diff --git a/lib/appenders/gelf.js b/lib/appenders/gelf.js
index e0c7fc2..e255681 100644
--- a/lib/appenders/gelf.js
+++ b/lib/appenders/gelf.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ var util = require('util');
  * @param hostname - hostname of the current host (default:os hostname)
  * @param facility - facility to log to (default:nodejs-server)
  */
-function gelfAppender (layout, host, port, hostname, facility) {
+function gelfAppender (layout, host, port, hostname, facility, externalClient) {
 
     var logEventBuffer = [];
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function gelfAppender (layout, host, port, hostname, facility) {
     facility = facility || 'nodejs-server';
     layout = layout || layouts.patternLayout('%m');
 
-    var client = dgram.createSocket("udp4");
+    var client = externalClient || dgram.createSocket("udp4");
 
     process.on('exit', function() {
         if (client) client.close();
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ function configure(config) {
     if (config.layout) {
         layout = layouts.layout(config.layout.type, config.layout);
     }
-    return gelfAppender(layout, config.host, config.port, config.hostname, config.facility);
+    return gelfAppender(layout, config.host, config.port, config.hostname, config.facility, config.client);
 }
 
 exports.name = "gelf";
diff --git a/test/gelfAppender.js b/test/gelfAppender.js
index 331752b..82b7ed6 100644
--- a/test/gelfAppender.js
+++ b/test/gelfAppender.js
@@ -1,31 +1,30 @@
 var vows = require('vows')
 , log4js = require('../lib/log4js')
 , assert = require('assert')
-, util = require('util')
 , dgram = require("dgram");
 
-log4js.configure({ "appenders": [{"type": "gelf"}] }, undefined);
+var fakeClient = {
+  packetLength: 0,
+  close: function() {
+  },
+  send: function(pkt, offset, pktLength, port, host) {
+    this.packetLength = pktLength;
+  } 
+};
+
+log4js.configure({ "appenders": [{"type": "gelf", "client": fakeClient}] }, undefined);
 
 vows.describe('log4js gelfAppender').addBatch({
 
     'with default gelfAppender settings': {
         topic: function() {
             var logger = log4js.getLogger();
-
-            //Start local dgram server to act as GELF server
-            var server = dgram.createSocket("udp4");
-            //Assert as soon as message arrives
-            server.on("message", this.callback);
-            //Send a fake message as soon as server is ready
-            server.on("listening", function () {
-              logger.info("This should be a packet of size 161 bytes at the server");
-            });
-
-            //Listen on default values
-            server.bind(12201, 'localhost');
+            var self = this;
+            logger.info('Fake log message');
+            callback();
         },
         'should receive log messages at the local gelf server': function(err, packet) {
-            assert.ok(packet.size > 0, "Recevied blank message");
+            assert.ok(fakeClient.packetLength > 0, "Recevied blank message");
         }
     }
 }).export(module);
\ No newline at end of file