diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c451351..c530f09 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ surface is governed by [`COMPATIBILITY.md`](COMPATIBILITY.md).
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### Added
+- **`riskkernel init`** — scaffolds a working starting point in one command: a `.env`
+  (provider key, default budget, the data dir where runs and crash-resume checkpoints
+  live) and a runnable, key-free `quickstart.py` (a governed loop the budget stops),
+  then prints the next steps. Never overwrites existing files.
 - **SDK: resume a run after a crash.** `Runtime.resume_run(run_id)` attaches to an
   existing governed run (it neither creates a new run nor cancels on error), so a
   Python agent can pick its work back up from the last checkpoint after a `SIGKILL`.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6d1d986..d6d9600 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ needed — and run it:
 
 ```bash
 go install github.com/prashar32/riskkernel/cmd/riskkernel@latest
-riskkernel serve
+riskkernel init      # scaffold a .env + a runnable example in the current dir
+riskkernel serve     # start the daemon (reads .env)
 ```
 
 (or `make build` from a clone). Deeper control (loops, checkpoints, approval
diff --git a/cmd/riskkernel/init.go b/cmd/riskkernel/init.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a95d8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/riskkernel/init.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	_ "embed"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+//go:embed templates/env.tmpl
+var envTemplate string
+
+//go:embed templates/quickstart.py
+var quickstartTemplate string
+
+// runInit scaffolds a working starting point — a .env config and a runnable
+// governed-loop example — into the target directory (default "."). It never
+// overwrites an existing file, so it's safe to re-run.
+func runInit(args []string) error {
+	dir := "."
+	if len(args) > 0 && args[0] != "" {
+		dir = args[0]
+	}
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o750); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating %s: %w", dir, err)
+	}
+
+	files := []struct{ name, content string }{
+		{".env", envTemplate},
+		{"quickstart.py", quickstartTemplate},
+	}
+	var created, skipped []string
+	for _, f := range files {
+		path := filepath.Join(dir, f.name)
+		if _, err := os.Stat(path); err == nil {
+			skipped = append(skipped, f.name)
+			continue
+		} else if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("checking %s: %w", path, err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(f.content), 0o600); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("writing %s: %w", path, err)
+		}
+		created = append(created, f.name)
+	}
+
+	for _, name := range created {
+		fmt.Printf("  created  %s\n", filepath.Join(dir, name))
+	}
+	for _, name := range skipped {
+		fmt.Printf("  kept     %s (already present)\n", filepath.Join(dir, name))
+	}
+
+	fmt.Print(`
+Next:
+  1. (optional) put your ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in .env — model calls need it; the loop demo doesn't
+  2. riskkernel serve                 # start the governance daemon (reads .env)
+  3. pip install "git+https://github.com/prashar32/riskkernel.git#subdirectory=sdks/python"
+  4. python quickstart.py             # watch the governor stop a runaway loop
+`)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/riskkernel/init_test.go b/cmd/riskkernel/init_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0790d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/riskkernel/init_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRunInit_ScaffoldsWorkingFiles(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := runInit([]string{dir}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("init: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, name := range []string{".env", "quickstart.py"} {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, name))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("expected %s to be created: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		if len(b) == 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("%s is empty", name)
+		}
+	}
+	// The .env carries the budget + data-dir config; quickstart wires a governed run.
+	env, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, ".env"))
+	for _, key := range []string{"RISKKERNEL_DEFAULT_DOLLARS", "RISKKERNEL_DATA_DIR", "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(string(env), key) {
+			t.Fatalf(".env is missing %s:\n%s", key, env)
+		}
+	}
+	if qs, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "quickstart.py")); !strings.Contains(string(qs), "governed_run") {
+		t.Fatalf("quickstart.py doesn't wire a governed_run:\n%s", qs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunInit_DoesNotOverwrite(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	// A pre-existing .env with the user's own content must be preserved.
+	envPath := filepath.Join(dir, ".env")
+	mine := "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-mine\n"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(envPath, []byte(mine), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := runInit([]string{dir}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("init: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got, _ := os.ReadFile(envPath); string(got) != mine {
+		t.Fatalf("init overwrote an existing .env: %q", got)
+	}
+	// …while the missing quickstart.py is still scaffolded.
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "quickstart.py")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("quickstart.py should still be created: %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/riskkernel/main.go b/cmd/riskkernel/main.go
index e522812..fdcd92b 100644
--- a/cmd/riskkernel/main.go
+++ b/cmd/riskkernel/main.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 //
 // Usage:
 //
+//	riskkernel init [dir]       Scaffold a .env + runnable example to get started.
 //	riskkernel serve            Run the governance daemon (default port 7070).
 //	riskkernel chat "<prompt>"  One-shot model call — proves the provider path.
 //	riskkernel version          Print build identity.
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ func main() {
 
 	var err error
 	switch cmd {
+	case "init":
+		err = runInit(args)
 	case "serve":
 		err = runServe(args)
 	case "chat":
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ func usage() {
 	fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, `riskkernel — the risk engine for your AI agents
 
 Usage:
+  riskkernel init [dir]         Scaffold a .env + runnable example to get started
   riskkernel serve              Run the governance daemon (default :7070)
   riskkernel chat "<prompt>"    One-shot model call (proves the provider path)
   riskkernel runs list          List persisted governed runs
diff --git a/cmd/riskkernel/templates/env.tmpl b/cmd/riskkernel/templates/env.tmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b4dea2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/riskkernel/templates/env.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# RiskKernel configuration — read by `riskkernel serve`. Secrets stay here; they
+# are never written to the state store, never logged, never sent anywhere but the
+# provider API.
+
+# Your provider key. The daemon still boots without it; only model calls need it.
+ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=
+
+# Where the SQLite state lives: your runs, cost ledger, and crash-resume
+# checkpoints. This file is yours — back it up to keep run history and resume.
+RISKKERNEL_DATA_DIR=./data
+
+# Default per-run budget for runs created without an explicit one. Leave these
+# unset for safe defaults ($5 / 100 loops / 1h per run); set any value to take
+# control (0 means unlimited for that dimension).
+RISKKERNEL_DEFAULT_DOLLARS=
+RISKKERNEL_DEFAULT_LOOPS=
+RISKKERNEL_DEFAULT_SECONDS=
+
+# Optional bearer token guarding the daemon's API. Empty = unauthenticated, for
+# local use only; set one before exposing the port to anything untrusted.
+RISKKERNEL_API_TOKEN=
diff --git a/cmd/riskkernel/templates/quickstart.py b/cmd/riskkernel/templates/quickstart.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b099ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/riskkernel/templates/quickstart.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""A governed agent loop, scaffolded by `riskkernel init`.
+
+A deliberately runaway loop that RiskKernel's deterministic governor hard-stops at
+its budget. No API key needed — the loop cap is enforced in the Go daemon, so you
+can watch the kill with nothing running but `riskkernel serve`.
+
+    riskkernel serve        # in another terminal
+    python quickstart.py
+"""
+
+import riskkernel as rk
+
+rt = rk.Runtime()  # talks to the daemon at http://localhost:7070
+
+with rt.governed_run(name="quickstart", budget=rt.budget(loops=8)) as run:
+    print(f"run {run.id} — budget: loops=8\n")
+    step = 0
+    try:
+        while True:                       # a loop that would never stop on its own
+            run.step()                    # raises rk.BudgetExceeded at the cap
+            step += 1
+            print(f"  step {step}")
+    except rk.BudgetExceeded as halt:
+        print(f"\nRiskKernel stopped it — {halt.reason}. The governor capped the loop at 8;")
+        print("the loop never decided to stop. Swap the budget, wrap your own agent, and go.")