diff --git a/runtime/src/comms.rs b/runtime/src/comms.rs
index 96fddec..7280f0e 100644
--- a/runtime/src/comms.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/comms.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ use libboard_zynq::{
 };
 use libsupport_zynq::alloc::{vec, vec::Vec};
 use libasync::{smoltcp::{Sockets, TcpStream}, task};
+use alloc::sync::Arc;
 
 use crate::kernel;
 
@@ -136,7 +137,22 @@ enum Reply {
     ClockFailure = 15,
 }
 
-async fn send_header(stream: &TcpStream, reply: Reply) -> Result<()> {
+async fn write_i32(stream: &TcpStream, value: i32) -> Result<()> {
+    stream.send([
+        (value >> 24) as u8,
+        (value >> 16) as u8,
+        (value >>  8) as u8,
+         value        as u8].iter().copied()).await?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+async fn write_chunk(stream: &TcpStream, chunk: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
+    write_i32(stream, chunk.len() as i32).await?;
+    stream.send(chunk.iter().copied()).await?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+async fn write_header(stream: &TcpStream, reply: Reply) -> Result<()> {
     stream.send([0x5a, 0x5a, 0x5a, 0x5a, reply.to_u8().unwrap()].iter().copied()).await?;
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -149,7 +165,7 @@ async fn handle_connection(stream: &TcpStream, control: Rc<RefCell<kernel::Contr
             .ok_or(Error::UnrecognizedPacket)?;
         match request {
             Request::SystemInfo => {
-                send_header(&stream, Reply::SystemInfo).await?;
+                write_header(&stream, Reply::SystemInfo).await?;
                 stream.send("ARZQ".bytes()).await?;
             },
             Request::LoadKernel => {
@@ -160,14 +176,24 @@ async fn handle_connection(stream: &TcpStream, control: Rc<RefCell<kernel::Contr
 
                     let mut control = control.borrow_mut();
                     control.restart();
-                    control.tx.async_send(kernel::Message::LoadRequest).await;
+                    control.tx.async_send(kernel::Message::LoadRequest(Arc::new(buffer))).await;
                     let reply = control.rx.async_recv().await;
-                    println!("core0 received: {:?}", reply);
-
-                    send_header(&stream, Reply::LoadCompleted).await?;
+                    match *reply {
+                        kernel::Message::LoadCompleted => write_header(&stream, Reply::LoadCompleted).await?,
+                        kernel::Message::LoadFailed => {
+                            write_header(&stream, Reply::LoadFailed).await?;
+                            write_chunk(&stream, b"core1 failed to process data").await?;
+                        },
+                        _ => {
+                            println!("received unexpected message from core1: {:?}", reply);
+                            write_header(&stream, Reply::LoadFailed).await?;
+                            write_chunk(&stream, b"core1 sent unexpected reply").await?;
+                        }
+                    }
                 } else {
                     read_drain(&stream, length).await?;
-                    send_header(&stream, Reply::LoadFailed).await?;
+                    write_header(&stream, Reply::LoadFailed).await?;
+                    write_chunk(&stream, b"kernel is too large").await?;
                 }
             }
             _ => return Err(Error::UnrecognizedPacket)
diff --git a/runtime/src/kernel.rs b/runtime/src/kernel.rs
index 8dccb07..550428f 100644
--- a/runtime/src/kernel.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/kernel.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
-use alloc::{vec, vec::Vec};
+use alloc::{vec, vec::Vec, sync::Arc};
 
 use libcortex_a9::{mutex::Mutex, sync_channel::{self, sync_channel}};
 use libboard_zynq::println;
 use libsupport_zynq::boot::Core1;
 
 use dyld;
+use crate::pl::csr;
+use crate::rtio;
 
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum Message {
-    LoadRequest,
-    LoadReply,
+    LoadRequest(Arc<Vec<u8>>),
+    LoadCompleted,
+    LoadFailed,
 }
 
 static CHANNEL_0TO1: Mutex<Option<sync_channel::Receiver<Message>>> = Mutex::new(None);
@@ -54,6 +57,40 @@ impl Control {
     }
 }
 
+macro_rules! api {
+    ($i:ident) => ({
+        extern { static $i: u8; }
+        api!($i = &$i as *const _)
+    });
+    ($i:ident, $d:item) => ({
+        $d
+        api!($i = $i)
+    });
+    ($i:ident = $e:expr) => {
+        (stringify!($i), $e as *const ())
+    }
+}
+
+fn resolve(required: &[u8]) -> Option<u32> {
+    let api = &[
+        /* proxified syscalls */
+        api!(now = csr::rtio::NOW_HI_ADDR as *const _),
+
+        api!(rtio_init = rtio::init),
+        api!(rtio_get_destination_status = rtio::get_destination_status),
+        api!(rtio_get_counter = rtio::get_counter),
+        api!(rtio_output = rtio::output),
+        api!(rtio_output_wide = rtio::output_wide),
+        api!(rtio_input_timestamp = rtio::input_timestamp),
+        api!(rtio_input_data = rtio::input_data),
+        api!(rtio_input_timestamped_data = rtio::input_timestamped_data),
+    ];
+    api.iter()
+       .find(|&&(exported, _)| exported.as_bytes() == required)
+       .map(|&(_, ptr)| ptr as u32)
+}
+
+
 #[no_mangle]
 pub fn main_core1() {
     println!("Core1 started");
@@ -70,10 +107,20 @@ pub fn main_core1() {
     }
     let core1_rx = core1_rx.unwrap();
 
+    let mut image = vec![0; 32768];
     for message in core1_rx {
-        println!("core1 received: {:?}", message);
         match *message {
-            Message::LoadRequest => core1_tx.send(Message::LoadReply),
+            Message::LoadRequest(data) => {
+                match dyld::Library::load(&data, &mut image, &resolve) {
+                    Ok(library) => {
+                        core1_tx.send(Message::LoadCompleted)
+                    },
+                    Err(error) => {
+                        println!("failed to load shared library: {}", error);
+                        core1_tx.send(Message::LoadFailed)
+                    }
+                }
+            },
             _ => println!("Core1 received unexpected message: {:?}", message),
         }
     }