diff --git a/arvo/dill.hoon b/arvo/dill.hoon
index ef98b32eb..2fccd6497 100644
--- a/arvo/dill.hoon
+++ b/arvo/dill.hoon
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@
   ==                                                    ::
 ++  note-dill                                           ::  note to self, odd
   $%  [%crud p=@tas q=(list tank)]                      ::
+      [%init p=ship]                                    ::
       [%text p=tape]                                    ::
       [%veer p=@ta q=path r=@t]                         ::  install vane
       [%vega p=path]                                    ::  reboot by path
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@
   ==                                                    ::
 ++  note                                                ::
   $%  [%a note-ames]                                    ::  out request $->
-      [%c note-clay]
+      [%c note-clay]                                    ::
       [%d note-dill]                                    ::
       [%g note-gall]                                    ::
   ==                                                    ::
@@ -375,11 +376,14 @@
     :_(..^$ [hen %pass ~ (note %a p.q.hic)]~)
   ?:  ?=(%flog -.q.hic)
     ::  ~&  [%dill-flog +.q.hic]
+    ?:  ?=([%crud %hax-init [%leaf *] ~] p.q.hic)
+      =+  him=(slav %p (crip p.i.q.p.q.hic))
+      :_(..^$ ?~(hey.all ~ [u.hey.all %give %init him]~))
     :_(..^$ ?~(hey.all ~ [u.hey.all %slip %d p.q.hic]~))
   =.  hey.all  ?^(hey.all hey.all `hen)
   ?:  ?=(%init -.q.hic)
     ?:  =(ore.all `p.q.hic)
-      [~ ..^$]
+      [[hen %give q.hic]~ ..^$]
     =:  ore.all  `p.q.hic
         dug.all   ~
       ==
diff --git a/main/app/helm/core.hook b/main/app/helm/core.hook
index 50e55aa92..088a225a4 100644
--- a/main/app/helm/core.hook
+++ b/main/app/helm/core.hook
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@
       $%  [%reload p=(list term)]                       ::  reload vanes
       ==                                                ::
     ++  dill-flog                                       ::  sent to %dill
-      $%  [%veer p=@ta q=path r=@t]                     ::  install vane
+      $%  [%crud p=%hax-init [%leaf p=tape] ~]          ::  initialize ship
+          [%veer p=@ta q=path r=@t]                     ::  install vane
           [%vega p=path]                                ::  reboot by path
           [%verb ~]                                     ::  verbose mode
       ==                                                ::
@@ -122,6 +123,13 @@
       :_  moz
       [ost %pass /verb %d %flog %verb ~]
     ==
+  ++  he-wish-init
+    |=  him=ship
+    %_    +>.$
+        moz
+      :_  moz
+      [ost %pass /init %d %flog %crud %hax-init leaf/(scow %p him) ~]
+    ==
   --
 ::
 ++  hake                                                ::  poke core
@@ -139,6 +147,11 @@
   ~&  %poke-helm-verb
   he-abet:he-wish-verb:(hake ost her)
 ::
+++  poke-helm-init
+  |=  [ost=bone her=ship him=ship]
+  ~&  %poke-helm-init
+  he-abet:(he-wish-init:(hake ost her) him)
+::
 ++  poke-helm-reload
   |=  [ost=bone her=ship all=(list term)]
   ~&  %poke-helm-reload