diff --git a/template/module.go b/template/module.go
index 8c90de2..b921d16 100644
--- a/template/module.go
+++ b/template/module.go
@@ -18,16 +18,13 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
+	// register base module, for database initialization
+	modules.Register("base", nil, nil, nil)
+
 	// register module
 	module = modules.Register("template", prep, start, stop) // add dependencies...
-
-	// register events that other modules can subscribe to
-	module.RegisterEvent(eventStateUpdate)
-}
-
-func prep() error {
-	// register module as subsystem
-	err := subsystems.Register(
+	subsystems.Register(
+		"template-subsystem",                           // ID
 		"Template Subsystem",                           // name
 		"This subsystem is a template for quick setup", // description
 		module,
@@ -40,12 +37,14 @@ func prep() error {
 			DefaultValue: false,
 		},
 	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 
+	// register events that other modules can subscribe to
+	module.RegisterEvent(eventStateUpdate)
+}
+
+func prep() error {
 	// register options
-	err = config.Register(&config.Option{
+	err := config.Register(&config.Option{
 		Name:            "language",
 		Key:             "config:template/language",
 		Description:     "Sets the language for the template [TEMPLATE]",
@@ -99,6 +98,7 @@ func serviceWorker(ctx context.Context) error {
 				return err
 			}
 		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/template/module_test.go b/template/module_test.go
index e34522a..987ef74 100644
--- a/template/module_test.go
+++ b/template/module_test.go
@@ -11,30 +11,39 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
+	// enable module for testing
+	module.Enable()
+
 	// tmp dir for data root (db & config)
 	tmpDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "portbase-testing-")
-	// initialize data dir
-	if err == nil {
-		err = dataroot.Initialize(tmpDir, 0755)
-	}
-	// start modules
-	if err == nil {
-		err = modules.Start()
-	}
-	// handle setup error
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to setup test: %s", err)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to create tmp dir: %s\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	// initialize data dir
+	err = dataroot.Initialize(tmpDir, 0755)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to initialize data root: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	// run tests
-	exitCode := m.Run()
+	// start modules
+	var exitCode int
+	err = modules.Start()
+	if err != nil {
+		// starting failed
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to setup test: %s\n", err)
+		exitCode = 1
+	} else {
+		// run tests
+		exitCode = m.Run()
+	}
 
 	// shutdown
 	_ = modules.Shutdown()
 	if modules.GetExitStatusCode() != 0 {
 		exitCode = modules.GetExitStatusCode()
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to cleanly shutdown test: %s", err)
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "failed to cleanly shutdown test: %s\n", err)
 	}
 	// clean up and exit
 	os.RemoveAll(tmpDir)