diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index e9c93d6..f372457 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"bitbucket.org/hackerbots/botserv/protocol"
 	"code.google.com/p/go.net/websocket"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
@@ -49,61 +48,14 @@ func main() {
 }
 
 func addPlayer(ws *websocket.Conn) {
-	var err error
-
 	id := fmt.Sprintf("robot%d", <-g.id)
-	log.Printf("sending robot id: %s", id)
 
-	err = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, protocol.NewIdRequest(id))
+	conf, err := Negociate(ws, id, *width, *height)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("%s: problem sending initial identification", id)
-		websocket.JSON.Send(ws, protocol.NewFailure("generic server error"))
-		return
+		websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewFailure(err.Error()))
 	}
 
-	var clientid protocol.ClientID
-	err = websocket.JSON.Receive(ws, &clientid)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("%s: problem parsing clientID", id)
-		websocket.JSON.Send(ws, protocol.NewFailure("could not parse id"))
-		return
-	}
-	if v, msg := clientid.Valid(); !v {
-		log.Printf("%s: invalid clientid: %+v", id, clientid)
-		websocket.JSON.Send(
-			ws,
-			protocol.NewFailure(msg),
-		)
-		return
-	}
-
-	gameParam := protocol.NewGameParam(*width, *height)
-	err = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, gameParam)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Println("%s: problem sending game info: %+v", id, gameParam)
-		websocket.JSON.Send(ws, protocol.NewFailure("generic server error"))
-		return
-	}
-
-	switch clientid.Type {
-	case "robot":
-		var conf Config
-		for {
-			err = websocket.JSON.Receive(ws, &conf)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Print(err)
-				return
-			}
-			if conf.Stats.valid() {
-				_ = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, protocol.NewHandshake(id, true))
-				break
-			} else {
-				_ = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, protocol.NewHandshake(id, false))
-				log.Printf("%s invalid config", id)
-			}
-		}
-		log.Printf("%s eventually sent valid config: %+v", id, conf)
-
+	if conf != nil {
 		p := &player{
 			Robot: robot{
 				Stats:    conf.Stats,
@@ -121,7 +73,7 @@ func addPlayer(ws *websocket.Conn) {
 		go p.sender()
 		p.recv()
 		log.Printf("%v has been disconnect from this game\n", p.Robot.Id)
-	case "spectator":
+	} else {
 		s := &Spectator{
 			send: make(chan *boardstate),
 			ws:   ws,
diff --git a/protocol.go b/protocol.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62d8166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocol.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"code.google.com/p/go.net/websocket"
+	"errors"
+	"log"
+)
+
+// > identify
+type IdRequest struct {
+	Type       string `json:"type"`
+	AssignedID string `json:"id"`
+}
+
+func NewIdRequest(id string) *IdRequest {
+	return &IdRequest{
+		Type:       "idreq",
+		AssignedID: id,
+	}
+}
+
+// < [robot | spectator], name, client-type, game ID
+type ClientID struct {
+	Type      string `json:"type"`
+	Name      string `json:"name"`
+	Useragent string `json:"useragent"`
+}
+
+func (c *ClientID) Valid() (bool, string) {
+	switch c.Type {
+	case "robot", "spectator":
+		return true, ""
+	}
+	return false, "usergent must be 'robot' or 'spectator'"
+}
+
+type BoardSize struct {
+	Width  float64 `json:"width"`
+	Height float64 `json:"height"`
+}
+
+type GameParam struct {
+	BoardSize BoardSize `json:"boardsize"`
+	Type      string    `json:"type"`
+}
+
+// > [OK | FULL | NOT AUTH], board size, game params
+func NewGameParam(w, h float64) *GameParam {
+	return &GameParam{
+		BoardSize: BoardSize{
+			Width:  w,
+			Height: h,
+		},
+		Type: "gameparam",
+	}
+}
+
+type Handshake struct {
+	ID      string `json:"id"`
+	Success bool   `json:"success"`
+	Type    string `json:"type"`
+}
+
+func NewHandshake(id string, success bool) *Handshake {
+	return &Handshake{
+		ID:      id,
+		Success: success,
+		Type:    "handshake",
+	}
+}
+
+type Failure struct {
+	Reason string `json:"reason"`
+	Type   string `json:"type"`
+}
+
+func NewFailure(reason string) *Failure {
+	return &Failure{
+		Reason: reason,
+		Type:   "failure",
+	}
+}
+
+func Negociate(ws *websocket.Conn, id string, width, height float64) (*Config, error) {
+	var err error
+
+	log.Printf("sending robot id: %s", id)
+
+	err = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewIdRequest(id))
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("%s: problem sending initial identification", id)
+		return nil, errors.New("generic servr error")
+	}
+
+	var clientid ClientID
+	err = websocket.JSON.Receive(ws, &clientid)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("%s: problem parsing clientID", id)
+		return nil, errors.New("could not parse id")
+	}
+	if v, msg := clientid.Valid(); !v {
+		log.Printf("%s: invalid clientid: %+v", id, clientid)
+		websocket.JSON.Send(
+			ws,
+			NewFailure(msg),
+		)
+		return nil, errors.New(msg)
+	}
+
+	gameParam := NewGameParam(width, height)
+	err = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, gameParam)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("%s: problem sending game info: %+v", id, gameParam)
+		websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewFailure("generic server error"))
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	switch clientid.Type {
+	case "robot":
+		var conf Config
+		for {
+			err = websocket.JSON.Receive(ws, &conf)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if conf.Stats.valid() {
+				_ = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewHandshake(id, true))
+				break
+			} else {
+				_ = websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewHandshake(id, false))
+				log.Printf("%s invalid config", id)
+			}
+		}
+		log.Printf("%s eventually sent valid config: %+v", id, conf)
+		return &conf, nil
+	case "spectator":
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
diff --git a/protocol/protocol.go b/protocol/protocol.go
deleted file mode 100644
index a182fe3..0000000
--- a/protocol/protocol.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,76 +0,0 @@
-package protocol
-
-// > identify
-type IdRequest struct {
-	Type       string `json:"type"`
-	AssignedID string `json:"id"`
-}
-
-func NewIdRequest(id string) *IdRequest {
-	return &IdRequest{
-		Type:       "idreq",
-		AssignedID: id,
-	}
-}
-
-// < [robot | spectator], name, client-type, game ID
-type ClientID struct {
-	Type      string `json:"type"`
-	Name      string `json:"name"`
-	Useragent string `json:"useragent"`
-}
-
-func (c *ClientID) Valid() (bool, string) {
-	switch c.Type {
-	case "robot", "spectator":
-		return true, ""
-	}
-	return false, "usergent must be 'robot' or 'spectator'"
-}
-
-type BoardSize struct {
-	Width  float64 `json:"width"`
-	Height float64 `json:"height"`
-}
-
-type GameParam struct {
-	BoardSize BoardSize `json:"boardsize"`
-	Type      string    `json:"type"`
-}
-
-// > [OK | FULL | NOT AUTH], board size, game params
-func NewGameParam(w, h float64) *GameParam {
-	return &GameParam{
-		BoardSize: BoardSize{
-			Width:  w,
-			Height: h,
-		},
-		Type: "gameparam",
-	}
-}
-
-type Handshake struct {
-	ID      string `json:"id"`
-	Success bool   `json:"success"`
-	Type    string `json:"type"`
-}
-
-func NewHandshake(id string, success bool) *Handshake {
-	return &Handshake{
-		ID:      id,
-		Success: success,
-		Type:    "handshake",
-	}
-}
-
-type Failure struct {
-	Reason string `json:"reason"`
-	Type   string `json:"type"`
-}
-
-func NewFailure(reason string) *Failure {
-	return &Failure{
-		Reason: reason,
-		Type:   "failure",
-	}
-}
diff --git a/protocol/protocol_test.go b/protocol_test.go
similarity index 98%
rename from protocol/protocol_test.go
rename to protocol_test.go
index da25620..a1001e8 100644
--- a/protocol/protocol_test.go
+++ b/protocol_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package protocol
+package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"