diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/drracket-normal.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/drracket-normal.rkt
index 594200fd8a..b8b81f450a 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/drracket-normal.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/drracket-normal.rkt
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@
    [else
     (collection-file-path "plt-flat.gif" "icons")])
  "DrRacket"
- 99)
+ 99
+ #:allow-funny? #t)
 
 (when (getenv "PLTDRBREAK")
   (printf "PLTDRBREAK: creating break frame\n") (flush-output)
diff --git a/collects/framework/splash.rkt b/collects/framework/splash.rkt
index 153d868bbe..5c7b3ba645 100644
--- a/collects/framework/splash.rkt
+++ b/collects/framework/splash.rkt
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@
      (splash-paint-callback dc)]
     [else 
      (splash-paint-callback dc 
-                            (send gauge get-value) 
-                            (send gauge get-range)
+                            (send (get-gauge) get-value) 
+                            (send (get-gauge) get-range)
                             (get-splash-width)
                             (get-splash-height))])
   (for-each (λ (icon)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 
 (define (set-splash-progress-bar?! b?) 
   (send gauge-panel change-children
-        (λ (l) (if b? (list gauge) '()))))
+        (λ (l) (if b? (list (get-gauge)) '()))))
 
 (define (splash-paint-callback dc)
   (if splash-bitmap
@@ -107,10 +107,11 @@
   (set! icons (cons (make-icon bm x y) icons))
   (refresh-splash))
 
-(define (start-splash splash-draw-spec _splash-title width-default)
+(define (start-splash splash-draw-spec _splash-title width-default #:allow-funny? [allow-funny? #f])
+  (unless allow-funny? (set! funny? #f))
   (set! splash-title _splash-title)
   (set! splash-max-width (max 1 (splash-get-preference (get-splash-width-preference-name) width-default)))
-  (send gauge set-range splash-max-width)
+  (send (get-gauge) set-range splash-max-width)
   (send splash-tlw set-label splash-title)
   (let/ec k
     (define (no-splash)
@@ -188,8 +189,8 @@
 (define (splash-load-handler old-load f expected)
   (set! splash-current-width (+ splash-current-width 1))
   (when (<= splash-current-width splash-max-width)
-    (send gauge set-value splash-current-width)
-    (when (or (not (member gauge (send gauge-panel get-children)))
+    (send (get-gauge) set-value splash-current-width)
+    (when (or (not (member (get-gauge) (send gauge-panel get-children)))
               ;; when the gauge is not visible, we'll redraw the canvas
               (refresh-splash-on-gauge-change? splash-current-width splash-max-width))
       (refresh-splash)))
@@ -303,10 +304,15 @@
 (define panel (make-object vertical-pane% splash-tlw))
 (define splash-canvas (new splash-canvas% [parent panel] [style '(no-autoclear)]))
 (define gauge-panel (make-object horizontal-pane% panel))
-(define gauge
-  (if funny?
-      (make-object funny-gauge% gauge-panel)
-      (make-object gauge% #f splash-max-width gauge-panel '(horizontal))))
+(define get-gauge
+  (let ([gauge #f])
+    (λ ()
+      (unless gauge
+        (set! gauge
+              (if funny?
+                  (make-object funny-gauge% gauge-panel)
+                  (make-object gauge% #f splash-max-width gauge-panel '(horizontal)))))
+      gauge)))
 (send panel stretchable-width #f)
 (send panel stretchable-height #f)
 (send gauge-panel set-alignment 'center 'top)
diff --git a/collects/scribblings/framework/splash.scrbl b/collects/scribblings/framework/splash.scrbl
index d9b58b7730..f64cd23d1d 100644
--- a/collects/scribblings/framework/splash.scrbl
+++ b/collects/scribblings/framework/splash.scrbl
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ that number to control the gauge along the bottom of the splash screen.
                                                   exact-nonnegative-integer?
                                                   exact-nonnegative-integer?))]
                        [splash-title string?]
-                       [width-default exact-nonnegative-integer?])
+                       [width-default exact-nonnegative-integer?]
+                       #:allow-funny? [allow-funny? #f])
          void?]{
   Starts a new splash screen. The splash screen is created in its own, new 
   @tech[#:doc '(lib "scribblings/gui/gui.scrbl") #:key "eventspace"]{eventspace}.
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ that number to control the gauge along the bottom of the splash screen.
   (in order) the current value of the gauge, the maximum value of the gauge, and the width and the height
   of the area to draw.
 
-  
+  The @racket[allow-funny?] argument determines if a special gauge is used on Christmas day.  
   
   }
 @defproc[(shutdown-splash) void?]{