diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d286f4bd..f4c8cbb4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ where you will put your components
   //= require react_ujs
   //= require components
   ```
+- create a `server_rendering.js` manifest file and precompile it with `config/initializers/react_server_rendering.rb`. (Use `--skip-server-rendering` if you don't want this.)
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -177,8 +178,8 @@ _(It will also be mounted by the UJS on page load.)_
 
 There are some requirements for this to work:
 
-- `react-rails` must load your code. By convention, it uses `components.js`, which was created
-by the install task. This file must include your components _and_ their dependencies (eg, Underscore.js).
+- `react-rails` must load your code. By convention, it uses `server_rendering.js`, which was created
+by the install task. This file must include React, ReactDOMServer, your components _and_ their dependencies (eg, Underscore.js).
 - Your components must be accessible in the global scope.
 If you are using `.js.jsx.coffee` files then the wrapper function needs to be taken into account:
 
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ MyApp::Application.configure do
   config.react.server_renderer_timeout    ||= 20 # seconds
   config.react.server_renderer = React::ServerRendering::SprocketsRenderer
   config.react.server_renderer_options = {
-    files: ["react-server.js", "components.js"], # files to load for prerendering
+    files: ["server_rendering.js"],       # files to load for prerendering
     replay_console: true,                 # if true, console.* will be replayed client-side
   }
 end
diff --git a/lib/generators/react/install_generator.rb b/lib/generators/react/install_generator.rb
index 97cf5ab6..7653e4fc 100644
--- a/lib/generators/react/install_generator.rb
+++ b/lib/generators/react/install_generator.rb
@@ -11,9 +11,16 @@ class InstallGenerator < ::Rails::Generators::Base
         default: false,
         desc: 'Skip Git keeps'
 
+      class_option :skip_server_rendering,
+        type: :boolean,
+        default: false,
+        desc: "Don't generate server_rendering.js or config/initializers/react_server_rendering.rb"
+
       def create_directory
         empty_directory 'app/assets/javascripts/components'
-        create_file 'app/assets/javascripts/components/.gitkeep' unless options[:skip_git]
+        if !options[:skip_git]
+          create_file 'app/assets/javascripts/components/.gitkeep'
+        end
       end
 
       def inject_react
@@ -48,6 +55,14 @@ def create_components
         create_file components_file, components_js
       end
 
+      def create_server_rendering
+        return if options[:skip_server_rendering]
+        manifest_path = "app/assets/javascripts/server_rendering.js"
+        template("server_rendering.js", manifest_path)
+        initializer_path = "config/initializers/react_server_rendering.rb"
+        template("react_server_rendering.rb", initializer_path)
+      end
+
       private
 
       def manifest
diff --git a/lib/generators/templates/react_server_rendering.rb b/lib/generators/templates/react_server_rendering.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4d09c78b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/generators/templates/react_server_rendering.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# To render React components in production, precompile the server rendering manifest:
+Rails.application.config.assets.precompile += ["server_rendering.js"]
diff --git a/lib/generators/templates/server_rendering.js b/lib/generators/templates/server_rendering.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78bd57a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/generators/templates/server_rendering.js
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+//= require react-server
+//= require ./components
+//
+// By default, this file is loaded for server-side rendering.
+// It should require your components and any dependencies.
diff --git a/lib/react/server_rendering/sprockets_renderer.rb b/lib/react/server_rendering/sprockets_renderer.rb
index 86a0b13d..3a48c94b 100644
--- a/lib/react/server_rendering/sprockets_renderer.rb
+++ b/lib/react/server_rendering/sprockets_renderer.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class SprocketsRenderer < ExecJSRenderer
 
       def initialize(options={})
         @replay_console = options.fetch(:replay_console, true)
-        filenames = options.fetch(:files, ["react-server.js", "components.js"])
+        filenames = options.fetch(:files, ["server_rendering.js"])
         js_code = CONSOLE_POLYFILL.dup
 
         filenames.each do |filename|
diff --git a/test/dummy/app/assets/javascripts/server_rendering.js b/test/dummy/app/assets/javascripts/server_rendering.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..689430aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/dummy/app/assets/javascripts/server_rendering.js
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+//= require react-server
+//= require ./components
diff --git a/test/generators/install_generator_test.rb b/test/generators/install_generator_test.rb
index a54ef35c..809862a1 100644
--- a/test/generators/install_generator_test.rb
+++ b/test/generators/install_generator_test.rb
@@ -62,6 +62,25 @@ def copy_directory(dir)
     assert_application_file_modified
   end
 
+  test "creates server_rendering.js with default requires" do
+    run_generator
+    server_rendering_file_path = "app/assets/javascripts/server_rendering.js"
+    assert_file server_rendering_file_path, %r{//= require react-server\n}
+    assert_file server_rendering_file_path, %r{//= require ./components\n}
+  end
+
+  test "creates server rendering initializer" do
+    run_generator
+    initializer_path = "config/initializers/react_server_rendering.rb"
+    assert_file(initializer_path, %r{Rails.application.config.assets.precompile \+= \["server_rendering.js"\]})
+  end
+
+  test "skipping server rendering" do
+    run_generator %w(--skip-server-rendering)
+    assert_no_file "config/initializers/react_server_rendering.rb"
+    assert_no_file "app/assets/javascripts/server_rendering.js"
+  end
+
   def init_application_js(content)
     FileUtils.mkdir_p destination_root + '/app/assets/javascripts/'
     File.write destination_root + '/app/assets/javascripts/application.js', content