diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 35b8d59..62b34e4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@tangle-network/agent-eval",
-  "version": "0.34.1",
+  "version": "0.35.0",
   "description": "Substrate for self-improving agents: traces, verifiable rewards, preferences, GEPA / reflective mutation, auto-research, replay, sequential anytime-valid stats, and release gates.",
   "homepage": "https://github.com/tangle-network/agent-eval#readme",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/src/wire/index.ts b/src/wire/index.ts
index 1f4c054..3fe96ae 100644
--- a/src/wire/index.ts
+++ b/src/wire/index.ts
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@ export { buildOpenApi } from './openapi'
 export { dispatchRpc, runRpcBatch, runRpcOnce } from './rpc'
 export { BUILTIN_RUBRICS, getBuiltinRubric, listBuiltinRubrics } from './rubrics'
 export * from './schemas'
-export { createApp, type ServeOptions, startServer } from './server'
+export { createApp, type ServeOptions, type StartedServer, startServer, startServerAsync } from './server'
diff --git a/src/wire/server.ts b/src/wire/server.ts
index 7efdcc5..d2a5e8d 100644
--- a/src/wire/server.ts
+++ b/src/wire/server.ts
@@ -201,3 +201,50 @@ export function startServer(opts: ServeOptions = {}): ServerType {
     console.log(`[agent-eval] serving on http://${address}:${actualPort}`)
   })
 }
+
+export interface StartedServer {
+  server: ServerType
+  /** The OS-assigned port. When opts.port was 0, this is the actual port the
+   *  kernel bound — callers that need to dial back (smoke tests, sidecars
+   *  registering with a parent) read this rather than guessing a free port. */
+  port: number
+  /** Resolved host the server bound to (defaults to 127.0.0.1). */
+  host: string
+  /** Close the server. Resolves once active connections have drained. */
+  close(): Promise<void>
+}
+
+/**
+ * Promise-returning variant of `startServer` that resolves once the server is
+ * listening and surfaces the resolved bound port. Use this from smoke tests
+ * (`startServerAsync({ port: 0 })`) and any caller that needs to dial back.
+ */
+export function startServerAsync(opts: ServeOptions = {}): Promise<StartedServer> {
+  const app = createApp(opts)
+  const port = opts.port ?? 5005
+  const host = opts.host ?? '127.0.0.1'
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    let settled = false
+    let server: ServerType | undefined
+    server = serve({ fetch: app.fetch, port, hostname: host }, ({ address, port: actualPort }) => {
+      if (settled) return
+      settled = true
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+      console.log(`[agent-eval] serving on http://${address}:${actualPort}`)
+      resolve({
+        server: server!,
+        port: actualPort,
+        host: address,
+        close: () =>
+          new Promise<void>((res, rej) => {
+            server!.close((err) => (err ? rej(err) : res()))
+          }),
+      })
+    })
+    server.on('error', (err) => {
+      if (settled) return
+      settled = true
+      reject(err)
+    })
+  })
+}
diff --git a/tests/wire/server.test.ts b/tests/wire/server.test.ts
index 3050fed..1dd60bf 100644
--- a/tests/wire/server.test.ts
+++ b/tests/wire/server.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 
-import { createApp } from '../../src/wire/server'
+import { createApp, startServerAsync } from '../../src/wire/server'
 
 const app = createApp()
 
@@ -97,3 +97,31 @@ describe('POST /v1/judge', () => {
     expect(['rubric_not_found', 'validation_error']).toContain(err.error.code)
   })
 })
+
+describe('startServerAsync', () => {
+  it('resolves with the actual bound port when opts.port=0', async () => {
+    const started = await startServerAsync({ port: 0 })
+    try {
+      expect(started.port).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+      expect(started.port).toBeLessThan(65536)
+      expect(started.host).toBe('127.0.0.1')
+
+      const res = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${started.port}/healthz`)
+      expect(res.status).toBe(200)
+      const body = (await res.json()) as { status: string }
+      expect(body.status).toBe('ok')
+    } finally {
+      await started.close()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('two concurrent servers on port 0 receive distinct ports', async () => {
+    const [a, b] = await Promise.all([startServerAsync({ port: 0 }), startServerAsync({ port: 0 })])
+    try {
+      expect(a.port).not.toBe(b.port)
+    } finally {
+      await a.close()
+      await b.close()
+    }
+  })
+})