diff --git a/contrib/hg-ssh b/contrib/hg-ssh
--- a/contrib/hg-ssh
+++ b/contrib/hg-ssh
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ You can use pattern matching of your nor
 command="cd repos && hg-ssh user/thomas/* projects/{mercurial,foo}"
 """
 
+# enable importing on demand to reduce startup time
+from mercurial import demandimport; demandimport.enable()
+
 from mercurial import dispatch
 
 import sys, os