---
name: "delay.4th"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/delay.4th"
---

# delay.4th(8)

FreeBSD debugging boot module

## NAME

**delay.4th** – FreeBSD debugging boot module

## DESCRIPTION

The file that goes by the name of **delay.4th** is a set of commands designed to add debugging capabilities to [loader(8)](/loader/8.md). The commands of **delay.4th** by themselves are not enough for most uses. Please refer to the examples below for the most common situations, and to [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) for additional commands.

Before using any of the commands provided in **delay.4th**, it must be included through the command:

```
include delay.4th
```

This line is present in */boot/beastie.4th* file, so it is not needed (and should not be re-issued) in a normal setup.

The commands provided by it are:

- **delay\_execute**

  Executes the \[string\] procedure stored in the **delay\_command** environment variable after **loader\_delay** seconds.

  If the optional **delay\_showdots** environment variable is set, a continuous series of dots is printed.

  During the duration, the user can either press Ctrl-C (or Esc) to abort or ENTER to proceed immediately.

The environment variables that effect its behavior are:

- *delay\_command*

  The command to be executed by **delay\_execute**.

- *loader\_delay*

  The duration (in seconds) to delay before executing **delay\_command**.

- *delay\_showdots*

  If set, will cause **delay\_execute** to print a continuous series of dots during the delay duration.

## FILES

- */boot/loader*

  The [loader(8)](/loader/8.md).

- */boot/delay.4th*

  **delay.4th** itself.

- */boot/loader.rc*

  [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) bootstrapping script.

## EXAMPLES

Introducing a 5-second delay before including another file from */boot/loader.rc*:

```
include /boot/delay.4th
set delay_command="include /boot/other.4th"
set delay_showdots
set loader_delay=5
delay_execute
```

## SEE ALSO

[loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md), [beastie.4th(8)](/beastie.4th/8.md), [loader(8)](/loader/8.md), [loader.4th(8)](/loader.4th/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **delay.4th** set of commands first appeared in FreeBSD 9.0.

## AUTHORS

The **delay.4th** set of commands was written by Devin Teske ⟨*dteske@FreeBSD.org*⟩.