diff --git a/bin.js b/bin.js
index 590b914..2730838 100755
--- a/bin.js
+++ b/bin.js
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ cli
   .action(registerSpace)
 
 cli
-  .command('space add <proof>')
+  .command('space add [proof]')
+  .option('--base64', 'provide proof as base64 encoded string')
   .describe(
     'Add a space to the agent. The proof is a CAR encoded delegation to _this_ agent.'
   )
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 9ab30ce..ba06e29 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import {
   checkPathsExist,
   filesize,
   filesizeMB,
-  readProof,
   uploadListResponseToString,
+  proofFromString,
+  proofFromPath
 } from './lib.js'
 import * as ucanto from '@ucanto/core'
 import * as DidMailto from '@web3-storage/did-mailto'
@@ -284,11 +285,16 @@ export async function registerSpace(opts) {
 
 /**
  * @param {string} proofPath
+ * @param {object} opts
+ * @param {string} opts.base64
  */
-export async function addSpace(proofPath) {
+export async function addSpace(proofPath, opts) {
   const client = await getClient()
-  const delegation = await readProof(proofPath)
-  const space = await client.addSpace(delegation)
+  const proof = opts.base64 
+    ? await proofFromString(opts.base64)
+    : await proofFromPath(proofPath)
+  const space = await client.addSpace(proof)
+  await client.setCurrentSpace(space.did())
   console.log(space.did())
 }
 
@@ -445,7 +451,7 @@ export async function revokeDelegation(delegationCid, opts) {
   let proof
   try {
     if (opts.proof) {
-      proof = await readProof(opts.proof)
+      proof = await proofFromPath(opts.proof)
     }
   } catch (/** @type {any} */ err) {
     console.log(`Error: reading proof: ${err.message}`)
@@ -479,7 +485,7 @@ export async function addProof(proofPath, opts) {
   const client = await getClient()
   let proof
   try {
-    proof = await readProof(proofPath)
+    proof = await proofFromPath(proofPath)
     if (!opts?.['dry-run']) {
       await client.addProof(proof)
     }
diff --git a/lib.js b/lib.js
index 2bc0ec4..9f62387 100644
--- a/lib.js
+++ b/lib.js
@@ -126,27 +126,18 @@ export function getClient() {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {string} path Path to the proof file.
+ * @param {CarReader} reader
  */
-export async function readProof(path) {
-  try {
-    await fs.promises.access(path, fs.constants.R_OK)
-  } catch (/** @type {any} */ err) {
-    console.error(`Error: failed to read proof: ${err.message}`)
-    process.exit(1)
-  }
-
+export async function proofFromCar(reader) {
   const blocks = []
   try {
-    const reader = await CarReader.fromIterable(fs.createReadStream(path))
     for await (const block of reader.blocks()) {
       blocks.push(block)
     }
   } catch (/** @type {any} */ err) {
-    console.error(`Error: failed to parse proof: ${err.message}`)
+    console.error(`Error: failed to iterate proof: ${err.message}`)
     process.exit(1)
   }
-
   try {
     // @ts-expect-error
     return importDAG(blocks)
@@ -156,6 +147,37 @@ export async function readProof(path) {
   }
 }
 
+/** @param {string} data Base64 encoded CAR file */
+export async function proofFromString (data) {
+  let reader
+  try {
+    const bytes = Buffer.from(data, 'base64')
+    reader = await CarReader.fromBytes(bytes)
+  } catch (/** @type {any} */ err) {
+    console.error(`Error: failed to parse proof: ${err.message}`)
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+  return proofFromCar(reader)
+}
+
+/** @param {string} path Path to the proof file. */
+export async function proofFromPath (path) {
+  try {
+    await fs.promises.access(path, fs.constants.R_OK)
+  } catch (/** @type {any} */ err) {
+    console.error(`Error: failed to read proof: ${err.message}`)
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+  let reader
+  try {
+    reader = await CarReader.fromIterable(fs.createReadStream(path))
+  } catch (/** @type {any} */ err) {
+    console.error(`Error: failed to parse proof: ${err.message}`)
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+  return proofFromCar(reader)
+}
+
 /**
  * @param {UploadListSuccess} res
  * @param {object} [opts]