diff --git a/bin/mock-server/src/lib/lib.rs b/bin/mock-server/src/lib/lib.rs
index 0c14738e7..9603fb882 100644
--- a/bin/mock-server/src/lib/lib.rs
+++ b/bin/mock-server/src/lib/lib.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use dropshot::{
     TypedBody, WebsocketConnection,
 };
 use futures::SinkExt;
-use slog::{error, info, Logger};
+use slog::{error, info, o, Logger};
 use thiserror::Error;
 use tokio::sync::{watch, Mutex};
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::{Role, WebSocketConfig};
@@ -654,6 +654,10 @@ mod serial {
 
 /// Returns a Dropshot [`ApiDescription`] object to launch a mock Propolis
 /// server.
+///
+/// This function should be avoided in favor of `start()` because using this
+/// function requires that the consumer and Propolis update Dropshot
+/// dependencies in lockstep due to the sharing of various types.
 pub fn api() -> ApiDescription<Arc<Context>> {
     let mut api = ApiDescription::new();
     api.register(instance_ensure).unwrap();
@@ -664,3 +668,29 @@ pub fn api() -> ApiDescription<Arc<Context>> {
     api.register(instance_serial_history_get).unwrap();
     api
 }
+
+// These types need to be exposed so that consumers have names for them without
+// having to maintain a dropshot dependency in lockstep with their dependency on
+// this crate.
+
+/// configuration for the dropshot server
+pub type Config = dropshot::ConfigDropshot;
+/// the dropshot server itself
+pub type Server = dropshot::HttpServer<Arc<Context>>;
+/// errors returned from attempting to start a dropshot server
+// Dropshot should expose this, but it's going to be removed anyway.
+pub type ServerStartError = Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>;
+
+/// Starts a Propolis mock server
+pub fn start(config: Config, log: Logger) -> Result<Server, ServerStartError> {
+    let propolis_log = log.new(o!("component" => "propolis-server-mock"));
+    let dropshot_log = log.new(o!("component" => "dropshot"));
+    let private = Arc::new(Context::new(propolis_log));
+    let starter = dropshot::HttpServerStarter::new(
+        &config,
+        api(),
+        private,
+        &dropshot_log,
+    )?;
+    Ok(starter.start())
+}