diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 4c17be6..c3bcc4c 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
-// The runnable entrypoint. Reads its configuration from the environment the host resolved for it,
-// connects the mesh broker, and serves the assigned modules' tools until stopped.
+// The runnable entrypoint. Two modes:
 //
-//   MESH_BROKER_URL     amqp://…               the mesh broker
-//   MESH_TOOL_MODULES   /path/a,/path/b,…      compiled tool entrypoints of the assigned modules
+//   mesh-tools                    serve — bind the broker and serve the assigned modules until
+//                                 stopped. A module entrypoint that subscribes to events (on("#"))
+//                                 starts consuming as it is imported, so this also runs consumers.
+//   mesh-tools emit TYPE [JSON]   emit one event onto the mesh and exit — an operable primitive,
+//                                 and what an events test uses to put a message on the wire.
+//
+//   MESH_BROKER_URL     amqp://…               the mesh broker (both modes)
+//   MESH_TOOL_MODULES   /path/a,/path/b,…      compiled module entrypoints (serve mode)
+//   MESH_MODULE / MESH_NODE                    the identity stamped onto emitted events (ADR 0047)
 
 import { connectAmqp } from "./broker-amqp.js";
 import { runTools } from "./runtime.js";
+import { useBroker } from "@novox/mesh-sdk/messaging";
+import { emit } from "@novox/mesh-sdk/events";
 
-async function main(): Promise<void> {
+async function serve(): Promise<void> {
   const url = requireEnv("MESH_BROKER_URL");
   const moduleEntrypoints = (process.env.MESH_TOOL_MODULES ?? "")
     .split(",")
@@ -26,6 +34,38 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   process.on("SIGINT", () => void shutdown());
 }
 
+async function emitOnce(type: string, bodyJson: string): Promise<void> {
+  const url = requireEnv("MESH_BROKER_URL");
+  let body: unknown = {};
+  if (bodyJson) {
+    try {
+      body = JSON.parse(bodyJson);
+    } catch {
+      console.error(`mesh-tools emit: body is not JSON: ${bodyJson}`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  }
+  const broker = await connectAmqp(url);
+  useBroker(() => broker);
+  // emit awaits the broker's publish confirm (ADR 0047), so the event is accepted before we close.
+  await emit(type, body);
+  await broker.close();
+}
+
+async function main(): Promise<void> {
+  const [command, ...rest] = process.argv.slice(2);
+  if (command === "emit") {
+    const type = rest[0];
+    if (!type) {
+      console.error("mesh-tools emit <type> [json-body] — a routing key is required");
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+    await emitOnce(type, rest[1] ?? "");
+    return;
+  }
+  await serve();
+}
+
 function requireEnv(name: string): string {
   const v = process.env[name];
   if (!v) {