diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0d7364d..087a502 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ Methods:
 - `system.capabilities` returns gateway protocol and node policy snapshot.
 
 Companion runtime helper:
-- `src/companion/runtimeClient.ts` provides a typed Node/WebSocket client for companion runtimes (macOS/iOS/Android workers) with wrappers for `node.register`, `node.capabilities.get`, `node.location.set/get`, `node.status.set`, `node.push_token.set`, `system.capabilities`, `system.nodes`, and canvas artifact RPCs (`canvas.put/get/list/delete/clear`), plus optional `autoConnect` mode and event helpers (`subscribeEvents()`, `subscribeEvent()`, `waitForEvent()`).
+- `src/companion/runtimeClient.ts` provides a typed Node/WebSocket client for companion runtimes (macOS/iOS/Android workers) with wrappers for `node.register`, `node.capabilities.get`, `node.location.set/get`, `node.status.set`, `node.push_token.set`, `system.capabilities`, `system.nodes`, and canvas artifact RPCs (`canvas.put/get/list/delete/clear`), plus convenience helpers (`bootstrapNode`, optional `autoConnect`) and event helpers (`subscribeEvents()`, `subscribeEvent()`, `waitForEvent()`).
 - `src/companion/platformClients.ts` provides platform-focused wrappers:
   - `MacOSCompanionClient` (`platform: "macos"`, APNs push registration)
   - `IOSCompanionClient` (`platform: "ios"`, APNs push registration)
diff --git a/docs/plans/state.json b/docs/plans/state.json
index b341c5f..4155c9d 100644
--- a/docs/plans/state.json
+++ b/docs/plans/state.json
@@ -341,6 +341,20 @@
       ],
       "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts src/companion/platformClients.test.ts src/companion/platformClients.integration.test.ts src/companion/heartbeatLoop.test.ts + pnpm typecheck passing"
     },
+    "companion-runtime-bootstrap-helper": {
+      "status": "completed",
+      "date": "2026-02-17",
+      "updated": "2026-02-17",
+      "summary": "Added `bootstrapNode()` to `CompanionRuntimeClient` to perform register + capability negotiation in one call with optional `system.capabilities` inclusion.",
+      "files_modified": [
+        "src/companion/runtimeClient.ts",
+        "src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts",
+        "src/companion/index.ts",
+        "README.md",
+        "docs/plans/state.json"
+      ],
+      "test_status": "pnpm test:run src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts src/companion/platformClients.test.ts src/companion/platformClients.integration.test.ts src/companion/heartbeatLoop.test.ts + pnpm typecheck passing"
+    },
     "browser-tools-activation-clarity": {
       "status": "completed",
       "date": "2026-02-17",
diff --git a/src/companion/index.ts b/src/companion/index.ts
index 4ef8de5..ce884cd 100644
--- a/src/companion/index.ts
+++ b/src/companion/index.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export type {
   GetCanvasArtifactInput,
   DeleteCanvasArtifactInput,
   NodeRegisterResult,
+  NodeBootstrapResult,
   NodeCapabilitiesResult,
   NodeStatusSetResult,
   NodeLocationSetResult,
diff --git a/src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts b/src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts
index dd45910..f8a44b2 100644
--- a/src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts
+++ b/src/companion/runtimeClient.test.ts
@@ -267,6 +267,36 @@ describe('CompanionRuntimeClient', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it('bootstraps node registration and capabilities in one call', async () => {
+    if (!LISTEN_ALLOWED) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const client = new CompanionRuntimeClient({
+      url: `ws://127.0.0.1:${TEST_PORT}`,
+      token: TEST_TOKEN,
+    });
+    await client.connect();
+
+    try {
+      const boot = await client.bootstrapNode(
+        {
+          nodeId: 'bootstrap-runtime-node',
+          role: 'companion',
+          capabilities: ['ui.canvas'],
+        },
+        { includeSystemCapabilities: true },
+      );
+
+      expect(boot.register.registered).toBe(true);
+      expect(boot.capabilities.node.id).toBe('bootstrap-runtime-node');
+      expect(boot.systemCapabilities?.nodes.enabled).toBe(true);
+      expect(boot.systemCapabilities?.nodes.registered).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      client.disconnect();
+    }
+  });
+
   it('updates status/location/push and exposes them through system.nodes', async () => {
     if (!LISTEN_ALLOWED) {
       return;
diff --git a/src/companion/runtimeClient.ts b/src/companion/runtimeClient.ts
index 72b8408..321dec7 100644
--- a/src/companion/runtimeClient.ts
+++ b/src/companion/runtimeClient.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,12 @@ export interface NodeCapabilitiesResult {
   };
 }
 
+export interface NodeBootstrapResult {
+  register: NodeRegisterResult;
+  capabilities: NodeCapabilitiesResult;
+  systemCapabilities?: SystemCapabilitiesResult;
+}
+
 export interface NodeStatus {
   platform: 'macos' | 'ios' | 'android' | 'linux' | 'windows' | 'unknown';
   appVersion?: string;
@@ -459,6 +465,26 @@ export class CompanionRuntimeClient {
     });
   }
 
+  async bootstrapNode(
+    input: RegisterNodeInput,
+    options?: { includeSystemCapabilities?: boolean },
+  ): Promise<NodeBootstrapResult> {
+    const register = await this.registerNode(input);
+    const capabilities = await this.getNodeCapabilities();
+    if (options?.includeSystemCapabilities) {
+      const systemCapabilities = await this.getSystemCapabilities();
+      return {
+        register,
+        capabilities,
+        systemCapabilities,
+      };
+    }
+    return {
+      register,
+      capabilities,
+    };
+  }
+
   getNodeCapabilities(): Promise<NodeCapabilitiesResult> {
     return this.call<NodeCapabilitiesResult>('node.capabilities.get');
   }