diff --git a/cmd/init.go b/cmd/init.go
index e064ed0..31c9e9a 100644
--- a/cmd/init.go
+++ b/cmd/init.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package cmd
 
-import "github.com/spf13/cobra"
+import (
+	"git.towk2.me/towk/makeshift/pkg/service"
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
 
 var initCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use: "init",
@@ -11,10 +15,27 @@ var initCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 	Short: "Initialize directory with default files",
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		var (
+			rootPath, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString("root")
 
+			server *service.Service
+			err    error
+		)
+
+		// create the server root files and directories
+		err = server.Init()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Error().Err(err).
+				Str("root", rootPath).
+				Msg("failed to initialize server root")
+			return
+		}
+		log.Debug().
+			Str("root", rootPath).
+			Msg("initialize makeshift files at root path")
 	},
 }
 
 func init() {
-
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(initCmd)
 }