diff --git a/src/allmydata/client.py b/src/allmydata/client.py
index e16bfcb35..6b468300d 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/client.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/client.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def create_client_from_config(config, _client_factory=None):
     default_connection_handlers, foolscap_connection_handlers = handlers
     tub_options = node.create_tub_options(config)
 
-    main_tub, is_listening = node.create_main_tub(
+    main_tub = node.create_main_tub(
         config, tub_options, default_connection_handlers,
         foolscap_connection_handlers, i2p_provider, tor_provider,
     )
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ def create_client_from_config(config, _client_factory=None):
         tor_provider,
         introducer_clients,
         storage_broker,
-        tub_is_listening=is_listening,
     )
     i2p_provider.setServiceParent(client)
     tor_provider.setServiceParent(client)
@@ -376,11 +375,11 @@ class _Client(node.Node, pollmixin.PollMixin):
                                    }
 
     def __init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider, introducer_clients,
-                 storage_farm_broker, tub_is_listening):
+                 storage_farm_broker):
         """
         Use create_client() to instantiate one of these.
         """
-        node.Node.__init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider, tub_is_listening)
+        node.Node.__init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider)
 
         self._magic_folders = dict()
         self.started_timestamp = time.time()
@@ -403,7 +402,7 @@ class _Client(node.Node, pollmixin.PollMixin):
         self.load_static_servers()
         self.helper = None
         if config.get_config("helper", "enabled", False, boolean=True):
-            if not self._tub_is_listening:
+            if not self._is_tub_listening():
                 raise ValueError("config error: helper is enabled, but tub "
                                  "is not listening ('tub.port=' is empty)")
             self.init_helper()
@@ -488,7 +487,7 @@ class _Client(node.Node, pollmixin.PollMixin):
         # should we run a storage server (and publish it for others to use)?
         if not self.config.get_config("storage", "enabled", True, boolean=True):
             return
-        if not self._tub_is_listening:
+        if not self._is_tub_listening():
             raise ValueError("config error: storage is enabled, but tub "
                              "is not listening ('tub.port=' is empty)")
         readonly = self.config.get_config("storage", "readonly", False, boolean=True)
diff --git a/src/allmydata/introducer/server.py b/src/allmydata/introducer/server.py
index 59372c3a7..6f47f81ea 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/introducer/server.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/introducer/server.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def create_introducer(basedir=u"."):
     # outbound connections.
     i2p_provider = None
     tor_provider = None
-    main_tub, is_listening = create_main_tub(
+    main_tub = create_main_tub(
         config, tub_options, default_connection_handlers,
         foolscap_connection_handlers, i2p_provider, tor_provider,
     )
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ def create_introducer(basedir=u"."):
         control_tub,
         i2p_provider,
         tor_provider,
-        tub_is_listening=is_listening,
     )
     return defer.succeed(node)
 
@@ -82,15 +81,15 @@ def create_introducer(basedir=u"."):
 class _IntroducerNode(node.Node):
     NODETYPE = "introducer"
 
-    def __init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider, tub_is_listening):
-        node.Node.__init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider, tub_is_listening)
+    def __init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider):
+        node.Node.__init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider)
         self.init_introducer()
         webport = self.get_config("node", "web.port", None)
         if webport:
             self.init_web(webport) # strports string
 
     def init_introducer(self):
-        if not self._tub_is_listening:
+        if not self._is_tub_listening():
             raise ValueError("config error: we are Introducer, but tub "
                              "is not listening ('tub.port=' is empty)")
         introducerservice = IntroducerService()
diff --git a/src/allmydata/node.py b/src/allmydata/node.py
index 4ca99422a..2f5faa615 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/node.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/node.py
@@ -624,15 +624,12 @@ def create_main_tub(config, tub_options,
                 port_or_endpoint = port
             tub.listenOn(port_or_endpoint)
         tub.setLocation(location)
-        tub_is_listening = True
         log.msg("Tub location set to %s" % (location,))
         # the Tub is now ready for tub.registerReference()
     else:
-        tub_is_listening = False
         log.msg("Tub is not listening")
 
-    # XXX can we get rid of the tub_is_listening part?
-    return tub, tub_is_listening
+    return tub
 
 
 def create_control_tub():
@@ -657,14 +654,13 @@ class Node(service.MultiService):
     CERTFILE = "node.pem"
     GENERATED_FILES = []
 
-    def __init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider, tub_is_listening):
+    def __init__(self, config, main_tub, control_tub, i2p_provider, tor_provider):
         """
         Initialize the node with the given configuration. Its base directory
         is the current directory by default.
         """
         service.MultiService.__init__(self)
 
-        self._tub_is_listening = tub_is_listening  # holdover; do we really need this?
         self.config = config
         self.get_config = config.get_config # XXX stopgap
         self.nickname = config.nickname # XXX stopgap
@@ -696,6 +692,12 @@ class Node(service.MultiService):
         self.log("Node constructed. " + get_package_versions_string())
         iputil.increase_rlimits()
 
+    def _is_tub_listening(self):
+        """
+        :returns: True if the main tub is listening
+        """
+        return len(self.tub.getListeners()) > 0
+
     def init_tempdir(self):
         """
         Initialize/create a directory for temporary files.
diff --git a/src/allmydata/test/no_network.py b/src/allmydata/test/no_network.py
index 7a70d1aae..cfb62989d 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/test/no_network.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/test/no_network.py
@@ -201,7 +201,6 @@ def create_no_network_client(basedir):
         tor_provider=None,
         introducer_clients=[],
         storage_farm_broker=storage_broker,
-        tub_is_listening=True,
     )
     storage_broker.client = client
     return defer.succeed(client)
@@ -216,6 +215,9 @@ def create_no_network_client(basedir):
 
 class _NoNetworkClient(_Client):
 
+    def _is_tub_listening(self):
+        return True
+
     def init_connections(self):
         pass
     def create_main_tub(self):
diff --git a/src/allmydata/test/test_node.py b/src/allmydata/test/test_node.py
index f9ab567b2..89f5c6444 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/test/test_node.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/test/test_node.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def testing_tub(config_data=''):
     default_connection_handlers, foolscap_connection_handlers = handlers
     tub_options = create_tub_options(config)
 
-    main_tub, is_listening = create_main_tub(
+    main_tub = create_main_tub(
         config, tub_options, default_connection_handlers,
         foolscap_connection_handlers, i2p_provider, tor_provider,
         cert_filename='DEFAULT_CERTFILE_BLANK'