diff --git a/piker/data/history.py b/piker/data/history.py
index 182408f3..f8260c86 100644
--- a/piker/data/history.py
+++ b/piker/data/history.py
@@ -325,8 +325,19 @@ async def start_backfill(
                     f'Writing {ln} frame to storage:\n'
                     f'{start_dt} -> {end_dt}'
                 )
+
+                if mkt.dst.atype != 'crypto':
+                    # for now, our table key schema is not including
+                    # the dst[/src] source asset token.
+                    col_sym_key: str = mkt.get_fqme(
+                        delim_char='',
+                        without_src=True,
+                    )
+                else:
+                    col_sym_key: str = mkt.get_fqme(delim_char='')
+
                 await storage.write_ohlcv(
-                    f'{mkt.fqme}',
+                    col_sym_key,
                     to_push,
                     timeframe,
                 )
@@ -632,7 +643,7 @@ async def manage_history(
     name, uuid = uid
     service = name.rstrip(f'.{mod.name}')
 
-    fqme: str = mkt.fqme
+    fqme: str = mkt.get_fqme(delim_char='')
 
     # (maybe) allocate shm array for this broker/symbol which will
     # be used for fast near-term history capture and processing.
@@ -701,25 +712,28 @@ async def manage_history(
         )
         assert open_history_client
 
-        conf, path = config.load('conf')
-        tsdbconf = conf['network'].get('tsdb')
-
-        # lookup backend tsdb module by name and load any user service
-        # settings for connecting to the tsdb service.
-        tsdb_backend: str = tsdbconf.pop('backend')
-        tsdb_host: str = tsdbconf['host']
-
-        # TODO: import and load storagemod by name
-        # mod = get_storagemod(tsdb_backend)
-        from ..service import marketstore
-
         tsdb_is_up: bool = False
         try_remote_tsdb: bool = False
-        if tsdb_host == 'localhost':
-            log.info('Scanning for existing `{tsbd_backend}`')
-            tsdb_is_up: bool = await check_for_service(f'{tsdb_backend}d')
-        else:
-            try_remote_tsdb: bool = True
+
+        conf, path = config.load('conf', touch_if_dne=True)
+        net = conf.get('network')
+        if net:
+            tsdbconf = net.get('tsdb')
+
+            # lookup backend tsdb module by name and load any user service
+            # settings for connecting to the tsdb service.
+            tsdb_backend: str = tsdbconf.pop('backend')
+            tsdb_host: str = tsdbconf['host']
+
+            # TODO: import and load storagemod by name
+            # mod = get_storagemod(tsdb_backend)
+            from ..service import marketstore
+            if tsdb_host == 'localhost':
+                log.info('Scanning for existing `{tsbd_backend}`')
+                tsdb_is_up: bool = await check_for_service(f'{tsdb_backend}d')
+
+            else:
+                try_remote_tsdb: bool = True
 
         if (
             tsdb_is_up