diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0ddaaf7..29a8609 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 verify:
 	@python3 -m compileall -q src tests && python3 -m unittest discover -s tests -q && echo "verification passed"
+
+run:
+	FLASK_APP=app flask run
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 446f734..7b68822 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
 # typosaurus-sandbox
 
-Sandbox for Typosaurus end-to-end verification
\ No newline at end of file
+Sandbox for Typosaurus end-to-end verification
+
+## Running the web app
+
+```bash
+make run
+```
+
+The development server starts at http://127.0.0.1:5000.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index 95ee7c3..7747cd6 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
 # retoor <retoor@molodetz.nl>
+
+from flask import Flask
+
+app = Flask(__name__)