diff --git a/ccnx/sync-app-socket.cc b/ccnx/sync-app-socket.cc
index e0b76de..22d51b9 100644
--- a/ccnx/sync-app-socket.cc
+++ b/ccnx/sync-app-socket.cc
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@
   CcnxWrapper::Destroy ();
 }
 
+std::string
+SyncAppSocket::GetLocalPrefix()
+{
+  // this handle is supposed to be short lived
+  CcnxWrapperPtr handle = CcnxWrapper::Create();
+  return handle->getLocalPrefix();
+}
+
 bool 
 SyncAppSocket::publishString (const string &prefix, uint32_t session, const string &dataBuffer, int freshness)
 {
diff --git a/include/sync-app-socket.h b/include/sync-app-socket.h
index a878c9d..ceeb5ce 100644
--- a/include/sync-app-socket.h
+++ b/include/sync-app-socket.h
@@ -90,8 +90,10 @@
   SyncLogic &
   getLogic () { return m_syncLogic; }
 
-  std::string
-  getLocalPrefix () { return m_ccnxHandle->getLocalPrefix (); }
+  // make this a static function so we don't have to create socket instance without
+  // knowing the local prefix. it's a wrong place for this function anyway
+  static std::string
+  GetLocalPrefix (); 
   
 private:
   void