnsense.org>
+    All rights reserved.
+
+    Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+    modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+    1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+     this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+    2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+
+    THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
+    INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
+    AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+    AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY,
+    OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+    SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+    INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+    CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+    ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+    POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    package : configd
+    function: commandline tool to send commands to configd (response to stdout)
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import sys
+import os
+import syslog
+from modules import config, template, syslog_debug, syslog_error, syslog_notice
+
+__author__ = 'Ad Schellevis'
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument('template', help='template(s) to match')
+    parser.add_argument('-c', help='configuration path (/conf/config.xml)', type=str, default='/conf/config.xml')
+    parser.add_argument('-r', help='root directory (/)', type=str, default='/')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    syslog.openlog(os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]))
+
+    # generate template
+    tmpl = template.Template(args.r)
+    conf = config.Config(args.c)
+    tmpl.set_config(conf.get())
+    filenames = tmpl.generate(args.template)
+    if filenames is None:
+        syslog_error('Unable to generate templates %s' % (args.template))
+        print('templates...failed')
+    else:
+        for filename in filenames:
+            syslog_debug(' %s generated %s' % (args.template, filename))
+        syslog_notice('%s %s finished successfully' % (os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]), args.template))
+        print('templates...done')
+
+