diff --git a/crates/oyster/src/main.rs b/crates/oyster/src/main.rs
index 73c4f9f..84b2f61 100644
--- a/crates/oyster/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/oyster/src/main.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use oyster_runtime::{Shell, Status};
 
 fn main() {
     let mut shell = Shell::new().unwrap();
+    shell.builtins_mut().add_defaults();
     let mut exit_code = Status::SUCCESS;
 
     loop {
diff --git a/crates/oyster_runtime/src/builtins/mod.rs b/crates/oyster_runtime/src/builtins/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0ab658
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/oyster_runtime/src/builtins/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+use std::{borrow::Cow, collections::HashMap};
+
+use crate::Shell;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct Builtin {
+    pub name: &'static str,
+    pub description: &'static str,
+    pub fun: fn(shell: &mut Shell, args: &[Cow<str>]),
+}
+
+pub static HELP: Builtin = {
+    pub fn help(shell: &mut Shell, _args: &[Cow<str>]) {
+        println!(
+            r"oyster help:
+
+These are the loaded builtins:"
+        );
+
+        for builtin in shell.builtins().iter() {
+            println!("  {: <8} {}", builtin.name, builtin.description);
+        }
+    }
+
+    Builtin {
+        name: "help",
+        description: "prints help for different builtins",
+        fun: help,
+    }
+};
+
+/// Used to register and retrieve builtins.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct BuiltinMap(HashMap<&'static str, Builtin>);
+
+impl BuiltinMap {
+    /// Register a new builtin.
+    pub fn add(&mut self, builtin: Builtin) {
+        self.0.insert(builtin.name, builtin);
+    }
+
+    /// Get a builtin with a given name, if it exists.
+    pub fn get(&self, name: &str) -> Option<&Builtin> {
+        self.0.get(name)
+    }
+
+    /// Returns an iterator over all currently registered builtins.
+    pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &Builtin> {
+        self.0.iter().map(|(_, v)| v)
+    }
+
+    /// Add default builtins.
+    pub fn add_defaults(&mut self) {
+        self.add(HELP);
+    }
+}
+
+impl Shell {
+    /// Retrieve builtins.
+    pub fn builtins(&self) -> &BuiltinMap {
+        &self.builtins
+    }
+
+    /// Retrieve builtins, mutably.
+    pub fn builtins_mut(&mut self) -> &mut BuiltinMap {
+        &mut self.builtins
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/oyster_runtime/src/lib.rs b/crates/oyster_runtime/src/lib.rs
index 779376c..eebe0cb 100644
--- a/crates/oyster_runtime/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/oyster_runtime/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 //! The runtime for executing oyster programs.
 //! Panics when an invalid ast gets passed.
 
+pub mod builtins;
 mod pipeline;
 
 use std::io;
 
-use nix::sys::{
-    signal::{self, SaFlags, SigAction, SigHandler, Signal},
-    signalfd::SigSet,
+use builtins::BuiltinMap;
+use nix::{
+    errno::Errno,
+    sys::{
+        signal::{self, SaFlags, SigAction, SigHandler, Signal},
+        signalfd::SigSet,
+    },
 };
 use oyster_parser::ast;
 use thiserror::Error;
@@ -38,11 +43,16 @@ pub enum RuntimeError {
     #[error("failed to spawn process: {0}")]
     SpawnFailed(#[source] io::Error),
 
+    #[error("failed to fork: {0}")]
+    ForkFailed(#[source] Errno),
+
     #[error("waitpid error: {0}")]
     WaidPid(nix::Error),
 }
 
-pub struct Shell;
+pub struct Shell {
+    builtins: BuiltinMap,
+}
 
 impl Shell {
     pub fn new() -> Result<Shell, nix::Error> {
@@ -53,7 +63,9 @@ impl Shell {
             signal::sigaction(Signal::SIGTTOU, &ignore)?;
         }
 
-        Ok(Shell)
+        Ok(Shell {
+            builtins: Default::default(),
+        })
     }
 
     pub fn run<'a>(&mut self, code: &'a ast::Code) -> Result<Status, RuntimeError> {
diff --git a/crates/oyster_runtime/src/pipeline.rs b/crates/oyster_runtime/src/pipeline.rs
index 5ee036b..6708110 100644
--- a/crates/oyster_runtime/src/pipeline.rs
+++ b/crates/oyster_runtime/src/pipeline.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ use std::{
     ffi::{OsStr, OsString},
     fs::File,
     io,
-    os::unix::{io::FromRawFd, process::CommandExt},
-    process::{Child, Command, Stdio},
-    slice::Iter,
+    os::unix::{
+        io::{AsRawFd, FromRawFd, RawFd},
+        process::CommandExt,
+    },
+    process::{self, Command, Stdio},
 };
 
 use nix::{
@@ -17,16 +19,23 @@ use nix::{
         signalfd::SigSet,
         wait::{self, WaitPidFlag, WaitStatus},
     },
-    unistd::{self, Pid},
+    unistd::{self, ForkResult, Pid},
 };
 use oyster_parser::ast::{self, Redirect};
 
-use crate::{RuntimeError, Shell, Status};
+use crate::{builtins::Builtin, RuntimeError, Shell, Status};
+
+/// The specific kind of the command.
+enum CommandKind {
+    External,
+    Builtin(Builtin),
+}
 
 /// A command that's ready to be run.
 struct PreparedCommand<'a> {
+    kind: CommandKind,
     cmd: Cow<'a, str>,
-    args: WordBuilder<'a>,
+    args: Vec<Cow<'a, str>>,
     redirect: Redirect,
     stdin: Option<File>,
     stdout: Option<File>,
@@ -35,13 +44,33 @@ struct PreparedCommand<'a> {
 
 impl<'a> PreparedCommand<'a> {
     /// Create a new PreparedCommand.
-    fn new(command: &'a ast::Command) -> Self {
-        let mut words = WordBuilder(command.0.iter());
+    fn new(command: &'a ast::Command, shell: &Shell) -> Self {
+        let mut words = command.0.iter().map(|word| {
+            let mut words = word.0.iter();
+
+            let mut s = match words.next().expect("words need to have >1 parts") {
+                ast::WordPart::Text(text) => Cow::from(*text),
+            };
+
+            for part in words {
+                match part {
+                    ast::WordPart::Text(text) => s.to_mut().push_str(text),
+                }
+            }
+
+            s
+        });
         let cmd = words.next().expect("words need to have >1 parts");
-        let args = words;
+        let args = words.collect();
         let redirect = command.1;
 
+        let kind = match shell.builtins().get(&cmd) {
+            Some(builtin) => CommandKind::Builtin(builtin),
+            None => CommandKind::External,
+        };
+
         PreparedCommand {
+            kind,
             cmd,
             args,
             redirect,
@@ -52,53 +81,87 @@ impl<'a> PreparedCommand<'a> {
     }
 
     /// Run this command with the given context.
-    fn spawn(self, pgid: &mut Pid) -> Result<Child, RuntimeError> {
-        let args = self.args.map(|w| match w {
+    fn spawn(self, shell: &mut Shell, pgid: &mut Pid) -> Result<(), RuntimeError> {
+        let pre_exec = {
+            let pgid = *pgid;
+            move || {
+                let _ = unistd::setpgid(Pid::from_raw(0), pgid);
+                let _ = unistd::tcsetpgrp(libc::STDIN_FILENO, unistd::getpid());
+
+                let default = SigAction::new(SigHandler::SigDfl, SaFlags::empty(), SigSet::empty());
+                unsafe {
+                    let _ = signal::sigaction(signal::Signal::SIGTSTP, &default);
+                    let _ = signal::sigaction(signal::Signal::SIGTTOU, &default);
+                }
+
+                Ok(())
+            }
+        };
+
+        let args = self.args.iter().map(|w| match w {
             Cow::Borrowed(s) => Cow::Borrowed(OsStr::new(s)),
             Cow::Owned(s) => Cow::Owned(OsString::from(s)),
         });
 
-        let mut cmd = Command::new(self.cmd.as_ref());
-        cmd.args(args);
-        cmd.stdin(self.stdin.map_or(Stdio::inherit(), Stdio::from));
-        cmd.stdout(self.stdout.map_or(Stdio::inherit(), Stdio::from));
-        cmd.stderr(self.stderr.map_or(Stdio::inherit(), Stdio::from));
-        cmd.process_group(pgid.as_raw());
+        let child = match self.kind {
+            CommandKind::External => {
+                let mut cmd = Command::new(self.cmd.as_ref());
+                cmd.args(args);
+                cmd.stdin(self.stdin.map_or(Stdio::inherit(), Stdio::from));
+                cmd.stdout(self.stdout.map_or(Stdio::inherit(), Stdio::from));
+                cmd.stderr(self.stderr.map_or(Stdio::inherit(), Stdio::from));
 
-        unsafe {
-            cmd.pre_exec(move || {
-                let _ = unistd::tcsetpgrp(libc::STDIN_FILENO, unistd::getpid());
+                unsafe {
+                    cmd.pre_exec(pre_exec);
+                }
 
-                let default = SigAction::new(SigHandler::SigDfl, SaFlags::empty(), SigSet::empty());
-                let _ = signal::sigaction(signal::Signal::SIGTSTP, &default);
-                let _ = signal::sigaction(signal::Signal::SIGTTOU, &default);
-
-                Ok(())
-            });
-        }
-
-        let child = match cmd.spawn() {
-            Ok(child) => child,
-            Err(err) => {
-                return Err(match err.kind() {
-                    io::ErrorKind::NotFound => RuntimeError::CommandNotFound(self.cmd.into_owned()),
-                    io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied => {
-                        RuntimeError::PermissionDenied(self.cmd.into_owned())
+                let child = match cmd.spawn() {
+                    Ok(child) => child,
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        return Err(match err.kind() {
+                            io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
+                                RuntimeError::CommandNotFound(self.cmd.into_owned())
+                            }
+                            io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied => {
+                                RuntimeError::PermissionDenied(self.cmd.into_owned())
+                            }
+                            _ => RuntimeError::SpawnFailed(err),
+                        })
                     }
-                    _ => RuntimeError::SpawnFailed(err),
-                })
+                };
+
+                Pid::from_raw(child.id() as i32)
+            }
+            CommandKind::Builtin(builtin) => {
+                match unsafe { unistd::fork() }.map_err(RuntimeError::ForkFailed)? {
+                    ForkResult::Parent { child } => child,
+                    ForkResult::Child => {
+                        fn redirect(old: Option<File>, new: RawFd) {
+                            if let Some(old) = old {
+                                let _ = unistd::dup2(old.as_raw_fd(), new);
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        redirect(self.stdin, libc::STDIN_FILENO);
+                        redirect(self.stdout, libc::STDOUT_FILENO);
+                        redirect(self.stderr, libc::STDERR_FILENO);
+
+                        let _ = pre_exec();
+                        (builtin.fun)(shell, &self.args);
+                        process::exit(0);
+                    }
+                }
             }
         };
 
-        let child_id = Pid::from_raw(child.id() as i32);
         if *pgid == Pid::from_raw(0) {
-            *pgid = child_id;
-        };
+            *pgid = child;
+        }
 
         // prevent race conditions
-        let _ = unistd::setpgid(child_id, *pgid);
+        let _ = unistd::setpgid(child, *pgid);
 
-        Ok(child)
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
 
@@ -109,10 +172,14 @@ impl Shell {
     ) -> Result<Status, RuntimeError> {
         let mut pgid = Pid::from_raw(0);
         let status = (|| {
-            let mut cmds = pipeline.0.iter().map(PreparedCommand::new);
+            let mut cmds = pipeline.0.iter();
 
-            let mut last_cmd = cmds.next().expect("pipelines need to have >1 commands");
-            for mut cmd in cmds {
+            let mut last_cmd = cmds
+                .next()
+                .map(|cmd| PreparedCommand::new(cmd, self))
+                .expect("pipelines need to have >1 commands");
+            for cmd in cmds {
+                let mut cmd = PreparedCommand::new(cmd, self);
                 let (output, input) = create_pipe()?;
                 cmd.stdin = Some(output);
 
@@ -121,12 +188,12 @@ impl Shell {
                     Redirect::Stdout => last_cmd.stdout = Some(input),
                 }
 
-                last_cmd.spawn(&mut pgid)?;
+                last_cmd.spawn(self, &mut pgid)?;
 
                 last_cmd = cmd;
             }
 
-            last_cmd.spawn(&mut pgid)?;
+            last_cmd.spawn(self, &mut pgid)?;
 
             wait_pgid(pgid)
         })();
@@ -170,28 +237,3 @@ fn create_pipe() -> Result<(File, File), RuntimeError> {
 
     Ok(unsafe { (File::from_raw_fd(output), File::from_raw_fd(input)) })
 }
-
-/// Build words from WordParts.
-struct WordBuilder<'a>(Iter<'a, ast::Word<'a>>);
-
-impl<'a> Iterator for WordBuilder<'a> {
-    type Item = Cow<'a, str>;
-
-    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
-        self.0.next().map(|word| {
-            let mut words = word.0.iter();
-
-            let mut s = match words.next().expect("words need to have >1 parts") {
-                ast::WordPart::Text(text) => Cow::from(*text),
-            };
-
-            for part in words {
-                match part {
-                    ast::WordPart::Text(text) => s.to_mut().push_str(text),
-                }
-            }
-
-            s
-        })
-    }
-}
diff --git a/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/pipeline.rs b/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/pipeline.rs
index 12755cd..c2669e4 100644
--- a/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/pipeline.rs
+++ b/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/pipeline.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use nix::{
     sys,
     unistd::{self, ForkResult},
 };
-use oyster_runtime::Shell;
+use oyster_runtime::{builtins::Builtin, Shell};
 
 // TODO: test signal return codes
 
@@ -170,3 +170,66 @@ fn multipart_word() {
 
     assert_snapshot!(actual);
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn simple_builtin() {
+    let ast = {
+        use oyster_parser::ast::*;
+
+        Code(vec![Statement::Pipeline(Pipeline(vec![Command(
+            vec![Word(vec![WordPart::Text("test_builtin")])],
+            Redirect::None,
+        )]))])
+    };
+
+    let actual = collect_output(|| {
+        let mut shell = Shell::new().unwrap();
+        shell.builtins_mut().add(Builtin {
+            name: "test_builtin",
+            description: "test",
+            fun: |_, _| {
+                // XXX: this is a workaround around libtest's use of io::set_output_capture
+                let _ = write!(std::io::stdout(), "this is a test\n");
+            },
+        });
+        shell.run(&ast).unwrap();
+    });
+
+    assert_snapshot!(actual);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn builtin_redirection() {
+    let ast = {
+        use oyster_parser::ast::*;
+
+        Code(vec![Statement::Pipeline(Pipeline(vec![
+            Command(
+                vec![Word(vec![WordPart::Text("test_builtin")])],
+                Redirect::Stdout,
+            ),
+            Command(
+                vec![
+                    Word(vec![WordPart::Text("wc")]),
+                    Word(vec![WordPart::Text("-c")]),
+                ],
+                Redirect::None,
+            ),
+        ]))])
+    };
+
+    let actual = collect_output(|| {
+        let mut shell = Shell::new().unwrap();
+        shell.builtins_mut().add(Builtin {
+            name: "test_builtin",
+            description: "test",
+            fun: |_, _| {
+                // XXX: this is a workaround around libtest's use of io::set_output_capture
+                let _ = write!(std::io::stdout(), "this is a test\n");
+            },
+        });
+        shell.run(&ast).unwrap();
+    });
+
+    assert_snapshot!(actual);
+}
diff --git a/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/snapshots/it__pipeline__builtin_redirection.snap b/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/snapshots/it__pipeline__builtin_redirection.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..351b518
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/snapshots/it__pipeline__builtin_redirection.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+source: crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/pipeline.rs
+expression: actual
+---
+"15\r\n"
diff --git a/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/snapshots/it__pipeline__simple_builtin.snap b/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/snapshots/it__pipeline__simple_builtin.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ad9b91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/snapshots/it__pipeline__simple_builtin.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+source: crates/oyster_runtime/tests/it/pipeline.rs
+expression: actual
+---
+"this is a test\r\n"