diff --git a/cmd/mkuimage/main.go b/cmd/mkuimage/main.go
index 7bfed17..58947f5 100644
--- a/cmd/mkuimage/main.go
+++ b/cmd/mkuimage/main.go
@@ -55,23 +55,14 @@ func checkArgs(args ...string) error {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	log.SetFlags(log.Ltime)
 	if err := checkArgs(os.Args...); err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	var sh string
-	if golang.Default().GOOS != "plan9" {
-		sh = "gosh"
-	}
-
 	env := golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO())
 	f := &mkuimage.Flags{
-		Commands: mkuimage.CommandFlags{
-			Builder:   "bb",
-			BuildOpts: &golang.BuildOpts{},
-		},
-		Init:          "init",
-		Shell:         sh,
+		Commands:      mkuimage.CommandFlags{Builder: "bb"},
 		ArchiveFormat: "cpio",
 		OutputFile:    defaultFile(env),
 	}
@@ -79,14 +70,18 @@ func main() {
 
 	l := llog.Default()
 	l.RegisterVerboseFlag(flag.CommandLine, "v", slog.LevelDebug)
+
+	tf := &mkuimage.TemplateFlags{}
+	tf.RegisterFlags(flag.CommandLine)
 	flag.Parse()
 
+	// Set defaults.
 	m := []uimage.Modifier{
 		uimage.WithReplaceEnv(env),
 		uimage.WithBaseArchive(uimage.DefaultRamfs()),
 		uimage.WithCPIOOutput(defaultFile(env)),
 	}
-	if err := mkuimage.CreateUimage(l, m, f, flag.Args()); err != nil {
+	if err := mkuimage.CreateUimage(l, m, tf, f, flag.Args()); err != nil {
 		l.Errorf("mkuimage error: %v", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mkuimage/main_test.go b/cmd/mkuimage/main_test.go
index f53a47d..7aca4bc 100644
--- a/cmd/mkuimage/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mkuimage/main_test.go
@@ -233,15 +233,6 @@ func TestUrootCmdline(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			exitCode: 1,
 		},
-		{
-			name: "build invalid",
-			args: []string{
-				"-build=source",
-				"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
-				"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/echo",
-			},
-			exitCode: 1,
-		},
 		{
 			name: "arch invalid preserves temp dir",
 			env:  []string{"GOARCH=doesnotexist"},
@@ -263,6 +254,56 @@ func TestUrootCmdline(t *testing.T) {
 			exitCode:   1,
 			wantOutput: dirExists(tempDir),
 		},
+		{
+			name: "template config",
+			args: []string{"-config-file=./testdata/test-config.yaml", "-v", "-config=coreconf"},
+			validators: []itest.ArchiveValidator{
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.CharDev("dev/tty", 0o666, 5, 0)},
+				itest.HasFile{Path: "bbin/bb"},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bbin/echo", "bb")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bbin/ip", "bb")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bbin/init", "bb")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("init", "bbin/init")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bin/sh", "../bbin/echo")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bin/uinit", "../bbin/echo")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bin/defaultsh", "../bbin/echo")},
+				itest.HasContent{
+					Path:    "etc/uinit.flags",
+					Content: "\"script.sh\"",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "template command",
+			args: []string{"-config-file=./testdata/test-config.yaml", "-v", "core"},
+			validators: []itest.ArchiveValidator{
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.CharDev("dev/tty", 0o666, 5, 0)},
+				itest.HasFile{Path: "bbin/bb"},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bbin/echo", "bb")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bbin/ip", "bb")},
+				itest.HasRecord{R: cpio.Symlink("bbin/init", "bb")},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "template config not found",
+			args:     []string{"-config-file=./testdata/test-config.yaml", "-v", "-config=foobar"},
+			exitCode: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "builder not found",
+			args:     []string{"-v", "build=source"},
+			exitCode: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "template file not found",
+			args:     []string{"-v", "-config-file=./testdata/doesnotexist"},
+			exitCode: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "config not found with no default template",
+			args:     []string{"-v", "-config=foo"},
+			exitCode: 1,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range append(noCmdTests, bareTests...) {
diff --git a/cmd/mkuimage/testdata/test-config.yaml b/cmd/mkuimage/testdata/test-config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c30b2ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mkuimage/testdata/test-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+commands:
+  core:
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/ip
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/echo
+
+  minimal:
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/ls
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init
+
+  plan9:
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/ls
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init
+    - github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/cat
+
+configs:
+  plan9:
+    goarch: amd64
+    goos: plan9
+    build_tags: [grpcnotrace]
+    files:
+      - /bin/bash
+    init: init
+    uinit: cat script.sh
+    shell: cat
+    commands:
+      - builder: bb
+        commands: [plan9]
+
+  coreconf:
+    build_tags: [grpcnotrace]
+    init: init
+    uinit: echo script.sh
+    shell: echo
+    commands:
+      - builder: bb
+        commands: [core, minimal]
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 96372d8..084726a 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ go 1.21
 
 require (
 	github.com/dustin/go-humanize v1.0.1
+	github.com/google/go-cmp v0.5.9
 	github.com/hugelgupf/go-shlex v0.0.0-20200702092117-c80c9d0918fa
 	github.com/u-root/gobusybox/src v0.0.0-20240218001334-a32c1883bffa
 	github.com/u-root/u-root v0.12.0
diff --git a/uimage/mkuimage/cmd.go b/uimage/mkuimage/cmd.go
index d91efe3..1f4dc88 100644
--- a/uimage/mkuimage/cmd.go
+++ b/uimage/mkuimage/cmd.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage"
 	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/builder"
+	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/templates"
 	"github.com/u-root/uio/llog"
 )
 
@@ -31,8 +32,37 @@ func isRecommendedVersion(v string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// CreateUimage creates a uimage from the given base modifiers and flags.
-func CreateUimage(l *llog.Logger, base []uimage.Modifier, f *Flags, args []string) error {
+func uimageOpts(l *llog.Logger, m []uimage.Modifier, tpl *templates.Templates, f *Flags, conf string, cmds []string) (*uimage.Opts, error) {
+	// Evaluate template first -- template settings may always be
+	// appended/overridden by further flag-based settings.
+	if conf != "" {
+		mods, err := tpl.Uimage(conf)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		l.Debugf("Config: %#v", tpl.Configs[conf])
+		m = append(m, mods...)
+	}
+
+	// Expand command templates.
+	if tpl != nil {
+		cmds = tpl.CommandsFor(cmds...)
+	}
+
+	more, err := f.Modifiers(cmds...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return uimage.OptionsFor(append(m, more...)...)
+}
+
+// CreateUimage creates a uimage with the given base modifiers and flags, using args as the list of commands.
+func CreateUimage(l *llog.Logger, base []uimage.Modifier, tf *TemplateFlags, f *Flags, args []string) error {
+	tpl, err := tf.Get()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get template: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	keepTempDir := f.KeepTempDir
 	if f.TempDir == "" {
 		var err error
@@ -53,13 +83,7 @@ func CreateUimage(l *llog.Logger, base []uimage.Modifier, f *Flags, args []strin
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Set defaults.
-	more, err := f.Modifiers(args...)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	opts, err := uimage.OptionsFor(append(base, more...)...)
+	opts, err := uimageOpts(l, base, tpl, f, tf.Config, args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -70,6 +94,7 @@ func CreateUimage(l *llog.Logger, base []uimage.Modifier, f *Flags, args []strin
 	if env.GOOS != "linux" {
 		l.Warnf("GOOS is not linux. Did you mean to set GOOS=linux?")
 	}
+
 	v, err := env.Version()
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Infof("Could not get environment's Go version, using runtime's version: %v", err)
diff --git a/uimage/mkuimage/cmd_test.go b/uimage/mkuimage/cmd_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03febfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/uimage/mkuimage/cmd_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+// Copyright 2024 the u-root Authors. All rights reserved
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package mkuimage
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
+	"github.com/u-root/gobusybox/src/pkg/golang"
+	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage"
+	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/builder"
+	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/initramfs"
+	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/templates"
+	"github.com/u-root/uio/llog"
+)
+
+func TestOpts(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		name string
+		m    []uimage.Modifier
+		tpl  *templates.Templates
+		f    *Flags
+		conf string
+		cmds []string
+		opts *uimage.Opts
+		err  error
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "cmdline only",
+			m: []uimage.Modifier{
+				uimage.WithReplaceEnv(golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO())),
+				uimage.WithCPIOOutput("/tmp/initramfs.cpio"),
+				uimage.WithTempDir("foo"),
+			},
+			f: &Flags{
+				Commands:      CommandFlags{Builder: "bb", Mod: "readonly"},
+				ArchiveFormat: "cpio",
+				Init:          "init",
+				Uinit:         "gosh script.sh",
+				OutputFile:    "./foo.cpio",
+				Files:         []string{"/bin/bash"},
+			},
+			cmds: []string{
+				"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
+				"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/gosh",
+			},
+			opts: &uimage.Opts{
+				Env:        golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO()),
+				InitCmd:    "init",
+				UinitCmd:   "gosh",
+				UinitArgs:  []string{"script.sh"},
+				OutputFile: &initramfs.CPIOFile{Path: "./foo.cpio"},
+				ExtraFiles: []string{"/bin/bash"},
+				TempDir:    "foo",
+				Commands: []uimage.Commands{
+					{
+						Builder: &builder.GBBBuilder{},
+						Packages: []string{
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/gosh",
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "template and cmdline combo",
+			m: []uimage.Modifier{
+				uimage.WithReplaceEnv(golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO())),
+				uimage.WithCPIOOutput("/tmp/initramfs.cpio"),
+				uimage.WithTempDir("foo"),
+			},
+			tpl: &templates.Templates{
+				Configs: map[string]templates.Config{
+					"plan9": templates.Config{
+						GOOS:      "plan9",
+						GOARCH:    "amd64",
+						BuildTags: []string{"grpcnotrace"},
+						Uinit:     "gosh script.sh",
+						Files:     []string{"foobar"},
+						Commands: []templates.Command{
+							{
+								Builder: "bb",
+								Commands: []string{
+									"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/gosh",
+								},
+							},
+							{
+								Builder: "binary",
+								Commands: []string{
+									"cmd/test2json",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			conf: "plan9",
+			f: &Flags{
+				Commands:      CommandFlags{Builder: "bb", Mod: "readonly"},
+				ArchiveFormat: "cpio",
+				Init:          "init",
+				Uinit:         "cat",
+				OutputFile:    "./foo.cpio",
+				Files:         []string{"/bin/bash"},
+			},
+			cmds: []string{
+				"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
+				"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/cat",
+			},
+			opts: &uimage.Opts{
+				Env:        golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO(), golang.WithGOOS("plan9"), golang.WithGOARCH("amd64"), golang.WithBuildTag("grpcnotrace")),
+				InitCmd:    "init",
+				UinitCmd:   "cat",
+				OutputFile: &initramfs.CPIOFile{Path: "./foo.cpio"},
+				ExtraFiles: []string{"foobar", "/bin/bash"},
+				TempDir:    "foo",
+				Commands: []uimage.Commands{
+					{
+						Builder: &builder.GBBBuilder{},
+						Packages: []string{
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/gosh",
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/cat",
+						},
+					},
+					{
+						Builder: builder.Binary,
+						Packages: []string{
+							"cmd/test2json",
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "expand cmdline config",
+			m: []uimage.Modifier{
+				uimage.WithReplaceEnv(golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO())),
+				uimage.WithCPIOOutput("/tmp/initramfs.cpio"),
+				uimage.WithTempDir("foo"),
+			},
+			f: &Flags{
+				Commands:      CommandFlags{Builder: "bb", Mod: "readonly"},
+				ArchiveFormat: "cpio",
+				OutputFile:    "./foo.cpio",
+				Files:         []string{"/bin/bash"},
+			},
+			tpl: &templates.Templates{
+				Commands: map[string][]string{
+					"core": []string{
+						"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
+						"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/gosh",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			cmds: []string{"core", "github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/cat"},
+			opts: &uimage.Opts{
+				Env:        golang.Default(golang.DisableCGO()),
+				OutputFile: &initramfs.CPIOFile{Path: "./foo.cpio"},
+				ExtraFiles: []string{"/bin/bash"},
+				TempDir:    "foo",
+				Commands: []uimage.Commands{
+					{
+						Builder: &builder.GBBBuilder{},
+						Packages: []string{
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/init",
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/gosh",
+							"github.com/u-root/u-root/cmds/core/cat",
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			opts, err := uimageOpts(llog.Test(t), tt.m, tt.tpl, tt.f, tt.conf, tt.cmds)
+			if !errors.Is(err, tt.err) {
+				t.Errorf("opts = %v, want %v", err, tt.err)
+			}
+			if diff := cmp.Diff(opts, tt.opts, cmpopts.IgnoreFields(uimage.Opts{}, "BaseArchive")); diff != "" {
+				t.Errorf("opts (-got, +want) = %v", diff)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/uimage/mkuimage/uflags.go b/uimage/mkuimage/uflags.go
index 317c96d..7ae9e1c 100644
--- a/uimage/mkuimage/uflags.go
+++ b/uimage/mkuimage/uflags.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/u-root/gobusybox/src/pkg/uflag"
 	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage"
 	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/builder"
+	"github.com/u-root/mkuimage/uimage/templates"
 )
 
 // CommandFlags are flags related to Go commands to be built by mkuimage.
@@ -147,3 +148,29 @@ func (f *Flags) RegisterFlags(fs *flag.FlagSet) {
 
 	f.Commands.RegisterFlags(fs)
 }
+
+// TemplateFlags are flags for uimage config templates.
+type TemplateFlags struct {
+	File   string
+	Config string
+}
+
+// RegisterFlags registers template flags.
+func (tc *TemplateFlags) RegisterFlags(f *flag.FlagSet) {
+	f.StringVar(&tc.Config, "config", "", "Config to pick from templates")
+	f.StringVar(&tc.File, "config-file", "", "Config file to read from (default: finds .mkuimage.yaml in cwd or parents)")
+}
+
+// Get turns template flags into templates.
+func (tc *TemplateFlags) Get() (*templates.Templates, error) {
+	if tc.File != "" {
+		return templates.TemplateFromFile(tc.File)
+	}
+
+	tpl, err := templates.Template()
+	// Only complain about not finding a template if user requested a templated config.
+	if err != nil && tc.Config != "" {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return tpl, nil
+}
diff --git a/uimage/templates/templates.go b/uimage/templates/templates.go
index 86a9167..5788e6f 100644
--- a/uimage/templates/templates.go
+++ b/uimage/templates/templates.go
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ type Templates struct {
 
 // Uimage returns the uimage modifiers for the given templated config name.
 func (t *Templates) Uimage(config string) ([]uimage.Modifier, error) {
+	if config == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if t == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: no templates parsed", ErrTemplateNotExist)
+	}
 	c, ok := t.Configs[config]
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", ErrTemplateNotExist, config)
@@ -97,6 +103,9 @@ func (t *Templates) Uimage(config string) ([]uimage.Modifier, error) {
 
 // CommandsFor expands commands according to command templates.
 func (t *Templates) CommandsFor(names ...string) []string {
+	if t == nil {
+		return names
+	}
 	var c []string
 	for _, name := range names {
 		cmds, ok := t.Commands[name]
diff --git a/uimage/templates/templates_test.go b/uimage/templates/templates_test.go
index fd45477..b87bb92 100644
--- a/uimage/templates/templates_test.go
+++ b/uimage/templates/templates_test.go
@@ -99,6 +99,16 @@ configs:
 			config: "plan10",
 			err:    ErrTemplateNotExist,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "no config",
+			tpl: `
+configs:
+  plan9:
+    goarch: amd64
+    goos: plan9
+`,
+			config: "",
+		},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			tpl, err := TemplateFrom([]byte(tt.tpl))
diff --git a/uimage/uimage.go b/uimage/uimage.go
index dc4d005..2bc88f6 100644
--- a/uimage/uimage.go
+++ b/uimage/uimage.go
@@ -528,6 +528,8 @@ func WithUinitCommand(cmd string) Modifier {
 		}
 		if len(args) > 1 {
 			opts.UinitArgs = args[1:]
+		} else {
+			opts.UinitArgs = nil
 		}
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -542,6 +544,9 @@ func WithUinitCommand(cmd string) Modifier {
 // and append arguments from both the kernel command-line
 // (uroot.uinitargs) as well as those specified in cmd.
 func WithUinit(arg0 string, args ...string) Modifier {
+	if arg0 == "" && len(args) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return func(opts *Opts) error {
 		opts.UinitCmd = arg0
 		opts.UinitArgs = args
@@ -554,6 +559,9 @@ func WithUinit(arg0 string, args ...string) Modifier {
 // This can be an absolute path or the name of a command included in
 // Commands.
 func WithInit(arg0 string) Modifier {
+	if arg0 == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return func(opts *Opts) error {
 		opts.InitCmd = arg0
 		return nil
@@ -566,6 +574,9 @@ func WithInit(arg0 string) Modifier {
 // This can be an absolute path or the name of a command included in
 // Commands.
 func WithShell(arg0 string) Modifier {
+	if arg0 == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return func(opts *Opts) error {
 		opts.DefaultShell = arg0
 		return nil