diff --git a/sd/cache/cache.go b/sd/cache/cache.go
index 82af86b51..185330418 100644
--- a/sd/cache/cache.go
+++ b/sd/cache/cache.go
@@ -11,16 +11,19 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/kit/sd"
 )
 
+// TODO move this to endpoint/cache
+
 // Cache collects the most recent set of endpoints from a service discovery
 // system via a subscriber, and makes them available to consumers. Cache is
 // meant to be embedded inside of a concrete subscriber, and can serve Service
 // invocations directly.
 type Cache struct {
-	mtx     sync.RWMutex
-	factory sd.Factory
-	cache   map[string]endpointCloser
-	slice   atomic.Value // []endpoint.Endpoint
-	logger  log.Logger
+	mtx       sync.RWMutex
+	factory   sd.Factory
+	cache     map[string]endpointCloser
+	instances atomic.Value // []string
+	endpoints atomic.Value // []endpoint.Endpoint
+	logger    log.Logger
 }
 
 type endpointCloser struct {
@@ -75,22 +78,29 @@ func (c *Cache) Update(instances []string) {
 	}
 
 	// Populate the slice of endpoints.
-	slice := make([]endpoint.Endpoint, 0, len(cache))
+	endpoints := make([]endpoint.Endpoint, 0, len(cache))
 	for _, instance := range instances {
 		// A bad factory may mean an instance is not present.
 		if _, ok := cache[instance]; !ok {
 			continue
 		}
-		slice = append(slice, cache[instance].Endpoint)
+		endpoints = append(endpoints, cache[instance].Endpoint)
 	}
 
 	// Swap and trigger GC for old copies.
-	c.slice.Store(slice)
+	c.instances.Store(instances)
+	c.endpoints.Store(endpoints)
 	c.cache = cache
 }
 
 // Endpoints yields the current set of (presumably identical) endpoints, ordered
 // lexicographically by the corresponding instance string.
 func (c *Cache) Endpoints() []endpoint.Endpoint {
-	return c.slice.Load().([]endpoint.Endpoint)
+	return c.endpoints.Load().([]endpoint.Endpoint)
+}
+
+// Instances yields the current set of (presumably identical) instance locations,
+// ordered lexicographically.
+func (c *Cache) Instances() []string {
+	return c.instances.Load().([]string)
 }
diff --git a/sd/consul/subscriber.go b/sd/consul/subscriber.go
index ee3ae34bb..9029d9d55 100644
--- a/sd/consul/subscriber.go
+++ b/sd/consul/subscriber.go
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ func NewSubscriber(client Client, factory sd.Factory, logger log.Logger, service
 	return s
 }
 
+// Instances implements the Discoverer interface.
+func (s *Subscriber) Instances() ([]string, error) {
+	return s.cache.Instances(), nil
+}
+
 // Endpoints implements the Subscriber interface.
 func (s *Subscriber) Endpoints() ([]endpoint.Endpoint, error) {
 	return s.cache.Endpoints(), nil
diff --git a/sd/discoverer.go b/sd/discoverer.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..913093a4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sd/discoverer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package sd
+
+// Discoverer listens to a service discovery system and yields a set of
+// identical instance locations. An error indicates a problem with connectivity
+// to the service discovery system, or within the system itself; a subscriber
+// may yield no endpoints without error.
+type Discoverer interface {
+	Instances() ([]string, error)
+}
diff --git a/sd/dnssrv/subscriber.go b/sd/dnssrv/subscriber.go
index 422fdaa76..cdedf13a5 100644
--- a/sd/dnssrv/subscriber.go
+++ b/sd/dnssrv/subscriber.go
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ func (p *Subscriber) loop(t *time.Ticker, lookup Lookup) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Instances implements the Discoverer interface.
+func (p *Subscriber) Instances() ([]string, error) {
+	return p.cache.Instances(), nil
+}
+
 // Endpoints implements the Subscriber interface.
 func (p *Subscriber) Endpoints() ([]endpoint.Endpoint, error) {
 	return p.cache.Endpoints(), nil
diff --git a/sd/etcd/subscriber.go b/sd/etcd/subscriber.go
index 1b9187283..6b9a50797 100644
--- a/sd/etcd/subscriber.go
+++ b/sd/etcd/subscriber.go
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ func (s *Subscriber) loop() {
 	}
 }
 
+// Instances implements the Discoverer interface.
+func (s *Subscriber) Instances() ([]string, error) {
+	return s.cache.Instances(), nil
+}
+
 // Endpoints implements the Subscriber interface.
 func (s *Subscriber) Endpoints() ([]endpoint.Endpoint, error) {
 	return s.cache.Endpoints(), nil
diff --git a/sd/factory.go b/sd/factory.go
index af99817b4..385be8d84 100644
--- a/sd/factory.go
+++ b/sd/factory.go
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/kit/endpoint"
 )
 
+// TODO move this to endpoint/
+
 // Factory is a function that converts an instance string (e.g. host:port) to a
 // specific endpoint. Instances that provide multiple endpoints require multiple
 // factories. A factory also returns an io.Closer that's invoked when the
diff --git a/sd/fixed_discoverer.go b/sd/fixed_discoverer.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e2d0e46a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sd/fixed_discoverer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package sd
+
+// FixedDiscoverer yields a fixed set of instances.
+type FixedDiscoverer []string
+
+// Instances implements Discoverer.
+func (d FixedDiscoverer) Instances() ([]string, error) { return d, nil }