diff --git a/packages/extension/src/ui/App.module.css b/packages/extension/src/ui/App.module.css
index 3425ab4ad..82e7123d4 100644
--- a/packages/extension/src/ui/App.module.css
+++ b/packages/extension/src/ui/App.module.css
@@ -494,3 +494,9 @@ div + .sent {
   gap: var(--spacing-sm);
   justify-content: flex-end;
 }
+
+.configControls {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: var(--spacing-xs);
+  justify-content: space-between;
+}
diff --git a/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.test.tsx b/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.test.tsx
index a36e8df1d..b85934e3e 100644
--- a/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.test.tsx
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@ import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
 
 import { ConfigEditor } from './ConfigEditor.js';
 import type { KernelStatus } from '../../kernel-integration/messages.js';
-import clusterConfig from '../../vats/default-cluster.json';
+import defaultClusterConfig from '../../vats/default-cluster.json';
+import minimalClusterConfig from '../../vats/minimal-cluster.json';
 import { usePanelContext } from '../context/PanelContext.js';
 import { useKernelActions } from '../hooks/useKernelActions.js';
 
 const mockStatus = {
-  clusterConfig,
+  clusterConfig: defaultClusterConfig,
   vats: [],
 };
 
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ describe('ConfigEditor Component', () => {
 
     const newStatus: KernelStatus = {
       clusterConfig: {
-        ...clusterConfig,
+        ...defaultClusterConfig,
         bootstrap: 'updated-config',
       },
       vats: [],
@@ -176,4 +177,20 @@ describe('ConfigEditor Component', () => {
       );
     });
   });
+
+  it('renders the config template selector with default option selected', () => {
+    render(<ConfigEditor />);
+    const selector = screen.getByTestId('config-select');
+    expect(selector).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(selector).toHaveValue('Default');
+  });
+
+  it('updates textarea when selecting a different template', async () => {
+    render(<ConfigEditor />);
+    const selector = screen.getByTestId('config-select');
+    const textarea = screen.getByTestId('config-textarea');
+    expect(textarea).toHaveValue(JSON.stringify(defaultClusterConfig, null, 2));
+    await userEvent.selectOptions(selector, 'Minimal');
+    expect(textarea).toHaveValue(JSON.stringify(minimalClusterConfig, null, 2));
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.tsx b/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.tsx
index 9103067c6..2bf2a6fda 100644
--- a/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.tsx
+++ b/packages/extension/src/ui/components/ConfigEditor.tsx
@@ -2,10 +2,22 @@ import type { ClusterConfig } from '@ocap/kernel';
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 
 import type { KernelStatus } from '../../kernel-integration/messages.js';
+import defaultConfig from '../../vats/default-cluster.json';
+import minimalConfig from '../../vats/minimal-cluster.json';
 import styles from '../App.module.css';
 import { usePanelContext } from '../context/PanelContext.js';
 import { useKernelActions } from '../hooks/useKernelActions.js';
 
+type ConfigEntry = {
+  name: string;
+  config: ClusterConfig;
+};
+
+const availableConfigs: ConfigEntry[] = [
+  { name: 'Default', config: defaultConfig },
+  { name: 'Minimal', config: minimalConfig },
+];
+
 /**
  * Component for editing the kernel cluster configuration.
  *
@@ -45,9 +57,14 @@ export const ConfigEditorInner: React.FC<{ status: KernelStatus }> = ({
     [config, updateClusterConfig],
   );
 
-  if (!config) {
-    return null;
-  }
+  const handleSelectConfig = useCallback((configName: string) => {
+    const selectedConfig = availableConfigs.find(
+      (item) => item.name === configName,
+    )?.config;
+    if (selectedConfig) {
+      setConfig(JSON.stringify(selectedConfig, null, 2));
+    }
+  }, []);
 
   return (
     <div className={styles.configEditor}>
@@ -59,21 +76,38 @@ export const ConfigEditorInner: React.FC<{ status: KernelStatus }> = ({
         className={styles.configTextarea}
         data-testid="config-textarea"
       />
-      <div className={styles.configEditorButtons}>
-        <button
-          onClick={() => handleUpdate(false)}
-          className={styles.buttonPrimary}
-          data-testid="update-config"
-        >
-          Update Config
-        </button>
-        <button
-          onClick={() => handleUpdate(true)}
-          className={styles.buttonBlack}
-          data-testid="update-and-restart"
+      <div className={styles.configControls}>
+        <select
+          className={styles.select}
+          onChange={(event) => handleSelectConfig(event.target.value)}
+          defaultValue={availableConfigs[0]?.name}
+          data-testid="config-select"
         >
-          Update and Reload
-        </button>
+          <option value="" disabled>
+            Select template...
+          </option>
+          {availableConfigs.map(({ name }) => (
+            <option key={name} value={name}>
+              {name}
+            </option>
+          ))}
+        </select>
+        <div className={styles.configEditorButtons}>
+          <button
+            onClick={() => handleUpdate(false)}
+            className={styles.buttonPrimary}
+            data-testid="update-config"
+          >
+            Update Config
+          </button>
+          <button
+            onClick={() => handleUpdate(true)}
+            className={styles.buttonBlack}
+            data-testid="update-and-restart"
+          >
+            Update and Reload
+          </button>
+        </div>
       </div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/packages/extension/src/vats/empty-vat.js b/packages/extension/src/vats/empty-vat.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..380e34593
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/extension/src/vats/empty-vat.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { Far } from '@endo/marshal';
+
+/**
+ * Build function for simple test vat.
+ *
+ * @param {unknown} _vatPowers - Special powers granted to this vat (not used here).
+ * @param {unknown} parameters - Initialization parameters from the vat's config object.
+ * @param {unknown} _baggage - Root of vat's persistent state (not used here).
+ * @returns {unknown} The root object for the new vat.
+ */
+export function buildRootObject(_vatPowers, parameters, _baggage) {
+  const name = parameters?.name ?? 'anonymous';
+  console.log(`buildRootObject "${name}"`);
+  return Far('root', {
+    bootstrap() {
+      console.log(`vat ${name}  bootstrap() called`);
+    },
+  });
+}
diff --git a/packages/extension/src/vats/minimal-cluster.json b/packages/extension/src/vats/minimal-cluster.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5a210e028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/extension/src/vats/minimal-cluster.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "bootstrap": "main",
+  "forceReset": true,
+  "vats": {
+    "main": {
+      "bundleSpec": "http://localhost:3000/empty-vat.bundle",
+      "parameters": {
+        "name": "EmptyVat"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/extension/test/e2e/vat-manager.test.ts b/packages/extension/test/e2e/vat-manager.test.ts
index 4e33f2fec..165b1fb55 100644
--- a/packages/extension/test/e2e/vat-manager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/extension/test/e2e/vat-manager.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
 import type { Page, BrowserContext } from '@playwright/test';
 
-import clusterConfig from '../../src/vats/default-cluster.json' assert { type: 'json' };
+import defaultClusterConfig from '../../src/vats/default-cluster.json' assert { type: 'json' };
+import minimalClusterConfig from '../../src/vats/minimal-cluster.json' assert { type: 'json' };
 import { makeLoadExtension } from '../helpers/extension';
 
 test.describe('Vat Manager', () => {
@@ -147,10 +148,10 @@ test.describe('Vat Manager', () => {
     const vatTable = popupPage.locator('[data-testid="vat-table"]');
     await expect(vatTable).toBeVisible();
     await expect(vatTable.locator('tr')).toHaveCount(
-      Object.keys(clusterConfig.vats).length + 1, // +1 for header row
+      Object.keys(defaultClusterConfig.vats).length + 1, // +1 for header row
     );
     // Verify each default vat is present in the table
-    for (const [, vatConfig] of Object.entries(clusterConfig.vats)) {
+    for (const [, vatConfig] of Object.entries(defaultClusterConfig.vats)) {
       await expect(vatTable).toContainText(vatConfig.parameters.name);
       await expect(vatTable).toContainText(vatConfig.bundleSpec);
     }
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ test.describe('Vat Manager', () => {
     const configTextarea = popupPage.locator('[data-testid="config-textarea"]');
     await expect(configTextarea).toBeVisible();
     await expect(configTextarea).toHaveValue(
-      JSON.stringify(clusterConfig, null, 2),
+      JSON.stringify(defaultClusterConfig, null, 2),
     );
     // Test invalid JSON handling
     await configTextarea.fill('{ invalid json }');
@@ -170,12 +171,13 @@ test.describe('Vat Manager', () => {
     // Verify original vats still exist
     const vatTable = popupPage.locator('[data-testid="vat-table"]');
     const firstVatKey = Object.keys(
-      clusterConfig.vats,
-    )[0] as keyof typeof clusterConfig.vats;
-    const originalVatName = clusterConfig.vats[firstVatKey].parameters.name;
+      defaultClusterConfig.vats,
+    )[0] as keyof typeof defaultClusterConfig.vats;
+    const originalVatName =
+      defaultClusterConfig.vats[firstVatKey].parameters.name;
     await expect(vatTable).toContainText(originalVatName);
     // Modify config with new vat name
-    const modifiedConfig = structuredClone(clusterConfig);
+    const modifiedConfig = structuredClone(defaultClusterConfig);
     modifiedConfig.vats[firstVatKey].parameters.name = 'SuperAlice';
     // Update config and reload
     await configTextarea.fill(JSON.stringify(modifiedConfig, null, 2));
@@ -208,4 +210,27 @@ test.describe('Vat Manager', () => {
       )
       .toBeTruthy();
   });
+
+  test('should handle config template selection', async () => {
+    // Get initial config textarea content
+    const configTextarea = popupPage.locator('[data-testid="config-textarea"]');
+    await expect(configTextarea).toBeVisible();
+    const initialConfig = await configTextarea.inputValue();
+    // Select minimal config template
+    const configSelect = popupPage.locator('[data-testid="config-select"]');
+    await configSelect.selectOption('Minimal');
+    // Verify config textarea was updated with minimal config
+    const minimalConfig = await configTextarea.inputValue();
+    expect(minimalConfig).not.toBe(initialConfig);
+    expect(JSON.parse(minimalConfig)).toMatchObject(minimalClusterConfig);
+    // Update and reload with minimal config
+    await popupPage.click('button:text("Update and Reload")');
+    // Verify vat table shows only the main vat
+    const vatTable = popupPage.locator('[data-testid="vat-table"]');
+    await expect(vatTable).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(vatTable.locator('tr')).toHaveCount(2); // Header + 1 row
+    await expect(vatTable).toContainText(
+      minimalClusterConfig.vats.main.parameters.name,
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/vitest.config.ts b/vitest.config.ts
index 3bf92da73..99d446348 100644
--- a/vitest.config.ts
+++ b/vitest.config.ts
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ export default defineConfig({
           lines: 100,
         },
         'packages/extension/**': {
-          statements: 73.63,
-          functions: 78.97,
+          statements: 74.07,
+          functions: 79.39,
           branches: 70.86,
-          lines: 73.67,
+          lines: 74.11,
         },
         'packages/kernel/**': {
           statements: 48.54,