diff --git a/cmd/derper/mesh.go b/cmd/derper/mesh.go
index 670d3f5e8..b442d1b36 100644
--- a/cmd/derper/mesh.go
+++ b/cmd/derper/mesh.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
@@ -40,6 +41,6 @@ func startMeshWithHost(s *derp.Server, host string) error {
 	c.MeshKey = s.MeshKey()
 	add := func(k key.Public) { s.AddPacketForwarder(k, c) }
 	remove := func(k key.Public) { s.RemovePacketForwarder(k, c) }
-	go c.RunWatchConnectionLoop(s.PublicKey(), add, remove)
+	go c.RunWatchConnectionLoop(context.Background(), s.PublicKey(), logf, add, remove)
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/derp/derphttp/mesh_client.go b/derp/derphttp/mesh_client.go
index 28f54653e..e53e9ec5d 100644
--- a/derp/derphttp/mesh_client.go
+++ b/derp/derphttp/mesh_client.go
@@ -5,20 +5,32 @@
 package derphttp
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"tailscale.com/derp"
 	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+	"tailscale.com/types/logger"
 )
 
-// RunWatchConnectionLoop loops forever, sending WatchConnectionChanges and subscribing to
+// RunWatchConnectionLoop loops until ctx is done, sending WatchConnectionChanges and subscribing to
 // connection changes.
 //
 // If the server's public key is ignoreServerKey, RunWatchConnectionLoop returns.
 //
 // Otherwise, the add and remove funcs are called as clients come & go.
-func (c *Client) RunWatchConnectionLoop(ignoreServerKey key.Public, add, remove func(key.Public)) {
+//
+// infoLogf, if non-nil, is the logger to write periodic status
+// updates about how many peers are on the server. Error log output is
+// set to the c's logger, regardless of infoLogf's value.
+//
+// To force RunWatchConnectionLoop to return quickly, its ctx needs to
+// be closed, and c itself needs to be closed.
+func (c *Client) RunWatchConnectionLoop(ctx context.Context, ignoreServerKey key.Public, infoLogf logger.Logf, add, remove func(key.Public)) {
+	if infoLogf == nil {
+		infoLogf = logger.Discard
+	}
 	logf := c.logf
 	const retryInterval = 5 * time.Second
 	const statusInterval = 10 * time.Second
@@ -45,7 +57,7 @@ func (c *Client) RunWatchConnectionLoop(ignoreServerKey key.Public, add, remove
 		if loggedConnected {
 			return
 		}
-		logf("connected; %d peers", len(present))
+		infoLogf("connected; %d peers", len(present))
 		loggedConnected = true
 	}
 
@@ -79,12 +91,21 @@ func (c *Client) RunWatchConnectionLoop(ignoreServerKey key.Public, add, remove
 		}
 	}
 
-	for {
+	sleep := func(d time.Duration) {
+		t := time.NewTimer(d)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			t.Stop()
+		case <-t.C:
+		}
+	}
+
+	for ctx.Err() == nil {
 		err := c.WatchConnectionChanges()
 		if err != nil {
 			clear()
 			logf("WatchConnectionChanges: %v", err)
-			time.Sleep(retryInterval)
+			sleep(retryInterval)
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -97,7 +118,7 @@ func (c *Client) RunWatchConnectionLoop(ignoreServerKey key.Public, add, remove
 			if err != nil {
 				clear()
 				logf("Recv: %v", err)
-				time.Sleep(retryInterval)
+				sleep(retryInterval)
 				break
 			}
 			if connGen != lastConnGen {
@@ -114,9 +135,8 @@ func (c *Client) RunWatchConnectionLoop(ignoreServerKey key.Public, add, remove
 			}
 			if now := time.Now(); now.Sub(lastStatus) > statusInterval {
 				lastStatus = now
-				logf("%d peers", len(present))
+				infoLogf("%d peers", len(present))
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
 }