diff --git a/frappyman.py b/frappyman.py
index 3b9a1df..1ad5da6 100644
--- a/frappyman.py
+++ b/frappyman.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class FrappyManager(ServiceManager):
             raise UsageError('need service to start (one of %s)' % ', '.join(self.services))
         super().do_start(ins, service, cfg, restart, wait, logger)
 
-    def do_gui(self, ins='', service='main'):
+    def check_server(self, ins='', service='main'):
         start_dir, env = self.prepare_start(ins, service)
         sys.path.insert(0, start_dir)
         try:
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ class FrappyManager(ServiceManager):
                 raise UsageError('missing instance')
             raise UsageError('unknown instance %s' % ins)
 
+    def do_gui(self, ins='', service='main'):
+        self.check_server(ins, service)
+
         print('starting frappy gui %s' % ins)
 
         import mlzlog
@@ -122,6 +125,14 @@ class FrappyManager(ServiceManager):
 
         return app.exec_()
 
+    def do_cli(self, ins='', service='main'):
+        self.check_server(ins, service)
+        from secop.client.interactive import Client
+        import code
+
+        client = Client('localhost:%d' % self.info[ins][service])
+        code.interact(banner='', local={'client': client})
+
     def all_cfg(self, ins, service, by_dir=False):
         result = {}
         all_cfg = {}