diff --git a/runes.asd b/runes.asd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86a73d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runes.asd
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+;;; XXX Die vielen verschiedenen Systeme hier sollten vielleicht
+;;; Module eines grossen Systems CXML werden?
+
+(defpackage :runes-system
+  (:use :asdf :cl)
+  (:export #:*utf8-runes-readtable*))
+
+(in-package :runes-system)
+
+(defvar *utf8-runes-readtable*)
+
+(defclass closure-source-file (cl-source-file) ())
+
+#+sbcl
+(defmethod perform :around ((o compile-op) (s closure-source-file))
+  ;; shut up already.  Correctness first.
+  (handler-bind ((sb-ext:compiler-note #'muffle-warning))
+    (let (#+sbcl (*compile-print* nil))
+      (call-next-method))))
+
+#-(or rune-is-character rune-is-integer)
+(progn
+  (format t "~&;;; Checking for wide character support...")
+  (force-output)
+  (pushnew (dotimes (x 65536
+                      (progn
+                        (format t " ok, characters have at least 16 bits.~%")
+                        :rune-is-character))
+             (unless (and (< x char-code-limit) (code-char x))
+               (format t " no, reverting to octet strings.~%")
+               (return :rune-is-integer)))
+           *features*))
+
+#-rune-is-character
+(format t "~&;;; Building Closure with (UNSIGNED-BYTE 16) RUNES~%")
+
+#+rune-is-character
+(format t "~&;;; Building Closure with CHARACTER RUNES~%") 
+
+(defsystem :runes
+    :default-component-class closure-source-file
+    :pathname (merge-pathnames
+               "runes/"
+               (make-pathname :name nil :type nil :defaults *load-truename*))
+    :serial t
+    :components
+    ((:file "package")
+     (:file "definline")
+     (:file runes
+            :pathname
+             #-rune-is-character "runes"
+             #+rune-is-character "characters")
+     #+rune-is-integer (:file "utf8")
+     (:file "syntax")
+     (:file "encodings")
+     (:file "encodings-data")
+     (:file "xstream")
+     (:file "ystream")))