diff --git a/src/directive/RunDirective.ts b/src/directive/RunDirective.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61b50c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/directive/RunDirective.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import {Directive} from "../Directive"
+import {Injectable} from "@extollo/di"
+import {Unit} from "@extollo/lib"
+import {ErrorWithContext} from "@extollo/util"
+import {CommandLineApplication} from "../service"
+
+@Injectable()
+export class RunDirective extends Directive {
+    getDescription(): string {
+        return 'run the application normally'
+    }
+
+    getKeywords(): string | string[] {
+        return ['run', 'up']
+    }
+
+    async handle(): Promise<void> {
+        if ( !CommandLineApplication.getReplacement() ) {
+            throw new ErrorWithContext(`Cannot run application: no run target specified.`)
+        }
+
+        const unit = <Unit> this.make(CommandLineApplication.getReplacement())
+        await this.app().startUnit(unit)
+        await this.app().stopUnit(unit)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/directive/ShellDirective.ts b/src/directive/ShellDirective.ts
index 688afc9..141261d 100644
--- a/src/directive/ShellDirective.ts
+++ b/src/directive/ShellDirective.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import {DependencyKey} from "@extollo/di"
 import {Directive} from "../Directive"
 import * as colors from "colors/safe"
 import * as repl from 'repl'
@@ -25,8 +26,7 @@ export class ShellDirective extends Directive {
     async handle(): Promise<void> {
         const state: any = {
             app: this.app(),
-            make: this.make,
-            container: this.container,
+            make: (target: DependencyKey, ...parameters: any[]) => this.make(target, ...parameters),
         }
 
         await new Promise<void>(res => {
diff --git a/src/service/CommandLine.ts b/src/service/CommandLine.ts
index cf9856b..b43407a 100644
--- a/src/service/CommandLine.ts
+++ b/src/service/CommandLine.ts
@@ -35,12 +35,14 @@ export class CommandLine extends Unit {
     }
 
     public getASCIILogo() {
-        return `  ______      _        _ _
- |  ____|    | |      | | |
- | |__  __  _| |_ ___ | | | ___
- |  __| \\ \\/ / __/ _ \\| | |/ _ \\
- | |____ >  <| || (_) | | | (_) |
- |______/_/\\_\\\\__\\___/|_|_|\\___/`
+        return `     _       
+    / /\\       ______      _        _ _
+   / /  \\     |  ____|    | |      | | |
+  / / /\\ \\    | |__  __  _| |_ ___ | | | ___
+ / / /\\ \\ \\   |  __| \\ \\/ / __/ _ \\| | |/ _ \\
+/ / /  \\ \\_\\  | |____ >  <| || (_) | | | (_) |
+\\/_/    \\/_/  |______/_/\\_\\\\__\\___/|_|_|\\___/
+`
     }
 
     public registerDirective(directiveClass: Instantiable<Directive>) {
diff --git a/src/service/CommandLineApplication.ts b/src/service/CommandLineApplication.ts
index 1e40d3e..e6b1da5 100644
--- a/src/service/CommandLineApplication.ts
+++ b/src/service/CommandLineApplication.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {UsageDirective} from "../directive/UsageDirective";
 import {Directive} from "../Directive";
 import {ShellDirective} from "../directive/ShellDirective";
 import {TemplateDirective} from "../directive/TemplateDirective";
+import {RunDirective} from "../directive/RunDirective";
 
 @Singleton()
 export class CommandLineApplication extends Unit {
@@ -13,6 +14,10 @@ export class CommandLineApplication extends Unit {
         this.replacement = unitClass
     }
 
+    public static getReplacement() {
+        return this.replacement
+    }
+
     @Inject()
     protected readonly cli!: CommandLine
 
@@ -25,6 +30,7 @@ export class CommandLineApplication extends Unit {
         this.cli.registerDirective(UsageDirective)
         this.cli.registerDirective(ShellDirective)
         this.cli.registerDirective(TemplateDirective)
+        this.cli.registerDirective(RunDirective)
 
         const argv = process.argv.slice(2)
         const match = this.cli.getDirectives()