diff --git a/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs b/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs
index a64fb101..f2c5e2a6 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::os::unix::net::UnixStream;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use std::{fmt, io, time};
+use std::{fmt, io};
 
 use crossbeam_channel as chan;
 use radicle::node::Seeds;
@@ -14,8 +13,8 @@ use crate::profile::Home;
 use crate::runtime::Emitter;
 use crate::service;
 use crate::service::tracking;
-use crate::service::Event;
 use crate::service::{CommandError, QueryState};
+use crate::service::{Event, Events};
 use crate::service::{NodeId, Sessions};
 use crate::wire;
 use crate::wire::StreamId;
@@ -69,57 +68,10 @@ pub struct Handle {
     emitter: Emitter<Event>,
 }
 
-/// Events feed.
-pub struct Events(chan::Receiver<Event>);
-
-impl Deref for Events {
-    type Target = chan::Receiver<Event>;
-
-    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-        &self.0
-    }
-}
-
-impl Events {
-    /// Listen for events, and wait for the given predicate to return something,
-    /// or timeout if the specified amount of time has elapsed.
-    pub fn wait<F>(
-        &self,
-        mut f: F,
-        timeout: time::Duration,
-    ) -> Result<Event, chan::RecvTimeoutError>
-    where
-        F: FnMut(&Event) -> bool,
-    {
-        let start = time::Instant::now();
-
-        loop {
-            if let Some(timeout) = timeout.checked_sub(start.elapsed()) {
-                match self.recv_timeout(timeout) {
-                    Ok(event) => {
-                        if f(&event) {
-                            return Ok(event);
-                        }
-                    }
-                    Err(err @ chan::RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => {
-                        return Err(err);
-                    }
-                    Err(chan::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {
-                        // Keep trying until our timeout reaches zero.
-                        continue;
-                    }
-                }
-            } else {
-                return Err(chan::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 impl Handle {
     /// Subscribe to events stream.
     pub fn events(&self) -> Events {
-        Events(self.emitter.subscribe())
+        Events::from(self.emitter.subscribe())
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service.rs b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
index 161f7cb9..b47c5670 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #![allow(clippy::collapsible_match)]
 #![allow(clippy::collapsible_if)]
 pub mod config;
+pub mod events;
 pub mod filter;
 pub mod message;
 pub mod reactor;
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ use crate::Link;
 
 pub use crate::node::NodeId;
 pub use crate::service::config::{Config, Network};
+pub use crate::service::events::{Event, Events};
 pub use crate::service::message::{Message, ZeroBytes};
 pub use crate::service::session::Session;
 
@@ -82,27 +84,6 @@ pub use message::INVENTORY_LIMIT;
 /// Maximum number of project git references imposed by message size limits.
 pub use message::REF_REMOTE_LIMIT;
 
-/// A service event.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub enum Event {
-    RefsFetched {
-        remote: NodeId,
-        rid: Id,
-        updated: Vec<RefUpdate>,
-    },
-    SeedDiscovered {
-        rid: Id,
-        nid: NodeId,
-    },
-    SeedDropped {
-        rid: Id,
-        nid: NodeId,
-    },
-    PeerConnected {
-        nid: NodeId,
-    },
-}
-
 /// Result of syncing our routing table with a node's inventory.
 #[derive(Default)]
 struct SyncedRouting {
@@ -369,8 +350,8 @@ where
     }
 
     /// Subscriber to inner `Emitter` events.
-    pub fn events(&mut self) -> chan::Receiver<Event> {
-        self.emitter.subscribe()
+    pub fn events(&mut self) -> Events {
+        Events::from(self.emitter.subscribe())
     }
 
     /// Get I/O reactor.
@@ -909,6 +890,22 @@ where
                     return Ok(false);
                 }
 
+                // Check if the announcer is in sync with our own refs, and if so emit an event.
+                // This event is used for showing sync progress to users.
+                match message.is_synced(&self.node_id(), &self.storage) {
+                    Ok(synced) => {
+                        if synced {
+                            self.emitter.emit(Event::RefsSynced {
+                                rid: message.rid,
+                                remote: *announcer,
+                            });
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        error!(target: "service", "Error checking refs announcement sync status: {e}");
+                    }
+                }
+
                 // TODO: Buffer/throttle fetches.
                 let repo_entry = self.tracking.repo_policy(&message.rid).expect(
                     "Service::handle_announcement: error accessing repo tracking configuration",
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service/events.rs b/radicle-node/src/service/events.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac45a006
--- /dev/null
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service/events.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use std::time;
+
+use crossbeam_channel as chan;
+
+use radicle::prelude::*;
+use radicle::storage::RefUpdate;
+
+/// A service event.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum Event {
+    RefsFetched {
+        remote: NodeId,
+        rid: Id,
+        updated: Vec<RefUpdate>,
+    },
+    RefsSynced {
+        remote: NodeId,
+        rid: Id,
+    },
+    SeedDiscovered {
+        rid: Id,
+        nid: NodeId,
+    },
+    SeedDropped {
+        rid: Id,
+        nid: NodeId,
+    },
+    PeerConnected {
+        nid: NodeId,
+    },
+}
+
+/// Events feed.
+pub struct Events(chan::Receiver<Event>);
+
+impl From<chan::Receiver<Event>> for Events {
+    fn from(value: chan::Receiver<Event>) -> Self {
+        Self(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for Events {
+    type Target = chan::Receiver<Event>;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl Events {
+    /// Listen for events, and wait for the given predicate to return something,
+    /// or timeout if the specified amount of time has elapsed.
+    pub fn wait<F>(
+        &self,
+        mut f: F,
+        timeout: time::Duration,
+    ) -> Result<Event, chan::RecvTimeoutError>
+    where
+        F: FnMut(&Event) -> bool,
+    {
+        let start = time::Instant::now();
+
+        loop {
+            if let Some(timeout) = timeout.checked_sub(start.elapsed()) {
+                match self.recv_timeout(timeout) {
+                    Ok(event) => {
+                        if f(&event) {
+                            return Ok(event);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Err(err @ chan::RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => {
+                        return Err(err);
+                    }
+                    Err(chan::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {
+                        // Keep trying until our timeout reaches zero.
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                return Err(chan::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs b/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
index b1d3bb3c..c42ee5f6 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
@@ -174,6 +174,26 @@ impl RefsAnnouncement {
         }
         Ok(false)
     }
+
+    /// Check if an announcement tells us that a node is in sync with a local remote.
+    pub fn is_synced<S: ReadStorage>(
+        &self,
+        remote: &NodeId,
+        storage: S,
+    ) -> Result<bool, storage::Error> {
+        let repo = match storage.repository(self.rid) {
+            // If the repo doesn't exist, we're not in sync.
+            Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => return Ok(false),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e),
+            Ok(r) => r,
+        };
+
+        if let Some((_, refs)) = self.refs.iter().find(|(nid, _)| nid == remote) {
+            let local_refs = repo.remote(remote)?.refs.unverified();
+            return Ok(&local_refs == refs);
+        }
+        Ok(false)
+    }
 }
 
 /// Node announcing its inventory to the network.
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/test/peer.rs b/radicle-node/src/test/peer.rs
index 76de2a22..35a22f63 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/test/peer.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/test/peer.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ use std::iter;
 use std::net;
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 
-use crossbeam_channel as chan;
 use log::*;
+use radicle::rad;
 use radicle::storage::ReadRepository;
+use radicle::Storage;
 
 use crate::address;
 use crate::address::Store;
@@ -24,9 +25,8 @@ use crate::service::*;
 use crate::storage::git::transport::remote;
 use crate::storage::Inventory;
 use crate::storage::{Namespaces, RemoteId, WriteStorage};
-use crate::test::arbitrary;
-use crate::test::simulator;
 use crate::test::storage::MockStorage;
+use crate::test::{arbitrary, fixtures, simulator};
 use crate::Link;
 use crate::{LocalDuration, LocalTime};
 
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ pub struct Peer<S, G> {
     pub ip: net::IpAddr,
     pub rng: fastrand::Rng,
     pub local_addr: net::SocketAddr,
+    pub tempdir: tempfile::TempDir,
 
     initialized: bool,
 }
@@ -81,12 +82,13 @@ impl Peer<MockStorage, MockSigner> {
     pub fn new(name: &'static str, ip: impl Into<net::IpAddr>) -> Self {
         Self::with_storage(name, ip, MockStorage::empty())
     }
+}
 
-    pub fn with_storage(
-        name: &'static str,
-        ip: impl Into<net::IpAddr>,
-        storage: MockStorage,
-    ) -> Self {
+impl<S> Peer<S, MockSigner>
+where
+    S: WriteStorage + 'static,
+{
+    pub fn with_storage(name: &'static str, ip: impl Into<net::IpAddr>, storage: S) -> Self {
         Self::config(name, ip, storage, Config::default())
     }
 }
@@ -118,6 +120,25 @@ impl Default for Config<MockSigner> {
     }
 }
 
+impl<G: Signer> Peer<Storage, G> {
+    pub fn project(&mut self, name: &str, description: &str) -> Id {
+        radicle::storage::git::transport::local::register(self.storage().clone());
+
+        let (repo, _) = fixtures::repository(self.tempdir.path().join(name));
+        let (rid, _, _) = rad::init(
+            &repo,
+            name,
+            description,
+            radicle::git::refname!("master"),
+            self.signer(),
+            self.storage(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        rid
+    }
+}
+
 impl<S, G> Peer<S, G>
 where
     S: WriteStorage + 'static,
@@ -132,6 +153,7 @@ where
         let routing = routing::Table::memory().unwrap();
         let tracking = tracking::Store::memory().unwrap();
         let tracking = tracking::Config::new(config.policy, config.scope, tracking);
+        let tempdir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let id = *config.signer.public_key();
         let ip = ip.into();
         let local_addr = net::SocketAddr::new(ip, config.rng.u16(..));
@@ -160,6 +182,7 @@ where
             local_addr,
             rng: config.rng,
             initialized: false,
+            tempdir,
         }
     }
 
@@ -294,9 +317,12 @@ where
         .expect("`inventory-announcement` must be sent");
     }
 
-    pub fn connect_to(&mut self, peer: &Self) {
-        let remote_id = simulator::Peer::<S, G>::id(peer);
-        let remote_addr = simulator::Peer::<S, G>::addr(peer);
+    pub fn connect_to<T: WriteStorage + 'static, H: Signer + 'static>(
+        &mut self,
+        peer: &Peer<T, H>,
+    ) {
+        let remote_id = simulator::Peer::<T, H>::id(peer);
+        let remote_addr = simulator::Peer::<T, H>::addr(peer);
 
         self.initialize();
         self.service
@@ -343,7 +369,7 @@ where
     }
 
     /// Get a stream of the peer's emitted events.
-    pub fn events(&mut self) -> chan::Receiver<Event> {
+    pub fn events(&mut self) -> Events {
         self.service.events()
     }
 
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/tests.rs b/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
index 084d28c5..9eb2122d 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ use std::collections::BTreeSet;
 use std::default::*;
 use std::io;
 use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::time;
 
 use crossbeam_channel as chan;
 use netservices::LinkDirection as Link;
+use radicle::storage::ReadRepository;
 
 use crate::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use crate::crypto::test::signer::MockSigner;
@@ -1131,6 +1133,49 @@ fn test_queued_fetch() {
     assert_matches!(alice.fetches().next(), Some((rid, _, _)) if rid == rid3);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_refs_synced_event() {
+    let temp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let storage = Storage::open(temp.path()).unwrap();
+    let mut alice = Peer::with_storage("alice", [8, 8, 8, 8], storage);
+    let bob = Peer::new("eve", [9, 9, 9, 9]);
+    let acme = alice.project("acme", "");
+    let events = alice.events();
+    let refs = alice
+        .storage()
+        .repository(acme)
+        .unwrap()
+        .remote(&alice.id)
+        .unwrap()
+        .refs
+        .unverified();
+    let ann = AnnouncementMessage::from(RefsAnnouncement {
+        rid: acme,
+        refs: vec![(alice.id, refs)].try_into().unwrap(),
+        timestamp: bob.timestamp(),
+    });
+    let msg = ann.signed(bob.signer());
+
+    alice.connect_to(&bob);
+    alice.receive(bob.id, Message::Announcement(msg));
+
+    events
+        .wait(
+            |e| {
+                if let Event::RefsSynced { remote, rid } = e {
+                    assert_eq!(remote, &bob.id);
+                    assert_eq!(rid, &acme);
+
+                    true
+                } else {
+                    false
+                }
+            },
+            time::Duration::from_secs(3),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_push_and_pull() {
     let tempdir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
diff --git a/radicle/src/rad.rs b/radicle/src/rad.rs
index 73e796ba..ac2e3a11 100644
--- a/radicle/src/rad.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/rad.rs
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ use crate::identity::doc::{DocError, Id};
 use crate::identity::project::Project;
 use crate::identity::{doc, IdentityError};
 use crate::storage::git::transport;
-use crate::storage::git::{Repository, Storage};
+use crate::storage::git::Repository;
 use crate::storage::refs::SignedRefs;
-use crate::storage::WriteRepository;
 use crate::storage::{BranchName, ReadRepository as _, RemoteId};
+use crate::storage::{WriteRepository, WriteStorage};
 use crate::{identity, storage};
 
 /// Name of the radicle storage remote.
@@ -44,13 +44,13 @@ pub enum InitError {
 }
 
 /// Initialize a new radicle project from a git repository.
-pub fn init<G: Signer>(
+pub fn init<G: Signer, S: WriteStorage>(
     repo: &git2::Repository,
     name: &str,
     description: &str,
     default_branch: BranchName,
     signer: &G,
-    storage: &Storage,
+    storage: S,
 ) -> Result<(Id, identity::Doc<Verified>, SignedRefs<Verified>), InitError> {
     // TODO: Better error when project id already exists in storage, but remote doesn't.
     let pk = signer.public_key();
diff --git a/radicle/src/storage/git.rs b/radicle/src/storage/git.rs
index 2ffd02e2..579dcf30 100644
--- a/radicle/src/storage/git.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/storage/git.rs
@@ -239,15 +239,15 @@ impl Repository {
     }
 
     /// Create the repository's identity branch.
-    pub fn init<G: Signer>(
+    pub fn init<G: Signer, S: WriteStorage>(
         doc: &Doc<Verified>,
         remote: &RemoteId,
-        storage: &Storage,
+        storage: S,
         signer: &G,
     ) -> Result<(Self, git::Oid), Error> {
         let (doc_oid, doc) = doc.encode()?;
         let id = Id::from(doc_oid);
-        let repo = Self::create(paths::repository(storage, &id), id)?;
+        let repo = Self::create(paths::repository(&storage, &id), id)?;
         let oid = Doc::init(
             doc.as_slice(),
             remote,