diff --git a/bin/cli.js b/bin/cli.js
index e570eef..93cc70c 100644
--- a/bin/cli.js
+++ b/bin/cli.js
@@ -127,9 +127,15 @@ export default nextConfig;
 		execSync('npm install @zen/core', { stdio: 'inherit' });
 		done('@zen/core installed');
 
+		const envExample = path.resolve(process.cwd(), 'node_modules/@zen/core/.env.example');
+		const envDest = path.resolve(process.cwd(), '.env');
+		if (fs.existsSync(envExample) && !fs.existsSync(envDest)) {
+			fs.copyFileSync(envExample, envDest);
+			done('Created .env from @zen/core template');
+		}
+
 		console.log(`\n  ${c.green}${c.bold}Project ready.${c.reset} Next steps:\n`);
-		console.log(`  ${c.dim}1.${c.reset} Configure environment variables`);
-		console.log(`     ${c.dim}https://git.hyko.cx/zen/core${c.reset}`);
+		console.log(`  ${c.dim}1.${c.reset} Fill in the environment variables in ${c.cyan}.env${c.reset}`);
 		console.log(`  ${c.dim}2.${c.reset} Initialize the database`);
 		console.log(`     ${c.dim}npx zen-db init${c.reset}\n`);