diff --git a/tractor/_actor.py b/tractor/_actor.py
index 81f05cd..b52ef18 100644
--- a/tractor/_actor.py
+++ b/tractor/_actor.py
@@ -575,6 +575,11 @@ class Actor:
                         await chan.connect()
                         # initial handshake, report who we are, who they are
                         await self._do_handshake(chan)
+
+                        self._parent_main_data = await chan.recv()
+                        self.rpc_module_paths = await chan.recv()
+                        self.statespace = await chan.recv()
+
                     except OSError:  # failed to connect
                         log.warning(
                             f"Failed to connect to parent @ {parent_addr},"
diff --git a/tractor/_child.py b/tractor/_child.py
index b4d1d60..64c3054 100644
--- a/tractor/_child.py
+++ b/tractor/_child.py
@@ -1,6 +1,53 @@
 import sys
 import trio
-import cloudpickle
+import argparse
+
+from ._actor import Actor
+from ._entry import _trio_main
+
+
+"""This is the "bootloader" for actors started using the native trio backend
+added in #128
+"""
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    trio.run(cloudpickle.load(sys.stdin.buffer))
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+
+    parser.add_argument("name")
+    parser.add_argument("uid")
+    parser.add_argument("loglevel")
+    parser.add_argument("bind_addr")
+    parser.add_argument("parent_addr")
+    parser.add_argument("arbiter_addr")
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    bind_addr = args.bind_addr.split(":")
+    bind_addr = (bind_addr[0], int(bind_addr[1]))
+    
+    parent_addr = args.parent_addr.split(":")
+    parent_addr = (parent_addr[0], int(parent_addr[1]))
+
+    arbiter_addr = args.arbiter_addr.split(":")
+    arbiter_addr = (arbiter_addr[0], int(arbiter_addr[1]))
+
+    if args.loglevel == "None":
+        loglevel = None
+    else:
+        loglevel = args.loglevel
+
+    subactor = Actor(
+        args.name,
+        uid=args.uid,
+        loglevel=loglevel,
+        arbiter_addr=arbiter_addr
+    )
+    subactor._spawn_method = "trio"
+
+    _trio_main(
+        subactor,
+        bind_addr,
+        parent_addr=parent_addr
+    )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tractor/_entry.py b/tractor/_entry.py
index 1c26065..81b28d7 100644
--- a/tractor/_entry.py
+++ b/tractor/_entry.py
@@ -51,24 +51,31 @@ def _mp_main(
     log.info(f"Actor {actor.uid} terminated")
 
 
-async def _trio_main(
+def _trio_main(
     actor: 'Actor',
     accept_addr: Tuple[str, int],
     parent_addr: Tuple[str, int] = None
 ) -> None:
     """Entry point for a `trio_run_in_process` subactor.
-
-    Here we don't need to call `trio.run()` since trip does that as
-    part of its subprocess startup sequence.
     """
     if actor.loglevel is not None:
         log.info(
             f"Setting loglevel for {actor.uid} to {actor.loglevel}")
         get_console_log(actor.loglevel)
 
-    log.info(f"Started new trio process for {actor.uid}")
+    log.info(
+        f"Started {actor.uid}")
 
     _state._current_actor = actor
 
-    await actor._async_main(accept_addr, parent_addr=parent_addr)
-    log.info(f"Actor {actor.uid} terminated")
+    log.debug(f"parent_addr is {parent_addr}")
+    trio_main = partial(
+        actor._async_main,
+        accept_addr,
+        parent_addr=parent_addr
+    )
+    try:
+        trio.run(trio_main)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        pass  # handle it the same way trio does?
+    log.info(f"Actor {actor.uid} terminated")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tractor/_spawn.py b/tractor/_spawn.py
index 8078c03..49baed6 100644
--- a/tractor/_spawn.py
+++ b/tractor/_spawn.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 from functools import partial
 
 import trio
-import cloudpickle
 from trio_typing import TaskStatus
 from async_generator import aclosing, asynccontextmanager
 
@@ -158,9 +157,11 @@ async def cancel_on_completion(
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
-async def run_in_process(subactor, async_fn, *args, **kwargs):
-    encoded_job = cloudpickle.dumps(partial(async_fn, *args, **kwargs))
-
+async def spawn_subactor(
+    subactor: 'Actor',
+    accept_addr: Tuple[str, int],
+    parent_addr: Tuple[str, int] = None
+):
     async with await trio.open_process(
         [
             sys.executable,
@@ -168,15 +169,14 @@ async def run_in_process(subactor, async_fn, *args, **kwargs):
             # Hardcode this (instead of using ``_child.__name__`` to avoid a
             # double import warning: https://stackoverflow.com/a/45070583
             "tractor._child",
-            # This is merely an identifier for debugging purposes when
-            # viewing the process tree from the OS
-            str(subactor.uid),
-        ],
-        stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+            subactor.name,
+            subactor.uid[1],
+            subactor.loglevel or "None",
+            f"{accept_addr[0]}:{accept_addr[1]}",
+            f"{parent_addr[0]}:{parent_addr[1]}",
+            f"{subactor._arb_addr[0]}:{subactor._arb_addr[1]}"
+        ]
     ) as proc:
-
-        # send func object to call in child
-        await proc.stdin.send_all(encoded_job)
         yield proc
 
 
@@ -201,9 +201,7 @@ async def new_proc(
 
     async with trio.open_nursery() as nursery:
         if use_trio_run_in_process or _spawn_method == 'trio':
-            async with run_in_process(
-                subactor,
-                _trio_main,
+            async with spawn_subactor(
                 subactor,
                 bind_addr,
                 parent_addr,
@@ -218,6 +216,12 @@ async def new_proc(
                 portal = Portal(chan)
                 actor_nursery._children[subactor.uid] = (
                     subactor, proc, portal)
+
+                # send additional init params
+                await chan.send(subactor._parent_main_data)
+                await chan.send(subactor.rpc_module_paths)
+                await chan.send(subactor.statespace)
+
                 task_status.started(portal)
 
                 # wait for ActorNursery.wait() to be called