diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim/main.go b/cmd/containerd-shim/main.go
index 8dcfb2f7b..2ea56eec6 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim/main.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim/main.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ func main() {
 			}
 		}()
 		for s := range signals {
+			logrus.WithField("signal", s).Debug("received signal")
 			switch s {
 			case syscall.SIGCHLD:
 				exits, err := utils.Reap(false)
diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim/process.go b/cmd/containerd-shim/process.go
index d901e4867..58d4d0cec 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim/process.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim/process.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ type checkpoint struct {
 	EmptyNS []string `json:"emptyNS,omitempty"`
 }
 
+/*
 type processState struct {
 	Terminal    bool     `json:"terminal"`
 	Exec        bool     `json:"exec"`
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ type processState struct {
 	RootUID        int    `json:"rootUID"`
 	RootGID        int    `json:"rootGID"`
 }
+*/
 
 type process struct {
 	sync.WaitGroup
@@ -62,9 +64,14 @@ type process struct {
 	stdinCloser    io.Closer
 	console        *os.File
 	consolePath    string
-	state          *processState
 	runtime        string
 	exitStatus     int
+	Stdin          string `json:"containerdStdin"`
+	Stdout         string `json:"containerdStdout"`
+	Stderr         string `json:"containerdStderr"`
+	Terminal       bool   `json:"terminal"`
+	RootUID        int    `json:"rootUID"`
+	RootGID        int    `json:"rootGID"`
 }
 
 func newProcess(id, bundle, runtimeName string) (*process, error) {
@@ -73,38 +80,12 @@ func newProcess(id, bundle, runtimeName string) (*process, error) {
 		bundle:  bundle,
 		runtime: runtimeName,
 	}
-	s, err := loadProcess()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	p.state = s
-	if s.CheckpointPath != "" {
-		cpt, err := loadCheckpoint(s.CheckpointPath)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		p.checkpoint = cpt
-		p.checkpointPath = s.CheckpointPath
-	}
 	if err := p.openIO(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return p, nil
 }
 
-func loadProcess() (*processState, error) {
-	f, err := os.Open("process.json")
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	defer f.Close()
-	var s processState
-	if err := json.NewDecoder(f).Decode(&s); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &s, nil
-}
-
 func loadCheckpoint(checkpointPath string) (*checkpoint, error) {
 	f, err := os.Open(filepath.Join(checkpointPath, "config.json"))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -118,21 +99,21 @@ func loadCheckpoint(checkpointPath string) (*checkpoint, error) {
 	return &cpt, nil
 }
 
-func (p *process) create() error {
+func (p *process) create(isExec bool) error {
 	cwd, err := os.Getwd()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	logPath := filepath.Join(cwd, "log.json")
-	args := append([]string{
+	args := []string{
 		"--log", logPath,
 		"--log-format", "json",
-	}, p.state.RuntimeArgs...)
-	if p.state.Exec {
+	}
+	if isExec {
 		args = append(args, "exec",
 			"-d",
 			"--process", filepath.Join(cwd, "process.json"),
-			"--console", p.consolePath,
+			"--console-socket", p.consolePath,
 		)
 	} else if p.checkpoint != nil {
 		args = append(args, "restore",
@@ -152,9 +133,11 @@ func (p *process) create() error {
 		if p.checkpoint.UnixSockets {
 			add("--ext-unix-sk")
 		}
-		if p.state.NoPivotRoot {
-			add("--no-pivot")
-		}
+		/*
+			if p.state.NoPivotRoot {
+				add("--no-pivot")
+			}
+		*/
 		for _, ns := range p.checkpoint.EmptyNS {
 			add("--empty-ns", ns)
 		}
@@ -162,11 +145,13 @@ func (p *process) create() error {
 	} else {
 		args = append(args, "create",
 			"--bundle", p.bundle,
-			"--console", p.consolePath,
+			"--console-socket", p.consolePath,
 		)
-		if p.state.NoPivotRoot {
-			args = append(args, "--no-pivot")
-		}
+		/*
+			if p.state.NoPivotRoot {
+				args = append(args, "--no-pivot")
+			}
+		*/
 	}
 	args = append(args,
 		"--pid-file", filepath.Join(cwd, "pid"),
@@ -174,9 +159,11 @@ func (p *process) create() error {
 	)
 	cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, args...)
 	cmd.Dir = p.bundle
-	cmd.Stdin = p.stdio.stdin
-	cmd.Stdout = p.stdio.stdout
-	cmd.Stderr = p.stdio.stderr
+	if p.stdio != nil {
+		cmd.Stdin = p.stdio.stdin
+		cmd.Stdout = p.stdio.stdout
+		cmd.Stderr = p.stdio.stderr
+	}
 	// Call out to setPDeathSig to set SysProcAttr as elements are platform specific
 	cmd.SysProcAttr = setPDeathSig()
 
@@ -192,8 +179,10 @@ func (p *process) create() error {
 		// Since current logic dictates that we need a pid at the end of p.create
 		// we need to call runtime start as well on Solaris hence we need the
 		// pipes to stay open.
-		p.stdio.stdout.Close()
-		p.stdio.stderr.Close()
+		if p.stdio != nil {
+			p.stdio.stdout.Close()
+			p.stdio.stderr.Close()
+		}
 	}
 	if err := cmd.Wait(); err != nil {
 		if _, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok {
@@ -218,13 +207,11 @@ func (p *process) pid() int {
 }
 
 func (p *process) delete() error {
-	if !p.state.Exec {
-		cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, append(p.state.RuntimeArgs, "delete", p.id)...)
-		cmd.SysProcAttr = setPDeathSig()
-		out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: %v", out, err)
-		}
+	cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, "delete", p.id)
+	cmd.SysProcAttr = setPDeathSig()
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %v", out, err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -276,11 +263,14 @@ func (p *process) initializeIO(rootuid int) (i *IO, err error) {
 }
 
 func (p *process) Close() error {
+	if p.stdio == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return p.stdio.Close()
 }
 
 func (p *process) start() error {
-	cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, append(p.state.RuntimeArgs, "start", p.id)...)
+	cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, "start", p.id)
 	cmd.SysProcAttr = setPDeathSig()
 	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim/process_linux.go b/cmd/containerd-shim/process_linux.go
index f42af5784..453bb42bf 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim/process_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim/process_linux.go
@@ -24,37 +24,38 @@ func setPDeathSig() *syscall.SysProcAttr {
 // openIO opens the pre-created fifo's for use with the container
 // in RDWR so that they remain open if the other side stops listening
 func (p *process) openIO() error {
+	return nil
 	p.stdio = &stdio{}
 	var (
-		uid = p.state.RootUID
-		gid = p.state.RootGID
+		uid = p.RootUID
+		gid = p.RootGID
 	)
 
 	ctx, _ := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 15*time.Second)
 
-	stdinCloser, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.state.Stdin, syscall.O_WRONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
+	stdinCloser, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.Stdin, syscall.O_WRONLY|syscall.O_NONBLOCK, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	p.stdinCloser = stdinCloser
 
-	if p.state.Terminal {
+	if p.Terminal {
 		master, console, err := newConsole(uid, gid)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		p.console = master
 		p.consolePath = console
-		stdin, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.state.Stdin, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
+		stdin, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.Stdin, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		go io.Copy(master, stdin)
-		stdoutw, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.state.Stdout, syscall.O_WRONLY, 0)
+		stdoutw, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.Stdout, syscall.O_WRONLY, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		stdoutr, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.state.Stdout, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
+		stdoutr, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.Stdout, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ func (p *process) openIO() error {
 	p.shimIO = i
 	// non-tty
 	for name, dest := range map[string]func(wc io.WriteCloser, rc io.Closer){
-		p.state.Stdout: func(wc io.WriteCloser, rc io.Closer) {
+		p.Stdout: func(wc io.WriteCloser, rc io.Closer) {
 			p.Add(1)
 			go func() {
 				io.Copy(wc, i.Stdout)
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ func (p *process) openIO() error {
 				rc.Close()
 			}()
 		},
-		p.state.Stderr: func(wc io.WriteCloser, rc io.Closer) {
+		p.Stderr: func(wc io.WriteCloser, rc io.Closer) {
 			p.Add(1)
 			go func() {
 				io.Copy(wc, i.Stderr)
@@ -105,9 +106,9 @@ func (p *process) openIO() error {
 		dest(fw, fr)
 	}
 
-	f, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.state.Stdin, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
+	f, err := fifo.OpenFifo(ctx, p.Stdin, syscall.O_RDONLY, 0)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("containerd-shim: opening %s failed: %s", p.state.Stdin, err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("containerd-shim: opening %s failed: %s", p.Stdin, err)
 	}
 	go func() {
 		io.Copy(i.Stdin, f)
@@ -119,13 +120,11 @@ func (p *process) openIO() error {
 }
 
 func (p *process) killAll() error {
-	if !p.state.Exec {
-		cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, append(p.state.RuntimeArgs, "kill", "--all", p.id, "SIGKILL")...)
-		cmd.SysProcAttr = setPDeathSig()
-		out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%s: %v", out, err)
-		}
+	cmd := exec.Command(p.runtime, "kill", "--all", p.id, "SIGKILL")
+	cmd.SysProcAttr = setPDeathSig()
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %v", out, err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim/service.go b/cmd/containerd-shim/service.go
index 548c19a9a..063ca2e61 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim/service.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim/service.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 )
 
+var emptyResponse = &google_protobuf.Empty{}
+
 type service struct {
 	init *process
 }
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ func (s *service) Create(ctx context.Context, r *shim.CreateRequest) (*shim.Crea
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	s.init = process
-	if err := process.create(); err != nil {
+	if err := process.create(false); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return &shim.CreateResponse{
@@ -27,8 +29,10 @@ func (s *service) Create(ctx context.Context, r *shim.CreateRequest) (*shim.Crea
 }
 
 func (s *service) Start(ctx context.Context, r *shim.StartRequest) (*google_protobuf.Empty, error) {
-	err := s.init.start()
-	return nil, err
+	if err := s.init.start(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return emptyResponse, nil
 }
 
 func (s *service) Delete(ctx context.Context, r *shim.DeleteRequest) (*shim.DeleteResponse, error) {
@@ -52,7 +56,7 @@ func (s *service) Exec(ctx context.Context, r *shim.ExecRequest) (*shim.ExecResp
 
 func (s *service) Pty(ctx context.Context, r *shim.PtyRequest) (*google_protobuf.Empty, error) {
 	if s.init.console == nil {
-		return nil, nil
+		return emptyResponse, nil
 	}
 	ws := term.Winsize{
 		Width:  uint16(r.Width),
@@ -61,7 +65,7 @@ func (s *service) Pty(ctx context.Context, r *shim.PtyRequest) (*google_protobuf
 	if err := term.SetWinsize(s.init.console.Fd(), &ws); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return nil, nil
+	return emptyResponse, nil
 }
 
 func (s *service) processExited(e utils.Exit) error {
diff --git a/cmd/ctr/main.go b/cmd/ctr/main.go
index 04004bce0..f9dd5c1f2 100644
--- a/cmd/ctr/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ctr/main.go
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ containerd client
 		deleteCommand,
 		listCommand,
 		inspectCommand,
+		shimCommand,
 	}
 	app.Before = func(context *cli.Context) error {
 		if context.GlobalBool("debug") {
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ containerd client
 		return nil
 	}
 	if err := app.Run(os.Args); err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "containerd: %s\n", err)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ctr: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/ctr/shim.go b/cmd/ctr/shim.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..002fa9712
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/ctr/shim.go
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"log"
+	"net"
+	"os/exec"
+	"syscall"
+	"time"
+
+	gocontext "context"
+
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/grpclog"
+
+	"github.com/docker/containerd/api/shim"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli"
+)
+
+var shimCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:  "shim",
+	Usage: "interact with a shim directly",
+	Subcommands: []cli.Command{
+		shimCreateCommand,
+		shimStartCommand,
+		shimDeleteCommand,
+	},
+	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
+		cmd := exec.Command("containerd-shim", "--debug")
+		cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{}
+		cmd.SysProcAttr.Setpgid = true
+		if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		fmt.Println("new shim started @ ./shim.sock")
+		return nil
+	},
+}
+
+var shimCreateCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:  "create",
+	Usage: "create a container with a shim",
+	Flags: []cli.Flag{
+		cli.StringFlag{
+			Name:  "bundle",
+			Usage: "bundle path for the container",
+		},
+		cli.StringFlag{
+			Name:  "runtime",
+			Value: "runc",
+			Usage: "runtime to use for the container",
+		},
+	},
+	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
+		id := context.Args().First()
+		if id == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("container id must be provided")
+		}
+		service, err := getShimService()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		r, err := service.Create(gocontext.Background(), &shim.CreateRequest{
+			ID:      id,
+			Bundle:  context.String("bundle"),
+			Runtime: context.String("runtime"),
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("container created with id %s and pid %d\n", id, r.Pid)
+		return nil
+	},
+}
+
+var shimStartCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:  "start",
+	Usage: "start a container with a shim",
+	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
+		service, err := getShimService()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		_, err = service.Start(gocontext.Background(), &shim.StartRequest{})
+		return err
+	},
+}
+
+var shimDeleteCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:  "delete",
+	Usage: "delete a container with a shim",
+	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
+		service, err := getShimService()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		r, err := service.Delete(gocontext.Background(), &shim.DeleteRequest{})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("container deleted and returned exit status %d", r.ExitStatus)
+		return nil
+	},
+}
+
+func getShimService() (shim.ShimServiceClient, error) {
+	bindSocket := "shim.sock"
+
+	// reset the logger for grpc to log to dev/null so that it does not mess with our stdio
+	grpclog.SetLogger(log.New(ioutil.Discard, "", log.LstdFlags))
+	dialOpts := []grpc.DialOption{grpc.WithInsecure(), grpc.WithTimeout(100 * time.Second)}
+	dialOpts = append(dialOpts,
+		grpc.WithDialer(func(addr string, timeout time.Duration) (net.Conn, error) {
+			return net.DialTimeout("unix", bindSocket, timeout)
+		},
+		))
+	conn, err := grpc.Dial(fmt.Sprintf("unix://%s", bindSocket), dialOpts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return shim.NewShimServiceClient(conn), nil
+
+}