diff --git a/server-cli/src/cli.rs b/server-cli/src/cli.rs
index f383cbf9fa..239e40967c 100644
--- a/server-cli/src/cli.rs
+++ b/server-cli/src/cli.rs
@@ -82,10 +82,23 @@ pub struct TuiApp {
     command: Message,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Parser)]
+pub struct BenchParams {
+    /// View distance of the loaded area (in chunks)
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub view_distance: u32,
+    /// Duration to run after loading completes (in seconds).
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub duration: u32,
+}
+
 #[derive(Parser)]
 pub enum ArgvCommand {
     #[command(flatten)]
     Shared(SharedCommand),
+    /// Load an area, run the server for some time, and then exit (useful for
+    /// profiling).
+    Bench(BenchParams),
 }
 
 #[derive(Parser)]
diff --git a/server-cli/src/main.rs b/server-cli/src/main.rs
index 7074177400..ea5d7346cd 100644
--- a/server-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/server-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use server::{persistence::DatabaseSettings, settings::Protocol, Event, Input, Se
 use std::{
     io,
     sync::{atomic::AtomicBool, mpsc, Arc},
-    time::Duration,
+    time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
 use tracing::{info, trace};
 
@@ -117,15 +117,16 @@ fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
         sql_log_mode,
     };
 
+    let mut bench = None;
     if let Some(command) = app.command {
-        return match command {
+        match command {
             ArgvCommand::Shared(SharedCommand::Admin { command }) => {
                 let login_provider = server::login_provider::LoginProvider::new(
                     server_settings.auth_server_address,
                     runtime,
                 );
 
-                match command {
+                return match command {
                     Admin::Add { username, role } => {
                         // FIXME: Currently the UUID can get returned even if the file didn't
                         // change, so this can't be relied on as an error
@@ -139,6 +140,7 @@ fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
                             &mut editable_settings,
                             &server_data_dir,
                         );
+                        Ok(())
                     },
                     Admin::Remove { username } => {
                         // FIXME: Currently the UUID can get returned even if the file didn't
@@ -152,9 +154,15 @@ fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
                             &mut editable_settings,
                             &server_data_dir,
                         );
+                        Ok(())
                     },
-                }
-                Ok(())
+                };
+            },
+            ArgvCommand::Bench(params) => {
+                bench = Some(params);
+                // If we are trying to benchmark, don't limit the server view distance.
+                server_settings.max_view_distance = None;
+                // TODO: add setting to adjust entity spawn density
             },
         };
     }
@@ -207,12 +215,28 @@ fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
 
     // Set up an fps clock
     let mut clock = Clock::new(Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / TPS as f64));
-    // Wait for a tick so we don't start with a zero dt
+
+    if let Some(bench) = bench {
+        #[cfg(feature = "worldgen")]
+        server.create_centered_persister(bench.view_distance);
+    }
+    let mut bench_exit_time = None;
 
     let mut tick_no = 0u64;
     loop {
-        tick_no += 1;
         span!(guard, "work");
+        if let Some(bench) = bench {
+            if let Some(t) = bench_exit_time {
+                if Instant::now() > t {
+                    break;
+                }
+            } else if tick_no != 0 && !server.chunks_pending() {
+                println!("Chunk loading complete");
+                bench_exit_time = Some(Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(bench.duration.into()));
+            }
+        };
+
+        tick_no += 1;
         // Terminate the server if instructed to do so by the shutdown coordinator
         if shutdown_coordinator.check(&mut server, &settings) {
             break;
diff --git a/server/src/lib.rs b/server/src/lib.rs
index 491d70ed17..5cb4ad5123 100644
--- a/server/src/lib.rs
+++ b/server/src/lib.rs
@@ -1442,6 +1442,15 @@ impl Server {
             .build();
     }
 
+    /// Used by benchmarking code.
+    pub fn chunks_pending(&mut self) -> bool {
+        self.state_mut()
+            .mut_resource::<ChunkGenerator>()
+            .pending_chunks()
+            .next()
+            .is_some()
+    }
+
     /// Sets the SQL log mode at runtime
     pub fn set_sql_log_mode(&mut self, sql_log_mode: SqlLogMode) {
         // Unwrap is safe here because we only perform a variable assignment with the
diff --git a/server/src/sys/metrics.rs b/server/src/sys/metrics.rs
index 07c79dfd22..d8633805cc 100644
--- a/server/src/sys/metrics.rs
+++ b/server/src/sys/metrics.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
+    chunk_generator::ChunkGenerator,
     metrics::{EcsSystemMetrics, JobMetrics, PhysicsMetrics, TickMetrics},
     HwStats, Tick, TickStart,
 };
@@ -12,11 +13,12 @@ use std::time::Instant;
 pub struct Sys;
 impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
     type SystemData = (
-        Option<Entities<'a>>,
+        Entities<'a>,
         ReadExpect<'a, HwStats>,
         ReadExpect<'a, Tick>,
         ReadExpect<'a, TimeOfDay>,
         ReadExpect<'a, TickStart>,
+        ReadExpect<'a, ChunkGenerator>,
         Option<Read<'a, TerrainGrid>>,
         Read<'a, SysMetrics>,
         Read<'a, common_ecs::PhysicsMetrics>,
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
             tick,
             time_of_day,
             tick_start,
+            chunk_generator,
             terrain,
             sys_metrics,
             phys_metrics,
@@ -89,7 +92,7 @@ impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
         // Report other info
         export_tick.time_of_day.set(time_of_day.0);
         if tick.0.rem_euclid(100) == 0 {
-            if let Some(terrain) = terrain {
+            if let Some(terrain) = terrain.as_ref() {
                 let mut chonk_cnt = 0;
                 let mut group_cnt = 0;
                 let chunk_cnt = terrain.iter().fold(0, |a, (_, c)| {
@@ -102,11 +105,16 @@ impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
                 export_tick.chunk_groups_count.set(group_cnt as i64);
             }
 
-            if let Some(entities) = entities {
-                let entity_count = entities.join().count();
-                export_tick.entity_count.set(entity_count as i64);
-                common_base::plot!("entity count", entity_count as f64);
-            }
+            let entity_count = entities.join().count();
+            export_tick.entity_count.set(entity_count as i64);
+        }
+        common_base::plot!("entity count", entities.join().count() as f64);
+        common_base::plot!(
+            "pending chunks",
+            chunk_generator.pending_chunks().count() as f64
+        );
+        if let Some(terrain) = terrain.as_ref() {
+            common_base::plot!("chunk count", terrain.iter().count() as f64);
         }
 
         //detailed physics metrics