diff --git a/ropam/CMakeLists.txt b/ropam/CMakeLists.txt
index b8eb512..b161705 100644
--- a/ropam/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ropam/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 file(GLOB_RECURSE sources *.c *.h)
 
 add_executable(ropam ${sources})
-target_link_libraries(ropam Bluelib::Core Bluelib::Object Bluelib::Io Bluelib::Term Bluelib::Cmd)
+target_link_libraries(ropam
+	libropkg
+	Bluelib::Core Bluelib::Object Bluelib::Io Bluelib::Term Bluelib::Cmd)
diff --git a/ropam/bootstrap.c b/ropam/bootstrap.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c8f4ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ropam/bootstrap.c
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include "commands.h"
+
+#include <blue/cmd.h>
+#include <ropkg/instance.h>
+
+enum {
+	ARG_PATH,
+};
+
+static int bootstrap(
+	const b_command *self,
+	const b_arglist *opt,
+	const b_array *args)
+{
+	const char *root_path = NULL;
+	b_status status = b_arglist_get_string(
+		opt,
+		B_COMMAND_INVALID_ID,
+		ARG_PATH,
+		0,
+		&root_path);
+	if (!B_OK(status)) {
+		b_arglist_report_missing_args(
+			opt,
+			B_COMMAND_INVALID_ID,
+			ARG_PATH,
+			0);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	struct ropkg_instance *inst;
+	b_result result = ropkg_instance_bootstrap(root_path, &inst);
+	if (b_result_is_error(result)) {
+		b_throw(result);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+B_COMMAND(CMD_BOOTSTRAP, CMD_ROOT)
+{
+	B_COMMAND_NAME("bootstrap");
+	B_COMMAND_DESC(
+		"initialise a new Rosetta package manager instance. use this "
+		"command to prepare a sysroot for the installation of Rosetta "
+		"packages.");
+	B_COMMAND_FLAGS(B_COMMAND_SHOW_HELP_BY_DEFAULT);
+	B_COMMAND_FUNCTION(bootstrap);
+
+	B_COMMAND_ARG(ARG_PATH)
+	{
+		B_ARG_NAME("sysroot");
+		B_ARG_DESC(
+			"the path to the system root directory to initialise.");
+		B_ARG_NR_VALUES(1);
+	}
+
+	B_COMMAND_HELP_OPTION();
+}
diff --git a/ropam/commands.h b/ropam/commands.h
index b26a2f9..840265d 100644
--- a/ropam/commands.h
+++ b/ropam/commands.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ enum {
 	CMD_SYNC,
 	CMD_REMOVE,
 	CMD_QUERY,
+	CMD_BOOTSTRAP,
 
 	CMD_REPO,
 	CMD_REPO_ADD,
diff --git a/ropam/main.c b/ropam/main.c
index ad971db..fc036e5 100644
--- a/ropam/main.c
+++ b/ropam/main.c
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "commands.h"
 
 #include <blue/cmd.h>
+#include <blue/core/error.h>
+#include <blue/term/print.h>
 
 B_COMMAND(CMD_ROOT, B_COMMAND_INVALID_ID)
 {
@@ -28,5 +30,8 @@ B_COMMAND(CMD_ROOT, B_COMMAND_INVALID_ID)
 
 int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
+	b_set_error_report_function(
+		b_enhanced_error_reporter,
+		B_ERROR_REPORT_ALL);
 	return b_command_dispatch(CMD_ROOT, argc, argv);
 }