diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index 588719c8..9a06a146 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 include mache/cime_machine_config/*.xml
 include mache/machines/*.cfg
+include mache/machines/pre_conda/*.sh
+include mache/machines/pre_conda/*.csh
 include mache/spack/templates/*.yaml
 include mache/spack/templates/*.template
 include mache/spack/templates/*.sh
diff --git a/mache/machines/pre_conda/__init__.py b/mache/machines/pre_conda/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ab69101
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mache/machines/pre_conda/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from importlib.resources import read_text
+
+
+def load_pre_conda_script(machine, ext):
+    """
+    Return the contents of a shell script to prepend before loading conda
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    machine : str
+        The name of the machine to load the script for.
+    ext : str
+        The file extension of the script, either 'sh' or 'csh'.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    str
+        The contents of the shell script.
+    """
+    try:
+        return read_text('mache.machines.pre_conda', f'{machine}.{ext}')
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return ''
diff --git a/mache/machines/pre_conda/polaris.csh b/mache/machines/pre_conda/polaris.csh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fce7c8c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mache/machines/pre_conda/polaris.csh
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+module unload xalt
diff --git a/mache/machines/pre_conda/polaris.sh b/mache/machines/pre_conda/polaris.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fce7c8c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mache/machines/pre_conda/polaris.sh
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+module unload xalt