diff --git a/hello_app/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/hello_app/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index d83690e..a5b5748 100644
--- a/hello_app/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/hello_app/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -2,4 +2,8 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
   # Prevent CSRF attacks by raising an exception.
   # For APIs, you may want to use :null_session instead.
   protect_from_forgery with: :exception
+
+  def hello
+    render html: "ahoy there"
+  end
 end
diff --git a/hello_app/config/routes.rb b/hello_app/config/routes.rb
index 3f66539..d1e5d11 100644
--- a/hello_app/config/routes.rb
+++ b/hello_app/config/routes.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 Rails.application.routes.draw do
+  root 'application#hello'
   # The priority is based upon order of creation: first created -> highest priority.
   # See how all your routes lay out with "rake routes".