diff --git a/gui/melt-remainder.lua b/gui/melt-remainder.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ec51e1c89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui/melt-remainder.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+-- Add a display for how much melted metal is stored inside smelters.
+--@module = true
+--@enable = true
+--[====[
+
+gui/melt-remainder
+==================
+When enabled, a line of text is added to the Tasks screen of melters and magma smelters
+that shows how much metal is "stored" as a result of melting items in it. (The base game
+has no display of this information,)
+
+Click on the text for more detailed information.
+
+]====]
+
+local overlay = require("plugins.overlay")
+local widgets = require("gui.widgets")
+-- the existence of this is not documented anywhere of course
+local dialogs = require("gui.dialogs")
+
+ENABLED = ENABLED or false
+
+local function i_hate_lua(tbl)
+  local worst_language = 0
+  for _,_ in pairs(tbl) do
+    worst_language = worst_language + 1
+  end
+  return worst_language
+end
+
+local function get_melt_remainders(smelter)
+  if not smelter.melt_remainder then return nil end
+  local fractions = {}
+  local mat_count = #df.global.world.raws.inorganics
+  for i = 0, mat_count - 1 do
+    local melt_frac = smelter.melt_remainder[i]
+    if melt_frac > 0 then
+      fractions[i] = melt_frac
+    end
+  end
+  return fractions
+end
+
+-- lua doesn't hoist functions nerd emoji
+local function popup_full_list()
+  local workshop = dfhack.gui.getSelectedBuilding(true)
+  if not workshop then return end
+  local rems = get_melt_remainders(workshop)
+  if not rems then return end
+
+  printall(rems)
+  local lines = {}
+  for mat_id, tenths in pairs(rems) do
+    local mat_name = df.global.world.raws.inorganics[mat_id].id
+    table.insert(lines, mat_name .. ": " .. (tenths * 10) .. "%\n")
+  end
+  if #lines == 0 then
+    table.insert(lines, "<There were no melt remainders>")
+  end
+  dialogs.DialogScreen{
+    title = "Melt Remainders",
+    message_label_attrs = { text = lines },
+  }:show():raise()
+end
+
+MeltRemainderOverlay = defclass(MeltRemainderOverlay, overlay.OverlayWidget)
+MeltRemainderOverlay.ATTRS = {
+  desc = "Displays the fractions of a complete bar 'stored' in the smelter by melting",
+  default_pos = { x = -39, y = 41 },
+  version = 1,
+  default_enabled = true,
+  viewscreens = {
+    'dwarfmode/ViewSheets/BUILDING/Furnace/Smelter/Tasks',
+    'dwarfmode/ViewSheets/BUILDING/Furnace/MagmaSmelter/Tasks',
+  },
+  frame = { w = 58, h = 1 },
+  visible = function() return ENABLED end,
+}
+
+function MeltRemainderOverlay:init()
+  self:addviews {
+    widgets.Label{
+      view_id = "the_label",
+      text = "<loading...>",
+      on_click = popup_full_list,
+    }
+  }
+end
+
+function MeltRemainderOverlay:onRenderBody(painter)
+  local workshop = dfhack.gui.getSelectedBuilding(true)
+  if not workshop then return end
+  local rems = get_melt_remainders(workshop)
+  if not rems then return end
+
+  local count = i_hate_lua(rems)
+  if count == 0 then
+    self.subviews.the_label:setText("No melt remainders.")
+  elseif count == 1 then
+    -- Singleton material
+    local mat_id, tenths = next(rems)
+    local mat_name = df.global.world.raws.inorganics[mat_id].id
+    self.subviews.the_label:setText("Melting " .. mat_name .. ": " .. (tenths * 10) .. "%")
+  else
+    self.subviews.the_label:setText(count .. " melt remainders...")
+  end
+end
+
+OVERLAY_WIDGETS = { melt_remainder = MeltRemainderOverlay }
+
+function isEnabled()
+  return ENABLED
+end
+if dfhack_flags.enable then
+  ENABLED = dfhack_flags.enable_state
+  return
+end
+
+print("gui/melt-remainder is " .. (ENABLED and "enabled" or "disabled") .. ".")
+