diff --git a/src/cmd/venti/root.c b/src/cmd/venti/root.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d67ad3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/venti/root.c
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#include <u.h>
+#include <libc.h>
+#include <venti.h>
+#include <libsec.h>
+#include <thread.h>
+
+void
+usage(void)
+{
+	fprint(2, "usage: root [-h host] score\n");
+	threadexitsall("usage");
+}
+
+void
+threadmain(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	int i, n;
+	uchar score[VtScoreSize];
+	uchar *buf;
+	VtConn *z;
+	char *host;
+	VtRoot root;
+
+	fmtinstall('F', vtfcallfmt);
+	fmtinstall('V', vtscorefmt);
+	quotefmtinstall();
+
+	host = nil;
+	ARGBEGIN{
+	case 'h':
+		host = EARGF(usage());
+		break;
+	default:
+		usage();
+		break;
+	}ARGEND
+
+	if(argc == 0)
+		usage();
+
+	buf = vtmallocz(VtMaxLumpSize);
+
+	z = vtdial(host);
+	if(z == nil)
+		sysfatal("could not connect to server: %r");
+
+	if(vtconnect(z) < 0)
+		sysfatal("vtconnect: %r");
+
+	for(i=0; i<argc; i++){
+		if(vtparsescore(argv[i], nil, score) < 0){
+			fprint(2, "cannot parse score '%s': %r\n", argv[i]);
+			continue;
+		}
+		n = vtread(z, score, VtRootType, buf, VtMaxLumpSize);
+		if(n < 0){
+			fprint(2, "could not read block %V: %r\n", score);
+			continue;
+		}
+		if(n != VtRootSize){
+			fprint(2, "block %V is wrong size %d != 300\n", score, n);
+			continue;
+		}
+		if(vtrootunpack(&root, buf) < 0){
+			fprint(2, "unpacking block %V: %r\n", score);
+			continue;
+		}
+		print("%V: %q %q %V %d %V\n", score, root.name, root.type, root.score, root.blocksize, root.prev);
+	}
+	vthangup(z);
+	threadexitsall(0);
+}