diff --git a/docker-compose/Makefile b/docker-compose/Makefile
index 35c4a2f4e6d379eb9a6eb206c450a6d3ab3175d0..892642f103386573585b5d2335c34cc15ad9f486 100644
--- a/docker-compose/Makefile
+++ b/docker-compose/Makefile
@@ -148,6 +148,11 @@ ifneq ($(NETWORK_MODE),host)
 endif
 	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose -f tango.yml -f networks.yml up -d
 
+bootstrap: # first start, initialise from scratch
+	$(MAKE) start elk-configure-host # configure host kernel for elk container
+	$(MAKE) start dsconfig # boot up containers to load configurations
+	../sbin/update_ConfigDb.sh ../CDB/LOFAR-ConfigDb.sh
+
 start: up ## start a service (usage: make start <servicename>)
 	if [ $(UNAME_S) = Linux ]; then touch ~/.Xauthority; chmod a+r ~/.Xauthority; fi
 	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose $(COMPOSE_FILE_ARGS) start $(SERVICE)