diff --git a/nitransforms/cli.py b/nitransforms/cli.py
index 63cd421c..59c6b9d3 100644
--- a/nitransforms/cli.py
+++ b/nitransforms/cli.py
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ def cli_apply(pargs):
             "Cannot determine transformation format, manually set format with the `--fmt` flag"
         )
 
-    if pargs.nonlinear:
-        xfm = nlinload(pargs.transform, fmt=fmt)
-    else:
-        xfm = linload(pargs.transform, fmt=fmt)
+    xfm = (
+        nlinload(pargs.transform, fmt=fmt)
+        if pargs.nonlinear else
+        linload(pargs.transform, fmt=fmt)
+    )
 
     # ensure a reference is set
     xfm.reference = pargs.ref or pargs.moving
diff --git a/nitransforms/io/afni.py b/nitransforms/io/afni.py
index 42a5ab8e..51100af3 100644
--- a/nitransforms/io/afni.py
+++ b/nitransforms/io/afni.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
     DisplacementsField,
     LinearParameters,
     TransformFileError,
+    _ensure_image,
 )
 
 LPS = np.diag([-1, -1, 1, 1])
@@ -34,11 +35,14 @@ def to_string(self, banner=True):
 
     @classmethod
     def from_ras(cls, ras, moving=None, reference=None):
-        """Create an ITK affine from a nitransform's RAS+ matrix."""
-        ras = ras.copy()
-        pre = LPS.copy()
-        post = LPS.copy()
-        if _is_oblique(reference.affine):
+        """Create an AFNI affine from a nitransform's RAS+ matrix."""
+        pre = LPS
+        post = LPS
+
+        if reference is not None:
+            reference = _ensure_image(reference)
+
+        if reference is not None and _is_oblique(reference.affine):
             print("Reference affine axes are oblique.")
             M = reference.affine
             A = shape_zoom_affine(
@@ -46,7 +50,10 @@ def from_ras(cls, ras, moving=None, reference=None):
             )
             pre = M.dot(np.linalg.inv(A)).dot(LPS)
 
-        if _is_oblique(moving.affine):
+        if moving is not None:
+            moving = _ensure_image(moving)
+
+        if moving is not None and _is_oblique(moving.affine):
             print("Moving affine axes are oblique.")
             M2 = moving.affine
             A2 = shape_zoom_affine(
@@ -55,7 +62,7 @@ def from_ras(cls, ras, moving=None, reference=None):
             post = A2.dot(np.linalg.inv(M2))
 
         # swapaxes is necessary, as axis 0 encodes series of transforms
-        parameters = np.swapaxes(post.dot(ras.dot(pre)), 0, 1)
+        parameters = np.swapaxes(post @ ras @ pre, 0, 1)
 
         tf = cls()
         tf.structarr["parameters"] = parameters.T
@@ -84,6 +91,26 @@ def from_string(cls, string):
         sa["parameters"] = parameters
         return tf
 
+    def to_ras(self, moving=None, reference=None):
+        """Return a nitransforms internal RAS+ matrix."""
+        pre = LPS
+        post = LPS
+
+        if reference is not None:
+            reference = _ensure_image(reference)
+
+        if reference is not None and _is_oblique(reference.affine):
+            raise NotImplementedError
+
+        if moving is not None:
+            moving = _ensure_image(moving)
+
+        if moving is not None and _is_oblique(moving.affine):
+            raise NotImplementedError
+
+        # swapaxes is necessary, as axis 0 encodes series of transforms
+        return post @ np.swapaxes(self.structarr["parameters"].T, 0, 1) @ pre
+
 
 class AFNILinearTransformArray(BaseLinearTransformList):
     """A string-based structure for series of AFNI linear transforms."""
diff --git a/nitransforms/linear.py b/nitransforms/linear.py
index a03f2695..9a8a6002 100644
--- a/nitransforms/linear.py
+++ b/nitransforms/linear.py
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ def from_filename(cls, filename, fmt="X5", reference=None, moving=None):
             _factory = io.LinearTransformArray
         elif fmt.lower() == "fsl":
             _factory = io.fsl.FSLLinearTransformArray
+        elif fmt.lower() == "afni":
+            _factory = io.afni.AFNILinearTransformArray
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError
 
diff --git a/nitransforms/tests/test_cli.py b/nitransforms/tests/test_cli.py
index 5772e9b1..7f16a1de 100644
--- a/nitransforms/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/nitransforms/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -57,12 +57,7 @@ def test_apply_nl(tmpdir, testdata_path):
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         ntcli(nlargs)
 
-    nlargs.extend(["--fmt", "afni"])
-    # no linear afni support
-    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
-        ntcli(nlargs)
-
     output = "moved_from_warp.nii.gz"
-    nlargs.extend(["--nonlinear", "--out", output])
+    nlargs.extend(["--nonlinear", "--fmt", "afni", "--out", output])
     ntcli(nlargs)
     assert (tmpdir / output).check()