diff --git a/seaman.py b/seaman.py
index f182ad6..e8df24b 100644
--- a/seaman.py
+++ b/seaman.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import time
 import termios
 import subprocess
 import os
+from os.path import join, exists
 from servicemanager.base import ServiceManager, ServiceDown, UsageError
 from servicemanager.sicsclient import sics_client
 
@@ -94,6 +95,19 @@ class SeaManager(ServiceManager):
         print('starting sea gui %s' % ' '.join(args))
         time.sleep(5)
 
+    def prepare_start(self, ins, service, *args):
+        start_dir, env = super().prepare_start(ins, service)
+        # load newest version of SeaServer if needed
+        os.chdir(start_dir)
+        sea_server_src = os.environ.get(
+            'SEA_SERVER_SRC', '/afs/psi.ch/user/z/zolliker/public/git.rhel7/sics/SeaServer')
+        if sea_server_src and exists(sea_server_src):
+            if os.system('diff %s SeaServer' % sea_server_src):
+                print('reload SeaServer')
+                os.rename('SeaServer', 'SeaServer0')
+                os.system('cp %s ./' % sea_server_src)
+        return start_dir, env
+
     def get_cfg(self, ins, service):
         """return cfg info about running programs, if relevant