diff --git a/tests/integration_test.rs b/tests/integration_test.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dec657b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration_test.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+use console_subscriber::ConsoleLayer;
+use log::*;
+use nostr_rs_relay::config;
+use nostr_rs_relay::server::start_server;
+use std::sync::mpsc as syncmpsc;
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver as MpscReceiver, Sender as MpscSender};
+use std::thread;
+use std::thread::JoinHandle;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+struct Relay {
+    handle: JoinHandle<()>,
+    shutdown_tx: MpscSender<()>,
+}
+
+fn start_relay(port: u16) -> Relay {
+    ConsoleLayer::builder().with_default_env().init();
+    let _ = env_logger::try_init();
+    info!("Starting up from main");
+    // replace default settings
+    let mut settings = config::Settings::default();
+    settings.database.in_memory = true;
+    settings.network.port = port;
+    let (shutdown_tx, shutdown_rx): (MpscSender<()>, MpscReceiver<()>) = syncmpsc::channel();
+    let handle = thread::spawn(|| {
+        let _ = start_server(settings, shutdown_rx);
+    });
+    return Relay {
+        handle,
+        shutdown_tx,
+    };
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn startup() {
+    let relay = start_relay(8080);
+    // just make sure we can startup and shut down.
+    // if we send a shutdown message before the server is listening,
+    // we will get a SendError.  Keep sending until someone is
+    // listening.
+    loop {
+        let shutdown_res = relay.shutdown_tx.send(());
+        match shutdown_res {
+            Ok(()) => {
+                break;
+            }
+            Err(_) => {
+                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    // wait for relay to shutdown
+    let thread_join = relay.handle.join();
+    assert!(thread_join.is_ok());
+}