diff --git a/docs/compiler_options.md b/docs/compiler_options.md
index f09f45227..15b92698c 100644
--- a/docs/compiler_options.md
+++ b/docs/compiler_options.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ return {
 | `--gen-target`       | `gen_target`               | `string`   | `build` `gen` `run`         | Minimum targeted Lua version for generated code. Options are `5.1`, `5.3` and `5.4`. See [below](#generated-code) for details.
 |                      | `include`                  | `{string}` | `build`                     | The set of files to compile/check. See below for details on patterns.
 |                      | `exclude`                  | `{string}` | `build`                     | The set of files to exclude. See below for details on patterns.
+| `--keep-hashbang`    |                            |            | `gen`                       | Preserve hashbang line (`#!`) at the top of file if present.
 | `-s --source-dir`    | `source_dir`               | `string`   | `build`                     | Set the directory to be searched for files. `build` will compile every .tl file in every subdirectory by default.
 | `-b --build-dir`     | `build_dir`                | `string`   | `build`                     | Set the directory for generated files, mimicking the file structure of the source files.
 |                      | `files`                    | `{string}` | `build`                     | The names of files to be compiled. Does not accept patterns like `include`.
diff --git a/spec/cli/gen_spec.lua b/spec/cli/gen_spec.lua
index 2d79e03ad..d3132871d 100644
--- a/spec/cli/gen_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/cli/gen_spec.lua
@@ -72,6 +72,16 @@ end
 local c = 100
 ]]
 
+local script_with_hashbang = [[
+#!/usr/bin/env lua
+print("hello world")
+]]
+
+local script_without_hashbang = [[
+
+print("hello world")
+]]
+
 local function tl_to_lua(name)
    return (name:gsub("%.tl$", ".lua"):gsub("^" .. util.os_tmp .. util.os_sep, ""))
 end
@@ -185,6 +195,26 @@ describe("tl gen", function()
       end)
    end)
 
+   it("preserves hashbang with --keep-hashbang", function()
+      local name = util.write_tmp_file(finally, script_with_hashbang)
+      local pd = io.popen(util.tl_cmd("gen", "--keep-hashbang", name), "r")
+      local output = pd:read("*a")
+      util.assert_popen_close(0, pd:close())
+      local lua_name = tl_to_lua(name)
+      assert.match("Wrote: " .. lua_name, output, 1, true)
+      util.assert_line_by_line(script_with_hashbang, util.read_file(lua_name))
+   end)
+
+   it("drops hashbang when not using --keep-hashbang", function()
+      local name = util.write_tmp_file(finally, script_with_hashbang)
+      local pd = io.popen(util.tl_cmd("gen", name), "r")
+      local output = pd:read("*a")
+      util.assert_popen_close(0, pd:close())
+      local lua_name = tl_to_lua(name)
+      assert.match("Wrote: " .. lua_name, output, 1, true)
+      util.assert_line_by_line(script_without_hashbang, util.read_file(lua_name))
+   end)
+
    describe("with --gen-target=5.1", function()
       it("targets generated code to Lua 5.1+", function()
          local name = util.write_tmp_file(finally, [[
diff --git a/spec/lexer/hashbang_spec.lua b/spec/lexer/hashbang_spec.lua
index e249722ca..7d69f1ccb 100644
--- a/spec/lexer/hashbang_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/lexer/hashbang_spec.lua
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ describe("lexer", function()
    it("skips hashbang at the beginning of a file", function()
       local syntax_errors = {}
       local tokens = tl.lex("#!/usr/bin/env lua\nlocal x = 1")
+      assert.same({"#!/usr/bin/env lua\n", "local", "x", "=", "1", "$EOF$"}, map(function(x) return x.tk end, tokens))
+
       tl.parse_program(tokens, syntax_errors)
       assert.same({}, syntax_errors)
-      assert.same(5, #tokens)
-      assert.same({"local", "x", "=", "1", "$EOF$"}, map(function(x) return x.tk end, tokens))
    end)
 end)
diff --git a/tl b/tl
index c8c49339d..a7f214784 100755
--- a/tl
+++ b/tl
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ local function type_check_and_load(tlconfig, filename)
    return chunk
 end
 
-local function write_out(tlconfig, result, output_file)
+local function write_out(tlconfig, result, output_file, pp_opts)
    if tlconfig["pretend"] then
       print("Would Write: " .. output_file)
       return
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ local function write_out(tlconfig, result, output_file)
    end
 
    local _
-   _, err = ofd:write(tl.pretty_print_ast(result.ast, tlconfig.gen_target) .. "\n")
+   _, err = ofd:write(tl.pretty_print_ast(result.ast, tlconfig.gen_target, pp_opts) .. "\n")
    if err then
       die("error writing " .. output_file .. ": " .. err)
    end
@@ -863,6 +863,7 @@ local function get_args_parser()
    local gen_command = parser:command("gen", "Generate a Lua file for one or more Teal files.")
    gen_command:argument("file", "The Teal source file."):args("+")
    gen_command:flag("-c --check", "Type check and fail on type errors.")
+   gen_command:flag("--keep-hashbang", "Preserve hashbang line (#!) at the top of file if present.")
    gen_command:option("-o --output", "Write to <filename> instead.")
               :argname("<filename>")
 
@@ -1227,9 +1228,15 @@ commands["gen"] = function(tlconfig, args)
    local results = {}
    local err
    local env
+   local pp_opts
    for i, input_file in ipairs(args["file"]) do
       if not env then
          env = setup_env(tlconfig, input_file)
+         pp_opts = {
+            preserve_indent = true,
+            preserve_newlines = true,
+            preserve_hashbang = args["keep_hashbang"]
+         }
       end
 
       local res = {
@@ -1248,7 +1255,7 @@ commands["gen"] = function(tlconfig, args)
 
    for _, res in ipairs(results) do
       if #res.tl_result.syntax_errors == 0 then
-         write_out(tlconfig, res.tl_result, args["output"] or res.output_file)
+         write_out(tlconfig, res.tl_result, args["output"] or res.output_file, pp_opts)
       end
    end
 
diff --git a/tl.lua b/tl.lua
index 057639120..20e41c077 100644
--- a/tl.lua
+++ b/tl.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 local _tl_compat; if (tonumber((_VERSION or ''):match('[%d.]*$')) or 0) < 5.3 then local p, m = pcall(require, 'compat53.module'); if p then _tl_compat = m end end; local assert = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.assert or assert; local debug = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.debug or debug; local io = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.io or io; local ipairs = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.ipairs or ipairs; local load = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.load or load; local math = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.math or math; local _tl_math_maxinteger = math.maxinteger or math.pow(2, 53); local os = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.os or os; local package = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.package or package; local pairs = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.pairs or pairs; local string = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.string or string; local table = _tl_compat and _tl_compat.table or table; local _tl_table_unpack = unpack or table.unpack
 local VERSION = "0.15.3+dev"
 
-local tl = {TypeCheckOptions = {}, Env = {}, Symbol = {}, Result = {}, Error = {}, TypeInfo = {}, TypeReport = {}, TypeReportEnv = {}, }
+local tl = {PrettyPrintOptions = {}, TypeCheckOptions = {}, Env = {}, Symbol = {}, Result = {}, Error = {}, TypeInfo = {}, TypeReport = {}, TypeReportEnv = {}, }
+
+
+
+
+
+
 
 
 
@@ -217,6 +223,7 @@ tl.typecodes = {
 
 
 
+
 local TL_DEBUG = os.getenv("TL_DEBUG")
 local TL_DEBUG_MAXLINE = _tl_math_maxinteger
 
@@ -279,6 +286,7 @@ end
 
 
 
+
 
 
 do
@@ -592,10 +600,12 @@ do
 
       local len = #input
       if input:sub(1, 2) == "#!" then
+         begin_token()
          i = input:find("\n")
          if not i then
             i = len + 1
          end
+         end_token_here("hashbang")
          y = 2
          x = 0
       end
@@ -1327,6 +1337,7 @@ local is_attribute = attributes
 
 
 
+
 
 
 local function is_array_type(t)
@@ -3164,7 +3175,16 @@ function tl.parse_program(tokens, errs, filename)
       filename = filename or "",
       required_modules = {},
    }
-   local _, node = parse_statements(ps, 1, true)
+   local i = 1
+   local hashbang
+   if ps.tokens[i].kind == "hashbang" then
+      hashbang = ps.tokens[i].tk
+      i = i + 1
+   end
+   local _, node = parse_statements(ps, i, true)
+   if hashbang then
+      node.hashbang = hashbang
+   end
 
    clear_redundant_errors(errs)
    return node, ps.required_modules
@@ -3689,18 +3709,16 @@ local spaced_op = {
 }
 
 
-
-
-
-
 local default_pretty_print_ast_opts = {
    preserve_indent = true,
    preserve_newlines = true,
+   preserve_hashbang = false,
 }
 
 local fast_pretty_print_ast_opts = {
    preserve_indent = false,
    preserve_newlines = true,
+   preserve_hashbang = false,
 }
 
 local primitive = {
@@ -3837,6 +3855,9 @@ function tl.pretty_print_ast(ast, gen_target, mode)
       ["statements"] = {
          after = function(node, children)
             local out = { y = node.y, h = 0 }
+            if opts.preserve_hashbang and node.hashbang then
+               table.insert(out, node.hashbang)
+            end
             local space
             for i, child in ipairs(children) do
                add_child(out, child, space, indent)
@@ -10854,7 +10875,7 @@ function tl.process_string(input, is_lua, env, filename, module_name)
    return result
 end
 
-tl.gen = function(input, env)
+tl.gen = function(input, env, pp)
    env = env or assert(tl.init_env(), "Default environment initialization failed")
    local result = tl.process_string(input, false, env)
 
@@ -10863,7 +10884,7 @@ tl.gen = function(input, env)
    end
 
    local code
-   code, result.gen_error = tl.pretty_print_ast(result.ast, env.gen_target)
+   code, result.gen_error = tl.pretty_print_ast(result.ast, env.gen_target, pp)
    return code, result
 end
 
diff --git a/tl.tl b/tl.tl
index 80d230066..7b0ba54c1 100644
--- a/tl.tl
+++ b/tl.tl
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ local record tl
       "5.4"
    end
 
+   record PrettyPrintOptions
+      preserve_indent: boolean
+      preserve_newlines: boolean
+      preserve_hashbang: boolean
+   end
+
    record TypeCheckOptions
       lax: boolean
       filename: string
@@ -125,7 +131,7 @@ local record tl
    load: function(string, string, LoadMode, {any:any}): LoadFunction, string
    process: function(string, Env, string, FILE): (Result, string)
    process_string: function(string, boolean, Env, string, string): Result
-   gen: function(string, Env): string, Result
+   gen: function(string, Env, PrettyPrintOptions): string, Result
    type_check: function(Node, TypeCheckOptions): Result, string
    init_env: function(boolean, boolean | CompatMode, TargetMode, {string}): Env, string
    version: function(): string
@@ -204,6 +210,7 @@ local type Result = tl.Result
 local type Env = tl.Env
 local type Error = tl.Error
 local type CompatMode = tl.CompatMode
+local type PrettyPrintOptions = tl.PrettyPrintOptions
 local type TypeCheckOptions = tl.TypeCheckOptions
 local type LoadMode = tl.LoadMode
 local type LoadFunction = tl.LoadFunction
@@ -258,6 +265,7 @@ end
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 local enum TokenKind
+   "hashbang"
    "keyword"
    "op"
    "string"
@@ -592,10 +600,12 @@ do
 
       local len = #input
       if input:sub(1,2) == "#!" then
+         begin_token()
          i = input:find("\n")
          if not i then
             i = len + 1
          end
+         end_token_here("hashbang")
          y = 2
          x = 0
       end
@@ -1250,6 +1260,7 @@ local record Node
    kind: NodeKind
    symbol_list_slot: integer
    semicolon: boolean
+   hashbang: string
 
    is_longstring: boolean
 
@@ -3164,7 +3175,16 @@ function tl.parse_program(tokens: {Token}, errs: {Error}, filename: string): Nod
       filename = filename or "",
       required_modules = {},
    }
-   local _, node = parse_statements(ps, 1, true)
+   local i = 1
+   local hashbang: string
+   if ps.tokens[i].kind == "hashbang" then
+      hashbang = ps.tokens[i].tk
+      i = i + 1
+   end
+   local _, node = parse_statements(ps, i, true)
+   if hashbang then
+      node.hashbang = hashbang
+   end
 
    clear_redundant_errors(errs)
    return node, ps.required_modules
@@ -3688,19 +3708,17 @@ local spaced_op: {integer:{string:boolean}} = {
    },
 }
 
-local record PrettyPrintOpts
-   preserve_indent: boolean
-   preserve_newlines: boolean
-end
 
-local default_pretty_print_ast_opts: PrettyPrintOpts = {
+local default_pretty_print_ast_opts: PrettyPrintOptions = {
    preserve_indent = true,
    preserve_newlines = true,
+   preserve_hashbang = false,
 }
 
-local fast_pretty_print_ast_opts: PrettyPrintOpts = {
+local fast_pretty_print_ast_opts: PrettyPrintOptions = {
    preserve_indent = false,
    preserve_newlines = true,
+   preserve_hashbang = false,
 }
 
 local primitive: {TypeName:string} = {
@@ -3714,12 +3732,12 @@ local primitive: {TypeName:string} = {
    ["thread"] = "thread",
 }
 
-function tl.pretty_print_ast(ast: Node, gen_target: TargetMode, mode: boolean | PrettyPrintOpts): string, string
+function tl.pretty_print_ast(ast: Node, gen_target: TargetMode, mode: boolean | PrettyPrintOptions): string, string
    local err: string
    local indent = 0
 
-   local opts: PrettyPrintOpts
-   if mode is PrettyPrintOpts then
+   local opts: PrettyPrintOptions
+   if mode is PrettyPrintOptions then
       opts = mode
    elseif mode == true then
       opts = fast_pretty_print_ast_opts
@@ -3837,6 +3855,9 @@ function tl.pretty_print_ast(ast: Node, gen_target: TargetMode, mode: boolean |
       ["statements"] = {
          after = function(node: Node, children: {Output}): Output
             local out: Output = { y = node.y, h = 0 }
+            if opts.preserve_hashbang and node.hashbang then
+               table.insert(out, node.hashbang)
+            end
             local space: string
             for i, child in ipairs(children) do
                add_child(out, child, space, indent)
@@ -10854,7 +10875,7 @@ function tl.process_string(input: string, is_lua: boolean, env: Env, filename: s
    return result
 end
 
-tl.gen = function(input: string, env: Env): string, Result
+tl.gen = function(input: string, env: Env, pp: PrettyPrintOptions): string, Result
    env = env or assert(tl.init_env(), "Default environment initialization failed")
    local result = tl.process_string(input, false, env)
 
@@ -10863,7 +10884,7 @@ tl.gen = function(input: string, env: Env): string, Result
    end
 
    local code: string
-   code, result.gen_error = tl.pretty_print_ast(result.ast, env.gen_target)
+   code, result.gen_error = tl.pretty_print_ast(result.ast, env.gen_target, pp)
    return code, result
 end