diff --git a/tests/test_services.py b/tests/test_services.py
index 19d38b54..dd913c29 100644
--- a/tests/test_services.py
+++ b/tests/test_services.py
@@ -3,10 +3,31 @@ Actor tree daemon sub-service verifications
 
 '''
 from typing import AsyncContextManager
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager as acm
 
+import pytest
 import trio
 import tractor
 
+from piker._daemon import (
+    find_service,
+    check_for_service,
+    Services,
+)
+from piker.data import (
+    open_feed,
+)
+from piker.clearing import (
+    open_ems,
+)
+from piker.clearing._messages import (
+    BrokerdPosition,
+    Status,
+)
+from piker.clearing._client import (
+    OrderBook,
+)
+
 
 def test_runtime_boot(
     open_test_pikerd: AsyncContextManager
@@ -20,11 +41,12 @@ def test_runtime_boot(
     async def main():
         port = 6666
         daemon_addr = ('127.0.0.1', port)
+        services: Services
 
         async with (
             open_test_pikerd(
                 reg_addr=daemon_addr,
-            ) as (_, _, pikerd_portal),
+            ) as (_, _, pikerd_portal, services),
 
             tractor.wait_for_actor(
                 'pikerd',
@@ -35,3 +57,120 @@ def test_runtime_boot(
             assert pikerd_portal.channel.raddr == portal.channel.raddr
 
     trio.run(main)
+
+
+@acm
+async def ensure_service(
+    name: str,
+    sockaddr: tuple[str, int] | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    async with find_service(name) as portal:
+        remote_sockaddr = portal.channel.raddr
+        print(f'FOUND `{name}` @ {remote_sockaddr}')
+
+        if sockaddr:
+            assert remote_sockaddr == sockaddr
+
+        yield portal
+
+
+def test_ensure_datafeed_actors(
+    open_test_pikerd: AsyncContextManager
+
+) -> None:
+    '''
+    Verify that booting a data feed starts a `brokerd`
+    actor and a singleton global `samplerd` and opening
+    an order mode in paper opens the `paperboi` service.
+
+    '''
+    actor_name: str = 'brokerd'
+    backend: str = 'kraken'
+    brokerd_name: str = f'{actor_name}.{backend}'
+
+    async def main():
+        async with (
+            open_test_pikerd(),
+            open_feed(
+                ['xbtusdt.kraken'],
+                loglevel='info',
+            ) as feed
+        ):
+            # halt rt quote streams since we aren't testing them
+            await feed.pause()
+
+            async with (
+                ensure_service(brokerd_name),
+                ensure_service('samplerd'),
+            ):
+                pass
+
+    trio.run(main)
+
+
+def test_ensure_ems_in_paper_actors(
+    open_test_pikerd: AsyncContextManager
+
+) -> None:
+
+    actor_name: str = 'brokerd'
+    backend: str = 'kraken'
+    brokerd_name: str = f'{actor_name}.{backend}'
+
+    async def main():
+
+        # type declares
+        book: OrderBook
+        trades_stream: tractor.MsgStream
+        pps: dict[str, list[BrokerdPosition]]
+        accounts: list[str]
+        dialogs: dict[str, Status]
+
+        # ensure we timeout after is startup is too slow.
+        # TODO: something like this should be our start point for
+        # benchmarking end-to-end startup B)
+        with trio.fail_after(7):
+            async with (
+                open_test_pikerd() as (_, _, _, services),
+
+                open_ems(
+                    'xbtusdt.kraken',
+                    mode='paper',
+                ) as (
+                    book,
+                    trades_stream,
+                    pps,
+                    accounts,
+                    dialogs,
+                ),
+            ):
+                # there should be no on-going positions,
+                # TODO: though eventually we'll want to validate against
+                # local ledger and `pps.toml` state ;)
+                assert not pps
+                assert not dialogs
+
+                pikerd_subservices = ['emsd', 'samplerd']
+
+                async with (
+                    ensure_service('emsd'),
+                    ensure_service(brokerd_name),
+                    ensure_service(f'paperboi.{backend}'),
+                ):
+                    for name in pikerd_subservices:
+                        assert name in services.service_tasks
+
+                    # brokerd.kraken actor should have been started
+                    # implicitly by the ems.
+                    assert brokerd_name in services.service_tasks
+
+                    print('ALL SERVICES STARTED, terminating..')
+                    await services.cancel_service('emsd')
+
+    with pytest.raises(
+        tractor._exceptions.ContextCancelled,
+    ) as exc_info:
+        trio.run(main)
+
+    cancel_msg: str = '`_emsd_main()` was remotely cancelled by its caller'
+    assert cancel_msg in exc_info.value.args[0]