diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java
index 536b3be47..b6dde2f06 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.java
@@ -269,6 +269,14 @@ public class Client
         _bootGroups.add(group);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the set of bootstrap service groups needed by this client.
+     */
+    public String[] getBootGroups ()
+    {
+        return _bootGroups.toArray(new String[_bootGroups.size()]);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns the first bootstrap service that could be located that implements the supplied
      * {@link InvocationService} derivation.  <code>null</code> is returned if no such service
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java
index 49641023a..bdd7686d7 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.java
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ public class Communicator
         {
             // construct an auth request and send it
             AuthRequest req = new AuthRequest(
-                _client.getCredentials(), _client.getVersion(), _client._bootGroups);
+                _client.getCredentials(), _client.getVersion(), _client.getBootGroups());
             sendMessage(req);
 
             // now wait for the auth response
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/net/AuthRequest.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/net/AuthRequest.java
index 7a21b5721..5961b59ba 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/net/AuthRequest.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/net/AuthRequest.java
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 package com.threerings.presents.net;
 
-import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.TimeZone;
 
 /**
@@ -40,12 +39,12 @@ public class AuthRequest extends UpstreamMessage
     /**
      * Constructs a auth request with the supplied credentials and client version information.
      */
-    public AuthRequest (Credentials creds, String version, HashSet<String> bootGroups)
+    public AuthRequest (Credentials creds, String version, String[] bootGroups)
     {
         _creds = creds;
         _version = version;
         _zone = TimeZone.getDefault().getID();
-        _bootGroups = bootGroups.toArray(new String[bootGroups.size()]);
+        _bootGroups = bootGroups;
     }
 
     /**