diff --git a/examples/debugging/asyncio_bp.py b/examples/debugging/asyncio_bp.py
index fc3b222a..348e990f 100644
--- a/examples/debugging/asyncio_bp.py
+++ b/examples/debugging/asyncio_bp.py
@@ -18,15 +18,14 @@ async def aio_sleep_forever():
 
 
 async def bp_then_error(
-    to_trio: trio.MemorySendChannel,
-    from_trio: asyncio.Queue,
+    chan: to_asyncio.LinkedTaskChannel,
 
     raise_after_bp: bool = True,
 
 ) -> None:
 
     # sync with `trio`-side (caller) task
-    to_trio.send_nowait('start')
+    chan.started_nowait('start')
 
     # NOTE: what happens here inside the hook needs some refinement..
     # => seems like it's still `.debug._set_trace()` but
diff --git a/examples/infected_asyncio_echo_server.py b/examples/infected_asyncio_echo_server.py
index 02508351..20914089 100644
--- a/examples/infected_asyncio_echo_server.py
+++ b/examples/infected_asyncio_echo_server.py
@@ -11,21 +11,17 @@ import tractor
 
 
 async def aio_echo_server(
-    to_trio: trio.MemorySendChannel,
-    from_trio: asyncio.Queue,
-
+    chan: tractor.to_asyncio.LinkedTaskChannel,
 ) -> None:
 
     # a first message must be sent **from** this ``asyncio``
     # task or the ``trio`` side will never unblock from
     # ``tractor.to_asyncio.open_channel_from():``
-    to_trio.send_nowait('start')
+    chan.started_nowait('start')
 
-    # XXX: this uses an ``from_trio: asyncio.Queue`` currently but we
-    # should probably offer something better.
     while True:
         # echo the msg back
-        to_trio.send_nowait(await from_trio.get())
+        chan.send_nowait(await chan.get())
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_child_manages_service_nursery.py b/tests/test_child_manages_service_nursery.py
index 6379afc6..0c42dd93 100644
--- a/tests/test_child_manages_service_nursery.py
+++ b/tests/test_child_manages_service_nursery.py
@@ -18,16 +18,15 @@ from tractor import RemoteActorError
 
 
 async def aio_streamer(
-    from_trio: asyncio.Queue,
-    to_trio: trio.abc.SendChannel,
+    chan: tractor.to_asyncio.LinkedTaskChannel,
 ) -> trio.abc.ReceiveChannel:
 
     # required first msg to sync caller
-    to_trio.send_nowait(None)
+    chan.started_nowait(None)
 
     from itertools import cycle
     for i in cycle(range(10)):
-        to_trio.send_nowait(i)
+        chan.send_nowait(i)
         await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_infected_asyncio.py b/tests/test_infected_asyncio.py
index 51ca6115..2ba932b1 100644
--- a/tests/test_infected_asyncio.py
+++ b/tests/test_infected_asyncio.py
@@ -47,12 +47,11 @@ async def sleep_and_err(
 
     # just signature placeholders for compat with
     # ``to_asyncio.open_channel_from()``
-    to_trio: trio.MemorySendChannel|None = None,
-    from_trio: asyncio.Queue|None = None,
+    chan: to_asyncio.LinkedTaskChannel|None = None,
 
 ):
-    if to_trio:
-        to_trio.send_nowait('start')
+    if chan:
+        chan.started_nowait('start')
 
     await asyncio.sleep(sleep_for)
     assert 0
@@ -399,7 +398,7 @@ async def no_to_trio_in_args():
 
 async def push_from_aio_task(
     sequence: Iterable,
-    to_trio: trio.abc.SendChannel,
+    chan: to_asyncio.LinkedTaskChannel,
     expect_cancel: False,
     fail_early: bool,
     exit_early: bool,
@@ -407,15 +406,12 @@ async def push_from_aio_task(
 ) -> None:
 
     try:
-        # print('trying breakpoint')
-        # breakpoint()
-
         # sync caller ctx manager
-        to_trio.send_nowait(True)
+        chan.started_nowait(True)
 
         for i in sequence:
             print(f'asyncio sending {i}')
-            to_trio.send_nowait(i)
+            chan.send_nowait(i)
             await asyncio.sleep(0.001)
 
             if (
@@ -1109,13 +1105,12 @@ async def raise_before_started(
 ) -> None:
     '''
     `asyncio.Task` entry point which RTEs before calling
-    `to_trio.send_nowait()`.
+    `chan.started_nowait()`.
 
     '''
     await asyncio.sleep(0.2)
     raise RuntimeError('Some shite went wrong before `.send_nowait()`!!')
 
-    # to_trio.send_nowait('Uhh we shouldve RTE-d ^^ ??')
     chan.started_nowait('Uhh we shouldve RTE-d ^^ ??')
     await asyncio.sleep(float('inf'))
 
diff --git a/tests/test_root_infect_asyncio.py b/tests/test_root_infect_asyncio.py
index 78f9b2b4..159aa3d5 100644
--- a/tests/test_root_infect_asyncio.py
+++ b/tests/test_root_infect_asyncio.py
@@ -91,13 +91,12 @@ def test_infected_root_actor(
 async def sync_and_err(
     # just signature placeholders for compat with
     # ``to_asyncio.open_channel_from()``
-    to_trio: trio.MemorySendChannel,
-    from_trio: asyncio.Queue,
+    chan: tractor.to_asyncio.LinkedTaskChannel,
     ev: asyncio.Event,
 
 ):
-    if to_trio:
-        to_trio.send_nowait('start')
+    if chan:
+        chan.started_nowait('start')
 
     await ev.wait()
     raise RuntimeError('asyncio-side')