diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a6353d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.envrc
diff --git a/commands/create.go b/commands/create.go
index 23a0cc6..f63fe0b 100644
--- a/commands/create.go
+++ b/commands/create.go
@@ -9,13 +9,14 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Create struct {
-	Handle     string        `short:"n" long:"handle" description:"name to give container"`
-	RootFS     string        `short:"r" long:"rootfs" description:"rootfs image with which to create the container"`
-	Env        []string      `short:"e" long:"env" description:"set environment variables"`
-	Grace      time.Duration `short:"g" long:"grace" description:"grace time (resetting ttl) of container"`
-	Privileged bool          `short:"p" long:"privileged" description:"privileged user in the container is privileged in the host"`
-	Network    string        `long:"network" description:"the subnet of the container"`
-	BindMounts []string      `short:"m" long:"bind-mount" description:"bind mount host-path:container-path"`
+	Handle      string        `short:"n" long:"handle" description:"name to give container"`
+	RootFS      string        `short:"r" long:"rootfs" description:"rootfs image with which to create the container"`
+	Env         []string      `short:"e" long:"env" description:"set environment variables"`
+	Grace       time.Duration `short:"g" long:"grace" description:"grace time (resetting ttl) of container"`
+	Privileged  bool          `short:"p" long:"privileged" description:"privileged user in the container is privileged in the host"`
+	Network     string        `long:"network" description:"the subnet of the container"`
+	BindMounts  []string      `short:"m" long:"bind-mount" description:"bind mount host-path:container-path"`
+	LimitMemory uint64        `short:"k" long:"limit-memory" description:"limits the memory used by the container. Value in bytes"`
 }
 
 func (command *Create) Execute(args []string) error {
@@ -43,6 +44,11 @@ func (command *Create) Execute(args []string) error {
 		Env:        command.Env,
 		Network:    command.Network,
 		BindMounts: bindMounts,
+		Limits: garden.Limits{
+			Memory: garden.MemoryLimits{
+				LimitInBytes: command.LimitMemory,
+			},
+		},
 	})
 
 	failIf(err)
diff --git a/commands/properties.go b/commands/properties.go
index ba3530d..eda50cb 100644
--- a/commands/properties.go
+++ b/commands/properties.go
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ func (command *Properties) Execute(maybeHandle []string) error {
 	properties, err := container.Properties()
 	failIf(err)
 
+	memoryLimits, err := container.CurrentMemoryLimits()
+	failIf(err)
+
 	if command.AsJSON {
 		toPrint, err := json.MarshalIndent(properties, "", "  ")
 		failIf(err)
@@ -25,6 +28,7 @@ func (command *Properties) Execute(maybeHandle []string) error {
 		for k, v := range properties {
 			fmt.Printf("%s\t%s\n", k, v)
 		}
+		fmt.Printf("memory.limit\t%d bytes\n", memoryLimits.LimitInBytes)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/scripts/build b/scripts/build
index 47d25e4..d8a2ff3 100755
--- a/scripts/build
+++ b/scripts/build
@@ -8,4 +8,4 @@ for platform in linux darwin; do
     go build -o ${workspace}/gaol_${platform} github.com/contraband/gaol
 done
 
-open ${workspace}
+echo Output is in "${workspace}"
diff --git a/test/create.bats b/test/create.bats
index 25981f3..fb3718b 100755
--- a/test/create.bats
+++ b/test/create.bats
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ load test_helper
   assert_match $handle
 }
 
+@test "a container can be created with memory limits" {
+  handle=$(gaol create --limit-memory 52428800)
+  assert_success
+
+  run gaol properties $handle
+  assert_success
+  assert_match "memory.limit\t52428800 bytes"
+}
+
 @test "a created container can have its handle chosen" {
   run gaol create -n awesome-handle
 
@@ -22,4 +31,3 @@ load test_helper
   assert_success
   assert_match $handle
 }
-
diff --git a/test/properties.bats b/test/properties.bats
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a526fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/properties.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+load test_helper
+
+@test "a container reports its limits" {
+  run gaol properties $(gaol create)
+  assert_success
+  assert_match "memory.limit\t0 bytes"
+}