diff --git a/llarp/config/config.cpp b/llarp/config/config.cpp
index 56e11f462..5ad6a6366 100644
--- a/llarp/config/config.cpp
+++ b/llarp/config/config.cpp
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ namespace llarp
     else
     {
       m_enablePeerStats = true;
+      m_isRelay = true;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/llarp/config/config.hpp b/llarp/config/config.hpp
index 5f92571e9..99e54df81 100644
--- a/llarp/config/config.hpp
+++ b/llarp/config/config.hpp
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ namespace llarp
     std::string m_transportKeyFile;
 
     bool m_enablePeerStats = false;
+    bool m_isRelay = false;
 
     void
     defineConfigOptions(ConfigDefinition& conf, const ConfigGenParameters& params);
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index 7bbc82ecf..2c828908b 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -449,11 +449,7 @@ namespace llarp
     if (usingSNSeed)
       ident_keyfile = conf.lokid.ident_keyfile;
 
-    // TODO: add config flag for "is service node"
-    if (conf.links.m_InboundLinks.size())
-    {
-      m_isServiceNode = true;
-    }
+    m_isServiceNode = conf.router.m_isRelay;
 
     networkConfig = conf.network;
 
@@ -966,6 +962,12 @@ namespace llarp
       }
     });
 
+    if (IsServiceNode() and not _rc.IsPublicRouter())
+    {
+      LogError("we are configured as relay but have no reachable addresses");
+      return false;
+    }
+
     // set public encryption key
     _rc.enckey = seckey_topublic(encryption());