diff --git a/cmd/loop/main.go b/cmd/loop/main.go
index d12fdea9..8921e1bb 100644
--- a/cmd/loop/main.go
+++ b/cmd/loop/main.go
@@ -201,7 +201,15 @@ func fatal(err error) {
 }
 
 func main() {
-	rootCmd := &cli.Command{
+	rootCmd := newRootCommand()
+	if err := rootCmd.Run(context.Background(), os.Args); err != nil {
+		fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// newRootCommand constructs the CLI root command for loop.
+func newRootCommand() *cli.Command {
+	return &cli.Command{
 		Name:    "loop",
 		Usage:   "control plane for your loopd",
 		Version: loop.RichVersion(),
@@ -222,10 +230,6 @@ func main() {
 			return cli.ShowRootCommandHelp(cmd)
 		},
 	}
-
-	if err := rootCmd.Run(context.Background(), os.Args); err != nil {
-		fatal(err)
-	}
 }
 
 // getClient establishes a SwapClient RPC connection and returns the client and