diff --git a/dftest.c b/dftest.c
index 69d4d7875a..e42ff526b1 100644
--- a/dftest.c
+++ b/dftest.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	   by the dissectors, and we must do it before we read the preferences,
 	   in case any dissectors register preferences. */
 	epan_init(register_all_protocols,
-		  register_all_protocol_handoffs,
+		  register_all_protocol_handoffs, NULL, NULL,
 		  failure_message, open_failure_message, read_failure_message);
 
 	/* now register the preferences for any non-dissector modules.
diff --git a/epan/epan.c b/epan/epan.c
index f532b6fc7c..765859036b 100644
--- a/epan/epan.c
+++ b/epan/epan.c
@@ -68,8 +68,10 @@ epan_get_version(void) {
 }
 
 void
-epan_init(void (*register_all_protocols)(void),
-	  void (*register_all_handoffs)(void),
+epan_init(void (*register_all_protocols)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data),
+	  void (*register_all_handoffs)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data),
+	  register_cb cb,
+	  gpointer client_data,
 	  void (*report_failure)(const char *, va_list),
 	  void (*report_open_failure)(const char *, int, gboolean),
 	  void (*report_read_failure)(const char *, int))
@@ -94,7 +96,7 @@ epan_init(void (*register_all_protocols)(void),
 	tvbuff_init();
 	oid_resolv_init();
 	tap_init();
-	proto_init(register_all_protocols, register_all_handoffs);
+	proto_init(register_all_protocols, register_all_handoffs, cb, client_data);
 	packet_init();
 	dfilter_init();
 	final_registration_all_protocols();
diff --git a/epan/epan.h b/epan/epan.h
index e78815da2a..708510d82d 100644
--- a/epan/epan.h
+++ b/epan/epan.h
@@ -27,14 +27,17 @@
 #include <glib.h>
 #include "frame_data.h"
 #include "column_info.h"
+#include "register.h"
 
 typedef struct _epan_dissect_t epan_dissect_t;
 
 #include "dfilter/dfilter.h"
 
 /* init the whole epan module, this is used to be called only once in a program */
-void epan_init(void (*register_all_protocols)(void),
-	       void (*register_all_handoffs)(void),
+void epan_init(void (*register_all_protocols)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data),
+	       void (*register_all_handoffs)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data),
+	       register_cb cb,
+	       void *client_data,
 	       void (*report_failure)(const char *, va_list),
 	       void (*report_open_failure)(const char *, int, gboolean),
 	       void (*report_read_failure)(const char *, int));
diff --git a/epan/libwireshark.def b/epan/libwireshark.def
index 2b9d5aac78..78d4779525 100644
--- a/epan/libwireshark.def
+++ b/epan/libwireshark.def
@@ -656,6 +656,7 @@ register_all_protocols
 register_all_protocol_handoffs
 register_ber_syntax_dissector
 register_ber_oid_syntax
+register_count
 register_dissector
 register_dissector_table
 register_final_registration_routine
diff --git a/epan/proto.c b/epan/proto.c
index 5cfaee7b3d..88e3accdc9 100644
--- a/epan/proto.c
+++ b/epan/proto.c
@@ -292,8 +292,10 @@ proto_compare_name(gconstpointer p1_arg, gconstpointer p2_arg)
 
 /* initialize data structures and register protocols and fields */
 void
-proto_init(void (register_all_protocols)(void),
-	   void (register_all_protocol_handoffs)(void))
+proto_init(void (register_all_protocols)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data),
+	   void (register_all_protocol_handoffs)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data),
+	   register_cb cb,
+	   gpointer client_data)
 {
 	static hf_register_info hf[] = {
 		{ &hf_text_only,
@@ -330,11 +332,13 @@ proto_init(void (register_all_protocols)(void),
 	   dissector tables, and dissectors to be called through a
 	   handle, and do whatever one-time initialization it needs to
 	   do. */
-	register_all_protocols();
+	register_all_protocols(cb, client_data);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_PLUGINS
 	/* Now scan for plugins and load all the ones we find, calling
 	   their register routines to do the stuff described above. */
+	if(cb) 
+	  (*cb)(RA_PLUGIN_REGISTER, NULL, client_data);
 	init_plugins();
 #endif
 
@@ -342,10 +346,12 @@ proto_init(void (register_all_protocols)(void),
 	   dissectors; those routines register the dissector in other
 	   dissectors' handoff tables, and fetch any dissector handles
 	   they need. */
-	register_all_protocol_handoffs();
+	register_all_protocol_handoffs(cb, client_data);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_PLUGINS
 	/* Now do the same with plugins. */
+	if(cb) 
+	  (*cb)(RA_PLUGIN_HANDOFF, NULL, client_data);
 	register_all_plugin_handoffs();
 #endif
 
diff --git a/epan/proto.h b/epan/proto.h
index 1f5b8a1c1b..56628c511c 100644
--- a/epan/proto.h
+++ b/epan/proto.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include "nstime.h"
 #include "tvbuff.h"
 #include "ftypes/ftypes.h"
+#include "register.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -327,8 +328,10 @@ extern void proto_tree_children_foreach(proto_tree *tree,
 #define PTREE_DATA(proto_tree)   ((proto_tree)->tree_data)
 
 /** Sets up memory used by proto routines. Called at program startup */
-extern void proto_init(void (register_all_protocols)(void),
-    void (register_all_handoffs)(void));
+extern void proto_init(void (register_all_protocols)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data), 
+		       void (register_all_handoffs)(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data), 
+		       register_cb cb, void *client_data);
+
 
 /** Frees memory used by proto routines. Called at program shutdown */
 extern void proto_cleanup(void);
diff --git a/gtk/about_dlg.c b/gtk/about_dlg.c
index 18f8a7efdc..10109e6383 100644
--- a/gtk/about_dlg.c
+++ b/gtk/about_dlg.c
@@ -79,6 +79,20 @@ about_wireshark(GtkWidget *parent, GtkWidget *main_vb, const char *title)
   gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(main_vb), msg_label);
 }
 
+static void
+splash_update_label(GtkWidget *win, char *message)
+{
+    GtkWidget *main_lb;
+
+    if (win == NULL) return;
+
+    main_lb = OBJECT_GET_DATA(win, "splash_label");
+    gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(main_lb), message);
+
+    /* Process all pending GUI events before continuing, so that
+       the splash screen window gets updated. */
+    while (gtk_events_pending()) gtk_main_iteration();
+}
 
 GtkWidget*
 splash_new(char *message)
@@ -87,6 +101,9 @@ splash_new(char *message)
     GtkWidget *main_lb;
 
     GtkWidget *main_vb;
+    GtkWidget *percentage_hb;
+    GtkWidget *prog_bar;
+    GtkWidget *percentage_lb;
 
     win = splash_window_new();
 
@@ -106,26 +123,128 @@ splash_new(char *message)
     gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(main_vb), main_lb);
     OBJECT_SET_DATA(win, "splash_label", main_lb);
 
+    main_lb = gtk_label_new("");
+    gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(main_vb), main_lb);
+    OBJECT_SET_DATA(win, "protocol_label", main_lb);
+
+    percentage_hb = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 1);
+    gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(main_vb), percentage_hb, FALSE, TRUE, 3);
+
+    prog_bar = gtk_progress_bar_new();
+#if GTK_MAJOR_VERSION < 2
+    gtk_progress_set_activity_mode(GTK_PROGRESS(prog_bar), FALSE);
+#endif
+    gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(percentage_hb), prog_bar, FALSE, TRUE, 3);
+    OBJECT_SET_DATA(win, "progress_bar", prog_bar);
+
+    percentage_lb = gtk_label_new("  0%");
+    gtk_misc_set_alignment(GTK_MISC(percentage_lb), 0.0, 0.0);
+    gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(percentage_hb), percentage_lb, FALSE, TRUE, 3);
+    OBJECT_SET_DATA(win, "percentage_label", percentage_lb);    
+
     gtk_widget_show_all(win);
 
-    splash_update(win, message);
+    splash_update_label(win, message);
 
     return win;
 }
 
 void
-splash_update(GtkWidget *win, char *message)
+splash_update(register_action_e action, char *message, gpointer client_data)
 {
+    GtkWidget *win;
     GtkWidget *main_lb;
+    GtkWidget *prog_bar;
+    GtkWidget *percentage_lb;
+    gfloat    percentage;
+    gulong    ul_percentage;
+    gchar     tmp[100];
+    char      *action_msg;
+
+    static gulong ul_sofar = 0;
+    static gulong ul_count = 0;
+
+    static register_action_e last_action = RA_NONE;
+
+    win = (GtkWidget *)client_data;
 
     if (win == NULL) return;
 
-    main_lb = OBJECT_GET_DATA(win, "splash_label");
-    gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(main_lb), message);
+    if(last_action != action) {
+      /* the action has changed */
+      switch(action) {
+      case RA_DISSECTORS:
+	action_msg = "Initializing dissectors ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_LISTENERS:
+	action_msg = "Initializing tap listeners ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_REGISTER:
+	action_msg = "Registering dissector ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_PLUGIN_REGISTER:
+	action_msg = "Registering plugins ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_HANDOFF:
+	action_msg = "Handing off dissector ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_PLUGIN_HANDOFF:
+	action_msg = "Handing off plugins ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_PREFERENCES:
+	action_msg = "Loading module preferences ...";
+	break;
+      case RA_CONFIGURATION:
+	action_msg = "Loading configuration files ...";
+	break;
+      default:
+	action_msg = "(Unknown action)";;
+	break;
+      }
+      splash_update_label(win, action_msg);
+      last_action = action;
+    }
+
+    if(ul_count == 0) /* get the count of dissectors */
+      ul_count = register_count() + 6; /* additional 6 for:
+					  dissectors, listeners, 
+					  registering plugins, handingoff plugins,
+					  preferences and configuration */
+					 
+    main_lb = OBJECT_GET_DATA(win, "protocol_label");
+    /* make_dissector_reg.py changed - 
+       so we need to strip off the leading elements to get back to the protocol */
+    if(message) {
+      if(!strncmp(message, "proto_register_", 15))
+	message += 15;
+      else if(!strncmp(message, "proto_reg_handoff_", 18))
+	message += 18;
+    }
+    gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(main_lb), message ? message : "");
+
+    ul_sofar++;
+
+    g_assert (ul_sofar <= ul_count);
+
+    percentage = (gfloat)ul_sofar/(gfloat)ul_count;
+    ul_percentage = (gulong)(percentage * 100);
+
+    /* update progress bar */
+    prog_bar = OBJECT_GET_DATA(win, "progress_bar");
+#if GTK_MAJOR_VERSION < 2
+    gtk_progress_bar_update(GTK_PROGRESS_BAR(prog_bar), percentage);
+#else
+    gtk_progress_bar_set_fraction(GTK_PROGRESS_BAR(prog_bar), percentage);
+#endif
+
+    percentage_lb = OBJECT_GET_DATA(win, "percentage_label");
+    g_snprintf(tmp, sizeof(tmp), "%lu%%", ul_percentage);
+    gtk_label_set_text((GtkLabel*)percentage_lb, tmp);
 
     /* Process all pending GUI events before continuing, so that
        the splash screen window gets updated. */
     while (gtk_events_pending()) gtk_main_iteration();
+
 }
 
 guint
diff --git a/gtk/about_dlg.h b/gtk/about_dlg.h
index 7744865690..d80a658893 100644
--- a/gtk/about_dlg.h
+++ b/gtk/about_dlg.h
@@ -37,12 +37,13 @@
  */
 extern GtkWidget *splash_new(char *message);
 
-/** Update the splash screen message. 
+/** Update the splash screen message when loading dissectors and handoffs
  *
- * @param win the window handle from splash_new()
- * @param message the new message to be displayed
+ * @param action the initialisation action being performed
+ * @param message additional information
+ * @param client_data the window handle from splash_new()
  */
-extern void splash_update(GtkWidget *win, char *message);
+extern void splash_update(register_action_e action, char *message, void *call_data);
 
 /** Destroy the splash screen. 
  *
diff --git a/gtk/main.c b/gtk/main.c
index 350f510c13..c395ce6f90 100644
--- a/gtk/main.c
+++ b/gtk/main.c
@@ -2386,16 +2386,17 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
     g_free(init_progfile_dir_error);
   }
 
-  splash_update(splash_win, "Init dissectors ...");
+  splash_update(RA_DISSECTORS, NULL, (gpointer)splash_win);
 
   /* Register all dissectors; we must do this before checking for the
      "-G" flag, as the "-G" flag dumps information registered by the
      dissectors, and we must do it before we read the preferences, in
      case any dissectors register preferences. */
-  epan_init(register_all_protocols,register_all_protocol_handoffs,
+  epan_init(register_all_protocols,register_all_protocol_handoffs, 
+	    splash_update, (gpointer) splash_win,
             failure_alert_box,open_failure_alert_box,read_failure_alert_box);
 
-  splash_update(splash_win, "Init tap listeners ...");
+  splash_update(RA_LISTENERS, NULL, (gpointer)splash_win);
 
   /* Register all tap listeners; we do this before we parse the arguments,
      as the "-z" argument can specify a registered tap. */
@@ -2410,7 +2411,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
   register_all_tap_listeners();
 
-  splash_update(splash_win, "Loading module preferences ...");
+  splash_update(RA_PREFERENCES, NULL, (gpointer)splash_win);
 
   /* Now register the preferences for any non-dissector modules.
      We must do that before we read the preferences as well. */
@@ -2434,7 +2435,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
   gtk_timeout_add(750, (GtkFunction) host_name_lookup_process, NULL);
 #endif
 
-  splash_update(splash_win, "Loading configuration files ...");
+  splash_update(RA_CONFIGURATION, NULL, (gpointer)splash_win);
 
   /* Read the preference files. */
   prefs = read_prefs(&gpf_open_errno, &gpf_read_errno, &gpf_path,
@@ -2879,7 +2880,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
   font_init();
 
   /* close the splash screen, as we are going to open the main window now */
-  splash_destroy(splash_win);
+  splash_destroy(splash_win); 
 
   /************************************************************************/
   /* Everything is prepared now, preferences and command line was read in */
diff --git a/register.h b/register.h
index 1d25c20264..b11420a717 100644
--- a/register.h
+++ b/register.h
@@ -25,7 +25,24 @@
 #ifndef __REGISTER_H__
 #define __REGISTER_H__
 
-extern void register_all_protocols(void);
-extern void register_all_protocol_handoffs(void);
+#include <glib.h>
+
+typedef enum {
+  RA_NONE,              /* for initialization */
+  RA_DISSECTORS,        /* Initializing dissectors */
+  RA_LISTENERS,         /* Tap listeners */
+  RA_REGISTER,          /* register */
+  RA_PLUGIN_REGISTER,   /* plugin register */
+  RA_HANDOFF,           /* handoff */
+  RA_PLUGIN_HANDOFF,    /* plugin handoff */
+  RA_PREFERENCES,       /* module preferences */
+  RA_CONFIGURATION      /* configuration files */
+} register_action_e;
+
+typedef void (*register_cb)(register_action_e action, char *message, gpointer client_data);
+
+extern void register_all_protocols(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data);
+extern void register_all_protocol_handoffs(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data);
 extern void register_all_tap_listeners(void);
+extern gulong register_count(void);
 #endif /* __REGISTER_H__ */
diff --git a/tools/make-dissector-reg b/tools/make-dissector-reg
index d4c6739777..6bf9a28adf 100755
--- a/tools/make-dissector-reg
+++ b/tools/make-dissector-reg
@@ -54,15 +54,6 @@ G_MODULE_EXPORT void
 plugin_register (void)
 {
 EOF
-else
-	cat <<"EOF" >>${outfile}-tmp
-#include "register.h"
-void
-register_all_protocols(void)
-{
-EOF
-fi
-
 #
 # Build code to call all the protocol registration routines.
 #
@@ -86,8 +77,41 @@ do
 	fi
 	grep '^void proto_register_[a-z_0-9A-Z]* *(' $srcfile 2>/dev/null | grep -v ';'
 done | sed -e 's/^.*://' -e 's/^void \([a-z_0-9A-Z]*\).*/  {extern void \1 (void); \1 ();}/' >>${outfile}-tmp
+else
+	cat <<"EOF" >>${outfile}-tmp
+#include "register.h"
+void
+register_all_protocols(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data)
+{
+EOF
+#
+# Build code to call all the protocol registration routines.
+#
+for f in "$@"
+do
+	if [ -f $f ]
+	then
+		srcfile=$f
+	else
+		srcfile=$srcdir/$f
+	fi
+	grep '^proto_register_[a-z_0-9A-Z]* *(' $srcfile 2>/dev/null | grep -v ';'
+done | sed -e 's/^.*://' -e 's/^\([a-z_0-9A-Z]*\).*/  {extern void \1 (void); if(cb) (*cb)(RA_REGISTER, \"\1\", client_data); \1 ();}/' >>${outfile}-tmp
+for f in "$@"
+do
+	if [ -f $f ]
+	then
+		srcfile=$f
+	else
+		srcfile=$srcdir/$f
+	fi
+	grep '^void proto_register_[a-z_0-9A-Z]* *(' $srcfile 2>/dev/null | grep -v ';'
+done | sed -e 's/^.*://' -e 's/^void \([a-z_0-9A-Z]*\).*/  {extern void \1 (void); if(cb) (*cb)(RA_REGISTER, \"\1\", client_data); \1 ();}/' >>${outfile}-tmp
+
+fi
 echo '}' >>${outfile}-tmp
 
+
 #
 # Build code to call all the protocol handoff registration routines.
 #
@@ -98,13 +122,6 @@ G_MODULE_EXPORT void
 plugin_reg_handoff(void)
 {
 EOF
-else
-	cat <<"EOF" >>${outfile}-tmp
-void
-register_all_protocol_handoffs(void)
-{
-EOF
-fi
 for f in "$@"
 do
 	if [ -f $f ]
@@ -125,9 +142,45 @@ do
 	fi
 	grep '^void proto_reg_handoff_[a-z_0-9A-Z]* *(' $srcfile 2>/dev/null | grep -v ';'
 done | sed -e 's/^.*://' -e 's/^void \([a-z_0-9A-Z]*\).*/  {extern void \1 (void); \1 ();}/' >>${outfile}-tmp
+else
+	cat <<"EOF" >>${outfile}-tmp
+void
+register_all_protocol_handoffs(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data)
+{
+EOF
+for f in "$@"
+do
+	if [ -f $f ]
+	then
+		srcfile=$f
+	else
+		srcfile=$srcdir/$f
+	fi
+	grep '^proto_reg_handoff_[a-z_0-9A-Z]* *(' $srcfile 2>/dev/null | grep -v ';'
+done | sed -e 's/^.*://' -e 's/^\([a-z_0-9A-Z]*\).*/  {extern void \1 (void); if(cb) (*cb)(RA_HANDOFF, \"\1\", client_data); \1 ();}/' >>${outfile}-tmp
+for f in "$@"
+do
+	if [ -f $f ]
+	then
+		srcfile=$f
+	else
+		srcfile=$srcdir/$f
+	fi
+	grep '^void proto_reg_handoff_[a-z_0-9A-Z]* *(' $srcfile 2>/dev/null | grep -v ';'
+done | sed -e 's/^.*://' -e 's/^void \([a-z_0-9A-Z]*\).*/  {extern void \1 (void); if(cb) (*cb)(RA_HANDOFF, \"\1\", client_data); \1 ();}/' >>${outfile}-tmp
+fi
 echo '}' >>${outfile}-tmp
 if [ "$registertype" = plugin ]
 then
 	echo '#endif' >>${outfile}-tmp
+else 
+	cat <<"EOF" >>${outfile}-tmp
+gulong register_count(void)
+{
+EOF
+	proto_regs=`grep RA_REGISTER ${outfile}-tmp | wc -l`
+	handoff_regs=`grep RA_HANDOFF ${outfile}-tmp | wc -l`
+	echo "  return $proto_regs + $handoff_regs;" >>${outfile}-tmp
+	echo '}' >>${outfile}-tmp
 fi
 mv ${outfile}-tmp ${outfile}
diff --git a/tools/make-dissector-reg.py b/tools/make-dissector-reg.py
index 0b9776b42b..f9745bb384 100644
--- a/tools/make-dissector-reg.py
+++ b/tools/make-dissector-reg.py
@@ -169,12 +169,15 @@ else:
 	reg_code.write("""
 #include "register.h"
 void
-register_all_protocols(void)
+register_all_protocols(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data)
 {
 """);
 
 for symbol in regs['proto_reg']:
-	line = "  {extern void %s (void); %s ();}\n" % (symbol, symbol)
+	if registertype == "plugin":
+		line = "  {extern void %s (void); %s ();}\n" % (symbol, symbol)
+	else:
+		line = "  {extern void %s (void); if(cb) (*cb)(RA_REGISTER, \"%s\", client_data); %s ();}\n" % (symbol, symbol, symbol)
 	reg_code.write(line)
 
 reg_code.write("}\n")
@@ -190,18 +193,34 @@ plugin_reg_handoff(void)
 else:
 	reg_code.write("""
 void
-register_all_protocol_handoffs(void)
+register_all_protocol_handoffs(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data)
 {
 """);
 
 for symbol in regs['handoff_reg']:
-	line = "  {extern void %s (void); %s ();}\n" % (symbol, symbol)
+	if registertype == "plugin":
+		line = "  {extern void %s (void); %s ();}\n" % (symbol, symbol)
+	else:
+		line = "  {extern void %s (void); if(cb) (*cb)(RA_HANDOFF, \"%s\", client_data); %s ();}\n" % (symbol, symbol, symbol)
 	reg_code.write(line)
 
 reg_code.write("}\n")
 
 if registertype == "plugin":
 	reg_code.write("#endif\n");
+else:
+	reg_code.write("""
+gulong register_count(void)
+{
+""");
+
+	line = "  return %d + %d;\n" % (len(regs['proto_reg']), len(regs['handoff_reg']))
+	reg_code.write(line)
+
+	reg_code.write("""
+}
+""");
+
 
 # Close the file
 reg_code.close()
diff --git a/tshark.c b/tshark.c
index 71d3b2eee1..42ecf77042 100644
--- a/tshark.c
+++ b/tshark.c
@@ -786,7 +786,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
      "-G" flag, as the "-G" flag dumps information registered by the
      dissectors, and we must do it before we read the preferences, in
      case any dissectors register preferences. */
-  epan_init(register_all_protocols, register_all_protocol_handoffs,
+  epan_init(register_all_protocols, register_all_protocol_handoffs, NULL, NULL,
             failure_message, open_failure_message, read_failure_message);
 
   /* Register all tap listeners; we do this before we parse the arguments,