diff --git a/sd_event_loop.hpp b/sd_event_loop.hpp
index a626490..54b2946 100644
--- a/sd_event_loop.hpp
+++ b/sd_event_loop.hpp
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@
 #include <boost/asio/io_context.hpp>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <map>
+#include <sdbusplus/asio/connection.hpp>
+
+namespace ipmi
+{
+namespace rmcpp
+{
+constexpr uint16_t defaultPort = 623;
+} // namespace rmcpp
+} // namespace ipmi
 
 namespace eventloop
 {
@@ -31,6 +40,13 @@
      */
     int startEventLoop();
 
+    /** @brief Set up the socket (if systemd has not already) and
+     *         make sure that the bus name matches the specified channel
+     */
+    int setupSocket(std::shared_ptr<sdbusplus::asio::connection>& bus,
+                    std::string iface,
+                    uint16_t reqPort = ipmi::rmcpp::defaultPort);
+
   private:
     /** @brief async handler for incoming udp packets */
     void handleRmcpPacket();