diff --git a/synapse/api/auth.py b/synapse/api/auth.py
index 87f19a96d..635571d2b 100644
--- a/synapse/api/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/api/auth.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from synapse.api.constants import Membership, JoinRules
 from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, StoreError, Codes, SynapseError
 from synapse.api.events.room import (
     RoomMemberEvent, RoomPowerLevelsEvent, RoomRedactionEvent,
-    RoomJoinRulesEvent, RoomCreateEvent,
+    RoomJoinRulesEvent, RoomCreateEvent, RoomAliasesEvent,
 )
 from synapse.util.logutils import log_function
 from syutil.base64util import encode_base64
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ class Auth(object):
                     # FIXME
                     return True
 
+                # FIXME: Temp hack
+                if event.type == RoomAliasesEvent.TYPE:
+                    return True
+
                 if event.type == RoomMemberEvent.TYPE:
                     allowed = self.is_membership_change_allowed(event)
                     if allowed:
@@ -144,6 +148,17 @@ class Auth(object):
 
     @log_function
     def is_membership_change_allowed(self, event):
+        membership = event.content["membership"]
+
+        # Check if this is the room creator joining:
+        if len(event.prev_events) == 1 and Membership.JOIN == membership:
+            # Get room creation event:
+            key = (RoomCreateEvent.TYPE, "", )
+            create = event.old_state_events.get(key)
+            if event.prev_events[0][0] == create.event_id:
+                if create.content["creator"] == event.state_key:
+                    return True
+
         target_user_id = event.state_key
 
         # get info about the caller
@@ -159,8 +174,6 @@ class Auth(object):
 
         target_in_room = target and target.membership == Membership.JOIN
 
-        membership = event.content["membership"]
-
         key = (RoomJoinRulesEvent.TYPE, "", )
         join_rule_event = event.old_state_events.get(key)
         if join_rule_event:
@@ -255,6 +268,11 @@ class Auth(object):
             level = power_level_event.content.get("users", {}).get(user_id)
             if not level:
                 level = power_level_event.content.get("users_default", 0)
+        else:
+            key = (RoomCreateEvent.TYPE, "", )
+            create_event = event.old_state_events.get(key)
+            if create_event.content["creator"] == user_id:
+                return 100
 
         return level
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index 85284a491..53ca1f8f5 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -184,15 +184,7 @@ class SynapseHomeServer(HomeServer):
             logger.info("Synapse now listening on port %d", unsecure_port)
 
 
-def setup():
-    config = HomeServerConfig.load_config(
-        "Synapse Homeserver",
-        sys.argv[1:],
-        generate_section="Homeserver"
-    )
-
-    config.setup_logging()
-
+def setup(config, run_http=True):
     logger.info("Server hostname: %s", config.server_name)
 
     if re.search(":[0-9]+$", config.server_name):
@@ -212,12 +204,13 @@ def setup():
         content_addr=config.content_addr,
     )
 
-    hs.register_servlets()
+    if run_http:
+        hs.register_servlets()
 
-    hs.create_resource_tree(
-        web_client=config.webclient,
-        redirect_root_to_web_client=True,
-    )
+        hs.create_resource_tree(
+            web_client=config.webclient,
+            redirect_root_to_web_client=True,
+        )
 
     db_name = hs.get_db_name()
 
@@ -237,11 +230,18 @@ def setup():
         f.namespace['hs'] = hs
         reactor.listenTCP(config.manhole, f, interface='127.0.0.1')
 
-    bind_port = config.bind_port
-    if config.no_tls:
-        bind_port = None
-    hs.start_listening(bind_port, config.unsecure_port)
+    if run_http:
+        bind_port = config.bind_port
+        if config.no_tls:
+            bind_port = None
+        hs.start_listening(bind_port, config.unsecure_port)
 
+    hs.config = config
+
+    return hs
+
+
+def run(config):
     if config.daemonize:
         print config.pid_file
         daemon = Daemonize(
@@ -257,13 +257,26 @@ def setup():
     else:
         reactor.run()
 
-def run():
-    with LoggingContext("run"):
-        reactor.run()
 
-def main():
+def main(args, run_http=True):
     with LoggingContext("main"):
-        setup()
+        config = HomeServerConfig.load_config(
+            "Synapse Homeserver",
+            args,
+            generate_section="Homeserver"
+        )
+
+        config.setup_logging()
+
+        hs = setup(config, run_http=run_http)
+
+        def r():
+            run(config)
+        hs.run = r
+
+        return hs
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main()
+    hs = main(sys.argv[1:])
+    hs.run()