diff --git a/spacy/cli/init_model.py b/spacy/cli/init_model.py
index 99a6e87eb..71efe1b2e 100644
--- a/spacy/cli/init_model.py
+++ b/spacy/cli/init_model.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import numpy
 from ast import literal_eval
 from pathlib import Path
 from preshed.counter import PreshCounter
+import tarfile
+import gzip
 
 from ..compat import fix_text
 from ..vectors import Vectors
@@ -25,17 +27,17 @@ from ..util import prints, ensure_path, get_lang_class
     prune_vectors=("optional: number of vectors to prune to",
                    "option", "V", int)
 )
-def init_model(lang, output_dir, freqs_loc, clusters_loc=None, vectors_loc=None, prune_vectors=-1):
+def init_model(lang, output_dir, freqs_loc=None, clusters_loc=None, vectors_loc=None, prune_vectors=-1):
     """
     Create a new model from raw data, like word frequencies, Brown clusters
     and word vectors.
     """
-    if not freqs_loc.exists():
+    if freqs_loc is not None and not freqs_loc.exists():
         prints(freqs_loc, title="Can't find words frequencies file", exits=1)
     clusters_loc = ensure_path(clusters_loc)
     vectors_loc = ensure_path(vectors_loc)
 
-    probs, oov_prob = read_freqs(freqs_loc)
+    probs, oov_prob = read_freqs(freqs_loc) if freqs_loc is not None else ({}, -20)
     vectors_data, vector_keys = read_vectors(vectors_loc) if vectors_loc else (None, None)
     clusters = read_clusters(clusters_loc) if clusters_loc else {}
 
@@ -46,6 +48,16 @@ def init_model(lang, output_dir, freqs_loc, clusters_loc=None, vectors_loc=None,
     nlp.to_disk(output_dir)
     return nlp
 
+def open_file(loc):
+    '''Handle .gz, .tar.gz or unzipped files'''
+    loc = ensure_path(loc)
+    if tarfile.is_tarfile(str(loc)):
+        return tarfile.open(str(loc), 'r:gz')
+    elif loc.parts[-1].endswith('gz'):
+        return (line.decode('utf8') for line in gzip.open(str(loc), 'r'))
+    else:
+        return loc.open('r', encoding='utf8')
+
 
 def create_model(lang, probs, oov_prob, clusters, vectors_data, vector_keys, prune_vectors):
     print("Creating model...")
@@ -68,6 +80,11 @@ def create_model(lang, probs, oov_prob, clusters, vectors_data, vector_keys, pru
             lexeme.cluster = 0
         lex_added += 1
     nlp.vocab.cfg.update({'oov_prob': oov_prob})
+    for word in vector_keys:
+        if word not in nlp.vocab:
+            lexeme = nlp.vocab[word]
+            lexeme.is_oov = False
+            lex_added += 1
 
     if len(vectors_data):
         nlp.vocab.vectors = Vectors(data=vectors_data, keys=vector_keys)
@@ -81,16 +98,16 @@ def create_model(lang, probs, oov_prob, clusters, vectors_data, vector_keys, pru
 
 
 def read_vectors(vectors_loc):
-    print("Reading vectors...")
-    with vectors_loc.open() as f:
-        shape = tuple(int(size) for size in f.readline().split())
-        vectors_data = numpy.zeros(shape=shape, dtype='f')
-        vectors_keys = []
-        for i, line in enumerate(tqdm(f)):
-            pieces = line.split()
-            word = pieces.pop(0)
-            vectors_data[i] = numpy.array([float(val_str) for val_str in pieces], dtype='f')
-            vectors_keys.append(word)
+    print("Reading vectors from %s" % vectors_loc)
+    f = open_file(vectors_loc)
+    shape = tuple(int(size) for size in next(f).split())
+    vectors_data = numpy.zeros(shape=shape, dtype='f')
+    vectors_keys = []
+    for i, line in enumerate(tqdm(f)):
+        pieces = line.split()
+        word = pieces.pop(0)
+        vectors_data[i] = numpy.asarray(pieces, dtype='f')
+        vectors_keys.append(word)
     return vectors_data, vectors_keys