diff --git a/networks/tor/BaseOnionService.go b/networks/tor/BaseOnionService.go
index feaf56a..43667dc 100644
--- a/networks/tor/BaseOnionService.go
+++ b/networks/tor/BaseOnionService.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type BaseOnionService struct {
 	privateKey  ed25519.PrivateKey
 	ls          connectivity.ListenService
 	lock        sync.Mutex
+	port        int
 }
 
 // Metrics provides a report of useful information about the status of the service e.g. the number of active
@@ -51,6 +52,12 @@ func (s *BaseOnionService) Init(acn connectivity.ACN, sk ed25519.PrivateKey, id
 	s.acn = acn
 	s.id = id
 	s.privateKey = sk
+	s.port = 9878
+}
+
+// SetPort configures the port that the service uses.
+func (s *BaseOnionService) SetPort(port int) {
+	s.port = port
 }
 
 // WaitForCapabilityOrClose blocks until the connection has the given capability or the underlying connection is closed
@@ -146,7 +153,7 @@ func (s *BaseOnionService) Listen(app tapir.Application) error {
 	// accepts a new connection
 	// spins off to a connection struct
 	s.lock.Lock()
-	ls, err := s.acn.Listen(s.privateKey, 9878)
+	ls, err := s.acn.Listen(s.privateKey, s.port)
 	s.ls = ls
 	log.Debugf("Starting a service on %v ", ls.AddressFull())
 	s.lock.Unlock()
@@ -172,7 +179,9 @@ func (s *BaseOnionService) Listen(app tapir.Application) error {
 func (s *BaseOnionService) Shutdown() {
 	s.lock.Lock()
 	defer s.lock.Unlock()
-	s.ls.Close()
+	if s.ls != nil {
+		s.ls.Close()
+	}
 	s.connections.Range(func(key, value interface{}) bool {
 		connection := value.(tapir.Connection)
 		connection.Close()
diff --git a/scratch/main.go b/scratch/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29