diff --git a/documentation.md b/documentation.md
index fd497687d2..e628b3d757 100644
--- a/documentation.md
+++ b/documentation.md
@@ -78,19 +78,45 @@ Once the server has been started with `app.listen()` the SocketIO object is avai
 
 ### listen
 
-`app.listen([port])` starts the application on the given port. Before calling the original [Express app.listen([port])](http://expressjs.com/api.html#app.listen) Feathers will initialize the SocketIO server (if set up) and call all services `setup(app, path)` methods in the order they have been registered.
+`app.listen([port])` starts the application on the given port. It will first call the original [Express app.listen([port])](http://expressjs.com/api.html#app.listen), then run `app.setup(server)` (see below) with the server object and then return the server object.
+
+### setup
+
+`app.setup(server)` is used initialize all services by calling each services `.setup(app, path)` method (if available).
+It will also use the `server` instance passed (e.g. through `http.createServer`) to set up SocketIO (if enabled) and any other provider that might require the server instance.
+
+Normally `app.setup` will be called automatically when starting the application via `app.listen([port])` but there are cases when you need to initialize the server separately:
+
+__HTTPS__
+
+With your Feathers application initialized it is easy to set up an HTTPS REST and SocketIO server:
 
 ```js
-var app = feathers();
-app.use('/my/todos', {
-  setup: function(app, path) {
-    // path -> 'my/todos'
-  }
-});
+app.configure(feathers.socketio()).use('/todos', todoService);
 
-var server = app.listen(8080);
+var https = require('https');
+var server = https.createServer({
+  key: fs.readFileSync('privatekey.pem'),
+  cert: fs.readFileSync('certificate.pem')
+}, app).listen(443);
 
-server.close();
+// Call app.setup to initialize all services and SocketIO
+app.setup(server);
+```
+
+__Virtual Hosts__
+
+You can use `feathers.vhost` (which is the same as [Express and Connect .vhost](http://www.senchalabs.org/connect/vhost.html)) to run your Feathers app on a virtual host:
+
+```js
+app.use('/todos', todoService);
+
+var host = feathers().use(feathers.vhost('foo.com', app));
+var server = host.listen(8080);
+
+// Here we need to call app.setup because .listen on our virtal hosted
+// app is never called
+app.setup(server);
 ```
 
 ### lookup
@@ -138,6 +164,10 @@ app.use('/todos', {
 });
 ```
 
+### service
+
+`app.service([path], service)` is what is called internally by `app.use([path], service)` if a service object is being passed. Use it instead of `app.use([path], service)` if you want to be more explicit that you are registering a service. `app.service` does __not__ provide the Express `app.use` functionality and doesn't check the service object for valid methods.
+
 ## Services
 
 A service can be any JavaScript object that offers one or more of the `find`, `get`, `create`, `update`, `remove` and `setup` service methods with the following signatures:
diff --git a/lib/application.js b/lib/application.js
index 60fa92faa5..5b87c54c21 100644
--- a/lib/application.js
+++ b/lib/application.js
@@ -18,6 +18,26 @@ module.exports = {
     });
   },
 
+  service: function(location, service) {
+    var protoService = Proto.extend(service);
+    var self = this;
+
+    location = stripSlashes(location);
+
+    // Add all the mixins
+    _.each(this.mixins, function (fn) {
+      fn.call(self, protoService);
+    });
+
+    // Run the provider functions to register the service
+    _.each(this.providers, function (provider) {
+      provider(location, protoService);
+    });
+
+    this.services[location] = protoService;
+    return this;
+  },
+
   use: function (location, service) {
     var hasServiceMethod = function (name) {
       return typeof service !== 'undefined' && typeof service[name] === 'function';
@@ -25,23 +45,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
     // Check for service (any object with at least one service method)
     if (_.some(this.methods, hasServiceMethod)) {
-      var protoService = Proto.extend(service);
-      var self = this;
-
-      location = stripSlashes(location);
-
-      // Add all the mixins
-      _.each(this.mixins, function (fn) {
-        fn.call(self, protoService);
-      });
-
-      // Run the provider functions to register the service
-      _.each(this.providers, function (provider) {
-        provider(location, protoService);
-      });
-
-      this.services[location] = protoService;
-      return this;
+      return this.service(location, service);
     }
 
     // Pass to the original express app
@@ -52,15 +56,20 @@ module.exports = {
     return this.services[stripSlashes(location)];
   },
 
-  listen: function () {
-    var self = this;
+  setup: function() {
     // Setup each service (pass the app so that they can look up other services etc.)
-    _.each(self.services, function (service, path) {
+    _.each(this.services, function (service, path) {
       if (typeof service.setup === 'function') {
-        service.setup(self, path);
+        service.setup(this, path);
       }
-    });
+    }.bind(this));
 
-    return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+    return this;
+  },
+
+  listen: function () {
+    var server = this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+    this.setup(server);
+    return server;
   }
 };
diff --git a/lib/feathers.js b/lib/feathers.js
index 84134e24a0..c3d8bbef35 100644
--- a/lib/feathers.js
+++ b/lib/feathers.js
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ function createApplication() {
   Proto.mixin(Application, app);
   app.init();
   // Add REST provider by default, can always be disabled using app.disable('feathers rest')
-  app.use(express.urlencoded());
-  app.use(express.json()).configure(providers.rest());
+  app.use(express.urlencoded()).use(express.json()).configure(providers.rest());
   return app;
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/providers/socketio.js b/lib/providers/socketio.js
index 5e2ed542cd..e032c9178e 100644
--- a/lib/providers/socketio.js
+++ b/lib/providers/socketio.js
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@ var socketio = require('socket.io');
 module.exports = function (config) {
   return function () {
     var app = this;
-    var oldListen = app.listen;
+    var oldSetup = app.setup;
     var services = {};
 
     app.enable('feathers socketio');
     // Overwrite Expresss `listen`
-    app.listen = function () {
-      var httpServer = oldListen.apply(this, arguments);
+    app.setup = function (server) {
+      var oldResult = oldSetup.apply(this, arguments);
       if (app.disabled('feathers socketio')) {
-        return httpServer;
+        return oldResult;
       }
 
-      var io = this.io = socketio.listen(httpServer);
+      var io = this.io = socketio.listen(server);
 
       _.each(services, function (service, path) {
         // If the service emits events that we want to listen to (Event mixin)
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ module.exports = function (config) {
         config.call(this, io);
       }
 
-      return httpServer;
+      return oldResult;
     };
 
     app.providers.push(function (path, service) {
diff --git a/test/application.test.js b/test/application.test.js
index 53ebab07bb..dccb7ff1ab 100644
--- a/test/application.test.js
+++ b/test/application.test.js
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ var assert = require('assert');
 var Proto = require('uberproto');
 var io = require('socket.io-client');
 var request = require('request');
+var https = require('https');
+var fs = require('fs');
 
 var feathers = require('../lib/feathers');
-var express = require('express');
 
 describe('Feathers application', function () {
   it('registers service and looks it up with and without leading and trailing slashes', function () {
@@ -85,4 +86,57 @@ describe('Feathers application', function () {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  it('REST and SocketIO with SSL server (#25)', function(done) {
+    // For more info on Reqest HTTPS settings see https://github.com/mikeal/request/issues/418
+    // This needs to be set so that the SocektIO client can connect
+    process.env.NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED = "0";
+
+    var todoService = {
+      get: function (name, params, callback) {
+        callback(null, {
+          id: name,
+          description: "You have to do " + name + "!"
+        });
+      }
+    };
+
+    var oldlog = console.log;
+    console.log = function () {};
+    var app = feathers().configure(feathers.socketio(function(io) {
+      io.set('log level', 0);
+    })).use('/secureTodos', todoService);
+
+    var httpsServer = https.createServer({
+      key: fs.readFileSync(__dirname + '/resources/privatekey.pem'),
+      cert: fs.readFileSync(__dirname + '/resources/certificate.pem'),
+      rejectUnauthorized: false,
+      requestCert: false
+    }, app).listen(7889);
+
+    app.setup(httpsServer);
+
+    httpsServer.on('listening', function() {
+      var socket = io.connect('https://localhost:7889', { secure: true, port: 7889 });
+
+      console.log = oldlog;
+
+      request({
+        url: 'https://localhost:7889/secureTodos/dishes',
+        strictSSL: false,
+        rejectUnhauthorized : false
+      }, function (error, response, body) {
+        assert.ok(response.statusCode === 200, 'Got OK status code');
+        var data = JSON.parse(body);
+        assert.equal(data.description, 'You have to do dishes!');
+
+        socket.emit('secureTodos::get', 'laundry', {}, function (error, data) {
+          assert.equal(data.description, 'You have to do laundry!');
+
+          socket.disconnect();
+          httpsServer.close(done);
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/resources/certificate.pem b/test/resources/certificate.pem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6735645071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/resources/certificate.pem
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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=
+-----END CERTIFICATE-----
diff --git a/test/resources/certrequest.csr b/test/resources/certrequest.csr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41f83b2757
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/resources/certrequest.csr
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
+MIIB0jCCATsCAQAwgZExCzAJBgNVBAYTAkNBMRAwDgYDVQQIEwdBbGJlcnRhMRAw
+DgYDVQQHEwdDYWxnYXJ5MREwDwYDVQQKEwhGZWF0aGVyczERMA8GA1UECxMIRmVh
+dGhlcnMxEzARBgNVBAMTCkZlYXRoZXJzSlMxIzAhBgkqhkiG9w0BCQEWFGhlbGxv
+QGZlYXRoZXJzanMuY29tMIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQC4sXy8
+K7ww2AGmlOtqMnM/M8FKcQoLssl8oVQzfyjJj/yPh35G3CK6o7VtI26UVoi4Z+XM
+OCv3FE5HzI+AMGjebds6tBVRSXSHXS8c7mpsiSyRWX7ObD2FrV+pqKz3LvUTO48G
+90dVfOdl41VlI/J3lALu3lMyqEkOe+ZB7Jyq3QIDAQABoAAwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEF
+BQADgYEAFN1xm2Jc5EwDsiJwjUQkVCYLfAPz8FxLx8XCY7JugPCZWxeJ3w9C3Ymz
+hET//7uxNg6q7EO9CI33vP5eOdI8oC8XQffh4GzCoSrmGrKpHSqVh3zN/rCoB4BY
+f4nJofTka5iENjMdA0R8//Wp7F1u7xhriuxaRiZoFEPaCIsrvK4=
+-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
diff --git a/test/resources/privatekey.pem b/test/resources/privatekey.pem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3a39a23926
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/resources/privatekey.pem
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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+-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----