diff --git a/examples/wait-enter.ts b/examples/wait-enter.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f2ad27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/wait-enter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Pauses startup until Enter is pressed — handy for attaching a profiler
+// or inspector before a benchmark begins. Top-level await in an --import
+// module runs to completion before the main module is evaluated.
+//
+// Usage: node --import ./examples/wait-enter.ts examples/benchmark-peers/main.ts
+
+import { isMainThread } from 'node:worker_threads';
+import { createInterface } from 'node:readline/promises';
+
+// Worker threads inherit execArgv (including --import) — only the main
+// thread should prompt; workers must start immediately.
+if (isMainThread) {
+  const rl = createInterface({ input: process.stdin, output: process.stdout });
+  await rl.question(`Press Enter to start ${process.argv[1] ?? ''}… `);
+  rl.close();
+  // Don't let stdin pin the event loop afterward — benchmarks and runtime
+  // examples rely on natural process exit.
+  process.stdin.unref();
+}