diff --git a/.changeset/dull-hats-repair.md b/.changeset/dull-hats-repair.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5038f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/dull-hats-repair.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"create-emdash": patch
+---
+
+Remove manual bootstrap step from CLI output
+
+The create-emdash CLI no longer suggests running `bootstrap` as a manual step, since EmDash now auto-bootstraps on first run.
diff --git a/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts b/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts
index 07c21ed..c4a3df4 100644
--- a/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/create-emdash/src/index.ts
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ async function main() {
 
 		const steps = [`cd ${projectName}`];
 		if (!shouldInstall) steps.push(installCmd);
-		steps.push(runCmd("bootstrap"), runCmd("dev"));
+		steps.push(runCmd("dev"));
 
 		p.note(steps.join("\n"), "Next steps");