diff --git a/src/proto/testing.rs b/src/proto/testing.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..250df19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/proto/testing.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+//! Provides utilities for testing protocol code.
+
+use std::io;
+use std::net::SocketAddr;
+
+use tokio::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
+
+// use crate::proto::{FrameEncoder, FrameDecoder};
+
+async fn process(_stream: TcpStream) -> io::Result<()> {
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// A fake server for connecting to in tests.
+pub struct FakeServer {
+    listener: TcpListener,
+}
+
+impl FakeServer {
+    /// Creates a new fake server and binds it to a port on localhost.
+    pub async fn new() -> io::Result<Self> {
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind("localhost:0").await?;
+        Ok(FakeServer { listener })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the address to which this server is bound.
+    /// This is always localhost and a random port chosen by the OS.
+    pub fn address(&self) -> io::Result<SocketAddr> {
+        self.listener.local_addr()
+    }
+
+    /// Runs the server: accepts incoming connections and responds to requests.
+    pub async fn run(&mut self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        loop {
+            let (socket, _peer_address) = self.listener.accept().await?;
+            tokio::spawn(async move { process(socket).await });
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use tokio::net::TcpStream;
+
+    use super::FakeServer;
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn new_binds_to_localhost() {
+        let server = FakeServer::new().await.unwrap();
+        assert!(server.address().unwrap().ip().is_loopback());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn accepts_incoming_connections() {
+        let mut server = FakeServer::new().await.unwrap();
+        let address = server.address().unwrap();
+        tokio::spawn(async move { server.run().await.unwrap() });
+
+        // The connection succeeds.
+        let _ = TcpStream::connect(address).await.unwrap();
+    }
+}