diff --git a/dev/dev.clj b/dev/dev.clj
index 48cdfb6..63e82db 100644
--- a/dev/dev.clj
+++ b/dev/dev.clj
@@ -13,11 +13,12 @@
             [clojure.test :as test]
             ;; [clojure.core.async :refer [>!! <!! >! <! go-loop alt! timeout]]
             [clojure.tools.namespace.repl :as tn]
+            [check.parts-test]
             [mount]
             [app :refer [create-nyse-schema find-orders add-order]]))  ;; <<<< replace this your "app" namespace(s) you want to be available at REPL time
 
 (defn start []
-  (mount/start))
+  (mount/start-without #'check.parts-test/should-not-start)) ;; example on how to start app without certain states
 
 (defn stop []
   (mount/stop))
diff --git a/src/mount/mount.clj b/src/mount/mount.clj
index 7a47bdf..89fc109 100644
--- a/src/mount/mount.clj
+++ b/src/mount/mount.clj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 (ns mount
   (:require [clojure.tools.macro :as macro]
             [clojure.tools.namespace.repl :refer [disable-reload!]]
-            [clojure.tools.logging :refer [info debug error]]))
+            [clojure.tools.logging :refer [info warn debug error]]))
 
 (disable-reload!)
 
@@ -48,12 +48,13 @@
       (intern ns (symbol name) s)
       (alter-meta! var assoc :started? true))))
 
-(defn- down [var {:keys [name stop started?]}]
+(defn- down [var {:keys [ns name stop started?]}]
   (when started?
     (info "<< stopping.. " name)
     (when stop 
       (try
         (stop)
+        (intern ns (symbol name) (NotStartedState. name))
         (catch Throwable t 
           (throw (RuntimeException. (str "could not stop [" name "] due to") t)))))
     (alter-meta! var assoc :started? false)))
@@ -100,3 +101,19 @@
   (if (first states)
     (start states)
     (start)))
+
+(defn start-with [with]
+  (if (seq with)
+    (let [app (find-all-states)]
+      ;; needs more thinking on merging, since the ns should not change
+      ;; because it could be used in other states, so only start/stop need to be merged
+      (warn "substituting states is not _yet_ implemented")
+      (start))
+    (start)))
+
+(defn start-without [& states]
+  (if (first states)
+    (let [app (set (find-all-states))
+          without (remove (set states) app)]
+      (apply start without))
+    (start)))
diff --git a/test/check/parts_test.clj b/test/check/parts_test.clj
index c2f1d1a..43a8617 100644
--- a/test/check/parts_test.clj
+++ b/test/check/parts_test.clj
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
             [app.nyse :refer [conn]]
             [clojure.test :refer :all]))
 
-(defstate should-not-start :start (throw (RuntimeException. "should not have been started!")))
+(defstate should-not-start :start (constantly 42))
 
 (defn with-parts [f]
   (m/start #'app.config/app-config #'app.nyse/conn)
   (f)
-  (m/stop #'app.config/app-config #'app.nyse/conn))
+  (m/stop))
 
 (use-fixtures :each with-parts)
 
diff --git a/test/check/without_test.clj b/test/check/without_test.clj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fea64d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/check/without_test.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+(ns check.without-test
+  (:require [mount :as m]
+            [app.config :refer [app-config]]
+            [app.nyse :refer [conn]]
+            [app :refer [nrepl]]
+            [clojure.test :refer :all]))
+
+(defn without [f]
+  (m/start-without #'app.nyse/conn #'app/nrepl)
+  (f)
+  (m/stop))
+
+(use-fixtures :each without)
+
+(deftest start-without-states
+  (is (map? app-config))
+  (is (instance? mount.NotStartedState nrepl))
+  (is (instance? mount.NotStartedState conn)))