diff --git a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
index 1309330..38c9cf6 100644
--- a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
+++ b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Returns the number of streams in custody of the IO loop.
+     *
+     * @return number of message streams using this loop
+     */
+    public int streamCount() {
+        return streams.size();
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Creates a new message stream backed by the specified socket channel.
      *
      * @param byteChannel backing byte channel
@@ -182,9 +191,10 @@
      * with a pending accept operation.
      *
      * @param channel backing socket channel
+     * @return newly accepted message stream
      */
-    public void acceptStream(SocketChannel channel) {
-        createAndAdmit(channel, SelectionKey.OP_READ);
+    public S acceptStream(SocketChannel channel) {
+        return createAndAdmit(channel, SelectionKey.OP_READ);
     }
 
 
@@ -193,9 +203,10 @@
      * with a pending connect operation.
      *
      * @param channel backing socket channel
+     * @return newly connected message stream
      */
-    public void connectStream(SocketChannel channel) {
-        createAndAdmit(channel, SelectionKey.OP_CONNECT);
+    public S connectStream(SocketChannel channel) {
+        return createAndAdmit(channel, SelectionKey.OP_CONNECT);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -205,12 +216,14 @@
      * @param channel socket channel
      * @param op      pending operations mask to be applied to the selection
      *                key as a set of initial interestedOps
+     * @return newly created message stream
      */
-    private synchronized void createAndAdmit(SocketChannel channel, int op) {
+    private synchronized S createAndAdmit(SocketChannel channel, int op) {
         S stream = createStream(channel);
         streams.add(stream);
         newStreamRequests.add(new NewStreamRequest(stream, channel, op));
         selector.wakeup();
+        return stream;
     }
 
     /**