diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 0a62d5c..5b999ca 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ pkg
 forge-*
 confdeps.*
 conftest.*
-state.txt
\ No newline at end of file
+forge_saved_state.txt
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 825fd3c..f5a4881 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ make install
 ## CLI arguments
 
 ```txt
-usage: forge [-h] [-v] [-hr] [-s=SCREEN] [-m=SCREEN] [-mo] [-f=DIR_PATH] [-c=CFG_PATH] [-is=SIZE] [-v=FILE] [-vs=SIZE] [-t=TEMPO] [--demo] [-w] 
+usage: forge [-h] [-v] [-hr] [-s=SCREEN] [-m=SCREEN] [-mo] [-f=DIR_PATH] [-c=CFG_PATH] [-sf=STATE_PATH] [-ls / -nls] [-ss / -nss] [-is=SIZE] [-v=FILE] [-vs=SIZE] [-t=TEMPO] [--demo] [-w] 
 
 Fusion Of Real-time Generative Effects.
 
@@ -67,11 +67,16 @@ options:
   -mo, --monitor-only       no output screen
   -f, --frag                fragment shaders directory (default: /usr/share/forge/shaders)
   -c, --config              fragment shaders config file (default: /usr/share/forge/default.cfg)
+  -sf, --state-file         saved state file (default: forge_saved_state.txt)
+  -ls, --load-state         load saved state (default)
+  -nls, --no-load-state     do not load saved state
+  -ss, --save-state         save state (default)
+  -nss, --no-save-state     do not save state
   -is, --internal-size      internal texture height (default: 720)
   -v, --video-in            path to video capture device (multiple allowed)
   -vs, --video-size         video capture desired height (default: internal texture height)
   -t, --tempo               base tempo (default: 60)
-  --demo                    demonstration mode
+  --demo                    demonstration mode (assume --no-save-state and --no-load-state)
   -w, --windowed            not fullscreen
 ```
 
@@ -126,7 +131,7 @@ make -f Makefile.dev release-arch
   - [x] Write Midi events
   - [x] Send midi data to shaders
   - [x] Save midi state
-  - [ ] Load midi state from last save
+  - [x] Load midi state from last save
   - [x] State machine with A/B switch
   - [x] Tap-tempo feature
   - [ ] Clean code and fix things
diff --git a/src/args.c b/src/args.c
index 739d364..be35697 100644
--- a/src/args.c
+++ b/src/args.c
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ static void print_help(int status_code) {
        "[-f=DIR_PATH] "
        "[-c=CFG_PATH] "
        "[-sf=STATE_PATH] "
-       "[-es] "
+       "[-ls / -nls] "
+       "[-ss / -nss] "
        "[-is=SIZE] "
        "[-v=FILE] "
        "[-vs=SIZE] "
@@ -41,17 +42,22 @@ static void print_help(int status_code) {
        "  -mo, --monitor-only       no output screen\n"
        "  -f, --frag                fragment shaders directory "
        "(default: " DATADIR "/shaders)\n"
-       "  -sf, --state-file         state save file (default: state.txt)\n"
-       "  -es, --empty-state             do not load state save file\n"
        "  -c, --config              fragment shaders config file "
        "(default: " DATADIR "/default.cfg)\n"
+       "  -sf, --state-file         saved state file (default: "
+       "forge_saved_state.txt)\n"
+       "  -ls, --load-state         load saved state (default)\n"
+       "  -nls, --no-load-state     do not load saved state\n"
+       "  -ss, --save-state         save state (default)\n"
+       "  -nss, --no-save-state     do not save state\n"
        "  -is, --internal-size      internal texture height (default: 720)\n"
        "  -v, --video-in            path to video capture device (multiple "
        "allowed)\n"
        "  -vs, --video-size         video capture desired height (default: "
        "internal texture height)\n"
        "  -t, --tempo               base tempo (default: 60)\n"
-       "  --demo                    demonstration mode\n"
+       "  --demo                    demonstration mode (assume --no-save-state "
+       "and --no-load-state)\n"
        "  -w, --windowed            not fullscreen\n");
   exit(status_code);
 }
@@ -97,8 +103,9 @@ Parameters args_parse(int argc, char **argv) {
   params.monitor_screen = 0;
   params.frag_path = DATADIR "/shaders";
   params.config_path = DATADIR "/default.cfg";
-  params.state_file = "state.txt";
-  params.empty_state = false;
+  params.state_file = "forge_saved_state.txt";
+  params.load_state = true;
+  params.save_state = false;
   params.internal_size = 720;
   params.video_size = 0;
   params.base_tempo = 60.0f;
@@ -124,8 +131,14 @@ Parameters args_parse(int argc, char **argv) {
       params.config_path = value;
     } else if (is_arg(arg, "-sf") || is_arg(arg, "--state-file")) {
       params.state_file = value;
-    } else if (is_arg(arg, "-es") || is_arg(arg, "--empty-state")) {
-      params.empty_state = true;
+    } else if (is_arg(arg, "-ls") || is_arg(arg, "--load-state")) {
+      params.load_state = true;
+    } else if (is_arg(arg, "-nls") || is_arg(arg, "--no-load-state")) {
+      params.load_state = false;
+    } else if (is_arg(arg, "-ss") || is_arg(arg, "--save-state")) {
+      params.save_state = true;
+    } else if (is_arg(arg, "-nss") || is_arg(arg, "--no-save-state")) {
+      params.save_state = false;
     } else if (is_arg(arg, "-is") || is_arg(arg, "--internal-size")) {
       params.internal_size = parse_uint(arg, value);
       if (params.internal_size == 0) {
@@ -153,6 +166,8 @@ Parameters args_parse(int argc, char **argv) {
       params.monitor = true;
     } else if (is_arg(arg, "--demo")) {
       params.demo = true;
+      params.load_state = false;
+      params.save_state = false;
     } else if (is_arg(arg, "-w") || is_arg(arg, "--windowed")) {
       params.windowed = true;
     } else {
diff --git a/src/config_file.c b/src/config_file.c
index eb1ba9b..98f10aa 100644
--- a/src/config_file.c
+++ b/src/config_file.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ char *config_file_get_str(ConfigFile config, char *key, char *default_value) {
 }
 
 unsigned int config_file_get_int(ConfigFile config, char *key,
-                                 int default_value) {
+                                 unsigned int default_value) {
   ConfigFileItem c_key;
   ConfigFileItem *item;
 
diff --git a/src/config_file.h b/src/config_file.h
index 52a99b2..6f69d13 100644
--- a/src/config_file.h
+++ b/src/config_file.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ConfigFile config_file_read(char *path, bool free_path);
 char *config_file_get_str(ConfigFile config, char *key, char *default_value);
 
 unsigned int config_file_get_int(ConfigFile config, char *key,
-                                 int default_value);
+                                 unsigned int default_value);
 
 void config_file_free(ConfigFile config);
 
diff --git a/src/forge.c b/src/forge.c
index b09bdbb..6c84ead 100644
--- a/src/forge.c
+++ b/src/forge.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ static void init_context(Parameters params, unsigned int in_count) {
   unsigned int i;
 
   state_init(context, state_config, params.demo, params.base_tempo,
-             params.state_file, params.empty_state);
+             params.state_file, params.load_state);
 
   context->monitor = params.monitor;
 
@@ -315,7 +315,9 @@ void forge_run(Parameters params) {
 
   context->stop = true;
 
-  state_save(context, state_config, params.state_file);
+  if (params.save_state) {
+    state_save(context, state_config, params.state_file);
+  }
 
   shaders_free(program);
 
diff --git a/src/state.c b/src/state.c
index a427f1c..35abf99 100644
--- a/src/state.c
+++ b/src/state.c
@@ -321,21 +321,47 @@ bool state_background_midi_write(SharedContext *context,
 
 void state_load(SharedContext *context, StateConfig state_config,
                 char *state_file) {
-  File saved_state;
+  ConfigFile saved_state;
+  char key[100];
+  unsigned int i;
 
-  saved_state = file_read(state_file);
+  saved_state = config_file_read(state_file, false);
 
-  if (saved_state.error) {
-    return;
+  tempo_set(&context->tempo,
+            config_file_get_int(saved_state, "tempo", context->tempo.tempo));
+  context->page = config_file_get_int(saved_state, "page", 0);
+  context->selected = config_file_get_int(saved_state, "selected", 0);
+
+  for (i = 0; i < context->state.length; i++) {
+    sprintf(key, "seed_%d", i);
+    context->seeds[i] =
+        config_file_get_int(saved_state, key, context->seeds[i]);
+    sprintf(key, "state_%d", i);
+    context->state.values[i] = config_file_get_int(saved_state, key, 0);
   }
 
-  // TODO load state
+  for (i = 0; i < state_config.midi_active_counts.length; i++) {
+    sprintf(key, "active_%d", i);
+    context->active[i] = config_file_get_int(saved_state, key, 0);
+  }
 
-  file_free(&saved_state, false);
+  for (i = 0; i < state_config.midi_codes.length; i++) {
+    sprintf(key, "value_%d_x", i);
+    context->values[i][0] =
+        (float)config_file_get_int(saved_state, key, 0) / MIDI_MAX;
+    sprintf(key, "value_%d_y", i);
+    context->values[i][1] =
+        (float)config_file_get_int(saved_state, key, 0) / MIDI_MAX;
+    sprintf(key, "value_%d_z", i);
+    context->values[i][2] =
+        (float)config_file_get_int(saved_state, key, 0) / MIDI_MAX;
+  }
+
+  config_file_free(saved_state);
 }
 
 void state_init(SharedContext *context, StateConfig state_config, bool demo,
-                unsigned int base_tempo, char *state_file, bool empty_state) {
+                unsigned int base_tempo, char *state_file, bool load_state) {
   unsigned int i;
 
   context->tempo = tempo_init();
@@ -361,7 +387,7 @@ void state_init(SharedContext *context, StateConfig state_config, bool demo,
     context->seeds[i] = rand_uint(1000);
   }
 
-  if (!empty_state) {
+  if (load_state) {
     state_load(context, state_config, state_file);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/state.h b/src/state.h
index 9b6155a..426c57e 100644
--- a/src/state.h
+++ b/src/state.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ bool state_background_midi_write(SharedContext *context,
                                  StateConfig state_config, MidiDevice midi);
 
 void state_init(SharedContext *context, StateConfig state_config, bool demo,
-                unsigned int base_tempo, char *state_file, bool empty_state);
+                unsigned int base_tempo, char *state_file, bool load_state);
 
 void state_randomize(SharedContext *context, StateConfig state_config);
 
diff --git a/src/types.h b/src/types.h
index 095eda3..242c05d 100644
--- a/src/types.h
+++ b/src/types.h
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ typedef struct Parameters {
   char *frag_path;
   char *config_path;
   char *state_file;
-  bool empty_state;
+  bool load_state;
+  bool save_state;
   unsigned int internal_size;
   unsigned int video_size;
   float base_tempo;