diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 9145c59c7..8727e3bb2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@ jobs:
         if: ${{ matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest' }}
         # ^^ only on one platform as wasteful otherwise
 
+      - run: |
+          pkgx -Q hyperfine
+          ! test -d ~/.pkgx/crates.io/hyperfine
+          ! pkgx -Q flubber-flubber
+
       - run: if [ $(find ~/.pkgx -name .tmp\* -type d | wc -l) -gt 0 ]; then
             exit 1;
           fi
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d463e44d7..78af1b595 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
 
 [![coverage][]][coveralls] [![teaRank][]](https://tea.xyz)
 
+> [!INFO]
+> You just want your shit to work and we want that too. We pride ourselves
+> on packaging things as well as possible because we want you to change the
+> world with what you build upon the *best* base we can give you.
+
  
 
 ### Quickstart
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/args.rs b/crates/cli/src/args.rs
index 2a9e3ea14..52874f6b2 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/args.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/args.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ pub enum Mode {
     X,
     Help,
     Version,
+    Query,
 }
 
 pub struct Flags {
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ pub fn parse() -> Args {
                 "--help" => mode = Mode::Help,
                 "--version" => mode = Mode::Version,
                 "--quiet" => quiet = true,
+                "--query" => mode = Mode::Query,
                 "--shellcode" => {
                     if !silent {
                         eprintln!("{}", style("⨯ migration required").red());
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ pub fn parse() -> Args {
                     'j' => json = true,
                     'v' => version_n_continue = true,
                     '!' => shebang = true,
+                    'Q' => mode = Mode::Query,
                     _ => panic!("unknown argument: -{}", c),
                 }
             }
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/main.rs b/crates/cli/src/main.rs
index de87aded1..85532ec48 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/main.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 mod args;
 mod execve;
 mod help;
+mod query;
+mod setup;
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
@@ -9,7 +11,6 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, error::Error, fmt::Write, sync::Arc, time::Durat
 use execve::execve;
 use indicatif::{ProgressBar, ProgressState, ProgressStyle};
 use libpkgx::{
-    config::Config,
     env::{self, construct_platform_case_aware_env_key},
     hydrate::hydrate,
     install_multi, pantry_db,
@@ -45,31 +46,14 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
             println!("pkgx {}", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"));
             return Ok(());
         }
+        args::Mode::Query => {
+            let (conn, _, _, _) = setup::setup(&flags).await?;
+            return query::query(&args, flags.silent, &conn);
+        }
         args::Mode::X => (),
     }
 
-    let config = Config::new()?;
-
-    std::fs::create_dir_all(config.pantry_db_file.parent().unwrap())?;
-    let mut conn = Connection::open(&config.pantry_db_file)?;
-
-    let spinner = if flags.silent || flags.quiet {
-        None
-    } else {
-        let spinner = indicatif::ProgressBar::new_spinner();
-        spinner.enable_steady_tick(Duration::from_millis(100));
-        Some(spinner)
-    };
-
-    let did_sync = if sync::should(&config)? {
-        if let Some(spinner) = &spinner {
-            spinner.set_message("syncing pkg-db…");
-        }
-        sync::ensure(&config, &mut conn).await?;
-        true
-    } else {
-        false
-    };
+    let (mut conn, did_sync, config, spinner) = setup::setup(&flags).await?;
 
     if let Some(spinner) = &spinner {
         spinner.set_message("resolving pkg graph…");
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/query.rs b/crates/cli/src/query.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c41844608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/cli/src/query.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+use std::error::Error;
+
+use libpkgx::pantry_db;
+use rusqlite::Connection;
+
+pub fn query(args: &Vec<String>, silent: bool, conn: &Connection) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut fail = false;
+    for arg in args {
+        let projects = pantry_db::which(arg, conn)?;
+        if projects.is_empty() && silent {
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        } else if projects.is_empty() {
+            println!("{} not found", arg);
+            fail = true;
+        } else if !silent {
+            println!("{}", projects.join(", "));
+        }
+    }
+    if fail {
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/setup.rs b/crates/cli/src/setup.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2925c53b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/cli/src/setup.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use indicatif::ProgressBar;
+use libpkgx::{config::Config, sync};
+use rusqlite::Connection;
+
+use crate::args::Flags;
+
+pub async fn setup(
+    flags: &Flags,
+) -> Result<(Connection, bool, Config, Option<ProgressBar>), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    let config = Config::new()?;
+
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(config.pantry_db_file.parent().unwrap())?;
+    let mut conn = Connection::open(&config.pantry_db_file)?;
+
+    let spinner = if flags.silent || flags.quiet {
+        None
+    } else {
+        let spinner = indicatif::ProgressBar::new_spinner();
+        spinner.enable_steady_tick(Duration::from_millis(100));
+        Some(spinner)
+    };
+
+    let did_sync = if sync::should(&config)? {
+        if let Some(spinner) = &spinner {
+            spinner.set_message("syncing pkg-db…");
+        }
+        sync::ensure(&config, &mut conn).await?;
+        true
+    } else {
+        false
+    };
+
+    Ok((conn, did_sync, config, spinner))
+}