diff --git a/show_dmenu.sh b/show_dmenu.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4d37634
--- /dev/null
+++ b/show_dmenu.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# script to hide the top panel and show the program launcher in its place
+
+# if bar is hidden, don't do anything with the top bar
+if [ -f /tmp/polybarhidden ]; then 
+    dmenu_run -fn "SauceCodePro Nerd Font-11" -nf "#f0f0f0" -nb "#0f0f0f" -sf "#f0f0f0" -sb "#8f8aac"
+
+# if the bar isn't hidden, hide it, show dmenu, then unhide it
+else 
+    polybar-msg cmd hide 
+    touch /tmp/polybarhidden 
+    dmenu_run -fn "SauceCodePro Nerd Font-11" -nf "#f0f0f0" -nb "#0f0f0f" -sf "#f0f0f0" -sb "#8f8aac"
+    polybar-msg cmd show 
+    rm /tmp/polybarhidden 
+fi