diff --git a/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/TestIOClientCommand.java b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/TestIOClientCommand.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52128e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/foo/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/foo/TestIOClientCommand.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.foo;
+
+import org.apache.karaf.shell.commands.Command;
+import org.onlab.onos.cli.AbstractShellCommand;
+
+import static org.onlab.onos.foo.IOLoopTestClient.startStandalone;
+
+/**
+ * Starts the test IO loop client.
+ */
+@Command(scope = "onos", name = "test-io-client",
+         description = "Starts the test IO loop client")
+public class TestIOClientCommand extends AbstractShellCommand {
+
+    @Override
+    protected void execute() {
+        try {
+            startStandalone(new String[]{});
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            error("Unable to start server %s", e);
+        }
+    }
+
+}