diff --git a/chat.py b/chat.py
index 4e36212..f51a220 100644
--- a/chat.py
+++ b/chat.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ conn_str = '<ws "ws://localhost:8001/">'
 cap_str = '<ref "syndicate" [] #[pkgN9TBmEd3Q04grVG4Zdw==]>'
 cap = sturdy.SturdyRef.decode(syndicate.parse(cap_str))
 
+@actor.run_system(name = 'chat', debug = False)
 def main(turn):
     root_facet = turn._facet
 
@@ -37,5 +38,3 @@ def main(turn):
             while line := (await reader.readline()).decode('utf-8'):
                 actor.Turn.external(f, lambda turn: turn.send(ds, Says(me, line.strip())))
             actor.Turn.external(f, lambda turn: turn.stop(root_facet))
-
-actor.start_actor_system(main, name = 'chat', debug = False)
diff --git a/syndicate/actor.py b/syndicate/actor.py
index 667c39f..4bf6348 100644
--- a/syndicate/actor.py
+++ b/syndicate/actor.py
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ _next_actor_number = IdGenerator()
 _next_handle = IdGenerator()
 _next_facet_id = IdGenerator()
 
+# decorator
+def run_system(**kwargs):
+    return lambda boot_proc: start_actor_system(boot_proc, **kwargs)
+
 def start_actor_system(boot_proc, debug = False, name = None, configure_logging = True):
     if configure_logging:
         logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG if debug else logging.INFO)