diff --git a/daemon/core/api/grpc/events.py b/daemon/core/api/grpc/events.py
index 172cec82..cf98a9a2 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/grpc/events.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/grpc/events.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def handle_session_event(event: EventData) -> core_pb2.SessionEvent:
         event_time = float(event_time)
     return core_pb2.SessionEvent(
         node_id=event.node,
-        event=event.event_type,
+        event=event.event_type.value,
         name=event.name,
         data=event.data,
         time=event_time,
diff --git a/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py b/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
index c71800f4..4c8d6640 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
 
         # add all hooks
         for hook in request.hooks:
-            session.add_hook(hook.state, hook.file, None, hook.data)
+            state = EventTypes(hook.state)
+            session.add_hook(state, hook.file, None, hook.data)
 
         # create nodes
         _, exceptions = grpcutils.create_nodes(session, request.nodes)
@@ -279,7 +280,7 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
         session.location.setrefgeo(47.57917, -122.13232, 2.0)
         session.location.refscale = 150000.0
         return core_pb2.CreateSessionResponse(
-            session_id=session.id, state=session.state
+            session_id=session.id, state=session.state.value
         )
 
     def DeleteSession(
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
             session = self.coreemu.sessions[session_id]
             session_summary = core_pb2.SessionSummary(
                 id=session_id,
-                state=session.state,
+                state=session.state.value,
                 nodes=session.get_node_count(),
                 file=session.file_name,
             )
@@ -521,7 +522,9 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
             node_links = get_links(session, node)
             links.extend(node_links)
 
-        session_proto = core_pb2.Session(state=session.state, nodes=nodes, links=links)
+        session_proto = core_pb2.Session(
+            state=session.state.value, nodes=nodes, links=links
+        )
         return core_pb2.GetSessionResponse(session=session_proto)
 
     def AddSessionServer(
@@ -896,7 +899,7 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
         for state in session._hooks:
             state_hooks = session._hooks[state]
             for file_name, file_data in state_hooks:
-                hook = core_pb2.Hook(state=state, file=file_name, data=file_data)
+                hook = core_pb2.Hook(state=state.value, file=file_name, data=file_data)
                 hooks.append(hook)
         return core_pb2.GetHooksResponse(hooks=hooks)
 
@@ -913,7 +916,8 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
         logging.debug("add hook: %s", request)
         session = self.get_session(request.session_id, context)
         hook = request.hook
-        session.add_hook(hook.state, hook.file, None, hook.data)
+        state = EventTypes(hook.state)
+        session.add_hook(state, hook.file, None, hook.data)
         return core_pb2.AddHookResponse(result=True)
 
     def GetMobilityConfigs(
@@ -1267,7 +1271,7 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
         session.mobility.set_model_config(
             wlan_config.node_id, BasicRangeModel.name, wlan_config.config
         )
-        if session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value:
+        if session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
             node = self.get_node(session, wlan_config.node_id, context)
             node.updatemodel(wlan_config.config)
         return core_pb2.SetWlanConfigResponse(result=True)
diff --git a/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py b/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py
index 1f3b24e9..09ac2444 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
             coreapi.CoreEventTlv,
             [
                 (EventTlvs.NODE, event_data.node),
-                (EventTlvs.TYPE, event_data.event_type),
+                (EventTlvs.TYPE, event_data.event_type.value),
                 (EventTlvs.NAME, event_data.name),
                 (EventTlvs.DATA, event_data.data),
                 (EventTlvs.TIME, event_data.time),
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
                 if message.flags & MessageFlags.STRING.value:
                     self.node_status_request[node.id] = True
 
-                if self.session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value:
+                if self.session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
                     self.send_node_emulation_id(node.id)
         elif message.flags & MessageFlags.DELETE.value:
             with self._shutdown_lock:
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
                     retries = 10
                     # wait for session to enter RUNTIME state, to prevent GUI from
                     # connecting while nodes are still being instantiated
-                    while session.state != EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value:
+                    while session.state != EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
                         logging.debug(
                             "waiting for session %d to enter RUNTIME state", sid
                         )
@@ -1375,7 +1375,7 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
                 parsed_config = ConfigShim.str_to_dict(values_str)
 
             self.session.mobility.set_model_config(node_id, object_name, parsed_config)
-            if self.session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value and parsed_config:
+            if self.session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE and parsed_config:
                 try:
                     node = self.session.get_node(node_id)
                     if object_name == BasicRangeModel.name:
@@ -1502,6 +1502,7 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
                         logging.error("error setting hook having state '%s'", state)
                         return ()
                     state = int(state)
+                    state = EventTypes(state)
                     self.session.add_hook(state, file_name, source_name, data)
                     return ()
 
@@ -1538,9 +1539,11 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
         :return: reply messages
         :raises core.CoreError: when event type <= SHUTDOWN_STATE and not a known node id
         """
+        event_type_value = message.get_tlv(EventTlvs.TYPE.value)
+        event_type = EventTypes(event_type_value)
         event_data = EventData(
             node=message.get_tlv(EventTlvs.NODE.value),
-            event_type=message.get_tlv(EventTlvs.TYPE.value),
+            event_type=event_type,
             name=message.get_tlv(EventTlvs.NAME.value),
             data=message.get_tlv(EventTlvs.DATA.value),
             time=message.get_tlv(EventTlvs.TIME.value),
@@ -1549,7 +1552,6 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
 
         if event_data.event_type is None:
             raise NotImplementedError("Event message missing event type")
-        event_type = EventTypes(event_data.event_type)
         node_id = event_data.node
 
         logging.debug("handling event %s at %s", event_type.name, time.ctime())
@@ -1667,25 +1669,19 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
                 unknown.append(service_name)
                 continue
 
-            if (
-                event_type == EventTypes.STOP.value
-                or event_type == EventTypes.RESTART.value
-            ):
+            if event_type in [EventTypes.STOP, EventTypes.RESTART]:
                 status = self.session.services.stop_service(node, service)
                 if status:
                     fail += f"Stop {service.name},"
-            if (
-                event_type == EventTypes.START.value
-                or event_type == EventTypes.RESTART.value
-            ):
+            if event_type in [EventTypes.START, EventTypes.RESTART]:
                 status = self.session.services.startup_service(node, service)
                 if status:
                     fail += f"Start ({service.name}),"
-            if event_type == EventTypes.PAUSE.value:
+            if event_type == EventTypes.PAUSE:
                 status = self.session.services.validate_service(node, service)
                 if status:
                     fail += f"{service.name},"
-            if event_type == EventTypes.RECONFIGURE.value:
+            if event_type == EventTypes.RECONFIGURE:
                 self.session.services.service_reconfigure(node, service)
 
         fail_data = ""
@@ -2052,7 +2048,7 @@ class CoreUdpHandler(CoreHandler):
                 current_session = self.server.mainserver.coreemu.sessions[session_id]
                 current_node_count = current_session.get_node_count()
                 if (
-                    current_session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value
+                    current_session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE
                     and current_node_count > node_count
                 ):
                     node_count = current_node_count
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/enumerations.py b/daemon/core/emulator/enumerations.py
index f426774e..44f60877 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/enumerations.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/enumerations.py
@@ -293,6 +293,9 @@ class EventTypes(Enum):
     RECONFIGURE = 14
     INSTANTIATION_COMPLETE = 15
 
+    def should_start(self) -> bool:
+        return self.value > self.DEFINITION_STATE.value
+
 
 class SessionTlvs(Enum):
     """
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
index b0e44cb5..cd78af8f 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
@@ -112,8 +112,7 @@ class Session:
         self.nodes = {}
         self._nodes_lock = threading.Lock()
 
-        # TODO: should the default state be definition?
-        self.state = EventTypes.NONE.value
+        self.state = EventTypes.DEFINITION_STATE
         self._state_time = time.monotonic()
         self._state_file = os.path.join(self.session_dir, "state")
 
@@ -121,7 +120,7 @@ class Session:
         self._hooks = {}
         self._state_hooks = {}
         self.add_state_hook(
-            state=EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value, hook=self.runtime_state_hook
+            state=EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE, hook=self.runtime_state_hook
         )
 
         # handlers for broadcasting information
@@ -345,7 +344,7 @@ class Session:
                         node_one.name,
                         node_two.name,
                     )
-                    start = self.state > EventTypes.DEFINITION_STATE.value
+                    start = self.state.should_start()
                     net_one = self.create_node(cls=PtpNet, start=start)
 
                 # node to network
@@ -680,7 +679,7 @@ class Session:
             node_class = _cls
 
         # set node start based on current session state, override and check when rj45
-        start = self.state > EventTypes.DEFINITION_STATE.value
+        start = self.state.should_start()
         enable_rj45 = self.options.get_config("enablerj45") == "1"
         if _type == NodeTypes.RJ45 and not enable_rj45:
             start = False
@@ -755,7 +754,7 @@ class Session:
 
         # boot nodes after runtime, CoreNodes, Physical, and RJ45 are all nodes
         is_boot_node = isinstance(node, CoreNodeBase) and not isinstance(node, Rj45Node)
-        if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value and is_boot_node:
+        if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE and is_boot_node:
             self.write_nodes()
             self.add_remove_control_interface(node=node, remove=False)
             self.services.boot_services(node)
@@ -850,10 +849,7 @@ class Session:
 
         :return: True if active, False otherwise
         """
-        result = self.state in {
-            EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value,
-            EventTypes.DATACOLLECT_STATE.value,
-        }
+        result = self.state in {EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE, EventTypes.DATACOLLECT_STATE}
         logging.info("session(%s) checking if active: %s", self.id, result)
         return result
 
@@ -894,7 +890,9 @@ class Session:
         """
         CoreXmlWriter(self).write(file_name)
 
-    def add_hook(self, state: int, file_name: str, source_name: str, data: str) -> None:
+    def add_hook(
+        self, state: EventTypes, file_name: str, source_name: str, data: str
+    ) -> None:
         """
         Store a hook from a received file message.
 
@@ -904,9 +902,17 @@ class Session:
         :param data: hook data
         :return: nothing
         """
-        # hack to conform with old logic until updated
-        state = f":{state}"
-        self.set_hook(state, file_name, source_name, data)
+        logging.info(
+            "setting state hook: %s - %s from %s", state, file_name, source_name
+        )
+        hook = file_name, data
+        state_hooks = self._hooks.setdefault(state, [])
+        state_hooks.append(hook)
+
+        # immediately run a hook if it is in the current state
+        if self.state == state:
+            logging.info("immediately running new state hook")
+            self.run_hook(hook)
 
     def add_node_file(
         self, node_id: int, source_name: str, file_name: str, data: str
@@ -1071,10 +1077,8 @@ class Session:
         :param send_event: if true, generate core API event messages
         :return: nothing
         """
-        state_value = state.value
         state_name = state.name
-
-        if self.state == state_value:
+        if self.state == state:
             logging.info(
                 "session(%s) is already in state: %s, skipping change",
                 self.id,
@@ -1082,33 +1086,32 @@ class Session:
             )
             return
 
-        self.state = state_value
+        self.state = state
         self._state_time = time.monotonic()
         logging.info("changing session(%s) to state %s", self.id, state_name)
-
-        self.write_state(state_value)
-        self.run_hooks(state_value)
-        self.run_state_hooks(state_value)
+        self.write_state(state)
+        self.run_hooks(state)
+        self.run_state_hooks(state)
 
         if send_event:
-            event_data = EventData(event_type=state_value, time=str(time.monotonic()))
+            event_data = EventData(event_type=state, time=str(time.monotonic()))
             self.broadcast_event(event_data)
 
-    def write_state(self, state: int) -> None:
+    def write_state(self, state: EventTypes) -> None:
         """
-        Write the current state to a state file in the session dir.
+        Write the state to a state file in the session dir.
 
         :param state: state to write to file
         :return: nothing
         """
         try:
             state_file = open(self._state_file, "w")
-            state_file.write(f"{state} {EventTypes(self.state).name}\n")
+            state_file.write(f"{state.value} {state.name}\n")
             state_file.close()
         except IOError:
-            logging.exception("error writing state file: %s", state)
+            logging.exception("error writing state file: %s", state.name)
 
-    def run_hooks(self, state: int) -> None:
+    def run_hooks(self, state: EventTypes) -> None:
         """
         Run hook scripts upon changing states. If hooks is not specified, run all hooks
         in the given state.
@@ -1212,7 +1215,7 @@ class Session:
         except (OSError, subprocess.CalledProcessError):
             logging.exception("error running hook: %s", file_name)
 
-    def run_state_hooks(self, state: int) -> None:
+    def run_state_hooks(self, state: EventTypes) -> None:
         """
         Run state hooks.
 
@@ -1223,16 +1226,17 @@ class Session:
             try:
                 hook(state)
             except Exception:
-                state_name = EventTypes(self.state).name
                 message = (
-                    f"exception occured when running {state_name} state hook: {hook}"
+                    f"exception occured when running {state.name} state hook: {hook}"
                 )
                 logging.exception(message)
                 self.exception(
                     ExceptionLevels.ERROR, "Session.run_state_hooks", None, message
                 )
 
-    def add_state_hook(self, state: int, hook: Callable[[int], None]) -> None:
+    def add_state_hook(
+        self, state: EventTypes, hook: Callable[[EventTypes], None]
+    ) -> None:
         """
         Add a state hook.
 
@@ -1259,14 +1263,14 @@ class Session:
         hooks = self._state_hooks.setdefault(state, [])
         hooks.remove(hook)
 
-    def runtime_state_hook(self, state: int) -> None:
+    def runtime_state_hook(self, state: EventTypes) -> None:
         """
         Runtime state hook check.
 
         :param state: state to check
         :return: nothing
         """
-        if state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value:
+        if state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
             self.emane.poststartup()
 
             # create session deployed xml
@@ -1510,7 +1514,7 @@ class Session:
             self.mobility.startup()
 
             # notify listeners that instantiation is complete
-            event = EventData(event_type=EventTypes.INSTANTIATION_COMPLETE.value)
+            event = EventData(event_type=EventTypes.INSTANTIATION_COMPLETE)
             self.broadcast_event(event)
 
             # assume either all nodes have booted already, or there are some
@@ -1553,9 +1557,9 @@ class Session:
         logging.debug(
             "session(%s) checking if not in runtime state, current state: %s",
             self.id,
-            EventTypes(self.state).name,
+            self.state.name,
         )
-        if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value:
+        if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
             logging.info("valid runtime state found, returning")
             return
 
diff --git a/daemon/core/location/mobility.py b/daemon/core/location/mobility.py
index 55af58d9..7b0ec8ac 100644
--- a/daemon/core/location/mobility.py
+++ b/daemon/core/location/mobility.py
@@ -142,17 +142,11 @@ class MobilityManager(ModelManager):
                 )
                 continue
 
-            if (
-                event_type == EventTypes.STOP.value
-                or event_type == EventTypes.RESTART.value
-            ):
+            if event_type in [EventTypes.STOP, EventTypes.RESTART]:
                 model.stop(move_initial=True)
-            if (
-                event_type == EventTypes.START.value
-                or event_type == EventTypes.RESTART.value
-            ):
+            if event_type in [EventTypes.START, EventTypes.RESTART]:
                 model.start()
-            if event_type == EventTypes.PAUSE.value:
+            if event_type == EventTypes.PAUSE:
                 model.pause()
 
     def sendevent(self, model: "WayPointMobility") -> None:
@@ -163,13 +157,13 @@ class MobilityManager(ModelManager):
         :param model: mobility model to send event for
         :return: nothing
         """
-        event_type = EventTypes.NONE.value
+        event_type = EventTypes.NONE
         if model.state == model.STATE_STOPPED:
-            event_type = EventTypes.STOP.value
+            event_type = EventTypes.STOP
         elif model.state == model.STATE_RUNNING:
-            event_type = EventTypes.START.value
+            event_type = EventTypes.START
         elif model.state == model.STATE_PAUSED:
-            event_type = EventTypes.PAUSE.value
+            event_type = EventTypes.PAUSE
 
         start_time = int(model.lasttime - model.timezero)
         end_time = int(model.endtime)
diff --git a/daemon/core/plugins/sdt.py b/daemon/core/plugins/sdt.py
index 1ccf40a5..658ee1e3 100644
--- a/daemon/core/plugins/sdt.py
+++ b/daemon/core/plugins/sdt.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class Sdt:
             return False
         if self.connected:
             return True
-        if self.session.state == EventTypes.SHUTDOWN_STATE.value:
+        if self.session.state == EventTypes.SHUTDOWN_STATE:
             return False
 
         self.seturl()
diff --git a/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py b/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py
index 8eab98c2..074a6913 100644
--- a/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py
+++ b/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import core.nodes.physical
 from core.emane.nodes import EmaneNet
 from core.emulator.data import LinkData
 from core.emulator.emudata import InterfaceData, LinkOptions, NodeOptions
-from core.emulator.enumerations import NodeTypes
+from core.emulator.enumerations import EventTypes, NodeTypes
 from core.nodes.base import CoreNetworkBase, CoreNodeBase, NodeBase
 from core.nodes.docker import DockerNode
 from core.nodes.lxd import LxcNode
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ class CoreXmlWriter:
             for file_name, data in self.session._hooks[state]:
                 hook = etree.SubElement(hooks, "hook")
                 add_attribute(hook, "name", file_name)
-                add_attribute(hook, "state", state)
+                add_attribute(hook, "state", state.value)
                 hook.text = data
 
         if hooks.getchildren():
@@ -666,13 +666,11 @@ class CoreXmlReader:
 
         for hook in session_hooks.iterchildren():
             name = hook.get("name")
-            state = hook.get("state")
+            state = get_int(hook, "state")
+            state = EventTypes(state)
             data = hook.text
-            hook_type = f"hook:{state}"
             logging.info("reading hook: state(%s) name(%s)", state, name)
-            self.session.set_hook(
-                hook_type, file_name=name, source_name=None, data=data
-            )
+            self.session.add_hook(state, name, None, data)
 
     def read_session_origin(self) -> None:
         session_origin = self.scenario.find("session_origin")
diff --git a/daemon/data/logging.conf b/daemon/data/logging.conf
index 7f3d496f..46de6e92 100644
--- a/daemon/data/logging.conf
+++ b/daemon/data/logging.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 		}
 	},
 	"root": {
-		"level": "INFO",
+		"level": "DEBUG",
 		"handlers": ["console"]
 	}
 }
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_grpc.py b/daemon/tests/test_grpc.py
index d26c46e4..557265dc 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_grpc.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_grpc.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class TestGrpc:
         assert wlan_node.id in session.nodes
         assert session.nodes[node_one.id].netif(0) is not None
         assert session.nodes[node_two.id].netif(0) is not None
-        hook_file, hook_data = session._hooks[core_pb2.SessionState.RUNTIME][0]
+        hook_file, hook_data = session._hooks[EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE][0]
         assert hook_file == hook.file
         assert hook_data == hook.data
         assert session.location.refxyz == (location_x, location_y, location_z)
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class TestGrpc:
         assert isinstance(response.state, int)
         session = grpc_server.coreemu.sessions.get(response.session_id)
         assert session is not None
-        assert session.state == response.state
+        assert session.state == EventTypes(response.state)
         if session_id is not None:
             assert response.session_id == session_id
             assert session.id == session_id
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ class TestGrpc:
 
         # then
         assert response.result is True
-        assert session.state == core_pb2.SessionState.DEFINITION
+        assert session.state == EventTypes.DEFINITION_STATE
 
     def test_add_node(self, grpc_server):
         # given
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ class TestGrpc:
         session = grpc_server.coreemu.create_session()
         file_name = "test"
         file_data = "echo hello"
-        session.add_hook(EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value, file_name, None, file_data)
+        session.add_hook(EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE, file_name, None, file_data)
 
         # then
         with client.context_connect():
@@ -1065,7 +1065,7 @@ class TestGrpc:
             client.events(session.id, handle_event)
             time.sleep(0.1)
             event = EventData(
-                event_type=EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value, time=str(time.monotonic())
+                event_type=EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE, time=str(time.monotonic())
             )
             session.broadcast_event(event)
 
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_gui.py b/daemon/tests/test_gui.py
index a47aba75..8bf6f4b7 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_gui.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_gui.py
@@ -376,14 +376,14 @@ class TestGui:
         assert len(coretlv.coreemu.sessions) == 0
 
     def test_file_hook_add(self, coretlv):
-        state = EventTypes.DATACOLLECT_STATE.value
+        state = EventTypes.DATACOLLECT_STATE
         assert coretlv.session._hooks.get(state) is None
         file_name = "test.sh"
         file_data = "echo hello"
         message = coreapi.CoreFileMessage.create(
             MessageFlags.ADD.value,
             [
-                (FileTlvs.TYPE, f"hook:{state}"),
+                (FileTlvs.TYPE, f"hook:{state.value}"),
                 (FileTlvs.NAME, file_name),
                 (FileTlvs.DATA, file_data),
             ],
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ class TestGui:
 
         coretlv.handle_message(message)
 
-        assert coretlv.session.state == state.value
+        assert coretlv.session.state == state
 
     def test_event_schedule(self, coretlv):
         coretlv.session.add_event = mock.MagicMock()
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_xml.py b/daemon/tests/test_xml.py
index 496623a6..ebbb6b1e 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_xml.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_xml.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from xml.etree import ElementTree
 import pytest
 
 from core.emulator.emudata import LinkOptions, NodeOptions
-from core.emulator.enumerations import NodeTypes
+from core.emulator.enumerations import EventTypes, NodeTypes
 from core.errors import CoreError
 from core.location.mobility import BasicRangeModel
 from core.services.utility import SshService
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ class TestXml:
         # create hook
         file_name = "runtime_hook.sh"
         data = "#!/bin/sh\necho hello"
-        session.set_hook("hook:4", file_name, None, data)
+        state = EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE
+        session.add_hook(state, file_name, None, data)
 
         # save xml
         xml_file = tmpdir.join("session.xml")
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ class TestXml:
         session.open_xml(file_path, start=True)
 
         # verify nodes have been recreated
-        runtime_hooks = session._hooks.get(4)
+        runtime_hooks = session._hooks.get(state)
         assert runtime_hooks
         runtime_hook = runtime_hooks[0]
         assert file_name == runtime_hook[0]