diff --git a/piker/brokers/binance/broker.py b/piker/brokers/binance/broker.py
index 3bc665d6..6dcf99b5 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/binance/broker.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/binance/broker.py
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ async def open_trade_dialog(
 
                         if balance > 0:
                             balances[spot_asset] = (balance, last_update_t)
-                            # await tractor.breakpoint()
+                            # await tractor.pause()
 
                 # @position response:
                 # {'positions': [{'entryPrice': '0.0',
diff --git a/piker/brokers/binance/feed.py b/piker/brokers/binance/feed.py
index 37c6a8bc..6d6ae28d 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/binance/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/binance/feed.py
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ async def open_history_client(
             ):
                 inow = round(time.time())
                 if (inow - times[-1]) > 60:
-                    await tractor.breakpoint()
+                    await tractor.pause()
 
             start_dt = from_timestamp(times[0])
             end_dt = from_timestamp(times[-1])
diff --git a/piker/data/_sampling.py b/piker/data/_sampling.py
index 1db80015..3ddb39c1 100644
--- a/piker/data/_sampling.py
+++ b/piker/data/_sampling.py
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ async def sample_and_broadcast(
                     if cs.cancelled_caught:
                         lags += 1
                         if lags > 10:
-                            await tractor.breakpoint()
+                            await tractor.pause()
 
                 except (
                     trio.BrokenResourceError,
diff --git a/piker/data/history.py b/piker/data/history.py
index c2e89f7f..3319293a 100644
--- a/piker/data/history.py
+++ b/piker/data/history.py
@@ -141,8 +141,7 @@ async def shm_push_in_between(
     array = shm.array
     zeros = array[array['low'] == 0]
     if 0 < zeros.size < 1000:
-        tractor.breakpoint()
-
+        await tractor.pause()
 
 
 async def start_backfill(
@@ -255,7 +254,7 @@ async def start_backfill(
             #         f"{mkt.fqme}: skipping duplicate frame @ {next_start_dt}"
             #     )
             #     starts[start_dt] += 1
-            #     await tractor.breakpoint()
+            #     await tractor.pause()
             #     continue
 
             # elif starts[next_start_dt] > 6:
@@ -484,7 +483,7 @@ async def back_load_from_tsdb(
     if storemod.name == 'nativedb':
         return
 
-        await tractor.breakpoint()
+        await tractor.pause()
         assert shm._first.value == 0
 
     array = shm.array
diff --git a/piker/storage/cli.py b/piker/storage/cli.py
index 73cf737e..e4daffa9 100644
--- a/piker/storage/cli.py
+++ b/piker/storage/cli.py
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def anal(
             # TODO: something better with tab completion..
             # is there something more minimal but nearly as
             # functional as ipython?
-            await tractor.breakpoint()
+            await tractor.pause()
 
     trio.run(main)
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ def ldshm(
 
                 # TODO: maybe only optionally enter this depending
                 # on some CLI flags and/or gap detection?
-                await tractor.breakpoint()
+                await tractor.pause()
 
                 # write to parquet file?
                 if write_parquet:
diff --git a/piker/storage/marketstore/__init__.py b/piker/storage/marketstore/__init__.py
index 7466c06a..de42de44 100644
--- a/piker/storage/marketstore/__init__.py
+++ b/piker/storage/marketstore/__init__.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class MktsStorageClient:
         #         break
         #     except purerpc.grpclib.exceptions.UnknownError as err:
         #         if 'snappy' in err.args:
-        #             await tractor.breakpoint()
+        #             await tractor.pause()
 
         #         # indicate there is no history for this timeframe
         #         log.exception(
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class MktsStorageClient:
                     'YOUR DATABASE LIKELY CONTAINS BAD DATA FROM AN OLD BUG '
                     f'WIPING HISTORY FOR {ts}s'
                 )
-                await tractor.breakpoint()
+                await tractor.pause()
                 # await self.delete_ts(fqme, timeframe)
 
                 # try reading again..
diff --git a/piker/ui/_display.py b/piker/ui/_display.py
index 27e70145..47704e3f 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_display.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_display.py
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ async def graphics_update_loop(
         await trio.sleep(0)
 
         if ds.hist_vars['i_last'] < ds.hist_vars['i_last_append']:
-            await tractor.breakpoint()
+            await tractor.pause()
 
     # main real-time quotes update loop
     stream: tractor.MsgStream
diff --git a/piker/ui/_interaction.py b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
index 63a5be8f..cf468735 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_interaction.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ async def handle_viewmode_kb_inputs(
                 vlm_chart = chart.linked.subplots['volume']  # noqa
                 vlm_viz = vlm_chart.main_viz  # noqa
                 dvlm_pi = vlm_chart._vizs['dolla_vlm'].plot  # noqa
-                await tractor.breakpoint()
+                await tractor.pause()
                 view.interact_graphics_cycle()
 
             # SEARCH MODE #