diff --git a/runraise.lua b/runraise.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6561f18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runraise.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+--- Spawns cmd if no client can be found matching properties
+-- If such a client can be found, pop to first tag where it is visible, and give it focus
+-- @param cmd the command to execute
+-- @param properties a table of properties to match against clients.  Possible entries: any properties of the client object
+
+function runraise(cmd, properties)
+   local clients = client.get()
+   local focused = awful.client.next(0)
+   local findex = 0
+   local matched_clients = {}
+   local n = 0
+   for i, c in pairs(clients) do
+      --make an array of matched clients
+      if awful.rules.match(properties, c) then
+         n = n + 1
+         matched_clients[n] = c
+         if c == focused then
+            findex = n
+         end
+      end
+   end
+   if n > 0 then
+      local c = matched_clients[1]
+      -- if the focused window matched switch focus to next in list
+      if 0 < findex and findex < n then
+         c = matched_clients[findex+1]
+      end
+      local ctags = c:tags()
+      if table.getn(ctags) == 0 then
+         -- ctags is empty, show client on current tag
+         local curtag = awful.tag.selected()
+         awful.client.movetotag(curtag, c)
+      else
+         -- Otherwise, pop to first tag client is visible on
+         awful.tag.viewonly(ctags[1])
+      end
+      -- And then focus the client
+      client.focus = c
+      c:raise()
+      return
+   end
+   awful.util.spawn(cmd)
+end
+