diff --git a/src/sorunlib/util.py b/src/sorunlib/util.py
index 3564b57..b30033f 100644
--- a/src/sorunlib/util.py
+++ b/src/sorunlib/util.py
@@ -197,8 +197,12 @@ def create_clients(config=None, sorunlib_config=None, test_mode=False):
         hwp_client = _try_client(hwp_id)
         clients['hwp'] = hwp_client
 
-    # Always create smurf client list, even if empty
-    smurf_clients = [_try_client(x) for x in smurf_ids]
+    if isinstance(smurf_ids, str):
+        # when only a single SMuRF controller online
+        smurf_clients = [smurf_ids]
+    else:
+        # create smurf client list, even if empty
+        smurf_clients = [_try_client(x) for x in smurf_ids]
     clients['smurf'] = smurf_clients
 
     clients['wiregrid'] = _create_wiregrid_clients(
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index b012d5c..67c6211 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -104,9 +104,33 @@ def mock_client(*args, **kwargs):
                            'stop_and_clear': 1},
                        'agent_class': 'ACUAgent',
                        'agent_address': 'observatory.acu-sat1'}}}
-
 mock_registry_client = create_mock_ocsclient(reg_session)
 
+reg_session_single_smurf = {'session_id': 0,
+                            'op_name': 'main',
+                            'op_code': 3,
+                            'status': 'running',
+                            'success': None,
+                            'start_time': 1669919099.7585046,
+                            'end_time': None,
+                            'data': {
+                                'observatory.smurf-file-emulator-5': {
+                                    'expired': False,
+                                    'time_expired': None,
+                                    'last_updated': 1669935108.8366735,
+                                    'op_codes': {
+                                        'uxm_setup': 1,
+                                        'uxm_relock': 1,
+                                        'take_iv': 1,
+                                        'take_bias_steps': 1,
+                                        'take_bgmap': 1,
+                                        'bias_dets': 1,
+                                        'take_noise': 1,
+                                        'stream': 1},
+                                    'agent_class': 'SmurfFileEmulator',
+                                    'agent_address': 'observatory.smurf-file-emulator-5'}}}
+mock_registry_client_single_smurf = create_mock_ocsclient(reg_session_single_smurf)
+
 
 class NoAgentClient:
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -187,6 +211,13 @@ def test_create_clients_test_mode():
     assert 'wiregrid' in clients
 
 
+@patch('sorunlib.util.OCSClient', mock_registry_client_single_smurf)
+def test_create_clients_test_mode_single_smurf():
+    clients = util.create_clients(test_mode=True)
+    assert 'smurf' in clients
+    assert len(clients['smurf']) == 1
+
+
 @patch('sorunlib.util.OCSClient', mock_registry_client)
 def test__create_clients_minimal_config():
     clients = util.create_clients(sorunlib_config='./data/minimal_config.yaml')