diff --git a/src/bin/demowallet.rs b/src/bin/demowallet.rs
index 39c54ceb5..99d1f016b 100644
--- a/src/bin/demowallet.rs
+++ b/src/bin/demowallet.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use drk::service::{fetch_slabs_loop, GatewayClient};
 use drk::Result;
 
 async fn start(executor: Arc<Executor<'_>>) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut client = GatewayClient::new("127.0.0.1:3333".parse()?);
+    let mut client = GatewayClient::new("127.0.0.1:3333".parse()?)?;
 
     client.start().await?;
     println!("connected to a server");
diff --git a/src/service/gateway.rs b/src/service/gateway.rs
index 26d32b8b7..239167e72 100644
--- a/src/service/gateway.rs
+++ b/src/service/gateway.rs
@@ -119,15 +119,21 @@ impl GatewayService {
 
 pub struct GatewayClient {
     protocol: ReqProtocol,
+    slabstore: SlabStore
 }
 
 impl GatewayClient {
-    pub fn new(addr: SocketAddr) -> GatewayClient {
+    pub fn new(addr: SocketAddr) -> Result<GatewayClient> {
         let protocol = ReqProtocol::new(addr);
-        GatewayClient { protocol }
+
+        let slabstore = SlabStore::new(Path::new("slabstore.db"))?;
+
+        Ok(GatewayClient { protocol ,slabstore})
     }
+
     pub async fn start(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         self.protocol.start().await?;
+        
         Ok(())
     }