diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/api.py b/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
index 1fdabd7d..b440dfe0 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
@@ -1695,7 +1695,7 @@ class MethodProxy:
 
         ev = self.event_table.get(pattern)
 
-        if not ev or ev.is_set():
+        if ev is None or ev.is_set():
             # print(f'inserting new data reset event item')
             ev = self.event_table[pattern] = trio.Event()
 
@@ -1814,7 +1814,7 @@ async def relay_client_proxy_messages(
                     reason = status_msg['reason']
                     event = proxy.event_table.pop(reason, None)
                     if (
-                        event
+                        event is not None
                         and
                         event.statistics().tasks_waiting
                     ):
diff --git a/piker/data/_web_bs.py b/piker/data/_web_bs.py
index fde04e71..64982d3b 100644
--- a/piker/data/_web_bs.py
+++ b/piker/data/_web_bs.py
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ async def _reconnect_forever(
             # if wrapper cancelled us, we expect it to also
             # have re-assigned a new event
             assert (
-                nobsws._connected
+                nobsws._connected is not None
                 and not nobsws._connected.is_set()
             )
 
diff --git a/piker/ui/_display.py b/piker/ui/_display.py
index 1b28312c..87fea901 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_display.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_display.py
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ async def graphics_update_loop(
                     continue
 
                 ic = fast_chart.view._in_interact
-                if ic:
+                if ic is not None:
                     fast_chart.pause_all_feeds()
                     log.debug(
                         f'Pausing chart updaates during interaction\n'
diff --git a/piker/ui/_interaction.py b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
index 2e3107ac..e890a9e5 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_interaction.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_interaction.py
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ class ChartView(ViewBox):
         self.order_mode: bool = False
 
         self.setFocusPolicy(QtCore.Qt.StrongFocus)
-        self._in_interact: trio.Event | None = None
+        self._in_interact: trio.Event|None = None
         self._interact_stack: ExitStack = ExitStack()
 
         # TODO: probably just assign this whenever a new `PlotItem` is
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ class ChartView(ViewBox):
         to any waiters.
 
         '''
-        if self._in_interact:
+        if self._in_interact is not None:
             try:
                 self._interact_stack.close()
                 self.chart.resume_all_feeds()
@@ -1154,7 +1154,7 @@ class ChartView(ViewBox):
             str,
             tuple[float, float],
         ] | None = None,
- 
+
     ):
         profiler = Profiler(
             msg=f'ChartView.interact_graphics_cycle() for {self.name}',