diff --git a/cmd/dist/apply.go b/cmd/dist/apply.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb5858c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/dist/apply.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	contextpkg "context"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/docker/containerd/log"
+	"github.com/docker/docker/pkg/archive"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli"
+)
+
+var applyCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:      "apply",
+	Usage:     "apply layer from stdin to dir",
+	ArgsUsage: "[flags] <digest>",
+	Flags:     []cli.Flag{},
+	Action: func(context *cli.Context) error {
+		var (
+			ctx = contextpkg.Background()
+			dir = context.Args().First()
+		)
+
+		log.G(ctx).Info("applying layer from stdin")
+		if _, err := archive.ApplyLayer(dir, os.Stdin); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	},
+}
diff --git a/cmd/dist/main.go b/cmd/dist/main.go
index ece885e..5a19608 100644
--- a/cmd/dist/main.go
+++ b/cmd/dist/main.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ distribution tool
 		pathCommand,
 		deleteCommand,
 		listCommand,
+		applyCommand,
 	}
 	app.Before = func(context *cli.Context) error {
 		if context.GlobalBool("debug") {