diff --git a/src/system_fsm/CMakeLists.txt b/src/system_fsm/CMakeLists.txt
index 829ad320..bfd35842 100644
--- a/src/system_fsm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/system_fsm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 idf_component_register(
   SRCS "system_fsm.cpp" "running.cpp" "booting.cpp"
   INCLUDE_DIRS "include"
-  REQUIRES "tinyfsm" "drivers" "database" "ui" "result" "events" "audio")
+  REQUIRES "tinyfsm" "drivers" "database" "ui" "result" "events" "audio" "app_console")
 target_compile_options(${COMPONENT_LIB} PRIVATE ${EXTRA_WARNINGS})
diff --git a/src/system_fsm/booting.cpp b/src/system_fsm/booting.cpp
index d9ee6e45..eda7fbd0 100644
--- a/src/system_fsm/booting.cpp
+++ b/src/system_fsm/booting.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ namespace states {
 
 static const char kTag[] = "BOOT";
 
+console::AppConsole *Booting::sAppConsole;
+
 auto Booting::entry() -> void {
   ESP_LOGI(kTag, "beginning tangara boot");
   ESP_LOGI(kTag, "installing bare minimum drivers");
@@ -73,8 +75,15 @@ auto Booting::entry() -> void {
       BootComplete());
 }
 
+auto Booting::exit() -> void {
+  // TODO(jacqueline): Gate this on something. Debug flag? Flashing mode?
+  sAppConsole = new console::AppConsole(sDatabase);
+  sAppConsole->Launch();
+}
+
 auto Booting::react(const BootComplete& ev) -> void {
   ESP_LOGI(kTag, "bootup completely successfully");
+
   // It's possible that the SAMD is currently exposing the SD card as a USB
   // device. Make sure we don't immediately try to claim it.
   if (sSamd && sSamd->ReadUsbMscStatus() ==
diff --git a/src/system_fsm/include/system_fsm.hpp b/src/system_fsm/include/system_fsm.hpp
index 52c808ba..cc432ca7 100644
--- a/src/system_fsm/include/system_fsm.hpp
+++ b/src/system_fsm/include/system_fsm.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <memory>
 
+#include "app_console.hpp"
 #include "battery.hpp"
 #include "dac.hpp"
 #include "database.hpp"
@@ -58,8 +59,11 @@ namespace states {
  * looks good.
  */
 class Booting : public SystemState {
+  private:
+    static console::AppConsole *sAppConsole;
  public:
   void entry() override;
+  void exit() override;
 
   void react(const BootComplete&) override;
   using SystemState::react;