diff --git a/src/InputMgr.cc b/src/InputMgr.cc
index cacc512bcf..5ab602f4f3 100644
--- a/src/InputMgr.cc
+++ b/src/InputMgr.cc
@@ -35,11 +35,17 @@ InputMgr::InputMgr()
 
 
 // create a new input reader object to be used at whomevers leisure lateron.
-InputReader* InputMgr::CreateReader(EnumVal* reader, string source) 
+InputReader* InputMgr::CreateReader(EnumVal* reader, string source, string eventName, RecordVal* eventDescription) 
 {
 	InputReaderDefinition* ir = input_readers;
-	exit(12);
-		
+	
+	RecordType* rtype = eventDescription->Type()->AsRecordType();
+	if ( ! same_type(rtype, BifType::Record::Input::Event, 0) )
+	{
+		reporter->Error("eventDescription argument not of right type");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	
 	while ( true ) {
 		if ( ir->type == BifEnum::Input::READER_DEFAULT ) 
 		{
@@ -86,5 +92,13 @@ InputReader* InputMgr::CreateReader(EnumVal* reader, string source)
 	return reader_obj;
 	
 }
+
+void InputMgr::Error(InputReader* reader, const char* msg)
+{
+	reporter->Error(fmt("error with input reader for %s: %s",
+						reader->Source().c_str(), msg));
+}
+
+
 		
 		
diff --git a/src/InputMgr.h b/src/InputMgr.h
index 978481afba..3d3d0f2d3f 100644
--- a/src/InputMgr.h
+++ b/src/InputMgr.h
@@ -10,12 +10,20 @@
 #include "EventHandler.h"
 #include "RemoteSerializer.h"
 
+class InputReader;
 
 class InputMgr {
 public:
     InputMgr();
     
-    InputReader* CreateReader(EnumVal* reader, string source);
+    InputReader* CreateReader(EnumVal* reader, string source, string eventName, RecordVal* eventDescription);
+	
+protected:
+	friend class InputReader;
+	
+	// Reports an error for the given reader.
+	void Error(InputReader* reader, const char* msg);
+
 };
 
 extern InputMgr* input_mgr;
diff --git a/src/InputReader.cc b/src/InputReader.cc
index f2b3b05801..ef47bb1e10 100644
--- a/src/InputReader.cc
+++ b/src/InputReader.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 
 #include "InputReader.h"
+#include "EventRegistry.h"
+#include "Event.h"
 
 InputReader::InputReader()
 {
@@ -9,4 +11,21 @@ InputReader::InputReader()
 InputReader::~InputReader() 
 {
 	
+}
+
+void InputReader::Error(const char *msg)
+{
+	input_mgr->Error(this, msg);
+}
+
+bool InputReader::Init(string source, string eventName) {
+	EventHandler* handler = event_registry->Lookup(eventName.c_str());
+	
+	if ( handler == 0 ) {
+		reporter->Error("Event %s not found", eventName.c_str());
+		return false;
+	}
+	
+	mgr.Dispatch(new Event(handler, 0));
+	return true;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/InputReader.h b/src/InputReader.h
index ce8303383a..58a56e8221 100644
--- a/src/InputReader.h
+++ b/src/InputReader.h
@@ -6,16 +6,29 @@
 #ifndef INPUTREADER_H
 #define INPUTREADER_H
 
+#include "InputMgr.h"
+#include "BroString.h"
+
 class InputReader {
 public:
     InputReader();
     virtual ~InputReader();
+	
+	bool Init(string source, string eventName);
     
 protected:
     // Methods that have to be overwritten by the individual readers
-    
+	
+	// Reports an error to the user.
+	void Error(const char *msg);
+	
+	// The following methods return the information as passed to Init().
+	const string Source() const	{ return source; }
+
 private:
     friend class InputMgr;
+	
+	string source;
     
     // When an error occurs, this method is called to set a flag marking the 
     // writer as disabled.
diff --git a/src/input.bif b/src/input.bif
index 3ff5284c63..e2fc2ae91e 100644
--- a/src/input.bif
+++ b/src/input.bif
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ module Input;
 #include "NetVar.h"
 %%}
 
-function Input::__create_reader%(reader: Input::Reader, source: string%) : bool
+type Event: record;
+
+function Input::__create_reader%(reader: Input::Reader, source: string, eventName: string, eventDescription: Input::Event%) : bool
 	%{
-	InputReader *the_reader = input_mgr->CreateReader(reader->AsEnumVal(), source->AsString()->CheckString());
+	InputReader *the_reader = input_mgr->CreateReader(reader->AsEnumVal(), source->AsString()->CheckString(), eventName->AsString()->CheckString(), eventDescription->AsRecordVal());
 	return new Val( the_reader != 0, TYPE_BOOL );
 	%}