diff --git a/crates/hyperlog-core/src/engine.rs b/crates/hyperlog-core/src/engine.rs
index a8a5f2f..ec3bf39 100644
--- a/crates/hyperlog-core/src/engine.rs
+++ b/crates/hyperlog-core/src/engine.rs
@@ -196,6 +196,15 @@ impl Engine {
 
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    pub fn get_roots(&self) -> Option<Vec<String>> {
+        let items = self.graph.keys().cloned().collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        if items.is_empty() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(items)
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl Display for Engine {
diff --git a/crates/hyperlog-core/src/querier.rs b/crates/hyperlog-core/src/querier.rs
index f121f79..e7bfe57 100644
--- a/crates/hyperlog-core/src/querier.rs
+++ b/crates/hyperlog-core/src/querier.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ impl Querier {
         Self { engine }
     }
 
+    pub fn get_available_roots(&self) -> Option<Vec<String>> {
+        self.engine.get_roots()
+    }
+
     pub fn get(
         &self,
         root: &str,
diff --git a/crates/hyperlog-core/src/shared_engine.rs b/crates/hyperlog-core/src/shared_engine.rs
index aff0a6f..a1be248 100644
--- a/crates/hyperlog-core/src/shared_engine.rs
+++ b/crates/hyperlog-core/src/shared_engine.rs
@@ -63,4 +63,8 @@ impl SharedEngine {
 
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn get_roots(&self) -> Option<Vec<String>> {
+        self.inner.read().unwrap().get_roots()
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/hyperlog-tui/src/lib.rs b/crates/hyperlog-tui/src/lib.rs
index 9e74cfd..5950f49 100644
--- a/crates/hyperlog-tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/hyperlog-tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,14 @@ pub async fn execute(state: State) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 fn run(terminal: &mut Terminal<CrosstermBackend<Stdout>>, state: SharedState) -> Result<()> {
-    let root = "kjuulh".to_string();
+    let root = match state.querier.get_available_roots() {
+        // TODO: maybe present choose root screen
+        Some(roots) => roots.first().cloned().unwrap(),
+        None => {
+            // TODO: present create root screen
+            anyhow::bail!("no valid root available\nPlease run:\n\n$ hyperlog create-root --name <your-username>");
+        }
+    };
 
     let mut graph_explorer = GraphExplorer::new(root.clone(), state.clone());
     graph_explorer.update_graph()?;
diff --git a/crates/hyperlog/src/cli.rs b/crates/hyperlog/src/cli.rs
index 3797a00..55d9369 100644
--- a/crates/hyperlog/src/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/hyperlog/src/cli.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ enum Commands {
     },
     Info {},
 
+    CreateRoot {
+        #[arg(long)]
+        name: String,
+    },
+
     ClearLock {},
 }
 
@@ -103,6 +108,12 @@ pub async fn execute() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 println!("{}", output);
             }
         },
+        Some(Commands::CreateRoot { name }) => {
+            state
+                .commander
+                .execute(commander::Command::CreateRoot { root: name })?;
+            println!("Root was successfully created, now run:\n\n$ hyperlog");
+        }
         Some(Commands::Info {}) => {
             println!("graph stored at: {}", state.storage.info()?)
         }