diff --git a/warehouse/tuf/__init__.py b/warehouse/tuf/__init__.py
index 61537c6cc6a8..4a8af8937d8a 100644
--- a/warehouse/tuf/__init__.py
+++ b/warehouse/tuf/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 def includeme(config):
     config.add_settings(
         {
+            "tuf.repository": "TODO",
             "tuf.keytype": "ed25519",
             "tuf.keyid_hash_algorithm": "sha512",
             "tuf.consistent_snapshot": True,
diff --git a/warehouse/tuf/tasks.py b/warehouse/tuf/tasks.py
index f8b5dbc14d90..bd72c1c3c054 100644
--- a/warehouse/tuf/tasks.py
+++ b/warehouse/tuf/tasks.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def add_target(task, request, file):
 
     with utils.RepoLock(r):
         fileinfo = utils.make_fileinfo(file)
-        repository = utils.open_repository(request)
+        repository = utils.load_repository(request)
 
         repository.add_target_to_bin(file.path, fileinfo=fileinfo)
 
diff --git a/warehouse/tuf/utils.py b/warehouse/tuf/utils.py
index 0f32dd08b31d..9534c18dab38 100644
--- a/warehouse/tuf/utils.py
+++ b/warehouse/tuf/utils.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import tuf.formats
+import tuf.repository_tool
 
 
 def make_fileinfo(file, custom=None):
@@ -27,8 +28,10 @@ def make_fileinfo(file, custom=None):
     return fileinfo
 
 
-def open_repository(request):
-    pass
+def load_repository(request):
+    return tuf.repository_tool.load_repository(
+        request.registry.settings["tuf.repository"]
+    )
 
 
 class RepoLock: