diff --git a/common/testing/testing.go b/common/testing/testing.go
index d301d37..dc54326 100644
--- a/common/testing/testing.go
+++ b/common/testing/testing.go
@@ -52,18 +52,24 @@ func SetUpApp(tbase *testing.T, cfg lib.Config) *T {
 	return t
 }
 
-func (t *T) TearDownApp() {
+func (t *T) TearDownApp(name string) {
+	if name == "" {
+		name = "testing"
+	}
 	// give actors time to recieve all messages:
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 	//t.Check()
-	lib.Send(t.Ctx, message.SimpleAddress("testing"), message.Quit)
+	lib.Send(t.Ctx, message.SimpleAddress(name), message.Quit)
 	t.Ctx.WaitGroup().Wait()
 	//t.AssertNoUncheckedMessages()
 }
 
-func (t *T) LogCheck(pr bool) int {
+func (t *T) LogCheck(logfile string, pr bool) int {
 	count := 0
-	f, _ := os.Open("log/scopes.log")
+	if logfile == "" {
+		logfile = "log/scopes.log"
+	}
+	f, _ := os.Open(logfile)
 	defer f.Close()
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(f)
 	for scanner.Scan() {
diff --git a/matrix/matrix.go b/matrix/matrix.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2903ff7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matrix/matrix.go
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+package matrix
diff --git a/tests/etc/etc_mx.go b/tests/etc/etc_mx.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98dd005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/etc/etc_mx.go
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package etc
+
+import (
+	lib "git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/app"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/common/testing"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/config"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/core"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/core/action"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/logging"
+)
+
+func ConfigMx() lib.Config {
+	b := config.Base
+
+	app_c := &app.Cfg{
+		BaseCfg: b("matrix", testing.Start),
+		Logging: &logging.Cfg{
+			Logfile: "log/matrix.log",
+			Level:   "debug",
+		},
+	}
+	app_c.AddAction("demo", action.Base(action.Forward, "test-receiver"))
+
+	test_rcvr := b("test-receiver", core.Start).
+		AddAction("demo", action.Base(AH_MxReceiver))
+
+	app_c.Add(test_rcvr)
+
+	return app_c
+}
+
+// register action handlers from ..._test.go here.
+var (
+	AH_MxReceiver lib.ActionHandler
+)
diff --git a/tests/matrix_test.go b/tests/matrix_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e52939f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/matrix_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package scopes
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	tbase "testing"
+
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/common/testing"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/tests/etc"
+)
+
+func TestMatrixApp(tb *tbase.T) {
+	logfile := "log/matrix.log"
+	os.Remove(logfile) // make sure we start with a fresh log file
+	t := testing.SetUpApp(tb, etc.ConfigMx())
+	t.Run("app-matrix", MxTest)
+	t.TearDownApp("matrix")
+	t.AssertEqual(t.LogCheck(logfile, true), 3)
+}
+
+func MxTest(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := t.Ctx
+	t.AssertEqual(len(ctx.Services()), 2)
+}
diff --git a/tests/scopes_test.go b/tests/scopes_test.go
index 1e3c930..2af5e6a 100644
--- a/tests/scopes_test.go
+++ b/tests/scopes_test.go
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ func TestScopesApp(tb *tbase.T) {
 	t.Run("config", ConfigTest)
 	t.Run("send", SendTest)
 	t.Run("client", ClientTest)
-	t.TearDownApp()
-	t.AssertEqual(t.LogCheck(true), 12)
+	t.TearDownApp("")
+	t.AssertEqual(t.LogCheck("", true), 12)
 }
 
 func AppTest(t *testing.T) {