diff --git a/src/helper/childRegistrationUtils.js b/src/helper/childRegistrationUtils.js
index 7b3cbb7..0a2aaac 100644
--- a/src/helper/childRegistrationUtils.js
+++ b/src/helper/childRegistrationUtils.js
@@ -233,7 +233,18 @@ class ChildRegistrationUtils {
       this.logger.warn("Invalid reactor provided.");
       return;
     }
-    this.mainClass.upstreamReactor = reactor; // Add reactor to the main class
+
+    // this is poor code, it should be fixed at some point
+    if (this.mainClass?.upstreamReactor){
+      this.mainClass.upstreamReactor = reactor; // Add reactor to the main class
+    } else {
+      if (positionVsParent == "downstream") {
+        this.mainClass.reactors[0] = reactor;
+      }
+      if (positionVsParent == "upstream") {
+        this.mainClass.reactors[1] = reactor;
+      }
+    }
     this.logger.info(`Reactor registered successfully.`);
 
     reactor.emitter.on("stateChange", (data) => {