diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
index 47b7ed25..957b6249 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
@@ -254,6 +254,9 @@ async def wait_on_data_reset(
     return False
 
 
+_data_resetter_task: trio.Task | None = None
+
+
 async def get_bars(
 
     proxy: MethodProxy,
@@ -264,7 +267,7 @@ async def get_bars(
     end_dt: str = '',
 
     # TODO: make this more dynamic based on measured frame rx latency..
-    timeout: float = 1.5,  # how long before we trigger a feed reset
+    timeout: float = 3,  # how long before we trigger a feed reset
 
     task_status: TaskStatus[trio.CancelScope] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
 
@@ -274,13 +277,15 @@ async def get_bars(
     a ``MethoProxy``.
 
     '''
-    data_cs: Optional[trio.CancelScope] = None
-    result: Optional[tuple[
+    global _data_resetter_task
+
+    data_cs: trio.CancelScope | None = None
+    result: tuple[
         ibis.objects.BarDataList,
         np.ndarray,
         datetime,
         datetime,
-    ]] = None
+    ] | None = None
     result_ready = trio.Event()
 
     async def query():
@@ -400,6 +405,10 @@ async def get_bars(
                 else:
                     raise
 
+    # TODO: make this global across all history task/requests
+    # such that simultaneous symbol queries don't try data resettingn
+    # too fast..
+    unset_resetter: bool = False
     async with trio.open_nursery() as nurse:
 
         # start history request that we allow
@@ -414,6 +423,14 @@ async def get_bars(
                 await result_ready.wait()
                 break
 
+            if _data_resetter_task:
+                # don't double invoke the reset hack if another
+                # requester task already has it covered.
+                continue
+            else:
+                _data_resetter_task = trio.lowlevel.current_task()
+                unset_resetter = True
+
             # spawn new data reset task
             data_cs, reset_done = await nurse.start(
                 partial(
@@ -425,6 +442,7 @@ async def get_bars(
             # sync wait on reset to complete
             await reset_done.wait()
 
+    _data_resetter_task = None if unset_resetter else _data_resetter_task
     return result, data_cs is not None
 
 
@@ -955,7 +973,14 @@ async def open_symbol_search(
                     except trio.WouldBlock:
                         pass
 
-                if not pattern or pattern.isspace():
+                if (
+                    not pattern
+                    or pattern.isspace()
+
+                    # XXX: not sure if this is a bad assumption but it
+                    # seems to make search snappier?
+                    or len(pattern) < 1
+                ):
                     log.warning('empty pattern received, skipping..')
 
                     # TODO: *BUG* if nothing is returned here the client