diff --git a/piker/service/_ahab.py b/piker/service/_ahab.py
index 0629aeda..49d72de6 100644
--- a/piker/service/_ahab.py
+++ b/piker/service/_ahab.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Supervisor for ``docker`` with included async and SC wrapping
 to ensure a cancellable container lifetime system.
 
 '''
+from __future__ import annotations
 from collections import ChainMap
 from functools import partial
 import os
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ from requests.exceptions import (
     ReadTimeout,
 )
 
+from ._mngr import Services
 from ._util import (
     log,  # sub-sys logger
     get_console_log,
@@ -187,7 +189,11 @@ class Container:
                     and entry not in seen_so_far
                 ):
                     seen_so_far.add(entry)
-                    getattr(log, level.lower(), log.error)(f'{msg}')
+                    getattr(
+                        log,
+                        level.lower(),
+                        log.error
+                    )(f'{msg}')
 
                     if level == 'fatal':
                         raise ApplicationLogError(msg)
@@ -263,8 +269,10 @@ class Container:
         start = time.time()
         for _ in range(6):
 
-            with trio.move_on_after(0.5) as cs:
-                log.cancel('polling for CNTR logs...')
+            with trio.move_on_after(1) as cs:
+                log.cancel(
+                    'polling for CNTR logs for {stop_predicate}..'
+                )
 
                 try:
                     await self.process_logs_until(
@@ -328,16 +336,13 @@ class Container:
 async def open_ahabd(
     ctx: tractor.Context,
     endpoint: str,  # ns-pointer str-msg-type
-    loglevel: str | None = 'cancel',
+    loglevel: str | None = None,
 
-    **kwargs,
+    **ep_kwargs,
 
 ) -> None:
 
-    log = get_console_log(
-        loglevel,
-        name=__name__,
-    )
+    log = get_console_log(loglevel or 'cancel')
 
     async with open_docker() as client:
 
@@ -350,7 +355,7 @@ async def open_ahabd(
             cntr_config,
             start_pred,
             stop_pred,
-        ) = ep_func(client)
+        ) = ep_func(client, **ep_kwargs)
         cntr = Container(dcntr)
 
         conf: ChainMap[str, Any] = ChainMap(
@@ -446,10 +451,17 @@ async def open_ahabd(
                 )
 
 
-async def start_ahab(
+@acm
+async def start_ahab_service(
+    services: Services,
     service_name: str,
+
+    # endpoint config passed as **kwargs
     endpoint: Callable[docker.DockerClient, DockerContainer],
+    ep_kwargs: dict,
     loglevel: str | None = 'cancel',
+
+    # supervisor config
     drop_root_perms: bool = True,
 
     task_status: TaskStatus[
@@ -470,6 +482,9 @@ async def start_ahab(
     is started.
 
     '''
+    # global log
+    log = get_console_log(loglevel or 'cancel')
+
     cn_ready = trio.Event()
     try:
         async with tractor.open_nursery() as an:
@@ -498,21 +513,28 @@ async def start_ahab(
                     )[2]  # named user's uid
                 )
 
-            async with portal.open_context(
-                open_ahabd,
+            cs, first = await services.start_service_task(
+                name=service_name,
+                portal=portal,
+
+                # rest: endpoint inputs
+                target=open_ahabd,
                 endpoint=str(NamespacePath.from_ref(endpoint)),
                 loglevel='cancel',
-            ) as (ctx, first):
+                **ep_kwargs,
+            )
 
-                cid, pid, cntr_config = first
+            cid, pid, cntr_config = first
 
-                task_status.started((
+            try:
+                yield (
                     cn_ready,
                     cntr_config,
                     (cid, pid),
-                ))
-
-                await trio.sleep_forever()
+                )
+            finally:
+                log.info(f'Cancelling ahab service `{service_name}`')
+                await services.cancel_service(service_name)
 
     # since we demoted root perms in this parent
     # we'll get a perms error on proc cleanup in
diff --git a/piker/service/_mngr.py b/piker/service/_mngr.py
index e37bb7ec..70771593 100644
--- a/piker/service/_mngr.py
+++ b/piker/service/_mngr.py
@@ -33,8 +33,11 @@ from ._util import (
 )
 
 
-# TODO: factor this into a ``tractor.highlevel`` extension
-# pack for the library.
+# TODO: we need remote wrapping and a general soln:
+# - factor this into a ``tractor.highlevel`` extension # pack for the
+#   library.
+# - wrap a "remote api" wherein you can get a method proxy
+#   to the pikerd actor for starting services remotely!
 class Services:
 
     actor_n: tractor._supervise.ActorNursery
@@ -80,6 +83,7 @@ class Services:
         ) -> Any:
 
             with trio.CancelScope() as cs:
+
                 async with portal.open_context(
                     target,
                     allow_overruns=allow_overruns,