diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 979ce70..fc818d5 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ reference to or relative to a label.
 Boot
 ----
 
-At boot the initial program loader (IPL) loads a program to the RAM
-starting at address 0 after which is cedes control to the CPU. The
-instruction and return pointers are initialised as 0 and the first
-address after RAM respectively, while other registers and RAM are
-uninitialised.
+At boot the initial program loader (IPL) loads a program to RAM starting
+at address 0 after which is cedes control to the CPU. If an
+implementation has a front panel the IPL is optional. The instruction
+and return pointers are initialised as 0 and the first address after RAM
+respectively, while other registers and RAM are uninitialised.
 
 Emulator
 --------