diff --git a/cmd/welcome/main.go b/cmd/welcome/main.go
index 24e0baf..4b61ffc 100644
--- a/cmd/welcome/main.go
+++ b/cmd/welcome/main.go
@@ -244,12 +244,31 @@ func _main() error {
 	s = s.SetString("cool, awesome, going to make your account now...")
 	fmt.Println(s)
 
-	// TODO have enough to make account; can now do that
+	if err = createUser(*data); err != nil {
+		s = s.SetString(fmt.Sprintf(`augh, I'm sorry. the account creation failed.
+Please email root@tilde.town and paste the following error:
+
+%s
+
+Your invite code has not been marked as used and you're welcome to try again, though if there is a system issue you might need to wait for word from an admin.`, err.Error()))
+		fmt.Println(s)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// TODO assuming account creation succeeded, mark invite as used
 
 	return nil
 }
 
+func createUser(data newUserData) error {
+	// TODO adduser
+	// TODO add to town group
+	// TODO create keyfile by running helper (helper should also make ~/.ssh)
+	// TODO generate welcome gift
+	// TODO any alerts
+	return errors.New("not implemented")
+}
+
 func main() {
 	// TODO friendlier error handling
 	err := _main()