diff --git a/iroh/src/node/builder.rs b/iroh/src/node/builder.rs
index a8756be58fa..ab26a6212c0 100644
--- a/iroh/src/node/builder.rs
+++ b/iroh/src/node/builder.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use std::{
 use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
 use futures_lite::StreamExt;
 use iroh_base::key::SecretKey;
+use iroh_blobs::protocol::ALPN as BLOBS_ALPN;
 use iroh_blobs::{
     downloader::Downloader,
     protocol::Closed,
@@ -43,8 +44,6 @@ use super::{
     protocol::BlobsProtocol, rpc, rpc_status::RpcStatus, DocsEngine, Node, NodeInner, Protocol,
 };
 
-pub const PROTOCOLS: [&[u8]; 3] = [iroh_blobs::protocol::ALPN, GOSSIP_ALPN, DOCS_ALPN];
-
 /// Default bind address for the node.
 /// 11204 is "iroh" in leetspeak <https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet>
 pub const DEFAULT_BIND_PORT: u16 = 11204;
@@ -370,23 +369,15 @@ where
     /// connections.  The returned [`Node`] can be used to control the task as well as
     /// get information about it.
     pub async fn spawn(self) -> Result<Node<D>> {
-        let unspawned = self.build().await?;
-        let gossip = unspawned.gossip.clone();
-        let blobs = BlobsProtocol::new(unspawned.inner.db.clone(), unspawned.inner.rt.clone());
-        let docs = unspawned.inner.sync.clone();
-        unspawned
-            .add_handler(GOSSIP_ALPN, Box::new(gossip))
-            .add_handler(iroh_blobs::protocol::ALPN, Box::new(blobs))
-            .add_handler(DOCS_ALPN, Box::new(docs))
-            .spawn()
-            .await
+        let unspawned = self.build(&[GOSSIP_ALPN, BLOBS_ALPN, DOCS_ALPN]).await?;
+        unspawned.add_iroh_protocols()?.spawn().await
     }
 
     /// Build a node without spawning it.
-    pub async fn build(self) -> Result<UnspawnedNode<D, E>> {
+    pub async fn build(self, protocols: &[&'static [u8]]) -> Result<UnspawnedNode<D, E>> {
         // We clone the blob store to shut it down in case the node fails to spawn.
         let blobs_store = self.blobs_store.clone();
-        match self.build_inner().await {
+        match self.build_inner(protocols).await {
             Ok(node) => Ok(node),
             Err(err) => {
                 debug!("failed to spawn node, shutting down");
@@ -396,7 +387,7 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    async fn build_inner(mut self) -> Result<UnspawnedNode<D, E>> {
+    async fn build_inner(mut self, protocols: &[&'static [u8]]) -> Result<UnspawnedNode<D, E>> {
         trace!("building endpoint");
         let lp = LocalPoolHandle::new(num_cpus::get());
 
@@ -422,7 +413,7 @@ where
         let endpoint = Endpoint::builder()
             .secret_key(self.secret_key.clone())
             .proxy_from_env()
-            .alpns(PROTOCOLS.iter().map(|p| p.to_vec()).collect())
+            .alpns(protocols.iter().map(|p| p.to_vec()).collect())
             .keylog(self.keylog)
             .transport_config(transport_config)
             .concurrent_connections(MAX_CONNECTIONS)
@@ -517,6 +508,7 @@ where
             inner,
             client,
             internal_rpc,
+            protocols: protocols.into_iter().copied().collect(),
             handlers: Default::default(),
         };
         Ok(node)
@@ -529,7 +521,7 @@ where
         rpc: E,
         internal_rpc: impl ServiceEndpoint<RpcService>,
         gossip: Gossip,
-        handlers: Arc<BTreeMap<&'static [u8], Box<dyn Protocol>>>,
+        handlers: Arc<BTreeMap<&'static [u8], Arc<dyn Protocol>>>,
     ) {
         let rpc = RpcServer::new(rpc);
         let internal_rpc = RpcServer::new(internal_rpc);
@@ -699,10 +691,21 @@ pub struct UnspawnedNode<D, E> {
     internal_rpc: FlumeServerEndpoint<RpcService>,
     gossip: Gossip,
     rpc_endpoint: E,
-    handlers: BTreeMap<&'static [u8], Box<dyn Protocol>>,
+    protocols: BTreeSet<&'static [u8]>,
+    handlers: BTreeMap<&'static [u8], Arc<dyn Protocol>>,
 }
 
 impl<D: BaoStore, E: ServiceEndpoint<RpcService>> UnspawnedNode<D, E> {
+    /// The blobs db
+    pub fn blobs_db(&self) -> &D {
+        &self.inner.db
+    }
+
+    /// A local pool handle to run IO tasks
+    pub fn local_rt(&self) -> &LocalPoolHandle {
+        &self.inner.rt
+    }
+
     /// The endpoint
     pub fn endpoint(&self) -> &Endpoint {
         &self.inner.endpoint
@@ -714,10 +717,27 @@ impl<D: BaoStore, E: ServiceEndpoint<RpcService>> UnspawnedNode<D, E> {
     }
 
     /// Add a handler
-    pub fn add_handler(self, alpn: &'static [u8], handler: Box<dyn Protocol>) -> Self {
+    pub fn add_handler(self, alpn: &'static [u8], handler: Arc<dyn Protocol>) -> Result<Self> {
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            self.protocols.contains(alpn),
+            "unexpected protocol {alpn:?}"
+        );
         let mut this = self;
         this.handlers.insert(alpn, handler);
-        this
+        Ok(this)
+    }
+
+    /// Add the three default iroh protocols (blobs, gossip and docs)
+    ///
+    /// This requires that the endpoint is configured with the required ALPNs.
+    pub fn add_iroh_protocols(self) -> Result<Self> {
+        let gossip = self.gossip.clone();
+        let blobs = BlobsProtocol::new(self.blobs_db().clone(), self.local_rt().clone());
+        let docs = self.inner.sync.clone();
+        Ok(self
+            .add_handler(GOSSIP_ALPN, Arc::new(gossip))?
+            .add_handler(BLOBS_ALPN, Arc::new(blobs))?
+            .add_handler(DOCS_ALPN, Arc::new(docs))?)
     }
 
     /// Spawn an active node with an accept loop.
@@ -741,7 +761,12 @@ impl<D: BaoStore, E: ServiceEndpoint<RpcService>> UnspawnedNode<D, E> {
             handlers,
             gossip,
             rpc_endpoint,
+            protocols,
         } = self;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            handlers.len() == protocols.len(),
+            "missing protocol handler!"
+        );
         let inner = Arc::new(inner);
         let endpoint = inner.endpoint.clone();
 
@@ -808,12 +833,12 @@ impl Default for GcPolicy {
 async fn handle_connection(
     connecting: iroh_net::endpoint::Connecting,
     alpn: String,
-    handlers: &BTreeMap<&'static [u8], Box<dyn Protocol>>,
+    handlers: &BTreeMap<&'static [u8], Arc<dyn Protocol>>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let Some(handler) = handlers.get(alpn.as_bytes()) else {
         bail!("ignoring connection: unsupported ALPN protocol");
     };
-    handler.accept(connecting).await
+    handler.clone().accept(connecting).await
 }
 
 const DEFAULT_RPC_PORT: u16 = 0x1337;
diff --git a/iroh/src/node/protocol.rs b/iroh/src/node/protocol.rs
index 7dd291fc04c..ed1921d5d84 100644
--- a/iroh/src/node/protocol.rs
+++ b/iroh/src/node/protocol.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ impl Protocol for DocsEngine {
         let this = self.clone();
         Box::pin(async move { this.handle_connection(conn).await })
     }
-
     fn shutdown(&self) -> future::Boxed<()> {
         let this = self.clone();
         Box::pin(async move {