diff --git a/docs/CLI_commands.md b/docs/CLI_commands.md
index 8ea9808..6f76ecf 100644
--- a/docs/CLI_commands.md
+++ b/docs/CLI_commands.md
@@ -292,11 +292,13 @@ Companion builds only. Local only: they run from USB and the app's CLI, and a re
 
 ## Observer (ZephCore only)
 
-The observer role (ESP32, `boards/common/observer.conf`) has its own CLI and none of the commands in the other sections: no `reboot`, `ver`, `erase`, `set radio` or `set tx`. USB serial only — an observer never transmits, so there is no remote admin. A `get` replies with the bare value, without the `> ` prefix; a `set` echoes `key=value`; errors start with `ERR`. Every `set` is saved and applied at once, with no reboot.
+The observer role (ESP32, `boards/common/observer.conf`) has its own CLI and, apart from `reboot` and `erase`, none of the commands in the other sections: no `ver`, `set radio` or `set tx`. USB serial only — an observer never transmits, so there is no remote admin. A `get` replies with the bare value, without the `> ` prefix; a `set` echoes `key=value`; errors start with `ERR`. Every `set` is saved and applied at once, with no reboot.
 
 | Command | Description |
 |---------|-------------|
 | `help` | Status banner (node, key, radio, WiFi and MQTT state) followed by the command list. Also printed at boot |
+| `reboot` | Restart the node. Replies `OK - rebooting`, as on a repeater |
+| `erase` | Factory reset, as on a repeater: erases the whole LittleFS volume (identity, name, radio, WiFi and MQTT settings) and restarts onto defaults. Replies `File system erase: OK - rebooting` |
 | `get role` | `observer` |
 | `get name` | Node name. Default `Observer-XXXXXXXX` |
 | `get board` | Board name |
diff --git a/releasenotes/RELEASE_NOTES_1.17.7-zephcore.md b/releasenotes/RELEASE_NOTES_1.17.7-zephcore.md
index 813bbf8..b0637b0 100644
--- a/releasenotes/RELEASE_NOTES_1.17.7-zephcore.md
+++ b/releasenotes/RELEASE_NOTES_1.17.7-zephcore.md
@@ -265,6 +265,10 @@ matches the SoftDevice version of your bootloader.
   The older ESP32 in the TTGO LoRa32 and T-Beam has no usable sensor and still reports none. On the
   ThinkNode M9 and Meshnology W12 the radio now also recalibrates itself when the temperature has
   moved by 5 C or more, as it already does on nRF boards with an LR1110 or LR2021.
+- **Observers have `reboot` and `erase`** on their serial console, with the same replies as on a
+  repeater. `erase` is the factory reset: it wipes the identity, the name and the radio, WiFi and
+  MQTT settings, and restarts the node on defaults. Until now an observer could only be wiped by
+  erasing the flash from a computer.
 - **`sensor list`** with a negative start index is rejected instead of being used
   ([PR #100](https://github.com/liquidraver/ZephCore/pull/100), thanks to **ptr727**).
 - **T1000-E**: a pin that was wrongly driven as a sensor enable is left alone. Sensor readings are
diff --git a/zephcore/app/main_observer.cpp b/zephcore/app/main_observer.cpp
index 0435487..21cd1cf 100644
--- a/zephcore/app/main_observer.cpp
+++ b/zephcore/app/main_observer.cpp
@@ -207,6 +207,10 @@ static void print_banner(void)
 	cli_println("get mqtt.user              MQTT username");
 	cli_println("get mqtt.iata              Location code");
 	cli_println("get meshtimesync           Time-sync consensus state (dry-run)");
+	cli_println("");
+	cli_println("--- System ---");
+	cli_println("reboot                     Restart the node");
+	cli_println("erase                      Factory reset: erase all settings, then restart");
 	cli_println("help                       Show this screen");
 	cli_println("=========================");
 }
@@ -239,6 +243,10 @@ static void cli_echo_resume(void)
 static inline void cli_echo_resume(void) {}
 #endif
 
+/* `reboot` and `erase`: handled here, beside the board and the data store,
+ * not in ObserverMesh. Defined below the global instances. */
+static bool cli_system_command(const char *line, char *reply, size_t reply_size);
+
 static void process_cli_rx(void)
 {
 	uint8_t byte;
@@ -250,7 +258,9 @@ static void process_cli_rx(void)
 
 				cli_reply[0] = '\0';
 				bool want_banner = false;
-				if (s_mesh_ptr) {
+				if (cli_system_command(cli_line, cli_reply, sizeof(cli_reply))) {
+					/* reply set; the node resets shortly */
+				} else if (s_mesh_ptr) {
 					want_banner = s_mesh_ptr->handleCLI(
 						cli_line, cli_reply,
 						sizeof(cli_reply));
@@ -312,6 +322,39 @@ static mesh::LoRaRadio lora_radio(lora_dev, s_board);
 static mesh::ObserverMesh observer_mesh(lora_radio, s_ms_clock, s_rtc_clock);
 static RepeaterDataStore  data_store;
 
+/* ========== reboot / erase ========== */
+
+/* Deferred so the reply reaches the console before the reset. */
+static void cli_reboot_work_fn(struct k_work *work)
+{
+	ARG_UNUSED(work);
+	s_board.reboot();
+}
+
+static K_WORK_DELAYABLE_DEFINE(cli_reboot_work, cli_reboot_work_fn);
+
+/* Same commands and replies as the repeater's CLI (helpers/CommonCLI.cpp).
+ * `erase` is the factory reset: the whole volume, WiFi and MQTT settings
+ * included, then a reboot onto defaults. */
+static bool cli_system_command(const char *line, char *reply, size_t reply_size)
+{
+	if (strcmp(line, "reboot") == 0) {
+		snprintf(reply, reply_size, "OK - rebooting");
+		k_work_schedule(&cli_reboot_work, K_MSEC(500));
+		return true;
+	}
+	if (strcmp(line, "erase") == 0) {
+		if (data_store.formatFileSystem()) {
+			snprintf(reply, reply_size, "File system erase: OK - rebooting");
+			k_work_schedule(&cli_reboot_work, K_MSEC(500));
+		} else {
+			snprintf(reply, reply_size, "File system erase: Err");
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 /* ========== main() ========== */
 
 int main(void)