diff --git a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/BaseExtension.java b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/BaseExtension.java
index dc863fef..9e50eb8f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/BaseExtension.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/BaseExtension.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 package org.opensearch.sdk;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 
@@ -35,10 +36,34 @@ public abstract class BaseExtension implements Extension {
     protected ThreadPool threadPool;
 
     /**
-     * Empty constructor to fulfill abstract class requirements
+     * The extension settings include a name, host address, and port.
      */
-    protected BaseExtension() {
+    private final ExtensionSettings settings;
 
+    /**
+     * Instantiate this extension, initializing the connection settings and REST actions.
+     */
+    protected BaseExtension(String path) {
+        try {
+            this.settings = Extension.readSettingsFromYaml(path);
+            if (settings == null || settings.getHostAddress() == null || settings.getHostPort() == null) {
+                throw new IOException("Failed to initialize Extension settings. No port bound.");
+            }
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new ExceptionInInitializerError(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * take an ExtensionSettings object and set it directly
+     */
+    protected BaseExtension(ExtensionSettings settings) {
+        this.settings = settings;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ExtensionSettings getExtensionSettings() {
+        return this.settings;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/sample/helloworld/HelloWorldExtension.java b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/sample/helloworld/HelloWorldExtension.java
index c423aad5..270767d0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/sample/helloworld/HelloWorldExtension.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/sdk/sample/helloworld/HelloWorldExtension.java
@@ -35,26 +35,15 @@ public class HelloWorldExtension extends BaseExtension {
      */
     private static final String EXTENSION_SETTINGS_PATH = "/sample/helloworld-settings.yml";
 
-    /**
-     * The extension settings include a name, host address, and port.
-     */
-    private ExtensionSettings settings;
-
     /**
      * Instantiate this extension, initializing the connection settings and REST actions.
+     * The Extension must provide its settings to the ExtensionsRunner.
+     * These may be optionally read from a YAML file on the class path.
+     * Or you may directly instantiate with the ExtensionSettings constructor.
+     *
      */
     public HelloWorldExtension() {
-        super();
-        try {
-            this.settings = initializeSettings();
-        } catch (IOException e) {
-            throw new ExceptionInInitializerError(e);
-        }
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public ExtensionSettings getExtensionSettings() {
-        return this.settings;
+        super(EXTENSION_SETTINGS_PATH);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -62,22 +51,6 @@ public List<ExtensionRestHandler> getExtensionRestHandlers() {
         return List.of(new RestHelloAction());
     }
 
-    /**
-     * The Extension must provide its settings to the ExtensionsRunner.
-     * These may be optionally read from a YAML file on the class path.
-     * Or you may directly instantiate with the ExtensionSettings constructor.
-     *
-     * @return This extension's settings.
-     * @throws IOException on failure to load settings.
-     */
-    private static ExtensionSettings initializeSettings() throws IOException {
-        ExtensionSettings settings = Extension.readSettingsFromYaml(EXTENSION_SETTINGS_PATH);
-        if (settings == null || settings.getHostAddress() == null || settings.getHostPort() == null) {
-            throw new IOException("Failed to initialize Extension settings. No port bound.");
-        }
-        return settings;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Entry point to execute an extension.
      *
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/opensearch/sdk/ExtensionsRunnerForTest.java b/src/test/java/org/opensearch/sdk/ExtensionsRunnerForTest.java
index 4e366996..5dd9695f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/opensearch/sdk/ExtensionsRunnerForTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/opensearch/sdk/ExtensionsRunnerForTest.java
@@ -15,11 +15,7 @@ public class ExtensionsRunnerForTest extends ExtensionsRunner {
      * @throws IOException if the runner failed to read settings or API.
      */
     public ExtensionsRunnerForTest() throws IOException {
-        super(new BaseExtension() {
-            @Override
-            public ExtensionSettings getExtensionSettings() {
-                return new ExtensionSettings("sample-extension", "127.0.0.1", "4532");
-            }
+        super(new BaseExtension(new ExtensionSettings("sample-extension", "127.0.0.1", "4532")) {
 
             @Override
             public List<ExtensionRestHandler> getExtensionRestHandlers() {