diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 2ad6f624..1bd1d86e 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager as acm
 import os
 
 import pytest
 import tractor
-import trio
-from piker import log, config
-from piker.brokers import questrade
+from piker import (
+    # log,
+    config,
+)
 
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
@@ -28,9 +30,11 @@ def test_config():
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session', autouse=True)
 def confdir(request, test_config):
-    """If the `--confdir` flag is not passed use the
+    '''
+    If the `--confdir` flag is not passed use the
     broker config file found in that dir.
-    """
+
+    '''
     confdir = request.config.option.confdir
     if confdir is not None:
         config._override_config_dir(confdir)
@@ -38,49 +42,49 @@ def confdir(request, test_config):
     return confdir
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope='session', autouse=True)
-def travis(confdir):
-    is_travis = os.environ.get('TRAVIS', False)
-    if is_travis:
-        # this directory is cached, see .travis.yaml
-        conf_file = config.get_broker_conf_path()
-        refresh_token = os.environ['QT_REFRESH_TOKEN']
+# @pytest.fixture(scope='session', autouse=True)
+# def travis(confdir):
+#     is_travis = os.environ.get('TRAVIS', False)
+#     if is_travis:
+#         # this directory is cached, see .travis.yaml
+#         conf_file = config.get_broker_conf_path()
+#         refresh_token = os.environ['QT_REFRESH_TOKEN']
 
-        def write_with_token(token):
-            # XXX don't pass the dir path here since may be
-            # written behind the scenes in the `confdir fixture`
-            if not os.path.isfile(conf_file):
-                open(conf_file, 'w').close()
-            conf, path = config.load()
-            conf.setdefault('questrade', {}).update(
-                {'refresh_token': token,
-                 'is_practice': 'True'}
-            )
-            config.write(conf, path)
+#         def write_with_token(token):
+#             # XXX don't pass the dir path here since may be
+#             # written behind the scenes in the `confdir fixture`
+#             if not os.path.isfile(conf_file):
+#                 open(conf_file, 'w').close()
+#             conf, path = config.load()
+#             conf.setdefault('questrade', {}).update(
+#                 {'refresh_token': token,
+#                  'is_practice': 'True'}
+#             )
+#             config.write(conf, path)
 
-        async def ensure_config():
-            # try to refresh current token using cached brokers config
-            # if it fails fail try using the refresh token provided by the
-            # env var and if that fails stop the test run here.
-            try:
-                async with questrade.get_client(ask_user=False):
-                    pass
-            except (
-                FileNotFoundError, ValueError,
-                questrade.BrokerError, questrade.QuestradeError,
-                trio.MultiError,
-            ):
-                # 3 cases:
-                # - config doesn't have a ``refresh_token`` k/v
-                # - cache dir does not exist yet
-                # - current token is expired; take it form env var
-                write_with_token(refresh_token)
+#         async def ensure_config():
+#             # try to refresh current token using cached brokers config
+#             # if it fails fail try using the refresh token provided by the
+#             # env var and if that fails stop the test run here.
+#             try:
+#                 async with questrade.get_client(ask_user=False):
+#                     pass
+#             except (
+#                 FileNotFoundError, ValueError,
+#                 questrade.BrokerError, questrade.QuestradeError,
+#                 trio.MultiError,
+#             ):
+#                 # 3 cases:
+#                 # - config doesn't have a ``refresh_token`` k/v
+#                 # - cache dir does not exist yet
+#                 # - current token is expired; take it form env var
+#                 write_with_token(refresh_token)
 
-                async with questrade.get_client(ask_user=False):
-                    pass
+#                 async with questrade.get_client(ask_user=False):
+#                     pass
 
-        # XXX ``pytest_trio`` doesn't support scope or autouse
-        trio.run(ensure_config)
+#         # XXX ``pytest_trio`` doesn't support scope or autouse
+#         trio.run(ensure_config)
 
 
 _ci_env: bool = os.environ.get('CI', False)
@@ -88,10 +92,13 @@ _ci_env: bool = os.environ.get('CI', False)
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def ci_env() -> bool:
-    """Detect CI envoirment.
-    """
+    '''
+    Detect CI envoirment.
+
+    '''
     return _ci_env
 
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def us_symbols():
     return ['TSLA', 'AAPL', 'CGC', 'CRON']
@@ -106,3 +113,55 @@ def tmx_symbols():
 def cse_symbols():
     return ['TRUL.CN', 'CWEB.CN', 'SNN.CN']
 
+
+@acm
+async def _open_test_pikerd(
+    reg_addr: tuple[str, int] | None = None,
+    **kwargs,
+
+) -> tuple[
+    str,
+    int,
+    tractor.Portal
+]:
+    '''
+    Testing helper to startup the service tree and runtime on
+    a different port then the default to allow testing alongside
+    a running stack.
+
+    '''
+    import random
+    from piker._daemon import maybe_open_pikerd
+
+    if reg_addr is None:
+        port = random.randint(6e3, 7e3)
+        reg_addr = ('127.0.0.1', port)
+
+    async with (
+        maybe_open_pikerd(
+            registry_addr=reg_addr,
+            **kwargs,
+        ),
+    ):
+        async with tractor.wait_for_actor(
+            'pikerd',
+            arbiter_sockaddr=reg_addr,
+        ) as portal:
+            raddr = portal.channel.raddr
+            assert raddr == reg_addr
+            yield (
+                raddr[0],
+                raddr[1],
+                portal,
+            )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def open_test_pikerd():
+
+    yield _open_test_pikerd
+
+    # TODO: teardown checks such as,
+    # - no leaked subprocs or shm buffers
+    # - all requested container service are torn down
+    # - certain ``tractor`` runtime state?