diff --git a/tractor/to_asyncio.py b/tractor/to_asyncio.py
index a9096f7f..9c7b12b4 100644
--- a/tractor/to_asyncio.py
+++ b/tractor/to_asyncio.py
@@ -209,10 +209,15 @@ class LinkedTaskChannel(
     async def aclose(self) -> None:
         await self._from_aio.aclose()
 
-    def started(
+    # ?TODO? async version of this?
+    def started_nowait(
         self,
         val: Any = None,
     ) -> None:
+        '''
+        Synchronize aio-sde with its trio-parent.
+
+        '''
         self._aio_started_val = val
         return self._to_trio.send_nowait(val)
 
@@ -349,18 +354,6 @@ def _run_asyncio_task(
         # value otherwise it would just return ;P
         assert qsize > 1
 
-    if provide_channels:
-        assert 'to_trio' in args
-
-    # allow target func to accept/stream results manually by name
-    if 'to_trio' in args:
-        kwargs['to_trio'] = to_trio
-
-    if 'from_trio' in args:
-        kwargs['from_trio'] = from_trio
-
-    coro = func(**kwargs)
-
     trio_task: trio.Task = trio.lowlevel.current_task()
     trio_cs = trio.CancelScope()
     aio_task_complete = trio.Event()
@@ -375,6 +368,25 @@ def _run_asyncio_task(
         _suppress_graceful_exits=suppress_graceful_exits,
     )
 
+    # allow target func to accept/stream results manually by name
+    if 'to_trio' in args:
+        kwargs['to_trio'] = to_trio
+
+    if 'from_trio' in args:
+        kwargs['from_trio'] = from_trio
+
+    if 'chan' in args:
+        kwargs['chan'] = chan
+
+    if provide_channels:
+        assert (
+            'to_trio' in args
+            or
+            'chan' in args
+        )
+
+    coro = func(**kwargs)
+
     async def wait_on_coro_final_result(
         to_trio: trio.MemorySendChannel,
         coro: Awaitable,