diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ecf1bb1..edd9a4f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.5.3
+
+- **`create()` on Stellar.** `wallet.create()` creates the account without sending
+  anything, sponsored when an `appId` is set. Use it before `addTrustline` or
+  `invokeContract` on a new account. A sponsored account starts with 0 XLM, so
+  a first `execute` of XLM fails with `op_underfunded` unless XLM reaches the
+  account first; the account is still created.
+- `addTrustline` and `invokeContract` on an undeployed account now say to call
+  `create()` first.
+
 ## 0.5.2
 
 Needs the current Cavos backend and recovery enclave (release v2).
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 80559a6..eed186b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@cavos/kit",
-  "version": "0.5.2",
+  "version": "0.5.3",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@cavos/kit",
-      "version": "0.5.2",
+      "version": "0.5.3",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@expo/config-plugins": "^57.0.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a337c42..5443a7a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@cavos/kit",
-  "version": "0.5.2",
+  "version": "0.5.3",
   "description": "Embedded Stellar wallet SDK, embedded Solana wallet, and embedded Starknet wallet. Device-native self-custodial accounts for React Native and web.",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/skills/cavos-stellar/SKILL.md b/skills/cavos-stellar/SKILL.md
index 3f7b529..ca67565 100644
--- a/skills/cavos-stellar/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/cavos-stellar/SKILL.md
@@ -116,12 +116,21 @@ wallet.status; // 'undeployed' | 'ready' | 'needs-device-approval'
 | `ready` | The account exists and this device can sign. |
 | `needs-device-approval` | The user has a wallet, but this device holds no key yet. Restore with an enclave sign-in or `approveDeviceWithPasskey()`. |
 
-Connecting never creates the account. The first `execute` creates it (sponsored), then runs the payment.
+Connecting never creates the account. On a new account:
+
+- `create()` creates it and sends nothing. The creation is sponsored, so the account starts with 0 XLM.
+  Call it first in an app that starts with a trustline or a Soroban call.
+- `execute(amount, to)` creates it, then sends `amount` XLM from it. With 0 XLM the payment fails with
+  `op_underfunded`, but the account is created.
+- `addTrustline` and `invokeContract` throw until the account exists.
 
 ## Actions
 
 ```ts
-// Native XLM payment, amount in stroops (1 XLM = 10_000_000n). Sponsored by default.
+// Create the account. Does nothing if it is already ready.
+await wallet.create();
+
+// Native XLM payment, amount in stroops (1 XLM = 10_000_000n). Fee sponsored by default.
 const hash = await wallet.execute(10_000_000n, 'GDEST…');
 
 // Pay the fee from the account's own XLM instead of the relayer.
@@ -153,9 +162,9 @@ with `wallet.signXdr`. See https://docs.cavos.xyz/docs/reserve.
 
 - **`appSalt`, `appId`, and `userId` are permanent.** Changing any of them silently moves every user
   to a new, empty wallet. Nothing errors.
-- **A sponsored account holds 0 XLM.** The relayer sponsors reserves, so the account starts with no
-  lumens. An XLM payment needs XLM in the account first. Trustlines and Soroban calls do not.
-- **`addTrustline` and `invokeContract` need `status === 'ready'`.** Only `execute` creates the account.
+- **A sponsored account holds 0 XLM.** An XLM payment needs XLM in the account first. Trustlines and
+  Soroban calls do not, because the sponsor pays their reserves and fees.
+- **Trustline-first apps call `create()` first.** `addTrustline` and `invokeContract` need `status === 'ready'`.
 - **Do not gate execution on `isReady`.** `undeployed` can execute; only `needs-device-approval` blocks.
 - **Second browser or device:** the user lands on `needs-device-approval` until the device restores the
   MasterDEK (enclave sign-in, or `approveDeviceWithPasskey()` if a passkey was added).
@@ -167,7 +176,7 @@ with `wallet.signXdr`. See https://docs.cavos.xyz/docs/reserve.
 
 ## Version note
 
-Written for `@cavos/kit` 0.5.2. Verified on Stellar mainnet on 2026-11-12: account
+Written for `@cavos/kit` 0.5.3 (`create()` is new in 0.5.3). Verified on Stellar mainnet on 2026-11-12: account
 [GCTAQX…P5LG4Q](https://stellar.expert/explorer/public/account/GCTAQXKRGWROJ5UZBLUQ472PNNFOPQQOJBPCVSVCM5SKPKDOAVP5LG4Q),
 created by the Cavos relayer, with a sponsored Circle USDC trustline.
 
diff --git a/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.create.test.ts b/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.create.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..45fe546
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.create.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import { Account, Keypair } from "@stellar/stellar-sdk";
+import { CavosStellar } from "./CavosStellar";
+import { StellarAdapter } from "./StellarAdapter";
+import { generateControlKey } from "./keys";
+import { LocalDeviceUnwrapKey } from "./DeviceUnwrapKey";
+import type { StellarRelayer } from "./StellarRelayer";
+import { KeypairControlKey } from "./WebCryptoControlKey";
+
+const identity = { userId: "u1", appSalt: "app" };
+
+function makeWallet(status: "undeployed" | "ready", relayer: StellarRelayer, control: Keypair, exists: boolean) {
+  const adapter = new StellarAdapter({ network: "stellar-testnet" });
+  const fake = { loadAccount: async (addr: string) => new Account(addr, "100") };
+  (adapter as unknown as { server: () => unknown }).server = () => fake;
+  jest.spyOn(adapter, "isDeployed").mockResolvedValue(exists);
+  const Ctor = CavosStellar as any as new (...args: any[]) => CavosStellar;
+  return new Ctor(
+    identity,
+    control.publicKey(),
+    status,
+    "stellar-testnet",
+    adapter,
+    LocalDeviceUnwrapKey.generate(),
+    new KeypairControlKey(control),
+    new Uint8Array(32),
+    relayer,
+    { appSalt: "test", backendUrl: "https://cavos.xyz", startingBalance: 50000000n },
+  );
+}
+
+function makeRelayer() {
+  return {
+    getSource: async () => Keypair.random().publicKey(),
+    submit: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue("createHash"),
+  } as unknown as StellarRelayer;
+}
+
+describe("CavosStellar.create", () => {
+  it("creates an undeployed account through the relayer and becomes ready", async () => {
+    const relayer = makeRelayer();
+    const { keypair: control } = generateControlKey();
+    const wallet = makeWallet("undeployed", relayer, control, false);
+
+    await wallet.create();
+
+    expect((relayer as any).submit).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect((relayer as any).submit).toHaveBeenCalledWith("create", expect.any(String));
+    expect(wallet.status).toBe("ready");
+    expect(wallet.isDeployed).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("does nothing when the account is already ready", async () => {
+    const relayer = makeRelayer();
+    const { keypair: control } = generateControlKey();
+    const wallet = makeWallet("ready", relayer, control, true);
+
+    await wallet.create();
+
+    expect((relayer as any).submit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(wallet.status).toBe("ready");
+  });
+
+  it("lets addTrustline run right after create", async () => {
+    const relayer = makeRelayer();
+    const { keypair: control } = generateControlKey();
+    const wallet = makeWallet("undeployed", relayer, control, false);
+
+    await expect(
+      wallet.addTrustline({ code: "USDC", issuer: Keypair.random().publicKey() }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("Call create() first");
+
+    await wallet.create();
+    (relayer as any).submit.mockResolvedValueOnce("trustlineHash");
+    const hash = await wallet.addTrustline({ code: "USDC", issuer: Keypair.random().publicKey() });
+
+    expect(hash).toBe("trustlineHash");
+    expect((relayer as any).submit).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith("trustline", expect.any(String));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.ts b/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.ts
index 3235a13..dcede58 100644
--- a/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.ts
+++ b/src/chains/stellar/CavosStellar.ts
@@ -398,10 +398,11 @@ export class CavosStellar {
    * Move `amount` stroops of native XLM to `destination`, signed by the control
    * key.
    *
-   * **Lazy deploy**: If the account is undeployed, the first execute creates the
-   * account first (sponsored, 0 XLM cost), then performs the payment in a follow-up
-   * transaction. Native XLM cannot ride the create tx (the account needs to exist
-   * to send FROM it).
+   * **Lazy deploy**: on an undeployed account, execute first creates it, then
+   * sends the payment in a second transaction. A sponsored account starts with
+   * 0 XLM, so the payment fails with `op_underfunded` unless XLM reached it
+   * first; the account is created either way. Use {@link create} to create the
+   * account without sending anything.
    *
    * Sponsored by default (the relayer fee-bumps and pays the fee); pass
    * `{ sponsored: false }` to submit directly — the account pays its own (tiny)
@@ -426,6 +427,17 @@ export class CavosStellar {
     return this.submitInner(inner, control, opts);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Create the account on-chain without sending anything. Sponsored when an
+   * `appId` is set, so the account starts with 0 XLM. Resolves immediately when
+   * the account is already `ready`. Needed before `addTrustline` and
+   * `invokeContract` on a new account.
+   */
+  async create(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.statusValue === "ready") return;
+    await this._createAccount();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Create the account first (sponsored), then perform the payment.
    * Called by execute() when status is "undeployed".
@@ -558,7 +570,7 @@ export class CavosStellar {
     opts?: ExecuteOptions;
   }): Promise<string> {
     if (this.statusValue === "undeployed") {
-      throw new Error("kit/stellar: invokeContract requires a deployed account. Call execute() first to create the account.");
+      throw new Error("kit/stellar: invokeContract requires a deployed account. Call create() first.");
     }
     const control = this.requireReadyControl();
     const scArgs = (params.args ?? []).map((a) =>
@@ -586,7 +598,7 @@ export class CavosStellar {
     opts?: ExecuteOptions & { limit?: string },
   ): Promise<string> {
     if (this.statusValue === "undeployed") {
-      throw new Error("kit/stellar: addTrustline requires a deployed account. Call execute() first to create the account.");
+      throw new Error("kit/stellar: addTrustline requires a deployed account. Call create() first.");
     }
     const control = this.requireReadyControl();
     const sponsored = resolveFeeMode(opts, 'sponsored') === 'sponsored';