diff --git a/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py b/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
index 842400ca..f657c20a 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
@@ -1104,7 +1104,7 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
         node_id = request.wlan_config.node_id
         config = request.wlan_config.config
         session.mobility.set_model_config(node_id, BasicRangeModel.name, config)
-        if session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
+        if session.is_running():
             node = self.get_node(session, node_id, context, WlanNode)
             node.updatemodel(config)
         return SetWlanConfigResponse(result=True)
diff --git a/daemon/core/emane/nodes.py b/daemon/core/emane/nodes.py
index 1a0b6e75..7264fe88 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emane/nodes.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emane/nodes.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Type, Union
 
 from core.emulator.data import InterfaceData, LinkData, LinkOptions
 from core.emulator.distributed import DistributedServer
-from core.emulator.enumerations import EventTypes, MessageFlags, RegisterTlvs
+from core.emulator.enumerations import MessageFlags, RegisterTlvs
 from core.errors import CoreCommandError, CoreError
 from core.nodes.base import CoreNetworkBase, CoreNode, NodeOptions
 from core.nodes.interface import CoreInterface
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ class EmaneNet(CoreNetworkBase):
         self.mobility: Optional[WayPointMobility] = None
         model_class = self.session.emane.get_model(options.emane_model)
         self.wireless_model: Optional["EmaneModel"] = model_class(self.session, self.id)
-        if self.session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
+        if self.session.is_running():
             self.session.emane.add_node(self)
 
     @classmethod
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ class EmaneNet(CoreNetworkBase):
             self.attach(iface)
         if self.up:
             iface.startup()
-        if self.session.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
+        if self.session.is_running():
             self.session.emane.start_iface(self, iface)
         return iface
 
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
index b8b1b35e..bd4953d1 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
@@ -520,8 +520,7 @@ class Session:
         if isinstance(node, WlanNode):
             self.mobility.set_model_config(node.id, BasicRangeModel.name)
         # boot core nodes after runtime
-        is_runtime = self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE
-        if is_runtime and isinstance(node, CoreNode):
+        if self.is_running() and isinstance(node, CoreNode):
             self.add_remove_control_iface(node, remove=False)
             self.boot_node(node)
         self.sdt.add_node(node)
@@ -1011,7 +1010,7 @@ class Session:
 
         :return: list of service boot errors during startup
         """
-        if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
+        if self.is_running():
             logger.warning("ignoring instantiate, already in runtime state")
             return []
         # create control net interfaces and network tunnels
@@ -1365,7 +1364,7 @@ class Session:
         Return the current time we have been in the runtime state, or zero
         if not in runtime.
         """
-        if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE:
+        if self.is_running():
             return time.monotonic() - self.state_time
         else:
             return 0.0
@@ -1442,3 +1441,11 @@ class Session:
             color = LINK_COLORS[index]
             self.link_colors[network_id] = color
         return color
+
+    def is_running(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Convenience for checking if this session is in the runtime state.
+
+        :return: True if in the runtime state, False otherwise
+        """
+        return self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE