diff --git a/rhizome.h b/rhizome.h
index d790b387..822971da 100644
--- a/rhizome.h
+++ b/rhizome.h
@@ -344,6 +344,8 @@ int rhizome_store_cleanup(struct rhizome_cleanup_report *report);
 void rhizome_vacuum_db(sqlite_retry_state *retry);
 int rhizome_manifest_createid(rhizome_manifest *m);
 int rhizome_get_bundle_from_seed(rhizome_manifest *m, const char *seed);
+int rhizome_get_bundle_from_secret(rhizome_manifest *m, const rhizome_bk_t *bsk);
+int rhizome_new_bundle_from_secret(rhizome_manifest *m, const rhizome_bk_t *bsk);
 
 struct rhizome_manifest_summary {
   rhizome_bid_t bid;
diff --git a/rhizome_cli.c b/rhizome_cli.c
index 3781152a..7a07a626 100644
--- a/rhizome_cli.c
+++ b/rhizome_cli.c
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static int app_rhizome_add_file(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_cont
 {
   if (config.debug.verbose)
     DEBUG_cli_parsed(parsed);
-  const char *filepath, *manifestpath, *manifestid, *authorSidHex, *bskhex;
+  const char *filepath, *manifestpath, *manifestid, *authorSidHex, *bsktext;
 
   int force_new = 0 == cli_arg(parsed, "--force-new", NULL, NULL, NULL);
   cli_arg(parsed, "filepath", &filepath, NULL, "");
@@ -120,20 +120,19 @@ static int app_rhizome_add_file(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_cont
     return -1;
   cli_arg(parsed, "manifestpath", &manifestpath, NULL, "");
   cli_arg(parsed, "manifestid", &manifestid, NULL, "");
-  if (cli_arg(parsed, "bsk", &bskhex, cli_optional_bundle_secret_key, NULL) == -1)
+  if (cli_arg(parsed, "bsk", &bsktext, cli_optional_bundle_secret_key, NULL) == -1)
     return -1;
 
   sid_t authorSid;
   if (authorSidHex[0] && str_to_sid_t(&authorSid, authorSidHex) == -1)
     return WHYF("invalid author_sid: %s", authorSidHex);
-  rhizome_bk_t bsk;
   
   // treat empty string the same as null
-  if (bskhex && !*bskhex)
-    bskhex=NULL;
-  
-  if (bskhex && str_to_rhizome_bk_t(&bsk, bskhex) == -1)
-    return WHYF("invalid bsk: \"%s\"", bskhex);
+  if (bsktext && !*bsktext)
+    bsktext = NULL;
+  rhizome_bk_t bsk;
+  if (bsktext && str_to_rhizome_bsk_t(&bsk, bsktext) == -1)
+    return WHYF("invalid bsk: \"%s\"", bsktext);
   
   int journal = strcasecmp(parsed->args[1], "journal")==0;
 
@@ -143,19 +142,16 @@ static int app_rhizome_add_file(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_cont
   if (!(keyring = keyring_open_instance_cli(parsed)))
     return -1;
   
-  if (rhizome_opendb() == -1){
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return -1;
-  }
+  int ret = -1;
+  rhizome_manifest *m = NULL;
+  if (rhizome_opendb() == -1)
+    goto finish;
   
   /* Create a new manifest that will represent the file.  If a manifest file was supplied, then read
    * it, otherwise create a blank manifest. */
-  rhizome_manifest *m = rhizome_new_manifest();
-  if (!m){
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return WHY("Manifest struct could not be allocated -- not added to rhizome");
+  if ((m = rhizome_new_manifest()) == NULL){
+    ret = WHY("Manifest struct could not be allocated -- not added to rhizome");
+    goto finish;
   }
   if (manifestpath && *manifestpath && access(manifestpath, R_OK) == 0) {
     if (config.debug.rhizome)
@@ -165,26 +161,20 @@ static int app_rhizome_add_file(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_cont
        trying to write it out. However, we do insist that whatever we load is
        parsed okay and not malformed. */
     if (rhizome_read_manifest_from_file(m, manifestpath) || m->malformed) {
-      rhizome_manifest_free(m);
-      keyring_free(keyring);
-      keyring = NULL;
-      return WHY("Manifest file could not be loaded -- not added to rhizome");
+      ret = WHY("Manifest file could not be loaded -- not added to rhizome");
+      goto finish;
     }
   } else if (manifestid && *manifestid) {
     if (config.debug.rhizome)
       DEBUGF("Reading manifest from database");
     rhizome_bid_t bid;
     if (str_to_rhizome_bid_t(&bid, manifestid) == -1) {
-      rhizome_manifest_free(m);
-      keyring_free(keyring);
-      keyring = NULL;
-      return WHYF("Invalid bundle ID: %s", alloca_str_toprint(manifestid));
+      ret = WHYF("Invalid bundle ID: %s", alloca_str_toprint(manifestid));
+      goto finish;
     }
-    if (rhizome_retrieve_manifest(&bid, m) != RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_SAME){
-      rhizome_manifest_free(m);
-      keyring_free(keyring);
-      keyring = NULL;
-      return WHY("Existing manifest could not be loaded -- not added to rhizome");
+    if (rhizome_retrieve_manifest(&bid, m) != RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_SAME) {
+      ret = WHY("Existing manifest could not be loaded -- not added to rhizome");
+      goto finish;
     }
   } else {
     if (config.debug.rhizome)
@@ -196,64 +186,80 @@ static int app_rhizome_add_file(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_cont
   }
 
   if (journal && !m->is_journal){
-    rhizome_manifest_free(m);
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return WHY("Existing manifest is not a journal");
+    ret = WHY("Existing manifest is not a journal");
+    goto finish;
   }
   if (!journal && m->is_journal) {
-    rhizome_manifest_free(m);
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return WHY("Existing manifest is a journal");
+    ret = WHY("Existing manifest is a journal");
+    goto finish;
   }
 
-  if (bskhex)
-    rhizome_apply_bundle_secret(m, &bsk);
+  if (bsktext) {
+    if (m->has_id) {
+      if (!rhizome_apply_bundle_secret(m, &bsk)) {
+	ret = WHY("Supplied bundle secret does not match Bundle Id");
+	goto finish;
+      }
+    } else {
+      if (rhizome_new_bundle_from_secret(m, &bsk) == -1) {
+	ret = WHY("Failed to create bundle from given secret");
+	goto finish;
+      }
+    }
+  }
   if (m->service == NULL)
     rhizome_manifest_set_service(m, RHIZOME_SERVICE_FILE);
-  if (rhizome_fill_manifest(m, filepath, *authorSidHex ? &authorSid : NULL)) {
-    rhizome_manifest_free(m);
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return -1;
-  }
+  if (rhizome_fill_manifest(m, filepath, *authorSidHex ? &authorSid : NULL))
+    goto finish;
 
-  enum rhizome_bundle_status status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_NEW;
   enum rhizome_payload_status pstatus;
   if (journal){
     pstatus = rhizome_append_journal_file(m, 0, filepath);
+    if (config.debug.rhizome)
+      DEBUGF("rhizome_append_journal_file() returned %d %s", pstatus, rhizome_payload_status_message(pstatus));
   } else {
     pstatus = rhizome_stat_payload_file(m, filepath);
+    if (config.debug.rhizome)
+      DEBUGF("rhizome_stat_payload_file() returned %d %s", pstatus, rhizome_payload_status_message(pstatus));
     assert(m->filesize != RHIZOME_SIZE_UNSET);
     if (pstatus == RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_NEW) {
       assert(m->filesize > 0);
       pstatus = rhizome_store_payload_file(m, filepath);
+      if (config.debug.rhizome)
+	DEBUGF("rhizome_store_payload_file() returned %d %s", pstatus, rhizome_payload_status_message(pstatus));
     }
   }
+  enum rhizome_bundle_status status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_ERROR;
+  int pstatus_valid = 0;
   switch (pstatus) {
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_EMPTY:
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_STORED:
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_NEW:
+      pstatus_valid = 1;
+      status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_NEW;
       break;
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_TOO_BIG:
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_EVICTED:
+      pstatus_valid = 1;
       status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_NO_ROOM;
       INFO("Insufficient space to store payload");
       break;
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_ERROR:
+      pstatus_valid = 1;
       status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_ERROR;
       break;
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_WRONG_SIZE:
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_WRONG_HASH:
+      pstatus_valid = 1;
       status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_INCONSISTENT;
       break;
     case RHIZOME_PAYLOAD_STATUS_CRYPTO_FAIL:
+      pstatus_valid = 1;
       status = RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_READONLY;
       break;
-    default:
-      FATALF("pstatus = %d", pstatus);
   }
+  if (!pstatus_valid)
+    FATALF("pstatus = %d", pstatus);
   rhizome_manifest *mout = NULL;
   if (status == RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_NEW) {
     if (!rhizome_manifest_validate(m) || m->malformed)
@@ -301,10 +307,12 @@ static int app_rhizome_add_file(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_cont
     FATALF("status=%d", status);
   if (mout && mout != m)
     rhizome_manifest_free(mout);
+  ret = status;
+finish:
   rhizome_manifest_free(m);
   keyring_free(keyring);
   keyring = NULL;
-  return status;
+  return ret;
 }
 
 DEFINE_CMD(app_rhizome_import_bundle, 0,
@@ -486,11 +494,11 @@ static int app_rhizome_extract(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_conte
 {
   if (config.debug.verbose)
     DEBUG_cli_parsed(parsed);
-  const char *manifestpath, *filepath, *manifestid, *bskhex;
+  const char *manifestpath, *filepath, *manifestid, *bsktext;
   if (   cli_arg(parsed, "manifestid", &manifestid, cli_manifestid, "") == -1
       || cli_arg(parsed, "manifestpath", &manifestpath, NULL, "") == -1
       || cli_arg(parsed, "filepath", &filepath, NULL, "") == -1
-      || cli_arg(parsed, "bsk", &bskhex, cli_optional_bundle_secret_key, NULL) == -1)
+      || cli_arg(parsed, "bsk", &bsktext, cli_optional_bundle_secret_key, NULL) == -1)
     return -1;
   
   int extract = strcasecmp(parsed->args[1], "extract")==0;
@@ -504,31 +512,28 @@ static int app_rhizome_extract(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_conte
   if (!(keyring = keyring_open_instance_cli(parsed)))
     return -1;
   
+  rhizome_manifest *m = NULL;
   int ret=0;
   
   rhizome_bid_t bid;
-  if (str_to_rhizome_bid_t(&bid, manifestid) == -1){
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return WHY("Invalid manifest ID");
+  if (str_to_rhizome_bid_t(&bid, manifestid) == -1) {
+    ret = WHY("Invalid manifest ID");
+    goto finish;
   }
   
   // treat empty string the same as null
-  if (bskhex && !*bskhex)
-    bskhex=NULL;
+  if (bsktext && !*bsktext)
+    bsktext = NULL;
   
   rhizome_bk_t bsk;
-  if (bskhex && str_to_rhizome_bk_t(&bsk, bskhex) == -1){
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return WHYF("invalid bsk: \"%s\"", bskhex);
+  if (bsktext && str_to_rhizome_bsk_t(&bsk, bsktext) == -1) {
+    ret = WHYF("invalid bsk: \"%s\"", bsktext);
+    goto finish;
   }
 
-  rhizome_manifest *m = rhizome_new_manifest();
-  if (m==NULL){
-    keyring_free(keyring);
-    keyring = NULL;
-    return WHY("Out of manifests");
+  if ((m = rhizome_new_manifest()) == NULL) {
+    ret = WHY("Out of manifests");
+    goto finish;
   }
   
   switch(rhizome_retrieve_manifest(&bid, m)){
@@ -539,7 +544,7 @@ static int app_rhizome_extract(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_conte
   
   if (ret==0){
     assert(m->finalised);
-    if (bskhex)
+    if (bsktext)
       rhizome_apply_bundle_secret(m, &bsk);
     rhizome_authenticate_author(m);
     assert(m->authorship != AUTHOR_LOCAL);
@@ -593,8 +598,8 @@ static int app_rhizome_extract(const struct cli_parsed *parsed, struct cli_conte
     default:
       FATALF("pstatus = %d", pstatus);
   }
-  if (m)
-    rhizome_manifest_free(m);
+finish:
+  rhizome_manifest_free(m);
   keyring_free(keyring);
   keyring = NULL;
   return ret;
diff --git a/rhizome_crypto.c b/rhizome_crypto.c
index 7105bd5d..be3fd46c 100644
--- a/rhizome_crypto.c
+++ b/rhizome_crypto.c
@@ -42,19 +42,15 @@ int rhizome_manifest_createid(rhizome_manifest *m)
   return 0;
 }
 
-struct signing_key{
+struct signing_key {
   unsigned char Private[crypto_sign_edwards25519sha512batch_SECRETKEYBYTES];
   rhizome_bid_t Public;
 };
 
-/* generate a keypair from a given seed string */
-static int generate_keypair(const char *seed, struct signing_key *key)
+/* generate a keypair from a given secret key */
+static int generate_keypair_from_secret(const rhizome_bk_t *bsk, struct signing_key *key)
 {
-  unsigned char hash[crypto_hash_sha512_BYTES];
-  crypto_hash_sha512(hash, (unsigned char *)seed, strlen(seed));
-  
-  // The first 256 bits (32 bytes) of the hash will be used as the private key of the BID.
-  bcopy(hash, key->Private, sizeof key->Private);
+  bcopy(bsk->binary, key->Private, sizeof bsk->binary); // first 32 bytes
   if (crypto_sign_compute_public_key(key->Private, key->Public.binary) == -1)
     return WHY("Could not generate public key");
   // The last 32 bytes of the private key should be identical to the public key.  This is what
@@ -68,15 +64,24 @@ static int generate_keypair(const char *seed, struct signing_key *key)
  * Then either fetch it from the database or initialise a new empty manifest */
 int rhizome_get_bundle_from_seed(rhizome_manifest *m, const char *seed)
 {
-  struct signing_key key;
-  if (generate_keypair(seed, &key))
+  union {
+    unsigned char hash[crypto_hash_sha512_BYTES];
+    rhizome_bk_t bsk;
+  } u;
+  crypto_hash_sha512(u.hash, (unsigned char *)seed, strlen(seed));
+  // The first 256 bits (32 bytes) of the hash will be used as the private key of the BID.
+  return rhizome_get_bundle_from_secret(m, &u.bsk);
+}
+
+/* Generate a bundle id deterministically from the given bundle secret key.
+ * Then either fetch it from the database or initialise a new empty manifest
+ */
+int rhizome_get_bundle_from_secret(rhizome_manifest *m, const rhizome_bk_t *bsk)
+{
+  if (rhizome_new_bundle_from_secret(m, bsk) == -1)
     return -1;
-  
-  switch(rhizome_retrieve_manifest(&key.Public, m)){
+  switch (rhizome_retrieve_manifest(&m->cryptoSignPublic, m)) {
     case RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_NEW: 
-      // manifest not retrieved
-      rhizome_manifest_set_id(m, &key.Public); // zerofills m->cryptoSignSecret
-      m->haveSecret = NEW_BUNDLE_ID;
       break;
     case RHIZOME_BUNDLE_STATUS_SAME:
       m->haveSecret = EXISTING_BUNDLE_ID;
@@ -84,7 +89,19 @@ int rhizome_get_bundle_from_seed(rhizome_manifest *m, const char *seed)
     default:
       return -1;
   }
-  
+  return 0;
+}
+
+/* Generate a bundle id deterministically from the given bundle secret key.
+ * Then initialise a new empty manifest.
+ */
+int rhizome_new_bundle_from_secret(rhizome_manifest *m, const rhizome_bk_t *bsk)
+{
+  struct signing_key key;
+  if (generate_keypair_from_secret(bsk, &key))
+    return -1;
+  rhizome_manifest_set_id(m, &key.Public); // zerofills m->cryptoSignSecret
+  m->haveSecret = NEW_BUNDLE_ID;
   bcopy(key.Private, m->cryptoSignSecret, sizeof m->cryptoSignSecret);
   // Disabled for performance, these asserts should nevertheless always hold.
   //assert(cmp_rhizome_bid_t(&m->cryptoSignPublic, &key.Public) == 0);
diff --git a/testdefs_rhizome.sh b/testdefs_rhizome.sh
index a1816a94..84c37943 100644
--- a/testdefs_rhizome.sh
+++ b/testdefs_rhizome.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ assert_manifest_complete() {
    tfw_cat -v "$manifest"
    assertGrep "$manifest" "^service=$rexp_service\$"
    assertGrep "$manifest" "^id=$rexp_manifestid\$"
-   assertGrep "$manifest" "^BK=$rexp_bundlekey\$"
    assertGrep "$manifest" "^date=$rexp_date\$"
    assertGrep "$manifest" "^version=$rexp_version\$"
    assertGrep "$manifest" "^filesize=$rexp_filesize\$"
diff --git a/tests/rhizomeops b/tests/rhizomeops
index 662785fa..d69f55bd 100755
--- a/tests/rhizomeops
+++ b/tests/rhizomeops
@@ -782,6 +782,33 @@ test_AddServiceUnsupported() {
    tfw_cat --stdout --stderr
 }
 
+doc_AddUpdateNoAuthorWithPassphrase="Add and update authorless bundle with only secret passphrase"
+setup_AddUpdateNoAuthorWithPassphrase() {
+   setup_servald
+   setup_rhizome
+   create_file file1 1k
+   create_file file1_2 2k
+   pass='On the Ning Nang Nong'
+}
+test_AddUpdateNoAuthorWithPassphrase() {
+   executeOk_servald rhizome add file '' file1 file1.manifest "#$pass"
+   tfw_cat --stdout --stderr
+   assert_stdout_add_file file1 !.author '!BK'
+   assert_manifest_complete file1.manifest
+   extract_manifest_id BID file1.manifest
+   executeOk_servald rhizome list
+   assert_rhizome_list --fromhere=0 file1
+   executeOk_servald rhizome add file '' file1_2 file1_2.manifest "#$pass"
+   tfw_cat --stdout --stderr
+   assert_stdout_add_file file1_2 !.author '!BK'
+   assert_manifest_complete file1_2.manifest
+   extract_manifest_id BID2 file1.manifest
+   assert [ "$BID" = "$BID2" ]
+   executeOk_servald rhizome extract file $BID file1x
+   tfw_cat --stdout --stderr
+   assert diff file1_2 file1x
+}
+
 doc_EncryptedPayload="Add and extract an encrypted payload"
 setup_EncryptedPayload() {
    setup_servald