diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c5db8e4a7..039968708 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ python scripts/generate_pack.py --platform retroarch --region us --one-per-slot
 # Firmware only: the game data a list or a core names is left out, each file named
 python scripts/generate_pack.py --platform emuelec --no-game-data
 
+# The bare minimum: only the files each core needs to start
+python scripts/generate_pack.py --platform batocera --required-only
+
 # List available emulators and systems
 python scripts/generate_pack.py --list-emulators
 python scripts/generate_pack.py --list-systems
@@ -203,4 +206,4 @@ The scripts and tooling are released under the [MIT License](LICENSE).
 The BIOS and firmware files are not covered by that license: they are third-party system software, preserved and provided for personal backup, archival, and interoperability with emulation software. [NOTICE](NOTICE) sets out their status and how to ask for a file to be removed.
 The reasoning, and where it is weakest, is in [the project's legal position](https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/wiki/legal/).
 
-*Auto-generated on 2026-11-05T10:43:18Z*
+*Auto-generated on 2026-11-05T10:52:39Z*
diff --git a/scripts/generate_readme.py b/scripts/generate_readme.py
index cfaec5afe..132a2eb3a 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_readme.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_readme.py
@@ -788,6 +788,9 @@ def generate_readme(db: dict, platforms_dir: str, db_path: str = "database.json"
             "# Firmware only: the game data a list or a core names is left out, each file named",
             "python scripts/generate_pack.py --platform emuelec --no-game-data",
             "",
+            "# The bare minimum: only the files each core needs to start",
+            "python scripts/generate_pack.py --platform batocera --required-only",
+            "",
             "# List available emulators and systems",
             "python scripts/generate_pack.py --list-emulators",
             "python scripts/generate_pack.py --list-systems",
diff --git a/tests/test_doc_pages.py b/tests/test_doc_pages.py
index 0d4510e12..3a246ec4a 100644
--- a/tests/test_doc_pages.py
+++ b/tests/test_doc_pages.py
@@ -1700,5 +1700,16 @@ class InstallerVariablesAreDocumented(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("cache", section[:section.index("\n## ", 1)])
 
 
+class ReadmeKeepsItsPointers(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_the_bare_minimum_is_built_below(self):
+        """The README sent a reader to 'build your own pack below' for a bare
+        minimum, and the block below never named --required-only."""
+        readme = (ROOT / "README.md").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        self.assertIn("For a bare minimum, build your own pack below.", readme)
+        block = readme[readme.index("## Build your own pack"):]
+        block = block[:block.index("\n## ", 1)]
+        self.assertIn("--required-only", block)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()