diff --git a/lbrynet/dht/node.py b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
index 03f56ca9d..31f1b238a 100644
--- a/lbrynet/dht/node.py
+++ b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
@@ -41,7 +41,46 @@ def rpcmethod(func):
     return func
 
 
-class Node(object):
+class MockKademliaHelper(object):
+    def __init__(self, clock=None, callLater=None, resolve=None, listenUDP=None):
+        if not listenUDP or not resolve or not callLater or not clock:
+            from twisted.internet import reactor
+            listenUDP = listenUDP or reactor.listenUDP
+            resolve = resolve or reactor.resolve
+            callLater = callLater or reactor.callLater
+            clock = clock or reactor
+
+        self.clock = clock
+        self.reactor_listenUDP = listenUDP
+        self.reactor_resolve = resolve
+
+        CallLaterManager.setup(callLater)
+        self.reactor_callLater = CallLaterManager.call_later
+        self.reactor_callSoon = CallLaterManager.call_soon
+
+        self._listeningPort = None  # object implementing Twisted
+        # IListeningPort This will contain a deferred created when
+        # joining the network, to enable publishing/retrieving
+        # information from the DHT as soon as the node is part of the
+        # network (add callbacks to this deferred if scheduling such
+        # operations before the node has finished joining the network)
+
+    def get_looping_call(self, fn, *args, **kwargs):
+        lc = task.LoopingCall(fn, *args, **kwargs)
+        lc.clock = self.clock
+        return lc
+
+    def safe_stop_looping_call(self, lc):
+        if lc and lc.running:
+            return lc.stop()
+        return defer.succeed(None)
+
+    def safe_start_looping_call(self, lc, t):
+        if lc and not lc.running:
+            lc.start(t)
+
+
+class Node(MockKademliaHelper):
     """ Local node in the Kademlia network
 
     This class represents a single local node in a Kademlia network; in other
@@ -54,7 +93,7 @@ class Node(object):
 
     def __init__(self, node_id=None, udpPort=4000, dataStore=None,
                  routingTableClass=None, networkProtocol=None,
-                 externalIP=None, peerPort=None, listenUDP=None,
+                 externalIP=None, peerPort=3333, listenUDP=None,
                  callLater=None, resolve=None, clock=None, peer_finder=None,
                  peer_manager=None):
         """
@@ -82,31 +121,11 @@ class Node(object):
         @param peerPort: the port at which this node announces it has a blob for
         """
 
-        if not listenUDP or not resolve or not callLater or not clock:
-            from twisted.internet import reactor
-            listenUDP = listenUDP or reactor.listenUDP
-            resolve = resolve or reactor.resolve
-            callLater = callLater or reactor.callLater
-            clock = clock or reactor
-        self.clock = clock
-        CallLaterManager.setup(callLater)
-        self.reactor_resolve = resolve
-        self.reactor_listenUDP = listenUDP
-        self.reactor_callLater = CallLaterManager.call_later
-        self.reactor_callSoon = CallLaterManager.call_soon
+        MockKademliaHelper.__init__(self, clock, callLater, resolve, listenUDP)
         self.node_id = node_id or self._generateID()
         self.port = udpPort
-        self._listeningPort = None  # object implementing Twisted
-        # IListeningPort This will contain a deferred created when
-        # joining the network, to enable publishing/retrieving
-        # information from the DHT as soon as the node is part of the
-        # network (add callbacks to this deferred if scheduling such
-        # operations before the node has finished joining the network)
-        self._joinDeferred = defer.Deferred(None)
-        self.change_token_lc = task.LoopingCall(self.change_token)
-        self.change_token_lc.clock = self.clock
-        self.refresh_node_lc = task.LoopingCall(self._refreshNode)
-        self.refresh_node_lc.clock = self.clock
+        self._change_token_lc = self.get_looping_call(self.change_token)
+        self._refresh_node_lc = self.get_looping_call(self._refreshNode)
 
         # Create k-buckets (for storing contacts)
         if routingTableClass is None:
@@ -127,6 +146,7 @@ class Node(object):
         self._dataStore = dataStore or datastore.DictDataStore()
         self.peer_manager = peer_manager or PeerManager()
         self.peer_finder = peer_finder or DHTPeerFinder(self, self.peer_manager)
+        self._join_deferred = None
 
     def __del__(self):
         log.warning("unclean shutdown of the dht node")
@@ -136,10 +156,8 @@ class Node(object):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def stop(self):
         # stop LoopingCalls:
-        if self.refresh_node_lc.running:
-            yield self.refresh_node_lc.stop()
-        if self.change_token_lc.running:
-            yield self.change_token_lc.stop()
+        yield self.safe_stop_looping_call(self._refresh_node_lc)
+        yield self.safe_stop_looping_call(self._change_token_lc)
         if self._listeningPort is not None:
             yield self._listeningPort.stopListening()
 
@@ -204,11 +222,10 @@ class Node(object):
 
         self.start_listening()
         #        #TODO: Refresh all k-buckets further away than this node's closest neighbour
+        self.safe_start_looping_call(self._change_token_lc, constants.tokenSecretChangeInterval)
         # Start refreshing k-buckets periodically, if necessary
         self.bootstrap_join(known_node_addresses or [], self._joinDeferred)
-        yield self._joinDeferred
-        self.change_token_lc.start(constants.tokenSecretChangeInterval)
-        self.refresh_node_lc.start(constants.checkRefreshInterval)
+        self.safe_start_looping_call(self._refresh_node_lc, constants.checkRefreshInterval)
 
     @property
     def contacts(self):