diff --git a/runtime/Makefile b/runtime/Makefile
index 628f275..ecd7251 100644
--- a/runtime/Makefile
+++ b/runtime/Makefile
@@ -11,12 +11,13 @@ LDFLAGS = -Wl,--export-dynamic -ldl -lm
 USE_MEM = USE_MEM_VM
 CFLAGS = ${OPTFLAGS} -D${USE_MEM} -I${INC} -pthread
 CFLAGS += -DX86_64 
-CFLAGS += -DDEBUG 
+#CFLAGS += -DDEBUG 
 CFLAGS += -D_GNU_SOURCE
 #CFLAGS += -DNOSTDIO
-CFLAGS += -DUSE_UVIO
-#CFLAGS += -DUSE_SYSCALL
-#CFLAGS += -DPREEMPT_DISABLE
+CFLAGS += -DSTANDALONE
+#CFLAGS += -DUSE_UVIO
+CFLAGS += -DUSE_SYSCALL
+CFLAGS += -DPREEMPT_DISABLE
 
 MAKE= make --no-print-directory
 
diff --git a/runtime/src/main.c b/runtime/src/main.c
index 5acb519..f4a8d21 100644
--- a/runtime/src/main.c
+++ b/runtime/src/main.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ usage(char *cmd)
 int
 main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
+#ifndef STANDALONE
 	int i = 0, rtthd_ret[SBOX_NCORES] = { 0 };
 	pthread_t rtthd[SBOX_NCORES];
 
@@ -97,4 +98,15 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	// runtime threads run forever!! so join should not return!!
 	printf("\nOh no..!! This can't be happening..!!\n");
 	exit(-1);
+#else /* STANDALONE */
+	arch_context_init(&base_context, 0, 0);
+	uv_loop_init(&uvio);
+
+	/* in current dir! */
+	struct module *m = module_alloc(argv[1], argv[1], 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	assert(m);
+	struct sandbox *s = sandbox_alloc(m, argv[1]);
+
+	exit(0);
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/runtime/src/module.c b/runtime/src/module.c
index 9b68862..6f0c9ba 100644
--- a/runtime/src/module.c
+++ b/runtime/src/module.c
@@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ module_alloc(char *modname, char *modpath, u32 udp_port, i32 nargs, i32 nrets, u
 	module_indirect_table = cache_tbl;
 	mod->udpport = udp_port;
 	module_add(mod);
+#ifndef STANDALONE
 	module_io_init(mod);
+#endif
 
 	return mod;
 
diff --git a/runtime/src/runtime.c b/runtime/src/runtime.c
index 3c3ac85..ea3a107 100644
--- a/runtime/src/runtime.c
+++ b/runtime/src/runtime.c
@@ -106,16 +106,19 @@ sandbox_schedule(void)
 void
 sandbox_wakeup(sandbox_t *s)
 {
+#ifndef STANDALONE
 	debuglog("[%p: %s]\n", s, s->mod->name);
 	// perhaps 2 lists in the sandbox to make sure sandbox is either in runlist or waitlist..
 	assert(ps_list_singleton_d(s));
 	s->state = SANDBOX_RUNNABLE;
 	ps_list_head_append_d(&runq, s);
+#endif
 }
 
 void
 sandbox_block(void)
 {
+#ifndef STANDALONE
 	// perhaps 2 lists in the sandbox to make sure sandbox is either in runlist or waitlist..
 	softint_disable();
 	struct sandbox *c = sandbox_current();
@@ -125,6 +128,9 @@ sandbox_block(void)
 	c->state = SANDBOX_BLOCKED;
 	struct sandbox *s = sandbox_schedule();
 	sandbox_switch(s);
+#else
+	uv_run(runtime_uvio(), UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
+#endif
 }
 
 void __attribute__((noinline)) __attribute__((noreturn))
@@ -172,6 +178,7 @@ sandbox_run_func(void *data)
 void
 sandbox_run(struct sandbox *s)
 {
+#ifndef STANDALONE
 	// for now, a pull model... 
 	// sandbox_run adds to the global ready queue..
 	// each sandboxing thread pulls off of that global ready queue..
@@ -180,12 +187,16 @@ sandbox_run(struct sandbox *s)
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&glbq_mtx);
 	ps_list_head_append_d(&glbq, s);
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&glbq_mtx);
+#else
+	sandbox_switch(s);
+#endif
 }
 
 // perhaps respond to request
 void
 sandbox_exit(void)
 {
+#ifndef STANDALONE
 	struct sandbox *curr = sandbox_current();
 
 	assert(curr);
@@ -195,6 +206,9 @@ sandbox_exit(void)
 	curr->state = SANDBOX_RETURNED;
 	// TODO: free resources here? or only from main?
 	sandbox_switch(sandbox_schedule());
+#else
+	sandbox_switch(NULL);
+#endif
 }
 
 void *