diff --git a/master.js b/master.js
index 871a9a0..3444be5 100644
--- a/master.js
+++ b/master.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Master.create = function(opts) {
     }
 
     var master = {
-        serve: function() {
+        ready: function() {
             kickoff();
             return master;
         },
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ Master.create = function(opts) {
             return master;
         }
     };
+    // backwards compat starts early...
+    master.serve = master.ready;
     return master;
 };
 
diff --git a/single.js b/single.js
index 3f7aab9..3a1f5e2 100644
--- a/single.js
+++ b/single.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Single.create = function(opts) {
     var servers = Servers.create(greenlock);
 
     var single = {
-        serve: function(fn) {
+        ready: function(fn) {
             fn(servers);
             return single;
         },
@@ -21,5 +21,7 @@ Single.create = function(opts) {
             return single;
         }
     };
+    // backwards compat starts now
+    single.serve = single.ready;
     return single;
 };
diff --git a/worker.js b/worker.js
index adb2762..10e53d1 100644
--- a/worker.js
+++ b/worker.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Worker.create = function() {
     });
 
     var worker = {
-        serve: function(fn) {
+        ready: function(fn) {
             var servers = require("./servers.js").create(greenlock);
             fn(servers);
             return worker;
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ Worker.create = function() {
             return worker;
         }
     };
+    // backwards compat starts early...
+    worker.serve = worker.ready;
     return worker;
 };