diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/init.go b/cmd/ipfs/init.go
index 765afb053..4a65d18ce 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/init.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/init.go
@@ -78,16 +78,16 @@ IPFS and are now interfacing with the ipfs merkledag!
 For a short demo of what you can do, enter 'ipfs tour'
 `
 
-func initWithDefaults(configRoot string) error {
-	_, err := doInit(configRoot, false, nBitsForKeypairDefault)
+func initWithDefaults(repoRoot string) error {
+	_, err := doInit(repoRoot, false, nBitsForKeypairDefault)
 	return debugerror.Wrap(err)
 }
 
-func doInit(configRoot string, force bool, nBitsForKeypair int) (interface{}, error) {
+func doInit(repoRoot string, force bool, nBitsForKeypair int) (interface{}, error) {
 
-	u.POut("initializing ipfs node at %s\n", configRoot)
+	u.POut("initializing ipfs node at %s\n", repoRoot)
 
-	if fsrepo.ConfigIsInitialized(configRoot) && !force {
+	if fsrepo.IsInitialized(repoRoot) && !force {
 		return nil, errCannotInitConfigExists
 	}
 
@@ -96,16 +96,23 @@ func doInit(configRoot string, force bool, nBitsForKeypair int) (interface{}, er
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	r := fsrepo.At(configRoot)
-	if err := r.Open(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := r.SetConfig(conf); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := r.Close(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	if !fsrepo.IsInitialized(repoRoot) {
+		if err := fsrepo.Init(repoRoot, conf); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	} else {
+		r := fsrepo.At(repoRoot)
+		if err := r.Open(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if err := r.SetConfig(conf); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if err := r.Close(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
+
 	if err := repo.ConfigureEventLogger(conf.Logs); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/tour.go b/cmd/ipfs/tour.go
index 18c8fce4b..b61cc50f7 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/tour.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/tour.go
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ import (
 
 	cmds "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/commands"
 	config "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/repo/config"
-	tour "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/tour"
 	fsrepo "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/repo/fsrepo"
+	tour "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/tour"
 )
 
 var tourCmd = &cmds.Command{
@@ -188,9 +188,10 @@ func tourGet(id tour.ID) (*tour.Topic, error) {
 
 // TODO share func
 func writeConfig(path string, cfg *config.Config) error {
-	filename, err := config.Filename(path)
-	if err != nil {
+	r := fsrepo.At(path)
+	if err := r.Open(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return fsrepo.WriteConfigFile(filename, cfg)
+	defer r.Close()
+	return r.SetConfig(cfg)
 }
diff --git a/core/commands/bootstrap.go b/core/commands/bootstrap.go
index 7d0a2788c..6cdda8974 100644
--- a/core/commands/bootstrap.go
+++ b/core/commands/bootstrap.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 
 	cmds "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/commands"
+	repo "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/repo"
 	config "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/repo/config"
 	"github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/repo/fsrepo"
 	u "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/util"
@@ -77,15 +78,12 @@ in the bootstrap list).
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		filename, err := config.Filename(req.Context().ConfigRoot)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		cfg, err := req.Context().GetConfig()
-		if err != nil {
+		r := fsrepo.At(req.Context().ConfigRoot)
+		if err := r.Open(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		defer r.Close()
+		cfg := r.Config()
 
 		deflt, _, err := req.Option("default").Bool()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -102,7 +100,7 @@ in the bootstrap list).
 			inputPeers = append(inputPeers, defltPeers...)
 		}
 
-		added, err := bootstrapAdd(filename, cfg, inputPeers)
+		added, err := bootstrapAdd(r, cfg, inputPeers)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -147,15 +145,12 @@ var bootstrapRemoveCmd = &cmds.Command{
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		filename, err := config.Filename(req.Context().ConfigRoot)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		cfg, err := req.Context().GetConfig()
-		if err != nil {
+		r := fsrepo.At(req.Context().ConfigRoot)
+		if err := r.Open(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		defer r.Close()
+		cfg := r.Config()
 
 		all, _, err := req.Option("all").Bool()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -164,9 +159,9 @@ var bootstrapRemoveCmd = &cmds.Command{
 
 		var removed []config.BootstrapPeer
 		if all {
-			removed, err = bootstrapRemoveAll(filename, cfg)
+			removed, err = bootstrapRemoveAll(r, cfg)
 		} else {
-			removed, err = bootstrapRemove(filename, cfg, input)
+			removed, err = bootstrapRemove(r, cfg, input)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -233,7 +228,7 @@ func bootstrapWritePeers(w io.Writer, prefix string, peers []config.BootstrapPee
 	return nil
 }
 
-func bootstrapAdd(filename string, cfg *config.Config, peers []config.BootstrapPeer) ([]config.BootstrapPeer, error) {
+func bootstrapAdd(r repo.Interface, cfg *config.Config, peers []config.BootstrapPeer) ([]config.BootstrapPeer, error) {
 	added := make([]config.BootstrapPeer, 0, len(peers))
 
 	for _, peer := range peers {
@@ -251,15 +246,14 @@ func bootstrapAdd(filename string, cfg *config.Config, peers []config.BootstrapP
 		}
 	}
 
-	err := fsrepo.WriteConfigFile(filename, cfg)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := r.SetConfig(cfg); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return added, nil
 }
 
-func bootstrapRemove(filename string, cfg *config.Config, toRemove []config.BootstrapPeer) ([]config.BootstrapPeer, error) {
+func bootstrapRemove(r repo.Interface, cfg *config.Config, toRemove []config.BootstrapPeer) ([]config.BootstrapPeer, error) {
 	removed := make([]config.BootstrapPeer, 0, len(toRemove))
 	keep := make([]config.BootstrapPeer, 0, len(cfg.Bootstrap))
 
@@ -279,21 +273,19 @@ func bootstrapRemove(filename string, cfg *config.Config, toRemove []config.Boot
 	}
 	cfg.Bootstrap = keep
 
-	err := fsrepo.WriteConfigFile(filename, cfg)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := r.SetConfig(cfg); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return removed, nil
 }
 
-func bootstrapRemoveAll(filename string, cfg *config.Config) ([]config.BootstrapPeer, error) {
+func bootstrapRemoveAll(r repo.Interface, cfg *config.Config) ([]config.BootstrapPeer, error) {
 	removed := make([]config.BootstrapPeer, len(cfg.Bootstrap))
 	copy(removed, cfg.Bootstrap)
 
 	cfg.Bootstrap = nil
-	err := fsrepo.WriteConfigFile(filename, cfg)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := r.SetConfig(cfg); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go b/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go
index fb666d869..e5e9fe825 100644
--- a/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/fsrepo.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package fsrepo
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -11,17 +12,40 @@ import (
 )
 
 type FSRepo struct {
+	state  state
 	path   string
-	config config.Config
+	config *config.Config
 }
 
 func At(path string) *FSRepo {
 	return &FSRepo{
-		path: path,
+		path:  path,
+		state: unopened, // explicitly set for clarity
 	}
 }
 
+func Init(path string, conf *config.Config) error {
+	if IsInitialized(path) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	configFilename, err := config.Filename(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := writeConfigFile(configFilename, conf); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Open returns an error if the repo is not initialized.
 func (r *FSRepo) Open() error {
+	if r.state != unopened {
+		return debugerror.Errorf("repo is %s", r.state)
+	}
+	if !IsInitialized(r.path) {
+		return debugerror.New("repo is not initialized")
+	}
 	// check repo path, then check all constituent parts.
 	// TODO acquire repo lock
 	// TODO if err := initCheckDir(logpath); err != nil { // }
@@ -29,6 +53,16 @@ func (r *FSRepo) Open() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	configFilename, err := config.Filename(r.path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	conf, err := Load(configFilename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	r.config = conf
+
 	// datastore
 	dspath, err := config.DataStorePath("")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -46,29 +80,43 @@ func (r *FSRepo) Open() error {
 		return debugerror.Errorf("logs: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	r.state = opened
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (r *FSRepo) Config() *config.Config {
+	if r.state != opened {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintln("repo is", r.state))
+	}
+	return r.config
+}
+
 func (r *FSRepo) SetConfig(conf *config.Config) error {
+	if r.state != opened {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintln("repo is", r.state))
+	}
 	configFilename, err := config.Filename(r.path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := WriteConfigFile(configFilename, conf); err != nil {
+	if err := writeConfigFile(configFilename, conf); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	r.config = *conf // copy so caller cannot modify the private config
+	*r.config = *conf // copy so caller cannot modify the private config
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (r *FSRepo) Close() error {
+	if r.state != opened {
+		return debugerror.Errorf("repo is %s", r.state)
+	}
 	return nil // TODO release repo lock
 }
 
 var _ io.Closer = &FSRepo{}
 
-// ConfigIsInitialized returns true if the config exists in provided |path|.
-func ConfigIsInitialized(path string) bool {
+// IsInitialized returns true if the repo is initialized at provided |path|.
+func IsInitialized(path string) bool {
 	configFilename, err := config.Filename(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/serialize.go b/repo/fsrepo/serialize.go
index 5986d0f88..64d03112d 100644
--- a/repo/fsrepo/serialize.go
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/serialize.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func ReadConfigFile(filename string, cfg interface{}) error {
 }
 
 // WriteConfigFile writes the config from `cfg` into `filename`.
-func WriteConfigFile(filename string, cfg interface{}) error {
+func writeConfigFile(filename string, cfg interface{}) error {
 	err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(filename), 0775)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func WriteConfigKey(filename, key string, value interface{}) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	return WriteConfigFile(filename, cfg)
+	return writeConfigFile(filename, cfg)
 }
 
 // Load reads given file and returns the read config, or error.
@@ -165,5 +165,5 @@ func RecordUpdateCheck(cfg *config.Config, filename string) {
 		log.Error("config.Version.CheckPeriod not set. config broken?")
 	}
 
-	WriteConfigFile(filename, cfg)
+	writeConfigFile(filename, cfg)
 }
diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/serialize_test.go b/repo/fsrepo/serialize_test.go
index 5de9674af..b2cb72a0c 100644
--- a/repo/fsrepo/serialize_test.go
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/serialize_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	const dsPath = "/path/to/datastore"
 	cfgWritten := new(config.Config)
 	cfgWritten.Datastore.Path = dsPath
-	err := WriteConfigFile(filename, cfgWritten)
+	err := writeConfigFile(filename, cfgWritten)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/repo/fsrepo/state.go b/repo/fsrepo/state.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6ccf35c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/repo/fsrepo/state.go
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package fsrepo
+
+type state int
+
+const (
+	unopened = iota
+	opened
+	closed
+)
+
+func (s state) String() string {
+	switch s {
+	case unopened:
+		return "unopened"
+	case opened:
+		return "opened"
+	case closed:
+		return "closed"
+	default:
+		return "invalid"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/repo/repo.go b/repo/repo.go
index 6d702d9ac..22a586a78 100644
--- a/repo/repo.go
+++ b/repo/repo.go
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 package repo
 
-import util "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/util"
+import (
+	config "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/repo/config"
+	util "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/util"
+)
+
+type Interface interface {
+	SetConfig(*config.Config) error
+}
 
 // IsInitialized returns true if the path is home to an initialized IPFS
 // repository.