diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yml b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
index c073e5b..575c85c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
@@ -17,12 +17,10 @@ jobs:
       # Clone the logos-delivery checkout OUTSIDE the module tree: a directory
       # named `vendor/` at the module root would put Go into vendor mode.
       LOGOS_DELIVERY_DIR: ${{ github.workspace }}/.logos-delivery
-      # Both kernel (libwaku) and messaging (liblogosdelivery) headers are on
-      # the include path so every package compiles. `-l` is deliberately NOT
-      # set here: each internal/ffi subpackage selects its own library via a
-      # `#cgo LDFLAGS` directive, so no binary links both libs (they export
-      # overlapping symbols until logos-delivery#3851).
-      CGO_CFLAGS: -I${{ github.workspace }}/.logos-delivery/library/ -I${{ github.workspace }}/.logos-delivery/liblogosdelivery/
+      # The single liblogosdelivery library exposes the full API; its headers
+      # live in library/. The bridge self-links -llogosdelivery via a #cgo
+      # directive, so no -l is set here.
+      CGO_CFLAGS: -I${{ github.workspace }}/.logos-delivery/library/
       CGO_LDFLAGS: -L${{ github.workspace }}/.logos-delivery/build/ -Wl,-rpath,${{ github.workspace }}/.logos-delivery/build/
       # Build in module mode; never use a vendor/ dir.
       GOFLAGS: -mod=mod
@@ -39,9 +37,8 @@ jobs:
           go-version: "1.24"
 
       - name: Resolve logos-delivery commit
-        # Cache the built libraries keyed on the exact upstream commit, so the
-        # expensive clone + build is skipped while logos-delivery's HEAD is
-        # unchanged. ls-remote gives us the SHA before we clone.
+        # Cache the built library keyed on the exact upstream commit, so the
+        # expensive clone + build is skipped while master's HEAD is unchanged.
         id: logos-delivery-rev
         run: |
           rev=$(git ls-remote https://github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery.git HEAD | cut -f1)
@@ -58,9 +55,9 @@ jobs:
         if: steps.logos-delivery-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         run: git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery.git "$LOGOS_DELIVERY_DIR"
 
-      - name: Build libwaku + liblogosdelivery
+      - name: Build liblogosdelivery
         if: steps.logos-delivery-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        run: make -C "$LOGOS_DELIVERY_DIR" libwaku liblogosdelivery -j
+        run: make -C "$LOGOS_DELIVERY_DIR" liblogosdelivery -j
 
       - name: go build
         run: go build ./...
@@ -88,9 +85,9 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: go test messaging (run)
         # Fast, network-free unit tests for the Messaging API + its ffi bridge.
-        run: go test ./pkg/messaging/... ./internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery/...
+        run: go test ./pkg/messaging/... ./internal/ffi/...
 
       - name: go test kernel (compile)
         # The kernel suite is heavy integration (runs nightly in CI.yml), so
         # only compile its test binaries here.
-        run: go test -run '^$' ./pkg/kernel/... ./internal/ffi/libwaku/...
+        run: go test -run '^$' ./pkg/kernel/...
diff --git a/internal/ffi/doc.go b/internal/ffi/doc.go
deleted file mode 100644
index de4ccfe..0000000
--- a/internal/ffi/doc.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-// Package ffi groups the cgo bridges over the logos-delivery C libraries.
-//
-// Each C library gets its own subpackage (libwaku now; liblogosdelivery in a
-// follow-up) so that a binary links exactly the libraries it imports — the
-// two .so files carry overlapping symbols and must never be linked together
-// (until logos-delivery#3851 consolidates them).
-package ffi
diff --git a/internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery/liblogosdelivery.go b/internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery.go
similarity index 91%
rename from internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery/liblogosdelivery.go
rename to internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery.go
index 5f91d8a..430b887 100644
--- a/internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery/liblogosdelivery.go
+++ b/internal/ffi/liblogosdelivery.go
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
-// Package liblogosdelivery is the cgo bridge over liblogosdelivery (the
-// logos-delivery Messaging API C library). It owns the synchronous
-// request/response callback plumbing, the shared async event callback, and the
-// handle->handler registry, and exposes Go-typed primitives so the public
-// messaging package stays pure Go.
-//
-// It links liblogosdelivery via a #cgo directive; it must never be linked into
-// the same binary as the libwaku bridge (overlapping symbols) until
-// logos-delivery#3851 consolidates the two libraries.
-package liblogosdelivery
+// Package ffi is the cgo bridge over the single liblogosdelivery C library,
+// which exposes the full logos-delivery API. It is split across two files
+// mirroring the two headers: this file (liblogosdelivery.go) owns the shared
+// plumbing — the synchronous request/response callback, the async event
+// callback, the handle->handler registry and the node lifecycle — plus the
+// stable Messaging API (liblogosdelivery.h); libwaku.go adds the low-level
+// Kernel API (waku_*, liblogosdelivery_kernel.h). It exposes Go-typed
+// primitives so pkg/kernel and pkg/messaging stay pure Go.
+package ffi
 
 /*
 #cgo LDFLAGS: -llogosdelivery
diff --git a/internal/ffi/libwaku/libwaku.go b/internal/ffi/libwaku.go
similarity index 59%
rename from internal/ffi/libwaku/libwaku.go
rename to internal/ffi/libwaku.go
index 2f5279e..0f7d102 100644
--- a/internal/ffi/libwaku/libwaku.go
+++ b/internal/ffi/libwaku.go
@@ -1,266 +1,107 @@
-// Package libwaku is the cgo bridge over libwaku (the legacy Kernel API
-// library): the synchronous request/callback plumbing, the global event
-// callback, and the handle registry. It exposes Go-typed primitives so
-// pkg/kernel stays pure Go.
-package libwaku
+// This file holds the low-level Kernel (waku_*) tier of the single
+// liblogosdelivery library (declared in liblogosdelivery_kernel.h). The shared
+// plumbing — Handle, RetOK, EventHandler, the node lifecycle, the response/event
+// callbacks and the call helper — lives in liblogosdelivery.go (same package).
+package ffi
 
 /*
-#cgo LDFLAGS: -lwaku
-#include <libwaku.h>
+#include <liblogosdelivery_kernel.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
-// wakuGoCallback (sync request/response) and wakuEventCallback (async events)
-// are implemented in Go and exported below.
-extern void wakuGoCallback(int ret, char* msg, size_t len, void* resp);
-extern void wakuEventCallback(int ret, char* msg, size_t len, void* userData);
-
-// wakuResp carries a single synchronous call's result back from the callback,
-// plus a pointer to the Go sync.WaitGroup the caller blocks on.
-typedef struct {
-	int    ret;
-	char*  msg;
-	size_t len;
-	void*  wg;
-} wakuResp;
-
-static void* allocWakuResp(void* wg) {
-	wakuResp* r = (wakuResp*) calloc(1, sizeof(wakuResp));
-	r->wg = wg;
-	return r;
-}
-static void   freeWakuResp(void* resp) { if (resp != NULL) free(resp); }
-static char*  wakuRespMsg(void* resp)  { return resp ? ((wakuResp*)resp)->msg : NULL; }
-static size_t wakuRespLen(void* resp)  { return resp ? ((wakuResp*)resp)->len : 0; }
-static int    wakuRespRet(void* resp)  { return resp ? ((wakuResp*)resp)->ret : RET_ERR; }
-
-// Thin wrappers binding the shared Go callback to each libwaku entry point.
-static void* cGoWakuNew(const char* configJson, void* resp) {
-	return waku_new(configJson, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
-}
-static void cGoWakuStart(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_start(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
-}
-static void cGoWakuStop(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_stop(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
-}
-static void cGoWakuDestroy(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_destroy(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
-}
+// logosGoCallback (the synchronous response callback) is defined in
+// liblogosdelivery.go; the kernel wrappers below reuse it.
+extern void logosGoCallback(int ret, char* msg, size_t len, void* resp);
 static void cGoWakuStartDiscV5(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_start_discv5(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_start_discv5(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuStopDiscV5(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_stop_discv5(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_stop_discv5(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuVersion(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_version(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
-}
-static void cGoWakuSetEventCallback(void* ctx) {
-	// The ctx doubles as userData so the shared event callback can route the
-	// event to the right registered handler.
-	set_event_callback(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuEventCallback, ctx);
+	waku_version(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuRelayPublish(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, const char* jsonWakuMessage, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_publish(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic, jsonWakuMessage, timeoutMs);
+	waku_relay_publish(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic, jsonWakuMessage, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuRelaySubscribe(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_subscribe(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
+	waku_relay_subscribe(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
 }
 static void cGoWakuRelayAddProtectedShard(void* ctx, int clusterId, int shardId, char* publicKey, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_add_protected_shard(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, clusterId, shardId, publicKey);
+	waku_relay_add_protected_shard(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, clusterId, shardId, publicKey);
 }
 static void cGoWakuRelayUnsubscribe(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_unsubscribe(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
+	waku_relay_unsubscribe(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
 }
 static void cGoWakuConnect(void* ctx, const char* peerMultiAddr, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_connect(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, peerMultiAddr, timeoutMs);
+	waku_connect(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, peerMultiAddr, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuDialPeer(void* ctx, const char* peerMultiAddr, const char* protocol, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_dial_peer(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, peerMultiAddr, protocol, timeoutMs);
+	waku_dial_peer(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, peerMultiAddr, protocol, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuDialPeerById(void* ctx, const char* peerId, const char* protocol, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_dial_peer_by_id(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, peerId, protocol, timeoutMs);
+	waku_dial_peer_by_id(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, peerId, protocol, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuDisconnectPeerById(void* ctx, const char* peerId, void* resp) {
-	waku_disconnect_peer_by_id(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, peerId);
+	waku_disconnect_peer_by_id(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, peerId);
 }
 static void cGoWakuDisconnectAllPeers(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_disconnect_all_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_disconnect_all_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuListenAddresses(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_listen_addresses(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_listen_addresses(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetMyENR(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_my_enr(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_get_my_enr(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetMyPeerId(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_my_peerid(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_get_my_peerid(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuPingPeer(void* ctx, const char* peerAddr, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_ping_peer(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, peerAddr, timeoutMs);
+	waku_ping_peer(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, peerAddr, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetPeersInMesh(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_get_peers_in_mesh(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
+	waku_relay_get_peers_in_mesh(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetNumPeersInMesh(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_get_num_peers_in_mesh(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
+	waku_relay_get_num_peers_in_mesh(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetNumConnectedRelayPeers(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_get_num_connected_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
+	waku_relay_get_num_connected_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetConnectedRelayPeers(void* ctx, const char* pubSubTopic, void* resp) {
-	waku_relay_get_connected_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
+	waku_relay_get_connected_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, pubSubTopic);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetConnectedPeers(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_connected_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_get_connected_peers(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetPeerIdsFromPeerStore(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_peerids_from_peerstore(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_get_peerids_from_peerstore(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetConnectedPeersInfo(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_connected_peers_info(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_get_connected_peers_info(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuStoreQuery(void* ctx, const char* jsonQuery, const char* peerAddr, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_store_query(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, jsonQuery, peerAddr, timeoutMs);
+	waku_store_query(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, jsonQuery, peerAddr, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuPeerExchangeQuery(void* ctx, uint64_t numPeers, void* resp) {
-	waku_peer_exchange_request(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, numPeers);
+	waku_peer_exchange_request(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, numPeers);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetPeerIdsByProtocol(void* ctx, const char* protocol, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_peerids_by_protocol(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, protocol);
+	waku_get_peerids_by_protocol(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, protocol);
 }
 static void cGoWakuDnsDiscovery(void* ctx, const char* entTreeUrl, const char* nameDnsServer, int timeoutMs, void* resp) {
-	waku_dns_discovery(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp, entTreeUrl, nameDnsServer, timeoutMs);
+	waku_dns_discovery(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp, entTreeUrl, nameDnsServer, timeoutMs);
 }
 static void cGoWakuIsOnline(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_is_online(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_is_online(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 static void cGoWakuGetMetrics(void* ctx, void* resp) {
-	waku_get_metrics(ctx, (FFICallBack) wakuGoCallback, resp);
+	waku_get_metrics(ctx, (FFICallBack) logosGoCallback, resp);
 }
 */
 import "C"
 
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"sync"
-	"unsafe"
-)
-
-// Handle is an opaque pointer to a node context owned by the C library.
-type Handle = unsafe.Pointer
-
-// RetOK is the return code callbacks report on success.
-const RetOK = C.RET_OK
-
-// EventHandler receives every event libwaku emits for a node: the raw
-// event JSON when ret == RetOK, an error message otherwise.
-type EventHandler func(ret int, msg string)
-
-// eventHandlers maps a node handle to the Go function that receives its
-// events. The shared C event callback looks the handler up by handle.
-var (
-	eventHandlersMu sync.RWMutex
-	eventHandlers   = make(map[Handle]EventHandler)
-)
-
-//export wakuGoCallback
-func wakuGoCallback(ret C.int, msg *C.char, length C.size_t, resp unsafe.Pointer) {
-	if resp == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	r := (*C.wakuResp)(resp)
-	r.ret = ret
-	r.msg = msg
-	r.len = length
-	wg := (*sync.WaitGroup)(r.wg)
-	wg.Done()
-}
-
-//export wakuEventCallback
-func wakuEventCallback(ret C.int, msg *C.char, length C.size_t, userData unsafe.Pointer) {
-	eventHandlersMu.RLock()
-	fn := eventHandlers[userData] // userData carries the node's handle
-	eventHandlersMu.RUnlock()
-	if fn != nil {
-		fn(int(ret), C.GoStringN(msg, C.int(length)))
-	}
-}
-
-// call runs a synchronous libwaku entry point that reports its result
-// through the response callback, blocks until it completes, and returns the
-// callback message (on RetOK) or an error built from it.
-func call(invoke func(resp unsafe.Pointer)) (string, error) {
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	wg.Add(1)
-	resp := C.allocWakuResp(unsafe.Pointer(&wg))
-	defer C.freeWakuResp(resp)
-
-	invoke(resp)
-	wg.Wait()
-
-	msg := C.GoStringN(C.wakuRespMsg(resp), C.int(C.wakuRespLen(resp)))
-	if C.wakuRespRet(resp) != C.RET_OK {
-		return "", errors.New(msg)
-	}
-	return msg, nil
-}
-
-// New builds a node from a WakuConfig JSON string and returns its handle.
-// The handle must be released with Destroy.
-func New(configJSON string) (Handle, error) {
-	cCfg := C.CString(configJSON)
-	defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(cCfg))
-
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	wg.Add(1)
-	resp := C.allocWakuResp(unsafe.Pointer(&wg))
-	defer C.freeWakuResp(resp)
-
-	ctx := C.cGoWakuNew(cCfg, resp)
-	wg.Wait()
-
-	if C.wakuRespRet(resp) != C.RET_OK || ctx == nil {
-		msg := C.GoStringN(C.wakuRespMsg(resp), C.int(C.wakuRespLen(resp)))
-		if msg == "" {
-			msg = "waku_new returned no context"
-		}
-		return nil, errors.New(msg)
-	}
-	return Handle(ctx), nil
-}
-
-// SetEventHandler registers fn to receive events for the node and wires up
-// the underlying C event callback.
-func SetEventHandler(h Handle, fn EventHandler) {
-	eventHandlersMu.Lock()
-	eventHandlers[h] = fn
-	eventHandlersMu.Unlock()
-	C.cGoWakuSetEventCallback(h)
-}
-
-// Start starts the node.
-func Start(h Handle) error {
-	_, err := call(func(resp unsafe.Pointer) { C.cGoWakuStart(h, resp) })
-	return err
-}
-
-// Stop stops the node.
-func Stop(h Handle) error {
-	_, err := call(func(resp unsafe.Pointer) { C.cGoWakuStop(h, resp) })
-	return err
-}
-
-// Destroy releases the node context and unregisters its event handler.
-func Destroy(h Handle) error {
-	_, err := call(func(resp unsafe.Pointer) { C.cGoWakuDestroy(h, resp) })
-	if err == nil {
-		eventHandlersMu.Lock()
-		delete(eventHandlers, h)
-		eventHandlersMu.Unlock()
-	}
-	return err
-}
+import "unsafe"
 
 // StartDiscV5 starts DiscV5 peer discovery.
 func StartDiscV5(h Handle) error {
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/Makefile b/pkg/kernel/Makefile
index 68b9104..0385c84 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/Makefile
+++ b/pkg/kernel/Makefile
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ export LIBWAKU_HEADER_PATH ?= $(LOGOS_DELIVERY_DIR)/library
 export LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH ?= $(LOGOS_DELIVERY_DIR)/build
 
 export CGO_CFLAGS := -I$(LIBWAKU_HEADER_PATH)/
-export CGO_LDFLAGS := -L$(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)/ -lwaku -Wl,-rpath,$(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)/
+export CGO_LDFLAGS := -L$(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)/ -llogosdelivery -Wl,-rpath,$(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)/
 
 # Expected files
-HEADER_FILE := $(LIBWAKU_HEADER_PATH)/libwaku.h
-LIB_FILES   := $(wildcard $(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)/libwaku.*)
+HEADER_FILE := $(LIBWAKU_HEADER_PATH)/liblogosdelivery.h
+LIB_FILES   := $(wildcard $(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)/liblogosdelivery.*)
 
 .PHONY: all clean prepare build test build-auto test-auto build-libwaku
 
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ check-folders:
 		echo "ERROR: Library path does not exist: $(LIBWAKU_LIB_PATH)"; exit 1; \
 	fi
 
-	@echo Checking for libwaku.h ...
+	@echo Checking for liblogosdelivery.h ...
 	@if [ ! -f "$(HEADER_FILE)" ]; then \
-		echo "ERROR: libwaku.h not found at: $(HEADER_FILE)"; exit 1; \
+		echo "ERROR: liblogosdelivery.h not found at: $(HEADER_FILE)"; exit 1; \
 	fi
 
 	@echo Checking for libwaku library file ...
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/common/config.go b/pkg/kernel/common/config.go
index a40fb74..66cf917 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/common/config.go
+++ b/pkg/kernel/common/config.go
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 package common
 
 type WakuConfig struct {
-	Host                        string           `json:"host,omitempty"`
+	// Host is the LibP2P listening address; the consolidated WakuNodeConf calls
+	// it listenAddress. This expects an IPv4.
+	Host                        string           `json:"listenAddress,omitempty"`
 	Nodekey                     string           `json:"nodekey,omitempty"`
 	Relay                       bool             `json:"relay"`
 	Store                       bool             `json:"store,omitempty"`
-	LegacyStore                 bool             `json:"legacyStore"`
 	Storenode                   string           `json:"storenode,omitempty"`
 	StoreMessageRetentionPolicy string           `json:"storeMessageRetentionPolicy,omitempty"`
 	StoreMessageDbUrl           string           `json:"storeMessageDbUrl,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/doc.go b/pkg/kernel/doc.go
index a2bd914..a789efc 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/doc.go
+++ b/pkg/kernel/doc.go
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 // Package kernel is the low-level Go wrapper over the logos-delivery Kernel API
-// (libwaku): relay, store, lightpush, filter, peer management, discovery.
+// (the waku_* tier of the single liblogosdelivery library): relay, store,
+// lightpush, filter, peer management, discovery.
 package kernel
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/nwaku.go b/pkg/kernel/nwaku.go
index 42baeba..78458ff 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/nwaku.go
+++ b/pkg/kernel/nwaku.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery-go-bindings/internal/ffi/libwaku"
+	"github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery-go-bindings/internal/ffi"
 	"github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery-go-bindings/pkg/kernel/timesource"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const ConnectionChangeChanBufferSize = 1024
 
 // WakuNode represents an instance of an nwaku node
 type WakuNode struct {
-	wakuCtx              libwaku.Handle
+	wakuCtx              ffi.Handle
 	config               *common.WakuConfig
 	MsgChan              chan common.Envelope
 	TopicHealthChan      chan topicHealth
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func NewWakuNode(config *common.WakuConfig, nodeName string) (*WakuNode, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	n.wakuCtx, err = libwaku.New(string(jsonConfig))
+	n.wakuCtx, err = ffi.New(string(jsonConfig))
 	if err != nil {
 		Error("error wakuNew for %s: %v", nodeName, err)
 		return nil, err
@@ -64,15 +64,15 @@ func NewWakuNode(config *common.WakuConfig, nodeName string) (*WakuNode, error)
 	n.TopicHealthChan = make(chan topicHealth, TopicHealthChanBufferSize)
 	n.ConnectionChangeChan = make(chan connectionChange, ConnectionChangeChanBufferSize)
 
-	libwaku.SetEventHandler(n.wakuCtx, n.onRawEvent)
+	ffi.SetEventHandler(n.wakuCtx, n.onRawEvent)
 
 	Debug("Successfully created WakuNode: %s", nodeName)
 	return n, nil
 }
 
-// onRawEvent receives every libwaku event for this node from the ffi bridge.
+// onRawEvent receives every kernel event for this node from the ffi bridge.
 func (n *WakuNode) onRawEvent(ret int, msg string) {
-	if ret == libwaku.RetOK {
+	if ret == ffi.RetOK {
 		n.OnEvent(msg)
 		return
 	}
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetNumConnectedRelayPeers(optPubsubTopic ...string) (int, err
 		pubsubTopic = optPubsubTopic[0]
 	}
 
-	numPeersStr, err := libwaku.GetNumConnectedRelayPeers(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
+	numPeersStr, err := ffi.GetNumConnectedRelayPeers(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error GetNumConnectedRelayPeers: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to get number of connected relay peers for %s: %s", n.nodeName, errMsg)
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetConnectedRelayPeers(optPubsubTopic ...string) (peer.IDSlic
 
 	Debug("Fetching connected relay peers for pubsubTopic: %v, node: %v", pubsubTopic, n.nodeName)
 
-	peersStr, err := libwaku.GetConnectedRelayPeers(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
+	peersStr, err := ffi.GetConnectedRelayPeers(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error GetConnectedRelayPeers: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to get connected relay peers for pubsubTopic: %v:, node: %v. %v", pubsubTopic, n.nodeName, errMsg)
@@ -227,14 +227,14 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetConnectedRelayPeers(optPubsubTopic ...string) (peer.IDSlic
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) DisconnectPeerByID(peerID peer.ID) error {
-	if err := libwaku.DisconnectPeerByID(n.wakuCtx, peerID.String()); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.DisconnectPeerByID(n.wakuCtx, peerID.String()); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error DisconnectPeerById: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) DisconnectAllPeers() error {
-	if err := libwaku.DisconnectAllPeers(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.DisconnectAllPeers(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error DisconnectAllPeers: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetConnectedPeers() (peer.IDSlice, error) {
 
 	Debug("Fetching connected peers for %v", n.nodeName)
 
-	peersStr, err := libwaku.GetConnectedPeers(n.wakuCtx)
+	peersStr, err := ffi.GetConnectedPeers(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error GetConnectedPeers: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to get connected peers for %v: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetPeersInMesh(pubsubTopic string) (peer.IDSlice, error) {
 
 	Debug("Fetching peers in mesh peers for pubsubTopic: %v, node: %v", pubsubTopic, n.nodeName)
 
-	peersStr, err := libwaku.GetPeersInMesh(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
+	peersStr, err := ffi.GetPeersInMesh(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error GetPeersInMesh: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to get peers in mesh for pubsubTopic: %v:, node: %v. %v", pubsubTopic, n.nodeName, errMsg)
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) RelaySubscribe(pubsubTopic string) error {
 		return errors.New("wakuCtx is nil")
 	}
 
-	if err := libwaku.RelaySubscribe(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.RelaySubscribe(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic); err != nil {
 		Error("Failed to subscribe to relay on node %s, pubsubTopic: %s, error: %v", n.nodeName, pubsubTopic, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("error WakuRelaySubscribe: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) RelayAddProtectedShard(clusterId uint16, shardId uint16, pubk
 
 	keyHexStr := hex.EncodeToString(crypto.FromECDSAPub(pubkey))
 
-	if err := libwaku.RelayAddProtectedShard(n.wakuCtx, int(clusterId), int(shardId), keyHexStr); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.RelayAddProtectedShard(n.wakuCtx, int(clusterId), int(shardId), keyHexStr); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error WakuRelayAddProtectedShard: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) RelayUnsubscribe(pubsubTopic string) error {
 	}
 
 	Debug("Attempting to unsubscribe from relay on node %s, pubsubTopic: %s", n.nodeName, pubsubTopic)
-	if err := libwaku.RelayUnsubscribe(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.RelayUnsubscribe(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic); err != nil {
 		Error("Failed to unsubscribe from relay on node %s, pubsubTopic: %s, error: %v", n.nodeName, pubsubTopic, err)
 		return fmt.Errorf("error WakuRelayUnsubscribe: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) RelayUnsubscribe(pubsubTopic string) error {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) PeerExchangeRequest(numPeers uint64) (uint64, error) {
-	numRecvPeersStr, err := libwaku.PeerExchangeRequest(n.wakuCtx, numPeers)
+	numRecvPeersStr, err := ffi.PeerExchangeRequest(n.wakuCtx, numPeers)
 	if err != nil {
 		Error("PeerExchangeRequest failed: %v", err)
 		return 0, err
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) PeerExchangeRequest(numPeers uint64) (uint64, error) {
 func (n *WakuNode) StartDiscV5() error {
 
 	Debug("Starting DiscV5 for node: %s", n.nodeName)
-	if err := libwaku.StartDiscV5(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.StartDiscV5(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error WakuStartDiscV5: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to start DiscV5 for node %s: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
 		return errors.New(errMsg)
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) StartDiscV5() error {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) StopDiscV5() error {
-	if err := libwaku.StopDiscV5(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.StopDiscV5(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error WakuStopDiscV5: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to stop DiscV5 for node %s: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
 		return errors.New(errMsg)
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) StopDiscV5() error {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) Version() (string, error) {
-	version, err := libwaku.Version(n.wakuCtx)
+	version, err := ffi.Version(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error WakuVersion: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to fetch Waku version for node %s: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) StoreQuery(ctx context.Context, storeRequest *common.StoreQue
 		addrs[i] = addr.String()
 	}
 
-	jsonResponseStr, err := libwaku.StoreQuery(n.wakuCtx, string(b), strings.Join(addrs, ","), timeoutMs)
+	jsonResponseStr, err := ffi.StoreQuery(n.wakuCtx, string(b), strings.Join(addrs, ","), timeoutMs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error WakuStoreQuery: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -446,12 +446,28 @@ func (n *WakuNode) StoreQuery(ctx context.Context, storeRequest *common.StoreQue
 func (n *WakuNode) RelayPublish(ctx context.Context, message *pb.WakuMessage, pubsubTopic string) (common.MessageHash, error) {
 	timeoutMs := getContextTimeoutMilliseconds(ctx)
 
-	jsonMsg, err := json.Marshal(message)
+	// The library expects the WakuMessage wire format (camelCase keys); the
+	// generated protobuf struct marshals content_topic, so marshal explicitly.
+	jsonMsg, err := json.Marshal(struct {
+		Payload      []byte  `json:"payload,omitempty"`
+		ContentTopic string  `json:"contentTopic"`
+		Version      *uint32 `json:"version,omitempty"`
+		Timestamp    *int64  `json:"timestamp,omitempty"`
+		Meta         []byte  `json:"meta,omitempty"`
+		Ephemeral    *bool   `json:"ephemeral,omitempty"`
+	}{
+		Payload:      message.Payload,
+		ContentTopic: message.ContentTopic,
+		Version:      message.Version,
+		Timestamp:    message.Timestamp,
+		Meta:         message.Meta,
+		Ephemeral:    message.Ephemeral,
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return common.MessageHash(""), err
 	}
 
-	msgHash, err := libwaku.RelayPublish(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic, string(jsonMsg), timeoutMs)
+	msgHash, err := ffi.RelayPublish(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic, string(jsonMsg), timeoutMs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return common.MessageHash(""), fmt.Errorf("WakuRelayPublish: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -489,7 +505,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) RelayPublishNoCTX(pubsubTopic string, message *pb.WakuMessage
 func (n *WakuNode) DnsDiscovery(ctx context.Context, enrTreeUrl string, nameDnsServer string) ([]multiaddr.Multiaddr, error) {
 	timeoutMs := getContextTimeoutMilliseconds(ctx)
 
-	nodeAddresses, err := libwaku.DnsDiscovery(n.wakuCtx, enrTreeUrl, nameDnsServer, timeoutMs)
+	nodeAddresses, err := ffi.DnsDiscovery(n.wakuCtx, enrTreeUrl, nameDnsServer, timeoutMs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error WakuDnsDiscovery: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -514,7 +530,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) PingPeer(ctx context.Context, peerInfo peer.AddrInfo) (time.D
 
 	timeoutMs := getContextTimeoutMilliseconds(ctx)
 
-	rttStr, err := libwaku.PingPeer(n.wakuCtx, strings.Join(addrs, ","), timeoutMs)
+	rttStr, err := ffi.PingPeer(n.wakuCtx, strings.Join(addrs, ","), timeoutMs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("PingPeer: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -529,7 +545,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) PingPeer(ctx context.Context, peerInfo peer.AddrInfo) (time.D
 func (n *WakuNode) Start() error {
 	Debug("Starting %s", n.nodeName)
 
-	if err := libwaku.Start(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.Start(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error WakuStart: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to start %s: %s", n.nodeName, errMsg)
 		return errors.New(errMsg)
@@ -542,7 +558,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) Start() error {
 func (n *WakuNode) Stop() error {
 
 	Debug("Stopping %s", n.nodeName)
-	if err := libwaku.Stop(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.Stop(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error WakuStop: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to stop %s: %s", n.nodeName, errMsg)
 		return errors.New(errMsg)
@@ -561,7 +577,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) Destroy() error {
 
 	Debug("Destroying %v", n.nodeName)
 
-	if err := libwaku.Destroy(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.Destroy(n.wakuCtx); err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error WakuDestroy: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to destroy %v: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
 		return errors.New(errMsg)
@@ -572,7 +588,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) Destroy() error {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) PeerID() (peer.ID, error) {
-	peerIdStr, err := libwaku.GetMyPeerID(n.wakuCtx)
+	peerIdStr, err := ffi.GetMyPeerID(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
@@ -588,7 +604,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) PeerID() (peer.ID, error) {
 func (n *WakuNode) Connect(ctx context.Context, addr multiaddr.Multiaddr) error {
 	timeoutMs := getContextTimeoutMilliseconds(ctx)
 
-	if err := libwaku.Connect(n.wakuCtx, addr.String(), timeoutMs); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.Connect(n.wakuCtx, addr.String(), timeoutMs); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error WakuConnect: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -597,14 +613,14 @@ func (n *WakuNode) Connect(ctx context.Context, addr multiaddr.Multiaddr) error
 func (n *WakuNode) DialPeerByID(ctx context.Context, peerID peer.ID, protocol libp2pproto.ID) error {
 	timeoutMs := getContextTimeoutMilliseconds(ctx)
 
-	if err := libwaku.DialPeerByID(n.wakuCtx, peerID.String(), string(protocol), timeoutMs); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.DialPeerByID(n.wakuCtx, peerID.String(), string(protocol), timeoutMs); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error DialPeerById: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) ListenAddresses() ([]multiaddr.Multiaddr, error) {
-	listenAddresses, err := libwaku.ListenAddresses(n.wakuCtx)
+	listenAddresses, err := ffi.ListenAddresses(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error WakuListenAddresses: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -622,7 +638,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) ListenAddresses() ([]multiaddr.Multiaddr, error) {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) ENR() (*enode.Node, error) {
-	enrStr, err := libwaku.GetMyENR(n.wakuCtx)
+	enrStr, err := ffi.GetMyENR(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error WakuGetMyENR: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -635,7 +651,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) ENR() (*enode.Node, error) {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) GetNumPeersInMesh(pubsubTopic string) (int, error) {
-	numPeersStr, err := libwaku.GetNumPeersInMesh(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
+	numPeersStr, err := ffi.GetNumPeersInMesh(n.wakuCtx, pubsubTopic)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("error GetNumPeersInMesh: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -649,7 +665,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetNumPeersInMesh(pubsubTopic string) (int, error) {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) GetPeerIDsFromPeerStore() (peer.IDSlice, error) {
-	peersStr, err := libwaku.GetPeerIDsFromPeerStore(n.wakuCtx)
+	peersStr, err := ffi.GetPeerIDsFromPeerStore(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GetPeerIdsFromPeerStore: %s", err.Error())
 	}
@@ -672,7 +688,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetPeerIDsFromPeerStore() (peer.IDSlice, error) {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) GetConnectedPeersInfo() (common.PeersData, error) {
-	jsonStr, err := libwaku.GetConnectedPeersInfo(n.wakuCtx)
+	jsonStr, err := ffi.GetConnectedPeersInfo(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GetConnectedPeersInfo: %s", err.Error())
 	}
@@ -691,7 +707,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetConnectedPeersInfo() (common.PeersData, error) {
 }
 
 func (n *WakuNode) GetPeerIDsByProtocol(protocol libp2pproto.ID) (peer.IDSlice, error) {
-	peersStr, err := libwaku.GetPeerIDsByProtocol(n.wakuCtx, string(protocol))
+	peersStr, err := ffi.GetPeerIDsByProtocol(n.wakuCtx, string(protocol))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GetPeerIdsByProtocol: error GetPeerIdsByProtocol: %s", err.Error())
 	}
@@ -716,7 +732,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetPeerIDsByProtocol(protocol libp2pproto.ID) (peer.IDSlice,
 func (n *WakuNode) DialPeer(ctx context.Context, peerAddr multiaddr.Multiaddr, protocol libp2pproto.ID) error {
 	timeoutMs := getContextTimeoutMilliseconds(ctx)
 
-	if err := libwaku.DialPeer(n.wakuCtx, peerAddr.String(), string(protocol), timeoutMs); err != nil {
+	if err := ffi.DialPeer(n.wakuCtx, peerAddr.String(), string(protocol), timeoutMs); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error DialPeer: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -934,7 +950,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) IsOnline() (bool, error) {
 
 	Debug("Querying online state for %v", n.nodeName)
 
-	onlineStr, err := libwaku.IsOnline(n.wakuCtx)
+	onlineStr, err := ffi.IsOnline(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error IsOnline: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to query online state for %v: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
@@ -953,7 +969,7 @@ func (n *WakuNode) GetMetrics() (string, error) {
 
 	Debug("Querying metrics for %v", n.nodeName)
 
-	metricsStr, err := libwaku.GetMetrics(n.wakuCtx)
+	metricsStr, err := ffi.GetMetrics(n.wakuCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := "error GetMetrics: " + err.Error()
 		Error("Failed to query metrics for %v: %v", n.nodeName, errMsg)
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/nwaku_test.go b/pkg/kernel/nwaku_test.go
index 4a73ed3..f3f74cc 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/nwaku_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kernel/nwaku_test.go
@@ -672,7 +672,6 @@ func TestStore(t *testing.T) {
 		Shards:          []uint16{64},
 		Discv5UdpPort:   udpPort,
 		TcpPort:         tcpPort,
-		LegacyStore:     false,
 	}
 
 	senderNode, err := NewWakuNode(&senderNodeWakuConfig, "senderNode")
@@ -692,7 +691,6 @@ func TestStore(t *testing.T) {
 		Shards:          []uint16{64},
 		Discv5UdpPort:   udpPort,
 		TcpPort:         tcpPort,
-		LegacyStore:     false,
 	}
 	receiverNode, err := NewWakuNode(&receiverNodeWakuConfig, "receiverNode")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/relay_send_receive_test.go b/pkg/kernel/relay_send_receive_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f951af9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/kernel/relay_send_receive_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package kernel
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery-go-bindings/pkg/kernel/common"
+	"github.com/logos-messaging/logos-delivery-go-bindings/pkg/kernel/pb"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
+)
+
+// TestRelaySendReceive is an end-to-end check against the single liblogosdelivery
+// library: two relay nodes are connected, one publishes a random payload and the
+// other must receive it. It exercises the unified node lifecycle and the Kernel
+// relay ops (waku_relay_subscribe/publish) over the one library.
+func TestRelaySendReceive(t *testing.T) {
+	const clusterID, shardID = 16, 64
+
+	newNode := func(name string) *WakuNode {
+		node, err := StartWakuNode(name, &common.WakuConfig{
+			Relay:           true,
+			LogLevel:        "ERROR",
+			Discv5Discovery: false,
+			ClusterID:       clusterID,
+			Shards:          []uint16{shardID},
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		t.Cleanup(func() { _ = node.StopAndDestroy() })
+		return node
+	}
+
+	sender := newNode("sender")
+	receiver := newNode("receiver")
+
+	topic := FormatWakuRelayTopic(clusterID, shardID)
+	require.NoError(t, sender.RelaySubscribe(topic))
+	require.NoError(t, receiver.RelaySubscribe(topic))
+
+	// Dial the receiver from the sender using the receiver's listen multiaddr
+	// (it already embeds the peer id).
+	addrs, err := receiver.ListenAddresses()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotEmpty(t, addrs)
+
+	connCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	require.NoError(t, sender.Connect(connCtx, addrs[0]))
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		n, _ := sender.GetNumConnectedPeers()
+		return n >= 1
+	}, 15*time.Second, time.Second, "sender never connected to the receiver")
+
+	payload := make([]byte, 16)
+	_, err = rand.Read(payload)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	publish := func() {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+		defer cancel()
+		// May fail with NoPeersToPublish until gossipsub grafts the mesh; retried.
+		_, _ = sender.RelayPublish(ctx, &pb.WakuMessage{
+			Payload:      payload,
+			ContentTopic: "/kernel-test/1/relay/proto",
+			Version:      proto.Uint32(0),
+			Timestamp:    proto.Int64(time.Now().UnixNano()),
+		}, topic)
+	}
+
+	// Publish immediately, then retry each second while waiting for delivery —
+	// the relay mesh takes a moment to form after the connection is established.
+	publish()
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(1 * time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	deadline := time.After(10 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		select {
+		case env := <-receiver.MsgChan:
+			if string(env.Message().GetPayload()) == string(payload) {
+				return // received our exact message — success
+			}
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			publish()
+		case <-deadline:
+			t.Fatal("timed out waiting for the receiver to get the message")
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/store_test.go b/pkg/kernel/store_test.go
index 5b01f72..27c07a8 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/store_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kernel/store_test.go
@@ -837,7 +837,6 @@ func TestCheckLegacyStore(t *testing.T) {
 	node2Config := DefaultWakuConfig
 	node2Config.Relay = true
 	node2Config.Store = true
-	node2Config.LegacyStore = true
 
 	Debug("Creating Node2")
 	node2, err := StartWakuNode("Node2", &node2Config)