diff --git a/tildes/tasks.py b/tildes/tasks.py
index e97350e..9ef9577 100644
--- a/tildes/tasks.py
+++ b/tildes/tasks.py
@@ -79,6 +79,19 @@ def test(context, quiet=False, webtests=False, html_validation=False):
         context.run("pytest " + " ".join(pytest_args), pty=True)
 
 
+@task
+def shell(context):
+    """Start an IPython shell inside the app environment.
+
+    Will use the settings in production.ini if that file exists, otherwise will fall
+    back to using development.ini.
+    """
+    if Path("production.ini").exists():
+        context.run("pshell production.ini", pty=True)
+    else:
+        context.run("pshell development.ini", pty=True)
+
+
 @task
 def type_checking(context):
     """Run static type checking on the Python code."""