diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/assign.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/assign.rs
index f0a698fb..a0e00ef2 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/assign.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/assign.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ pub fn run(options: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let signer = term::signer(&profile)?;
     let storage = &profile.storage;
     let (_, id) = radicle::rad::cwd()?;
-    let repo = storage.repository(id)?;
+    let repo = storage.repository_mut(id)?;
     let mut issues = issue::Issues::open(*signer.public_key(), &repo)?;
 
     let mut issue = issues.get_mut(&options.id).map_err(|err| match err {
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/checkout.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/checkout.rs
index 74e7823d..b9f2f46a 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/checkout.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/checkout.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use anyhow::Context as _;
 use radicle::prelude::*;
 use radicle::storage::git::transport;
 use radicle::storage::RemoteId;
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage;
 
 use crate::project;
 use crate::terminal as term;
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs
index ee00fa9c..b439db68 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ use radicle::prelude::*;
 use radicle::rad;
 use radicle::storage;
 use radicle::storage::git::{ProjectError, Storage};
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage;
 
 use crate::commands::rad_checkout as checkout;
 use crate::project;
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/comment.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/comment.rs
index 74df76fa..fff7e10b 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/comment.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/comment.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ use radicle::cob::store;
 use radicle::cob::thread;
 use radicle::prelude::*;
 use radicle::storage;
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage;
 
 use crate::terminal as term;
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/add.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/add.rs
index 9e963625..8d75a9cb 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/add.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/add.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ where
         .get(&profile.public_key, id)?
         .context("No project with such ID exists")?;
 
-    let repo = storage.repository(id)?;
+    let repo = storage.repository_mut(id)?;
 
     if !project.is_delegate(me) {
         return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/remove.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/remove.rs
index 840edc5c..8f815e16 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/remove.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/delegate/remove.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ where
         .get(&profile.public_key, id)?
         .context("No project with such ID exists")?;
 
-    let repo = storage.repository(id)?;
+    let repo = storage.repository_mut(id)?;
 
     if !project.is_delegate(me) {
         return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/edit.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/edit.rs
index 20cbfec8..c7ad5a40 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/edit.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/edit.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Context as _};
 
 use radicle::identity::Id;
-use radicle::storage::{ReadStorage, WriteRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadStorage, WriteRepository};
 
 use crate::terminal as term;
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs
index e7bcf14a..d3b7091c 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use radicle::cob::identity::{self, Proposal, ProposalId, Proposals, Revision, Re
 use radicle::git::Oid;
 use radicle::identity::Identity;
 use radicle::prelude::Doc;
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage as _;
+use radicle::storage::ReadStorage as _;
 use radicle_crypto::{PublicKey, Verified};
 
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/inspect.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/inspect.rs
index d3658081..f2cd3e56 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/inspect.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/inspect.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use json_color::{Color, Colorizer};
 use radicle::crypto::Unverified;
 use radicle::identity::Untrusted;
 use radicle::identity::{Doc, Id};
-use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 
 use crate::terminal as term;
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/issue.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/issue.rs
index d8ea4875..f4870515 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/issue.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/issue.rs
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ pub fn run(options: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let signer = term::signer(&profile)?;
     let storage = &profile.storage;
     let (_, id) = radicle::rad::cwd()?;
-    let repo = storage.repository(id)?;
+    let repo = storage.repository_mut(id)?;
     let mut issues = Issues::open(*signer.public_key(), &repo)?;
 
     match options.op {
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/ls.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/ls.rs
index 8fbe6484..21626647 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/ls.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/ls.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::ffi::OsString;
 use crate::terminal as term;
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
 
-use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 
 pub const HELP: Help = Help {
     name: "ls",
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/track.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/track.rs
index 613c46f8..61e0a989 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/track.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/track.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Context as _};
 
 use radicle::node::{Handle, NodeId};
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage;
+use radicle::storage::ReadStorage;
 
 use crate::terminal as term;
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/unassign.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/unassign.rs
index e5f10b01..5529ab04 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/unassign.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/unassign.rs
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ pub fn run(options: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let signer = term::signer(&profile)?;
     let storage = &profile.storage;
     let (_, id) = radicle::rad::cwd()?;
-    let repo = storage.repository(id)?;
+    let repo = storage.repository_mut(id)?;
     let mut issues = issue::Issues::open(*signer.public_key(), &repo)?;
 
     let mut issue = issues.get_mut(&options.id).map_err(|err| match err {
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/untrack.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/untrack.rs
index 4cd3c31b..e5ba3fb3 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/untrack.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/untrack.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, Context as _};
 use radicle::identity::Id;
 use radicle::node::Handle;
 use radicle::prelude::*;
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage;
+use radicle::storage::ReadStorage;
 
 use crate::terminal as term;
 use crate::terminal::args::{Args, Error, Help};
diff --git a/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs b/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
index f3680c0c..303959ac 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::{thread, time};
 use radicle::git;
 use radicle::prelude::Id;
 use radicle::profile::Home;
-use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 use radicle::test::fixtures;
 
 use radicle_cli_test::TestFormula;
diff --git a/radicle-httpd/src/api.rs b/radicle-httpd/src/api.rs
index 91027b31..e0b6433b 100644
--- a/radicle-httpd/src/api.rs
+++ b/radicle-httpd/src/api.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use tower_http::cors::{self, CorsLayer};
 
 use radicle::cob::issue::Issues;
 use radicle::identity::Id;
-use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 use radicle::Profile;
 
 mod auth;
diff --git a/radicle-httpd/src/api/test.rs b/radicle-httpd/src/api/test.rs
index 06e29df1..19179425 100644
--- a/radicle-httpd/src/api/test.rs
+++ b/radicle-httpd/src/api/test.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use tower::ServiceExt;
 use radicle::cob::issue::Issues;
 use radicle::cob::patch::{MergeTarget, Patches};
 use radicle::git::raw as git2;
-use radicle::storage::WriteStorage;
+use radicle::storage::ReadStorage;
 use radicle_cli::commands::rad_init;
 use radicle_crypto::ssh::keystore::MemorySigner;
 use radicle_crypto::Signer;
diff --git a/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/delegates.rs b/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/delegates.rs
index e8b3d09d..8ae6a256 100644
--- a/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/delegates.rs
+++ b/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/delegates.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use axum::{Json, Router};
 
 use radicle::cob::issue::Issues;
 use radicle::identity::Did;
-use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 
 use crate::api::axum_extra::{Path, Query};
 use crate::api::error::Error;
diff --git a/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/projects.rs b/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/projects.rs
index a012c311..9bd91f8d 100644
--- a/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/projects.rs
+++ b/radicle-httpd/src/api/v1/projects.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use radicle::cob::patch::Patches;
 use radicle::cob::{thread, ActorId, Tag};
 use radicle::identity::Id;
 use radicle::node::NodeId;
-use radicle::storage::{git::paths, ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{git::paths, ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 use radicle_surf::{Glob, Oid, Repository};
 
 use crate::api::axum_extra::{Path, Query};
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs b/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
index 9d2dbff5..31cc74de 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use crate::service::filter::Filter;
 use crate::service::{NodeId, Timestamp};
 use crate::storage;
 use crate::storage::refs::SignedRefs;
-use crate::storage::{ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use crate::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 use crate::wire;
 
 /// Maximum number of addresses which can be announced to other nodes.
@@ -154,8 +154,14 @@ pub struct RefsAnnouncement {
 
 impl RefsAnnouncement {
     /// Check if this announcement is "fresh", meaning if it contains refs we do not have.
-    pub fn is_fresh<S: WriteStorage>(&self, storage: S) -> Result<bool, storage::Error> {
-        let repo = storage.repository(self.rid)?;
+    pub fn is_fresh<S: ReadStorage>(&self, storage: S) -> Result<bool, storage::Error> {
+        let repo = match storage.repository(self.rid) {
+            // If the repo doesn't exist, we consider this announcement "fresh", since we
+            // obviously don't have the refs.
+            Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => return Ok(true),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e),
+            Ok(r) => r,
+        };
 
         for (remote_id, theirs) in self.refs.iter() {
             if let Ok(ours) = repo.remote(remote_id) {
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/test/simulator.rs b/radicle-node/src/test/simulator.rs
index 91bff090..c64826fb 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/test/simulator.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/test/simulator.rs
@@ -411,7 +411,11 @@ impl<S: WriteStorage + 'static, G: Signer> Simulation<S, G> {
                     Input::Fetched(f, result) => {
                         let result = Rc::try_unwrap(result).unwrap();
                         if f.initiated {
-                            let mut repo = p.storage().repository(f.rid).unwrap();
+                            let mut repo = match p.storage().repository_mut(f.rid) {
+                                Ok(repo) => repo,
+                                Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => p.storage().create(f.rid).unwrap(),
+                                Err(e) => panic!("Failed to open repository: {e}"),
+                            };
                             fetch(&mut repo, &f.remote, f.namespaces.clone()).unwrap();
                         }
                         p.fetched(f, result);
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs b/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs
index ae3997fb..fb048fc5 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::{thread, time};
 
 use radicle::crypto::Signer;
 use radicle::node::{FetchResult, Handle as _};
-use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, WriteStorage};
+use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 use radicle::{assert_matches, rad};
 
 use crate::service;
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/worker.rs b/radicle-node/src/worker.rs
index 3d477dcc..8602a7ce 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/worker.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/worker.rs
@@ -166,7 +166,11 @@ impl<G: Signer + Ecdh + 'static> Worker<G> {
         fetch: &Fetch,
         tunnel: &mut Tunnel<WireSession<G>>,
     ) -> Result<Vec<RefUpdate>, FetchError> {
-        let repo = self.storage.repository(fetch.rid)?;
+        let repo = match self.storage.repository_mut(fetch.rid) {
+            Ok(r) => Ok(r),
+            Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => self.storage.create(fetch.rid),
+            Err(e) => Err(e),
+        }?;
         let tunnel_addr = tunnel.local_addr()?;
         let mut cmd = process::Command::new("git");
         cmd.current_dir(repo.path())
diff --git a/radicle-remote-helper/src/lib.rs b/radicle-remote-helper/src/lib.rs
index 780330c5..09d2d7a9 100644
--- a/radicle-remote-helper/src/lib.rs
+++ b/radicle-remote-helper/src/lib.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pub fn run(profile: radicle::Profile) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error +
     // Default to profile key.
     let namespace = url.namespace.unwrap_or(profile.public_key);
 
-    let proj = profile.storage.repository(url.repo)?;
+    let proj = profile.storage.repository_mut(url.repo)?;
     if proj.is_empty()? {
         return Err(Error::RepositoryNotFound(proj.path().to_path_buf()).into());
     }
diff --git a/radicle-tools/src/rad-push.rs b/radicle-tools/src/rad-push.rs
index 84b03732..a50e4d45 100644
--- a/radicle-tools/src/rad-push.rs
+++ b/radicle-tools/src/rad-push.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use std::path::Path;
 
-use radicle::{node::Handle, storage::WriteRepository, storage::WriteStorage};
+use radicle::{node::Handle, storage::ReadStorage, storage::WriteRepository};
 
 fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let cwd = Path::new(".").canonicalize()?;
diff --git a/radicle/src/identity.rs b/radicle/src/identity.rs
index f560855c..fe7f3e1d 100644
--- a/radicle/src/identity.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/identity.rs
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ mod test {
     use crate::crypto::PublicKey;
     use crate::rad;
     use crate::storage::git::Storage;
-    use crate::storage::{ReadStorage, WriteRepository, WriteStorage};
+    use crate::storage::{ReadStorage, WriteRepository};
     use crate::test::fixtures;
 
     use super::did::Did;
diff --git a/radicle/src/identity/doc.rs b/radicle/src/identity/doc.rs
index fed53a4a..1ddfefe0 100644
--- a/radicle/src/identity/doc.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/identity/doc.rs
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ mod test {
     use crate::rad;
     use crate::storage::git::transport;
     use crate::storage::git::Storage;
-    use crate::storage::WriteStorage;
+    use crate::storage::WriteStorage as _;
     use crate::test::arbitrary;
     use crate::test::fixtures;
 
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ mod test {
         let storage = Storage::open(tempdir.path().join("storage")).unwrap();
         let remote = arbitrary::gen::<RemoteId>(1);
         let proj = arbitrary::gen::<Id>(1);
-        let repo = storage.repository(proj).unwrap();
+        let repo = storage.create(proj).unwrap();
         let oid = git2::Oid::from_str("2d52a53ce5e4f141148a5f770cfd3ead2d6a45b8").unwrap();
 
         let err = Doc::<Unverified>::head(&remote, &repo).unwrap_err();
diff --git a/radicle/src/rad.rs b/radicle/src/rad.rs
index dfe43ab3..cffd5d14 100644
--- a/radicle/src/rad.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/rad.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ use crate::identity::project::Project;
 use crate::storage::git::transport;
 use crate::storage::git::{ProjectError, Repository, Storage};
 use crate::storage::refs::SignedRefs;
-use crate::storage::{BranchName, ReadRepository as _, RemoteId, WriteRepository as _};
+use crate::storage::WriteRepository;
+use crate::storage::{BranchName, ReadRepository as _, RemoteId};
 use crate::{identity, storage};
 
 /// Name of the radicle storage remote.
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ pub fn fork_remote<G: Signer, S: storage::WriteStorage>(
         .get(remote, proj)?
         .ok_or(ForkError::NotFound(proj))?;
     let project = doc.project()?;
-    let repository = storage.repository(proj)?;
+    let repository = storage.repository_mut(proj)?;
 
     let raw = repository.raw();
     let remote_head = raw.refname_to_id(&git::refs::storage::branch(
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ pub fn fork<G: Signer, S: storage::WriteStorage>(
     storage: &S,
 ) -> Result<(), ForkError> {
     let me = signer.public_key();
-    let repository = storage.repository(proj)?;
+    let repository = storage.repository_mut(proj)?;
     // TODO: We should get the id branch pointer from a stored canonical reference.
     let (canonical_id, _) = repository.identity_doc()?;
     let (canonical_branch, canonical_head) = repository.head()?;
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::identity::Did;
     use crate::storage::git::transport;
     use crate::storage::git::Storage;
-    use crate::storage::{ReadStorage, WriteStorage};
+    use crate::storage::ReadStorage;
     use crate::test::fixtures;
 
     use super::*;
diff --git a/radicle/src/storage.rs b/radicle/src/storage.rs
index b21fdab5..918005e5 100644
--- a/radicle/src/storage.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/storage.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,18 @@ pub enum Error {
     Io(#[from] io::Error),
 }
 
+impl Error {
+    /// Whether this error is caused by something not being found.
+    pub fn is_not_found(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            Self::Io(e) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::NotFound => true,
+            Self::Git(e) if git::is_not_found_err(e) => true,
+            Self::Doc(e) if e.is_not_found() => true,
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Fetch error.
 #[derive(Error, Debug)]
 #[allow(clippy::large_enum_variant)]
@@ -246,6 +258,8 @@ impl Remote<Verified> {
 
 /// Read-only operations on a storage instance.
 pub trait ReadStorage {
+    type Repository: ReadRepository;
+
     /// Get the storage base path.
     fn path(&self) -> &Path;
     /// Get an identity document of a repository under a given remote.
@@ -258,13 +272,18 @@ pub trait ReadStorage {
     fn contains(&self, rid: &Id) -> Result<bool, ProjectError>;
     /// Get the inventory of repositories hosted under this storage.
     fn inventory(&self) -> Result<Inventory, Error>;
+    /// Open or create a read-only repository.
+    fn repository(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error>;
 }
 
 /// Allows access to individual storage repositories.
 pub trait WriteStorage: ReadStorage {
-    type Repository: WriteRepository;
+    type RepositoryMut: WriteRepository;
 
-    fn repository(&self, proj: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error>;
+    /// Open a read-write repository.
+    fn repository_mut(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error>;
+    /// Create a read-write repository.
+    fn create(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error>;
 }
 
 /// Allows read-only access to a repository.
@@ -355,6 +374,8 @@ where
     T: Deref<Target = S>,
     S: ReadStorage + 'static,
 {
+    type Repository = S::Repository;
+
     fn path(&self) -> &Path {
         self.deref().path()
     }
@@ -374,6 +395,10 @@ where
     ) -> Result<Option<identity::Doc<Verified>>, ProjectError> {
         self.deref().get(remote, proj)
     }
+
+    fn repository(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error> {
+        self.deref().repository(rid)
+    }
 }
 
 impl<T, S> WriteStorage for T
@@ -381,10 +406,14 @@ where
     T: Deref<Target = S>,
     S: WriteStorage + 'static,
 {
-    type Repository = S::Repository;
+    type RepositoryMut = S::RepositoryMut;
 
-    fn repository(&self, proj: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error> {
-        self.deref().repository(proj)
+    fn repository_mut(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error> {
+        self.deref().repository_mut(rid)
+    }
+
+    fn create(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error> {
+        self.deref().create(rid)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/radicle/src/storage/git.rs b/radicle/src/storage/git.rs
index 9d9a5695..5b8d7217 100644
--- a/radicle/src/storage/git.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/storage/git.rs
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ pub struct Storage {
 }
 
 impl ReadStorage for Storage {
+    type Repository = Repository;
+
     fn path(&self) -> &Path {
         self.path.as_path()
     }
@@ -108,29 +110,39 @@ impl ReadStorage for Storage {
     }
 
     fn get(&self, remote: &RemoteId, proj: Id) -> Result<Option<Doc<Verified>>, ProjectError> {
-        // TODO: Don't create a repo here if it doesn't exist?
-        // Perhaps for checking we could have a `contains` method?
-        match self.repository(proj)?.identity_of(remote) {
+        let repo = match self.repository(proj) {
+            Ok(doc) => doc,
+            Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => return Ok(None),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+        };
+        match repo.identity_of(remote) {
             Ok(doc) => Ok(Some(doc)),
-
-            Err(err) if err.is_not_found() => Ok(None),
-            Err(err) => Err(err),
+            Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => Ok(None),
+            Err(e) => Err(e),
         }
     }
 
     fn inventory(&self) -> Result<Inventory, Error> {
         self.repositories()
     }
-}
-
-impl WriteStorage for Storage {
-    type Repository = Repository;
 
     fn repository(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error> {
         Repository::open(paths::repository(self, &rid), rid)
     }
 }
 
+impl WriteStorage for Storage {
+    type RepositoryMut = Repository;
+
+    fn repository_mut(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error> {
+        Repository::open(paths::repository(self, &rid), rid)
+    }
+
+    fn create(&self, rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error> {
+        Repository::create(paths::repository(self, &rid), rid)
+    }
+}
+
 impl Storage {
     // TODO: Return a better error when not found.
     pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> Result<Self, io::Error> {
@@ -207,27 +219,27 @@ pub enum VerifyError {
 }
 
 impl Repository {
+    /// Open an existing repository.
     pub fn open<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, id: Id) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        let backend = match git2::Repository::open_bare(path.as_ref()) {
-            Err(e) if ext::is_not_found_err(&e) => {
-                let backend = git2::Repository::init_opts(
-                    &path,
-                    git2::RepositoryInitOptions::new()
-                        .bare(true)
-                        .no_reinit(true)
-                        .external_template(false),
-                )?;
-                let mut config = backend.config()?;
+        let backend = git2::Repository::open_bare(path.as_ref())?;
 
-                // TODO: Get ahold of user name and/or key.
-                config.set_str("user.name", "radicle")?;
-                config.set_str("user.email", "radicle@localhost")?;
+        Ok(Self { id, backend })
+    }
 
-                Ok(backend)
-            }
-            Ok(repo) => Ok(repo),
-            Err(e) => Err(e),
-        }?;
+    /// Create a new repository.
+    pub fn create<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, id: Id) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        let backend = git2::Repository::init_opts(
+            &path,
+            git2::RepositoryInitOptions::new()
+                .bare(true)
+                .no_reinit(true)
+                .external_template(false),
+        )?;
+        let mut config = backend.config()?;
+
+        // TODO: Get ahold of user name and/or key.
+        config.set_str("user.name", "radicle")?;
+        config.set_str("user.email", "radicle@localhost")?;
 
         Ok(Self { id, backend })
     }
@@ -241,7 +253,7 @@ impl Repository {
     ) -> Result<(Self, git::Oid), Error> {
         let (doc_oid, doc) = doc.encode()?;
         let id = Id::from(doc_oid);
-        let repo = Self::open(paths::repository(storage, &id), id)?;
+        let repo = Self::create(paths::repository(storage, &id), id)?;
         let oid = Doc::init(
             doc.as_slice(),
             remote,
@@ -730,7 +742,7 @@ mod tests {
         let storage = Storage::open(tmp.path()).unwrap();
         let proj_id = arbitrary::gen::<Id>(1);
         let alice = *signer.public_key();
-        let project = storage.repository(proj_id).unwrap();
+        let project = storage.create(proj_id).unwrap();
         let backend = &project.backend;
         let sig = git2::Signature::now(&alice.to_string(), "anonymous@radicle.xyz").unwrap();
         let head = git::initial_commit(backend, &sig).unwrap();
diff --git a/radicle/src/test/storage.rs b/radicle/src/test/storage.rs
index f212631e..6c3a92f2 100644
--- a/radicle/src/test/storage.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/test/storage.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ impl MockStorage {
 }
 
 impl ReadStorage for MockStorage {
+    type Repository = MockRepository;
+
     fn path(&self) -> &Path {
         self.path.as_path()
     }
@@ -51,12 +53,20 @@ impl ReadStorage for MockStorage {
     fn inventory(&self) -> Result<Inventory, Error> {
         Ok(self.inventory.keys().cloned().collect::<Vec<_>>())
     }
+
+    fn repository(&self, _proj: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error> {
+        Ok(MockRepository {})
+    }
 }
 
 impl WriteStorage for MockStorage {
-    type Repository = MockRepository;
+    type RepositoryMut = MockRepository;
 
-    fn repository(&self, _proj: Id) -> Result<Self::Repository, Error> {
+    fn repository_mut(&self, _rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error> {
+        Ok(MockRepository {})
+    }
+
+    fn create(&self, _rid: Id) -> Result<Self::RepositoryMut, Error> {
         Ok(MockRepository {})
     }
 }