diff --git a/lib/core/config.js b/lib/core/config.js
index 3d76147a3..86a51df30 100644
--- a/lib/core/config.js
+++ b/lib/core/config.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ Config.prototype.loadConfigFiles = function(options) {
   this.loadBlockchainConfigFile();
   this.loadStorageConfigFile();
   this.loadCommunicationConfigFile();
+  this.loadNameSystemConfigFile();
 
   this.loadContractsConfigFile();
   this.loadPipelineConfigFile();
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ Config.prototype.reloadConfig = function() {
   this.loadBlockchainConfigFile();
   this.loadStorageConfigFile();
   this.loadCommunicationConfigFile();
+  this.loadNameSystemConfigFile();
   this.loadContractsConfigFile();
   this.loadPipelineConfigFile();
   this.loadContractsConfigFile();
@@ -205,6 +207,16 @@ Config.prototype.loadStorageConfigFile = function() {
   this.storageConfig = this._mergeConfig(configFilePath, configObject, this.env);
 };
 
+Config.prototype.loadNameSystemConfigFile = function() {
+  // todo: spec out names for registration in the file itself for a dev chain
+  var configObject = {
+    "default": {
+      "available_providers": ["ens"],
+      "provider": "ens"
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 Config.prototype.loadCommunicationConfigFile = function() {
   var configObject = {
     "default": {
diff --git a/lib/core/engine.js b/lib/core/engine.js
index 37ca5c0ea..1c90f6933 100644
--- a/lib/core/engine.js
+++ b/lib/core/engine.js
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class Engine {
       "deployment": this.deploymentService,
       "fileWatcher": this.fileWatchService,
       "webServer": this.webServerService,
+      "namingSystem": this.namingSystem,
       "ipfs": this.ipfsService,
       "web3": this.web3Service,
       "libraryManager": this.libraryManagerService,
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 3245ac938..17895ffb1 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ class Embark {
         engine.startService("pipeline");
         engine.startService("deployment");
         engine.startService("codeGenerator");
+        engine.startService("namingSystem");
         // TODO: this should be just 'storage' and the storage should figure out the module
         engine.startService(engine.config.storageConfig.provider);