diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 2ad90b0..fbdc7d9 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ func (cfg *Base) Add(child lib.Config) {
 	cfg.children = append(cfg.children, child)
 }
 
+func (cfg *Base) WithAction(pattern string, spec lib.ActionSpec) lib.Config {
+	act := ActionConfig(pattern, nil)
+	act.specs = append(act.specs, spec)
+	cfg.actions = append(cfg.actions, act)
+	return cfg
+}
+
 // implementation-specific methods and functions
 
 func (cfg *Base) WithStep(step lib.StepProc) *Base {
@@ -83,6 +90,25 @@ func MakeBase(name string, starter lib.StartProc) *Base {
 	}
 }
 
+// action configuration
+
+type ActBase struct {
+	pattern string
+	specs   []lib.ActionSpec
+}
+
+func (act *ActBase) Pattern() string {
+	return act.pattern
+}
+
+func (act *ActBase) Specs() []lib.ActionSpec {
+	return act.specs
+}
+
+func ActionConfig(pattern string, specs []lib.ActionSpec) *ActBase {
+	return &ActBase{pattern, specs}
+}
+
 // overridable settings
 
 type Settings map[string]string
diff --git a/lib/lib.go b/lib/lib.go
index 28ddaca..93f0c46 100644
--- a/lib/lib.go
+++ b/lib/lib.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ type Config interface {
 	Actions() []ActionConfig
 	Children() []Config
 	Add(Config)
+	WithAction(string, ActionSpec) Config
 }
 
 type Services map[string]Context
diff --git a/testing/testing.go b/testing/testing.go
index 4d52bc6..ea64d24 100644
--- a/testing/testing.go
+++ b/testing/testing.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func SetUp(tbase *testing.T) *T {
 
 func SetUpApp(tbase *testing.T, cfg lib.Config) *T {
 	t := SetUp(tbase)
-	t.Ctx = context.AppContext(cfg)
+	t.Ctx = context.AppContext(cfg).WithState(t)
 	cfg.Starter()(t.Ctx)
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 	return t
diff --git a/tests/etc/etc.go b/tests/etc/etc.go
index 3b150fb..d78e42f 100644
--- a/tests/etc/etc.go
+++ b/tests/etc/etc.go
@@ -21,12 +21,19 @@ func Config() lib.Config {
 		Base:         b("config", config.Start),
 		ConfigFormat: "etc",
 	})
-	cfg.Add(config.Cfg{
-		Base: b("test-receiver", core.Start),
-	})
+	cfg.Add(b("test-receiver", core.Start))
+	// WithAction("*", action.Base{
+	//	Handler: AH_Receiver,
+	// }
 	return &cfg
 }
 
+// register action handlers from ..._test.go here:
+
+var (
+	AH_Receiver lib.ActionHandler
+)
+
 // collect here the names of fields that may be overridden via
 // explicit Override() or SCOPES_* environment settings.
 const (
diff --git a/tests/scopes_test.go b/tests/scopes_test.go
index 030c2a4..7ef1ce8 100644
--- a/tests/scopes_test.go
+++ b/tests/scopes_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	tbase "testing"
 
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/app"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/message"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/testing"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/tests/etc"
@@ -39,3 +40,15 @@ func SendTest(t *testing.T) {
 	rcvr = message.SimpleAddress("test-receiver")
 	rcvr.Send(ctx, msg)
 }
+
+// action handlers
+
+func Receiver(act lib.Action) bool {
+	t := act.Context().Parent().State().(*testing.T)
+	t.AssertEqual(act.Message().Action(), "demo")
+	return true
+}
+
+func init() {
+	etc.AH_Receiver = Receiver
+}