diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index dc042e5..271503f 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ rand = "0.8.5"
 rtnetlink = "0.14.1"
 serde_json = "1.0.113"
 sha256 = "1.5.0"
+serde_yaml = "0.9"
 signal-hook = "0.3.17"
 slice-copy = "0.3.0"
 smoltcp = "0.11.0"
diff --git a/crates/krata/proto/krata/control.proto b/crates/krata/proto/krata/control.proto
index d0da3ec..d05604f 100644
--- a/crates/krata/proto/krata/control.proto
+++ b/crates/krata/proto/krata/control.proto
@@ -23,16 +23,18 @@ message GuestNetworkInfo {
 
 message GuestInfo {
     string id = 1;
-    GuestImageSpec image = 2;
-    GuestNetworkInfo network = 3;
+    string name = 2;
+    GuestImageSpec image = 3;
+    GuestNetworkInfo network = 4;
 }
 
 message LaunchGuestRequest {
-    GuestImageSpec image = 1;
-    uint32 vcpus = 2;
-    uint64 mem = 3;
-    repeated string env = 4;
-    repeated string run = 5;
+    string name = 1;
+    GuestImageSpec image = 2;
+    uint32 vcpus = 3;
+    uint64 mem = 4;
+    repeated string env = 5;
+    repeated string run = 6;
 }
 
 message LaunchGuestReply {
diff --git a/crates/kratactl/bin/control.rs b/crates/kratactl/bin/control.rs
index 875edc7..a3b1b75 100644
--- a/crates/kratactl/bin/control.rs
+++ b/crates/kratactl/bin/control.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ struct ControllerArgs {
 enum Commands {
     List {},
     Launch {
+        #[arg(short, long)]
+        name: Option<String>,
         #[arg(short, long, default_value_t = 1)]
         cpus: u32,
         #[arg(short, long, default_value_t = 512)]
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     match args.command {
         Commands::Launch {
+            name,
             oci,
             cpus,
             mem,
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             run,
         } => {
             let request = LaunchGuestRequest {
+                name: name.unwrap_or_default(),
                 image: Some(GuestImageSpec {
                     image: Some(Image::Oci(GuestOciImageSpec { image: oci })),
                 }),
@@ -119,7 +123,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                 .await?
                 .into_inner();
             let mut table = cli_tables::Table::new();
-            let header = vec!["uuid", "ipv4", "ipv6", "image"];
+            let header = vec!["name", "uuid", "ipv4", "ipv6", "image"];
             table.push_row(&header)?;
             for guest in response.guests {
                 let ipv4 = guest
@@ -143,6 +147,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                     })
                     .unwrap_or("unknown".to_string());
                 table.push_row_string(&vec![
+                    guest.name,
                     guest.id,
                     ipv4.to_string(),
                     ipv6.to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/kratad/Cargo.toml b/crates/kratad/Cargo.toml
index 01689d5..d6de10a 100644
--- a/crates/kratad/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/kratad/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ futures = { workspace = true }
 krata = { path = "../krata" }
 kratart = { path = "../kratart" }
 log = { workspace = true }
+serde = { workspace = true }
+serde_yaml = { workspace = true }
 signal-hook = { workspace = true }
 tokio = { workspace = true }
 tokio-stream = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/kratad/bin/daemon.rs b/crates/kratad/bin/daemon.rs
index 5948cc1..18aa163 100644
--- a/crates/kratad/bin/daemon.rs
+++ b/crates/kratad/bin/daemon.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use env_logger::Env;
 use krata::dial::ControlDialAddress;
 use kratad::Daemon;
 use kratart::Runtime;
+use log::error;
 use std::{
     str::FromStr,
     sync::{atomic::AtomicBool, Arc},
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ struct Args {
     listen: String,
     #[arg(short, long, default_value = "/var/lib/krata")]
     store: String,
+    #[arg(long, default_value = "false")]
+    no_load_guest_tab: bool,
 }
 
 #[tokio::main(flavor = "multi_thread", worker_threads = 10)]
@@ -26,6 +29,11 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let addr = ControlDialAddress::from_str(&args.listen)?;
     let runtime = Runtime::new(args.store.clone()).await?;
     let mut daemon = Daemon::new(args.store.clone(), runtime).await?;
+    if !args.no_load_guest_tab {
+        if let Err(error) = daemon.load_guest_tab().await {
+            error!("failed to load guest tab: {}", error);
+        }
+    }
     daemon.listen(addr).await?;
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/kratad/src/control.rs b/crates/kratad/src/control.rs
index d7d0568..2e0ac3d 100644
--- a/crates/kratad/src/control.rs
+++ b/crates/kratad/src/control.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ impl ControlService for RuntimeControlService {
         let guest: GuestInfo = convert_guest_info(
             self.runtime
                 .launch(GuestLaunchRequest {
+                    name: if request.name.is_empty() {
+                        None
+                    } else {
+                        Some(&request.name)
+                    },
                     image: &oci.image,
                     vcpus: request.vcpus,
                     mem: request.mem,
@@ -197,6 +202,7 @@ fn empty_vec_optional<T>(value: Vec<T>) -> Option<Vec<T>> {
 
 fn convert_guest_info(value: kratart::GuestInfo) -> GuestInfo {
     GuestInfo {
+        name: value.name.unwrap_or_default(),
         id: value.uuid.to_string(),
         image: Some(GuestImageSpec {
             image: Some(Image::Oci(GuestOciImageSpec { image: value.image })),
diff --git a/crates/kratad/src/lib.rs b/crates/kratad/src/lib.rs
index ed20063..c133d35 100644
--- a/crates/kratad/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/kratad/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,14 +4,16 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use control::RuntimeControlService;
 use event::{DaemonEventContext, DaemonEventGenerator};
 use krata::{control::control_service_server::ControlServiceServer, dial::ControlDialAddress};
-use kratart::Runtime;
-use log::info;
-use tokio::{net::UnixListener, task::JoinHandle};
+use kratart::{launch::GuestLaunchRequest, Runtime};
+use log::{info, warn};
+use tab::Tab;
+use tokio::{fs, net::UnixListener, task::JoinHandle};
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::UnixListenerStream;
 use tonic::transport::{Identity, Server, ServerTlsConfig};
 
 pub mod control;
 pub mod event;
+pub mod tab;
 
 pub struct Daemon {
     store: String,
@@ -32,6 +34,66 @@ impl Daemon {
         })
     }
 
+    pub async fn load_guest_tab(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        let tab_path = PathBuf::from(format!("{}/guests.yml", self.store));
+
+        if !tab_path.exists() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        info!("loading guest tab");
+
+        let tab_content = fs::read_to_string(tab_path).await?;
+        let tab: Tab = serde_yaml::from_str(&tab_content)?;
+        let running = self.runtime.list().await?;
+        for (name, guest) in tab.guests {
+            let existing = running
+                .iter()
+                .filter(|x| x.name.is_some())
+                .find(|run| *run.name.as_ref().unwrap() == name);
+
+            if let Some(existing) = existing {
+                info!("guest {} is already running: {}", name, existing.uuid);
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            let request = GuestLaunchRequest {
+                name: Some(&name),
+                image: &guest.image,
+                vcpus: guest.cpus,
+                mem: guest.mem,
+                env: if guest.env.is_empty() {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(
+                        guest
+                            .env
+                            .iter()
+                            .map(|(key, value)| format!("{}={}", key, value))
+                            .collect::<Vec<String>>(),
+                    )
+                },
+                run: if guest.run.is_empty() {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(guest.run)
+                },
+                debug: false,
+            };
+            match self.runtime.launch(request).await {
+                Err(error) => {
+                    warn!("failed to launch guest {}: {}", name, error);
+                }
+
+                Ok(info) => {
+                    info!("launched guest {}: {}", name, info.uuid);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        info!("loaded guest tab");
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub async fn listen(&mut self, addr: ControlDialAddress) -> Result<()> {
         let control_service = RuntimeControlService::new(self.events.clone(), self.runtime.clone());
 
diff --git a/crates/kratad/src/tab.rs b/crates/kratad/src/tab.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..907b819
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/kratad/src/tab.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct Tab {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub guests: HashMap<String, TabGuest>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct TabGuest {
+    pub image: String,
+    pub mem: u64,
+    pub cpus: u32,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub env: HashMap<String, String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub run: Vec<String>,
+}
diff --git a/crates/kratart/src/launch/mod.rs b/crates/kratart/src/launch/mod.rs
index d522d3d..16f685a 100644
--- a/crates/kratart/src/launch/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/kratart/src/launch/mod.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use crate::RuntimeContext;
 use super::{GuestInfo, GuestState};
 
 pub struct GuestLaunchRequest<'a> {
+    pub name: Option<&'a str>,
     pub image: &'a str,
     pub vcpus: u32,
     pub mem: u64,
@@ -112,6 +113,51 @@ impl GuestLauncher {
 
         let container_mac_string = container_mac.to_string().replace('-', ":");
         let gateway_mac_string = gateway_mac.to_string().replace('-', ":");
+
+        let mut extra_keys = vec![
+            ("krata/uuid".to_string(), uuid.to_string()),
+            (
+                "krata/loops".to_string(),
+                format!(
+                    "{}:{}:none,{}:{}:{}",
+                    &image_squashfs_loop.path,
+                    image_squashfs_path,
+                    &cfgblk_squashfs_loop.path,
+                    cfgblk_squashfs_path,
+                    cfgblk_dir_path,
+                ),
+            ),
+            ("krata/image".to_string(), request.image.to_string()),
+            (
+                "krata/network/guest/ipv4".to_string(),
+                format!("{}/{}", guest_ipv4, ipv4_network_mask),
+            ),
+            (
+                "krata/network/guest/ipv6".to_string(),
+                format!("{}/{}", guest_ipv6, ipv6_network_mask),
+            ),
+            (
+                "krata/network/guest/mac".to_string(),
+                container_mac_string.clone(),
+            ),
+            (
+                "krata/network/gateway/ipv4".to_string(),
+                format!("{}/{}", gateway_ipv4, ipv4_network_mask),
+            ),
+            (
+                "krata/network/gateway/ipv6".to_string(),
+                format!("{}/{}", gateway_ipv6, ipv6_network_mask),
+            ),
+            (
+                "krata/network/gateway/mac".to_string(),
+                gateway_mac_string.clone(),
+            ),
+        ];
+
+        if let Some(name) = request.name {
+            extra_keys.push(("krata/name".to_string(), name.to_string()));
+        }
+
         let config = DomainConfig {
             backend_domid: 0,
             name: &name,
@@ -141,49 +187,12 @@ impl GuestLauncher {
             }],
             filesystems: vec![],
             event_channels: vec![],
-            extra_keys: vec![
-                ("krata/uuid".to_string(), uuid.to_string()),
-                (
-                    "krata/loops".to_string(),
-                    format!(
-                        "{}:{}:none,{}:{}:{}",
-                        &image_squashfs_loop.path,
-                        image_squashfs_path,
-                        &cfgblk_squashfs_loop.path,
-                        cfgblk_squashfs_path,
-                        cfgblk_dir_path,
-                    ),
-                ),
-                ("krata/image".to_string(), request.image.to_string()),
-                (
-                    "krata/network/guest/ipv4".to_string(),
-                    format!("{}/{}", guest_ipv4, ipv4_network_mask),
-                ),
-                (
-                    "krata/network/guest/ipv6".to_string(),
-                    format!("{}/{}", guest_ipv6, ipv6_network_mask),
-                ),
-                (
-                    "krata/network/guest/mac".to_string(),
-                    container_mac_string.clone(),
-                ),
-                (
-                    "krata/network/gateway/ipv4".to_string(),
-                    format!("{}/{}", gateway_ipv4, ipv4_network_mask),
-                ),
-                (
-                    "krata/network/gateway/ipv6".to_string(),
-                    format!("{}/{}", gateway_ipv6, ipv6_network_mask),
-                ),
-                (
-                    "krata/network/gateway/mac".to_string(),
-                    gateway_mac_string.clone(),
-                ),
-            ],
+            extra_keys,
             extra_rw_paths: vec!["krata/guest".to_string()],
         };
         match context.xen.create(&config).await {
             Ok(domid) => Ok(GuestInfo {
+                name: request.name.map(|x| x.to_string()),
                 uuid,
                 domid,
                 image: request.image.to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/kratart/src/lib.rs b/crates/kratart/src/lib.rs
index 3b267e8..0bd97b8 100644
--- a/crates/kratart/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/kratart/src/lib.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ pub struct GuestState {
 }
 
 pub struct GuestInfo {
+    pub name: Option<String>,
     pub uuid: Uuid,
     pub domid: u32,
     pub image: String,
@@ -92,6 +93,9 @@ impl RuntimeContext {
     pub async fn list(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<GuestInfo>> {
         let mut guests: Vec<GuestInfo> = Vec::new();
         for domid_candidate in self.xen.store.list("/local/domain").await? {
+            if domid_candidate == "0" {
+                continue;
+            }
             let dom_path = format!("/local/domain/{}", domid_candidate);
             let uuid_string = match self
                 .xen
@@ -105,6 +109,13 @@ impl RuntimeContext {
             let domid =
                 u32::from_str(&domid_candidate).map_err(|_| anyhow!("failed to parse domid"))?;
             let uuid = Uuid::from_str(&uuid_string)?;
+
+            let name = self
+                .xen
+                .store
+                .read_string(&format!("{}/krata/name", &dom_path))
+                .await?;
+
             let image = self
                 .xen
                 .store
@@ -154,6 +165,7 @@ impl RuntimeContext {
 
             let loops = RuntimeContext::parse_loop_set(&loops);
             guests.push(GuestInfo {
+                name,
                 uuid,
                 domid,
                 image,
@@ -170,6 +182,13 @@ impl RuntimeContext {
         for guest in self.list().await? {
             let uuid_string = guest.uuid.to_string();
             let domid_string = guest.domid.to_string();
+
+            if let Some(ref name) = guest.name {
+                if name == id {
+                    return Ok(Some(guest));
+                }
+            }
+
             if uuid_string == id || domid_string == id || id == format!("krata-{}", uuid_string) {
                 return Ok(Some(guest));
             }