diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib.py b/piker/brokers/ib.py
index 2e0b92cb..e94fd561 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib.py
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@ async def trades_dialogue(
                 # mark msg as from "external system"
                 # TODO: probably something better then this.. and start
                 # considering multiplayer/group trades tracking
-                msg['external'] = True
+                msg.external = True
                 continue
 
             # XXX: we always serialize to a dict for msgpack
diff --git a/piker/ui/order_mode.py b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
index da775821..1535f458 100644
--- a/piker/ui/order_mode.py
+++ b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
@@ -399,7 +399,12 @@ async def start_order_mode(
             # each clearing tick is responded individually
             elif resp in ('broker_filled',):
 
-                action = book._sent_orders[oid].action
+                known_order = book._sent_orders.get(oid)
+                if not known_order:
+                    log.warning(f'order {oid} is unknown')
+                    continue
+
+                action = known_order.action
                 details = msg['brokerd_msg']
 
                 # TODO: some kinda progress system