diff --git a/helix-dap/examples/dap-dlv.rs b/helix-dap/examples/dap-dlv.rs
index c42559b99..a18ec5e2b 100644
--- a/helix-dap/examples/dap-dlv.rs
+++ b/helix-dap/examples/dap-dlv.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pub async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         .apply()
         .expect("Failed to set up logging");
 
-    let client = Client::tcp("127.0.0.1:7777".parse::<std::net::SocketAddr>().unwrap(), 0).await;
+    let client = Client::tcp_process("dlv", vec!["dap"], "-l 127.0.0.1:{}", 0).await;
     println!("create: {:?}", client);
     let mut client = client?;
 
diff --git a/helix-dap/examples/dap-lldb.rs b/helix-dap/examples/dap-lldb.rs
index 6fe666b21..5e10ebed5 100644
--- a/helix-dap/examples/dap-lldb.rs
+++ b/helix-dap/examples/dap-lldb.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pub async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         .apply()
         .expect("Failed to set up logging");
 
-    let client = Client::tcp("127.0.0.1:7777".parse::<std::net::SocketAddr>().unwrap(), 0).await;
+    let client = Client::tcp_process("lldb-vscode", vec![], "-p {}", 0).await;
     println!("create: {:?}", client);
     let mut client = client?;
 
diff --git a/helix-dap/src/client.rs b/helix-dap/src/client.rs
index 8339b953f..080061cff 100644
--- a/helix-dap/src/client.rs
+++ b/helix-dap/src/client.rs
@@ -5,11 +5,18 @@ use crate::{
 use log::{error, info};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::{from_value, to_value, Value};
-use std::sync::{
-    atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering},
-    Arc,
+use std::{
+    collections::HashMap,
+    net::{IpAddr, Ipv4Addr},
+    process::Stdio,
+};
+use std::{
+    net::SocketAddr,
+    sync::{
+        atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering},
+        Arc,
+    },
 };
-use std::{collections::HashMap, process::Stdio};
 use tokio::{
     io::{AsyncBufRead, AsyncWrite, BufReader, BufWriter},
     join,
@@ -19,6 +26,7 @@ use tokio::{
         mpsc::{channel, Receiver, Sender, UnboundedReceiver, UnboundedSender},
         Mutex,
     },
+    time,
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Clone, Deserialize, Serialize)]
@@ -376,6 +384,82 @@ impl Client {
         Ok(client)
     }
 
+    pub async fn tcp(addr: std::net::SocketAddr, id: usize) -> Result<Self> {
+        let stream = TcpStream::connect(addr).await?;
+        let (rx, tx) = stream.into_split();
+        Self::streams(Box::new(BufReader::new(rx)), Box::new(tx), id, None)
+    }
+
+    pub fn stdio(cmd: &str, args: Vec<&str>, id: usize) -> Result<Self> {
+        let process = Command::new(cmd)
+            .args(args)
+            .stdin(Stdio::piped())
+            .stdout(Stdio::piped())
+            // make sure the process is reaped on drop
+            .kill_on_drop(true)
+            .spawn();
+
+        let mut process = process?;
+
+        // TODO: do we need bufreader/writer here? or do we use async wrappers on unblock?
+        let writer = BufWriter::new(process.stdin.take().expect("Failed to open stdin"));
+        let reader = BufReader::new(process.stdout.take().expect("Failed to open stdout"));
+
+        Self::streams(
+            Box::new(BufReader::new(reader)),
+            Box::new(writer),
+            id,
+            Some(process),
+        )
+    }
+
+    async fn get_port() -> Option<u16> {
+        Some(
+            tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(SocketAddr::new(
+                IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::new(127, 0, 0, 1)),
+                0,
+            ))
+            .await
+            .ok()?
+            .local_addr()
+            .ok()?
+            .port(),
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub async fn tcp_process(
+        cmd: &str,
+        args: Vec<&str>,
+        port_format: &str,
+        id: usize,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
+        let port = Self::get_port().await.unwrap();
+
+        let process = Command::new(cmd)
+            .args(args)
+            .args(port_format.replace("{}", &port.to_string()).split(' '))
+            // make sure the process is reaped on drop
+            .kill_on_drop(true)
+            .spawn()?;
+
+        // Wait for adapter to become ready for connection
+        time::sleep(time::Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
+
+        let stream = TcpStream::connect(SocketAddr::new(
+            IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::new(127, 0, 0, 1)),
+            port,
+        ))
+        .await?;
+
+        let (rx, tx) = stream.into_split();
+        Self::streams(
+            Box::new(BufReader::new(rx)),
+            Box::new(tx),
+            id,
+            Some(process),
+        )
+    }
+
     async fn recv(
         awaited_events: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<String, Sender<Event>>>>,
         mut server_rx: UnboundedReceiver<Payload>,
@@ -413,35 +497,6 @@ impl Client {
         tx
     }
 
-    pub async fn tcp(addr: std::net::SocketAddr, id: usize) -> Result<Self> {
-        let stream = TcpStream::connect(addr).await?;
-        let (rx, tx) = stream.into_split();
-        Self::streams(Box::new(BufReader::new(rx)), Box::new(tx), id, None)
-    }
-
-    pub fn stdio(cmd: &str, args: Vec<&str>, id: usize) -> Result<Self> {
-        let process = Command::new(cmd)
-            .args(args)
-            .stdin(Stdio::piped())
-            .stdout(Stdio::piped())
-            // make sure the process is reaped on drop
-            .kill_on_drop(true)
-            .spawn();
-
-        let mut process = process?;
-
-        // TODO: do we need bufreader/writer here? or do we use async wrappers on unblock?
-        let writer = BufWriter::new(process.stdin.take().expect("Failed to open stdin"));
-        let reader = BufReader::new(process.stdout.take().expect("Failed to open stdout"));
-
-        Self::streams(
-            Box::new(BufReader::new(reader)),
-            Box::new(writer),
-            id,
-            Some(process),
-        )
-    }
-
     pub fn id(&self) -> usize {
         self.id
     }