diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1b0df8a2..79561957 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ func main() {
 		psCommand,
 		restoreCommand,
 		resumeCommand,
+		runCommand,
 		specCommand,
-		startCommand,
 		stateCommand,
 		updateCommand,
 	}
diff --git a/main_unix.go b/main_unix.go
index 7bbec9fa..da14caba 100644
--- a/main_unix.go
+++ b/main_unix.go
@@ -2,4 +2,32 @@
 
 package main
 
-import _ "github.com/opencontainers/runc/libcontainer/nsenter"
+import (
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+
+	"github.com/codegangsta/cli"
+	"github.com/opencontainers/runc/libcontainer"
+	_ "github.com/opencontainers/runc/libcontainer/nsenter"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	if len(os.Args) > 1 && os.Args[1] == "init" {
+		runtime.GOMAXPROCS(1)
+		runtime.LockOSThread()
+	}
+}
+
+var initCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:  "init",
+	Usage: `initialize the namespaces and launch the process (do not call it outside of runc)`,
+	Action: func(context *cli.Context) {
+		factory, _ := libcontainer.New("")
+		if err := factory.StartInitialization(); err != nil {
+			// as the error is sent back to the parent there is no need to log
+			// or write it to stderr because the parent process will handle this
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		panic("libcontainer: container init failed to exec")
+	},
+}
diff --git a/start.go b/run.go
similarity index 79%
rename from start.go
rename to run.go
index cf9392c2..d999f49c 100644
--- a/start.go
+++ b/run.go
@@ -5,24 +5,22 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"runtime"
 
 	"github.com/codegangsta/cli"
 	"github.com/coreos/go-systemd/activation"
-	"github.com/opencontainers/runc/libcontainer"
 	"github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 )
 
 // default action is to start a container
-var startCommand = cli.Command{
-	Name:  "start",
+var runCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:  "run",
 	Usage: "create and run a container",
 	ArgsUsage: `<container-id>
 
 Where "<container-id>" is your name for the instance of the container that you
 are starting. The name you provide for the container instance must be unique on
 your host.`,
-	Description: `The start command creates an instance of a container for a bundle. The bundle
+	Description: `The run command creates an instance of a container for a bundle. The bundle
 is a directory with a specification file named "` + specConfig + `" and a root
 filesystem.
 
@@ -90,27 +88,6 @@ command(s) that get executed on start, edit the args parameter of the spec. See
 	},
 }
 
-func init() {
-	if len(os.Args) > 1 && os.Args[1] == "init" {
-		runtime.GOMAXPROCS(1)
-		runtime.LockOSThread()
-	}
-}
-
-var initCommand = cli.Command{
-	Name:  "init",
-	Usage: `initialize the namespaces and launch the process (do not call it outside of runc)`,
-	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
-		factory, _ := libcontainer.New("")
-		if err := factory.StartInitialization(); err != nil {
-			// as the error is sent back to the parent there is no need to log
-			// or write it to stderr because the parent process will handle this
-			os.Exit(1)
-		}
-		panic("libcontainer: container init failed to exec")
-	},
-}
-
 func startContainer(context *cli.Context, spec *specs.Spec) (int, error) {
 	id := context.Args().First()
 	if id == "" {
diff --git a/tests/integration/cgroups.bats b/tests/integration/cgroups.bats
index 0f98514f..c415d5da 100644
--- a/tests/integration/cgroups.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/cgroups.bats
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ EOF
     DATA=$(echo ${DATA} | sed 's/\n/\\n/g')
     sed -i "s/\(\"resources\": {\)/\1\n${DATA}/" ${BUSYBOX_BUNDLE}/config.json
 
-    # start a detached busybox to work with
-    runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_cgroups_kmem
+    # run a detached busybox to work with
+    runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_cgroups_kmem
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     wait_for_container 15 1 test_cgroups_kmem
 
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ EOF
     # Add cgroup path
     sed -i 's/\("linux": {\)/\1\n    "cgroupsPath": "runc-cgroups-integration-test",/'  ${BUSYBOX_BUNDLE}/config.json
 
-    # start a detached busybox to work with
-    runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_cgroups_kmem
+    # run a detached busybox to work with
+    runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_cgroups_kmem
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     wait_for_container 15 1 test_cgroups_kmem
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/checkpoint.bats b/tests/integration/checkpoint.bats
index 97194d03..4a369396 100644
--- a/tests/integration/checkpoint.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/checkpoint.bats
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ function teardown() {
   sed -i 's/"sh"/"sh","-c","while :; do date; sleep 1; done"/' config.json
 
   (
-    # start busybox (not detached)
-    runc start test_busybox
+    # run busybox (not detached)
+    runc run test_busybox
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   ) &
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/debug.bats b/tests/integration/debug.bats
index 5473b4b6..971bc7e1 100644
--- a/tests/integration/debug.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/debug.bats
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "global --debug" {
-  # start hello-world
-  runc --debug start test_hello
+  # run hello-world
+  runc --debug run test_hello
   echo "${output}"
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 }
 
 @test "global --debug to --log" {
-  # start hello-world
-  runc --log log.out --debug start test_hello
+  # run hello-world
+  runc --log log.out --debug run test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check output does not include debug info
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "global --debug to --log --log-format 'text'" {
-  # start hello-world
-  runc --log log.out --log-format "text" --debug start test_hello
+  # run hello-world
+  runc --log log.out --log-format "text" --debug run test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check output does not include debug info
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "global --debug to --log --log-format 'json'" {
-  # start hello-world
-  runc --log log.out --log-format "json" --debug start test_hello
+  # run hello-world
+  runc --log log.out --log-format "json" --debug run test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check output does not include debug info
diff --git a/tests/integration/delete.bats b/tests/integration/delete.bats
index ec102b79..8e0e2948 100644
--- a/tests/integration/delete.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/delete.bats
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "runc delete" {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
diff --git a/tests/integration/events.bats b/tests/integration/events.bats
index 81d245c9..18855d5e 100644
--- a/tests/integration/events.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/events.bats
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "events --stats" {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "events --interval default " {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "events --interval 1s " {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "events --interval 100ms " {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
diff --git a/tests/integration/help.bats b/tests/integration/help.bats
index d7d873b3..61a62d8b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/help.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/help.bats
@@ -64,7 +64,11 @@ load helpers
   runc start -h
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   [[ ${lines[1]} =~ runc\ start+ ]]
-
+  
+  runc run -h
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+  [[ ${lines[1]} =~ runc\ run+ ]]
+  
   runc state -h
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   [[ ${lines[1]} =~ runc\ state+ ]]
diff --git a/tests/integration/kill.bats b/tests/integration/kill.bats
index ccc03545..e688db00 100644
--- a/tests/integration/kill.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/kill.bats
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ function teardown() {
 
 @test "kill detached busybox" {
 
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
diff --git a/tests/integration/list.bats b/tests/integration/list.bats
index 4caff04b..c63a9aa4 100644
--- a/tests/integration/list.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/list.bats
@@ -18,16 +18,16 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "list" {
-  # start a few busyboxes detached
-  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_box1
+  # run a few busyboxes detached
+  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_box1
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   wait_for_container_inroot 15 1 test_box1 $HELLO_BUNDLE
 
-  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_box2
+  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_box2
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   wait_for_container_inroot 15 1 test_box2 $HELLO_BUNDLE
 
-  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_box3
+  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_box3
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   wait_for_container_inroot 15 1 test_box3 $HELLO_BUNDLE
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/pause.bats b/tests/integration/pause.bats
index 94ad3fc0..ed12f4a6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/pause.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/pause.bats
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "runc pause and resume" {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   wait_for_container 15 1 test_busybox
diff --git a/tests/integration/root.bats b/tests/integration/root.bats
index 8ee79996..f4a7ff0d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/root.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/root.bats
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ function teardown() {
 }
 
 @test "global --root" {
-  # start busybox detached using $HELLO_BUNDLE for state
-  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_dotbox
+  # run busybox detached using $HELLO_BUNDLE for state
+  ROOT=$HELLO_BUNDLE runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_dotbox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
-  # start busybox detached in default root
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached in default root
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state of the busyboxes are only in their respective root path
diff --git a/tests/integration/spec.bats b/tests/integration/spec.bats
index ef29710a..c0c2537b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/spec.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/spec.bats
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ function teardown() {
   # change the default args parameter from sh to hello
   sed -i 's;"sh";"/hello";' config.json
 
-  # ensure the generated spec works by starting hello-world
-  runc start test_hello
+  # ensure the generated spec works by running hello-world
+  runc run test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 }
 
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ function teardown() {
   # change the default args parameter from sh to hello
   sed -i 's;"sh";"/hello";' "$HELLO_BUNDLE"/config.json
 
-  # ensure the generated spec works by starting hello-world
-  runc start --bundle "$HELLO_BUNDLE" test_hello
+  # ensure the generated spec works by running hello-world
+  runc run --bundle "$HELLO_BUNDLE" test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/start_detached.bats b/tests/integration/start_detached.bats
index c88fbae1..e9df8e8b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/start_detached.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/start_detached.bats
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ function teardown() {
   teardown_busybox
 }
 
-@test "runc start detached" {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+@test "runc run detached" {
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ function teardown() {
   testcontainer test_busybox running
 }
 
-@test "runc start detached --pid-file" {
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start --pid-file pid.txt -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+@test "runc run detached --pid-file" {
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run --pid-file pid.txt -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
diff --git a/tests/integration/start_hello.bats b/tests/integration/start_hello.bats
index bba51771..cddc2be3 100644
--- a/tests/integration/start_hello.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/start_hello.bats
@@ -11,30 +11,30 @@ function teardown() {
   teardown_hello
 }
 
-@test "runc start" {
-  # start hello-world
-  runc start test_hello
+@test "runc run" {
+  # run hello-world
+  runc run test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check expected output
   [[ "${output}" == *"Hello"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "runc start with rootfs set to ." {
+@test "runc run with rootfs set to ." {
   cp config.json rootfs/.
   rm config.json
   cd rootfs
   sed -i 's;"rootfs";".";' config.json
 
-  # start hello-world
-  runc start test_hello
+  # run hello-world
+  runc run test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   [[ "${output}" == *"Hello"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "runc start --pid-file" {
-  # start hello-world
-  runc start --pid-file pid.txt test_hello
+@test "runc run --pid-file" {
+  # run hello-world
+  runc run --pid-file pid.txt test_hello
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
   [[ "${output}" == *"Hello"* ]]
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/state.bats b/tests/integration/state.bats
index 697bd495..582986d3 100644
--- a/tests/integration/state.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/state.bats
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ function teardown() {
   runc state test_busybox
   [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
 
-  # start busybox detached
-  runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
+  # run busybox detached
+  runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_busybox
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
 
   # check state
diff --git a/tests/integration/update.bats b/tests/integration/update.bats
index 991accd6..bd164d19 100644
--- a/tests/integration/update.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/update.bats
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ function check_cgroup_value() {
 }
 
 @test "update" {
-    # start a few busyboxes detached
-    runc start -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_update
+    # run a few busyboxes detached
+    runc run -d --console /dev/pts/ptmx test_update
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     wait_for_container 15 1 test_update