diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index c91545c7fc..aeb8a86aaa 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func initGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		utils.Fatalf("invalid genesis file: %v", err)
 	}
 	// Open an initialise both full and light databases
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	for _, name := range []string{"chaindata", "lightchaindata"} {
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func importChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if len(ctx.Args()) < 1 {
 		utils.Fatalf("This command requires an argument.")
 	}
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	chain, db := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack)
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ func exportChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if len(ctx.Args()) < 1 {
 		utils.Fatalf("This command requires an argument.")
 	}
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	chain, _ := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack)
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ func importPreimages(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if len(ctx.Args()) < 1 {
 		utils.Fatalf("This command requires an argument.")
 	}
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	db := utils.MakeChainDatabase(ctx, stack)
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ func exportPreimages(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if len(ctx.Args()) < 1 {
 		utils.Fatalf("This command requires an argument.")
 	}
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	db := utils.MakeChainDatabase(ctx, stack)
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ func copyDb(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		utils.Fatalf("Source ancient chain directory path argument missing")
 	}
 	// Initialize a new chain for the running node to sync into
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	chain, chainDb := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack)
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ func confirmAndRemoveDB(database string, kind string) {
 }
 
 func dump(ctx *cli.Context) error {
-	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	stack := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	chain, chainDb := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack)
diff --git a/cmd/geth/config.go b/cmd/geth/config.go
index 8f0bae8225..1a01d63738 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/config.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/config.go
@@ -152,16 +152,30 @@ func enableWhisper(ctx *cli.Context) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func makeFullNode(ctx *cli.Context) *node.Node {
+//makeNode initialises a node with various services so that the node and its services can be later started
+func makeNode(ctx *cli.Context) *node.Node {
+
 	stack, cfg := makeConfigNode(ctx)
 	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(utils.ConstantinopleOverrideFlag.Name) {
 		cfg.Eth.ConstantinopleOverride = new(big.Int).SetUint64(ctx.GlobalUint64(utils.ConstantinopleOverrideFlag.Name))
 	}
+
+	//register a Service that handles the Les client if the config permits
+	utils.RegisterLesClientService(stack, &cfg.Eth)
+
+	//register a Service that handles the Eth capability if the config permits
 	utils.RegisterEthService(stack, &cfg.Eth)
 
+	//register a Service that handles the Les client if the config permits
+	//(the Les Server service registration depends on the Eth service being
+	//registered prior)
+	utils.RegisterLesServerService(stack, &cfg.Eth)
+
+	
 	if ctx.GlobalBool(utils.DashboardEnabledFlag.Name) {
 		utils.RegisterDashboardService(stack, &cfg.Dashboard, gitCommit)
 	}
+
 	// Whisper must be explicitly enabled by specifying at least 1 whisper flag or in dev mode
 	shhEnabled := enableWhisper(ctx)
 	shhAutoEnabled := !ctx.GlobalIsSet(utils.WhisperEnabledFlag.Name) && ctx.GlobalIsSet(utils.DeveloperFlag.Name)
diff --git a/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go b/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go
index d4443b3282..273e37dc31 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/consolecmd.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ JavaScript API. See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wiki/JavaScript-Cons
 // same time.
 func localConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Create and start the node based on the CLI flags
-	node := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	node := makeNode(ctx)
 	startNode(ctx, node)
 	defer node.Close()
 
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func dialRPC(endpoint string) (*rpc.Client, error) {
 // everything down.
 func ephemeralConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Create and start the node based on the CLI flags
-	node := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	node := makeNode(ctx)
 	startNode(ctx, node)
 	defer node.Close()
 
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index 1b23cbd9f2..027fd1074e 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ func geth(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if args := ctx.Args(); len(args) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid command: %q", args[0])
 	}
-	node := makeFullNode(ctx)
+	node := makeNode(ctx)
 	defer node.Close()
 	startNode(ctx, node)
 	node.Wait()