diff --git a/core/base.go b/core/base.go
index b65b4420..f28ab29a 100644
--- a/core/base.go
+++ b/core/base.go
@@ -17,15 +17,13 @@ import (
 var (
 	dataDir     string
 	databaseDir string
-
-	baseModule = modules.Register("base", prepBase, nil, nil)
 )
 
 func init() {
 	flag.StringVar(&dataDir, "data", "", "set data directory")
 	flag.StringVar(&databaseDir, "db", "", "alias to --data (deprecated)")
 
-	notifications.SetPersistenceBasePath("core:notifications")
+	modules.Register("base", prepBase, nil, nil, "info")
 }
 
 func prepBase() error {
@@ -59,5 +57,8 @@ func prepBase() error {
 	// set api listen address
 	api.SetDefaultAPIListenAddress("127.0.0.1:817")
 
+	// set notification persistence
+	notifications.SetPersistenceBasePath("core:notifications")
+
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/core/config.go b/core/config.go
index f4e1a7ae..10952408 100644
--- a/core/config.go
+++ b/core/config.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	devMode        config.BoolOption
 	defaultDevMode bool
 )
 
@@ -27,8 +26,9 @@ func registerConfig() error {
 		Name:           "Development Mode",
 		Key:            "core/devMode",
 		Description:    "In Development Mode security restrictions are lifted/softened to enable easier access to Portmaster for debugging and testing purposes.",
-		ExpertiseLevel: config.ExpertiseLevelDeveloper,
 		OptType:        config.OptTypeBool,
+		ExpertiseLevel: config.ExpertiseLevelDeveloper,
+		ReleaseLevel:   config.ReleaseLevelStable,
 		DefaultValue:   defaultDevMode,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/core/core.go b/core/core.go
index 9b34f92f..730bfe83 100644
--- a/core/core.go
+++ b/core/core.go
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/modules"
 )
 
-var (
-	coreModule = modules.Register("core", nil, startCore, nil, "base", "database", "config", "api", "random")
-)
+func init() {
+	modules.Register("core", nil, startCore, nil, "base", "database", "config", "api", "random")
+}
 
 func startCore() error {
 	if err := startPlatformSpecific(); err != nil {
diff --git a/core/testing.go b/core/testing.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0b37375d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/testing.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package core
+
+import (
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/safing/portbase/log"
+
+	"github.com/safing/portbase/database"
+
+	// module dependencies
+	_ "github.com/safing/portbase/database/storage/hashmap"
+)
+
+// InitForTesting initializes the core module directly. This is intended to be only used by unit tests that require the core (and depending) modules.
+func InitForTesting() (tmpDir string, err error) {
+	tmpDir, err = ioutil.TempDir(os.TempDir(), "pm-testing-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	err = database.Initialize(tmpDir, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	_, err = database.Register(&database.Database{
+		Name:        "core",
+		Description: "Holds core data, such as settings and profiles",
+		StorageType: "hashmap",
+		PrimaryAPI:  "",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	_, err = database.Register(&database.Database{
+		Name:        "cache",
+		Description: "Cached data, such as Intelligence and DNS Records",
+		StorageType: "hashmap",
+		PrimaryAPI:  "",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	// _, err = database.Register(&database.Database{
+	//   Name:        "history",
+	//   Description: "Historic event data",
+	//   StorageType: "hashmap",
+	//   PrimaryAPI:  "",
+	// })
+	// if err != nil {
+	//   return err
+	// }
+
+	// start logging
+	err = log.Start()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	log.SetLogLevel(log.TraceLevel)
+
+	return tmpDir, nil
+}
+
+// StopTesting shuts the test environment.
+func StopTesting() {
+	log.Shutdown()
+}