diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 704215a27f4..ac93e91674f 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -64,6 +64,16 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
             .{ .name = "cli", .module = b.createModule(.{ .root_source_file = b.path("src/cli.zig") }) },
         },
     );
+
+    const libroc = b.addStaticLibrary(.{
+        .name = "roc",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/lib.zig"),
+        .target = target,
+        // don't include a lot of extra symbols
+        .optimize = .ReleaseSmall,
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(libroc);
 }
 
 fn add_fuzz_target(
diff --git a/src/lib.zig b/src/lib.zig
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3f3de1664fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const mem = std.mem;
+const Allocator = std.mem.Allocator;
+
+export fn roc_check(path: *const c_char) i32 {
+
+    // TODO implement `roc check` for libroc
+    _ = path;
+
+    return 0;
+}