diff --git a/tractor/_actor.py b/tractor/_actor.py
index 3e244fa..5d2a35d 100644
--- a/tractor/_actor.py
+++ b/tractor/_actor.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ from itertools import chain
 import importlib
 import importlib.util
 import inspect
-import bdb
 import uuid
 import typing
 from typing import Dict, List, Tuple, Any, Optional
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ from ._exceptions import (
     unpack_error,
     ModuleNotExposed
 )
+from ._debug import _maybe_enter_pm
 from ._discovery import get_arbiter
 from ._portal import Portal
 from . import _state
@@ -127,13 +127,8 @@ async def _invoke(
                         await chan.send({'return': await coro, 'cid': cid})
     except (Exception, trio.MultiError) as err:
         # NOTE: don't enter debug mode recursively after quitting pdb
-        if _state.debug_mode() and not isinstance(err, bdb.BdbQuit):
-            # Allow for pdb control in parent
-            from ._debug import post_mortem
-            log.exception("Actor crashed, entering debug mode:")
-            await post_mortem()
-        else:
-            log.exception("Actor crashed:")
+        log.exception("Actor crashed:")
+        await _maybe_enter_pm(err)
 
         # always ship errors back to caller
         err_msg = pack_error(err)
@@ -201,6 +196,7 @@ class Actor:
         """
         self.name = name
         self.uid = (name, uid or str(uuid.uuid4()))
+        self._is_cancelled: bool = False
 
         # retreive and store parent `__main__` data which
         # will be passed to children
@@ -251,7 +247,7 @@ class Actor:
         self._parent_chan: Optional[Channel] = None
         self._forkserver_info: Optional[
             Tuple[Any, Any, Any, Any, Any]] = None
-        self._actoruid2nursery: Dict[str, 'ActorNursery'] = {}
+        self._actoruid2nursery: Dict[str, 'ActorNursery'] = {}  # noqa
 
     async def wait_for_peer(
         self, uid: Tuple[str, str]
@@ -564,7 +560,7 @@ class Actor:
                 f"Exiting msg loop for {chan} from {chan.uid} "
                 f"with last msg:\n{msg}")
 
-    async def _chan_to_parent(
+    async def _from_parent(
         self,
         parent_addr: Optional[Tuple[str, int]],
     ) -> Tuple[Channel, Optional[Tuple[str, int]]]:
@@ -593,6 +589,10 @@ class Actor:
                     parent_data.pop('bind_host'),
                     parent_data.pop('bind_port'),
                 )
+                rvs = parent_data.pop('_runtime_vars')
+                rvs['_is_root'] = False
+                _state._runtime_vars.update(rvs)
+
                 for attr, value in parent_data.items():
                     setattr(self, attr, value)
 
@@ -630,13 +630,13 @@ class Actor:
             # establish primary connection with immediate parent
             self._parent_chan = None
             if parent_addr is not None:
-                self._parent_chan, accept_addr_from_rent = await self._chan_to_parent(
+                self._parent_chan, accept_addr_rent = await self._from_parent(
                     parent_addr)
 
                 # either it's passed in because we're not a child
                 # or because we're running in mp mode
-                if accept_addr_from_rent is not None:
-                    accept_addr = accept_addr_from_rent
+                if accept_addr_rent is not None:
+                    accept_addr = accept_addr_rent
 
             # load exposed/allowed RPC modules
             # XXX: do this **after** establishing a channel to the parent
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ class Actor:
 
             # Blocks here as expected until the root nursery is
             # killed (i.e. this actor is cancelled or signalled by the parent)
-        except (trio.MultiError, Exception) as err:
+        except Exception as err:
             if not registered_with_arbiter:
                 # TODO: I guess we could try to connect back
                 # to the parent through a channel and engage a debugger
@@ -822,6 +822,8 @@ class Actor:
               spawning new rpc tasks
             - return control the parent channel message loop
         """
+        self._is_cancelled = True
+
         # cancel all ongoing rpc tasks
         with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
             # kill all ongoing tasks
@@ -1039,7 +1041,12 @@ async def _start_actor(
                 parent_addr=None
             )
         )
-        result = await main()
+        try:
+            result = await main()
+        except (Exception, trio.MultiError) as err:
+            log.exception("Actor crashed:")
+            await _maybe_enter_pm(err)
+            raise
 
         # XXX: the actor is cancelled when this context is complete
         # given that there are no more active peer channels connected