diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
index 4bb3c44d..14803144 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
@@ -269,16 +269,25 @@ async def open_history_client(
                 and
                 first_dt < start_dt
             ):
-                bars_array = bars_array[
+                trimmed_bars = bars_array[
                     bars_array['time'] >= start_dt.timestamp()
                 ]
-                # TODO! rm this once we're more confident it never hits!
-                breakpoint()
-                raise RuntimeError(
-                    f'OHLC-bars array start is gt `start_dt` limit !!\n'
-                    f'start_dt: {start_dt}\n'
-                    f'last_dt: {last_dt}\n'
-                )
+                if (
+                    trimmed_first_dt := from_timestamp(trimmed_bars['time'][0])
+                    !=
+                    start_dt
+                ):
+                    # TODO! rm this once we're more confident it never hits!
+                    breakpoint()
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        f'OHLC-bars array start is gt `start_dt` limit !!\n'
+                        f'start_dt: {start_dt}\n'
+                        f'first_dt: {first_dt}\n'
+                        f'trimmed_first_dt: {trimmed_first_dt}\n'
+                    )
+
+                # XXX, overwrite with start_dt-limited frame
+                bars_array = trimmed_bars
 
             return (
                 bars_array,