diff --git a/test/e2e/count-connections-issue-173/countConnectionsBitSocket.js b/test/e2e/count-connections-issue-173/countConnectionsBitSocket.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..604ad097
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/count-connections-issue-173/countConnectionsBitSocket.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+const BITBOX = require("../../../lib/BITBOX").BITBOX;
+const { exec } = require('child_process');
+
+const bitbox = new BITBOX();
+const socket = new bitbox.Socket();
+
+function countSockets(stage) {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    // Call the lsof system command for outgoing internet connections.
+    exec(`lsof -i -n -P | grep ${process.pid}`, (err, stdout, stderr) => { 
+      // Print list of open connections allowing a visual count to be done.
+      console.log(`Outbound connections from this node process ${stage}:\n${stdout}`);
+      resolve();
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+function sleep(ms) {
+  return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+}
+
+(async () => {
+
+  await countSockets("before calling listen");
+
+  //First call to listen() which should create new connection.
+  socket.listen({"v": 3, "q": {"find": {}}},
+    (message) => {
+      console.log("Callback from first query invoked.");
+  });
+
+  //Second call to listen() which should share connection with first call.
+  socket.listen({"v": 3, "q": {"find": {}}},
+  (message) => {
+    console.log("Callback from first query invoked.");
+  });
+  
+  // listen doesn't return a promise so wait 100ms for connections to establish.
+  await sleep(100);
+  
+  await countSockets("after calling listen twice");
+
+  // now close the socket 
+  socket.close();
+
+  // callback from close() is short-circuited so give it 100ms to clean up.
+  await sleep(100);
+  
+  // check if any zombie connections remaining
+  await countSockets("after calling close (zombie connections)");
+
+  // exit process
+  process.exit();
+
+})();
+
+
diff --git a/test/e2e/count-connections-issue-173/countConnectionsSocketIO.js b/test/e2e/count-connections-issue-173/countConnectionsSocketIO.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2cdbb88b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/count-connections-issue-173/countConnectionsSocketIO.js
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+const BITBOX = require("../../../lib/BITBOX").BITBOX;
+const { exec } = require('child_process');
+
+const bitbox = new BITBOX();
+const socket = new bitbox.Socket();
+
+function countSockets(stage) {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    // Call the lsof system command for outgoing internet connections.
+    exec(`lsof -i -n -P | grep ${process.pid}`, (err, stdout, stderr) => { 
+      // Print list of open connections allowing a visual count to be done.
+      console.log(`Outbound connections from this node process ${stage}:\n${stdout}`);
+      resolve();
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+function sleep(ms) {
+  return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+}
+
+(async () => {
+
+  await countSockets("before calling listen");
+
+  //First call to listen() which should create new connection.
+  socket.listen("transactions", (message) => {
+    console.log("Received a transaction.");
+  });
+  
+  //Second call to listen() which should share connection with first call.
+  socket.listen("blocks", (message) => {
+    console.log("Received a block.");
+  });
+
+  // listen doesn't return a promise so wait 100ms for connections to establish.
+  await sleep(100);
+  
+  await countSockets("after calling listen twice");
+
+  // now close the socket 
+  socket.close();
+
+  // callback from close() is short-circuited so give it 100ms to clean up.
+  await sleep(100);
+  
+  // check if any zombie connections remaining
+  await countSockets("after calling close (zombie connections)");
+
+  // exit process
+  process.exit();
+
+})();
+
+