diff --git a/piker/brokers/cli.py b/piker/brokers/cli.py
index 492edb96..11678f7f 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/cli.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/cli.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def run(main, loglevel='info'):
     except Exception as err:
         log.exception(err)
     finally:
-        log.debug("Exiting pikerd")
+        log.debug("Exiting piker")
 
 
 @click.command()
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ def cli():
 @click.option('--broker', default='questrade', help='Broker backend to use')
 @click.option('--loglevel', '-l', default='warning', help='Logging level')
 @click.argument('meth', nargs=1)
-@click.argument('kwargs', nargs=-1, required=True)
+@click.argument('kwargs', nargs=-1)
 def api(meth, kwargs, loglevel, broker):
-    """Client for testing broker API methods with pretty printing of output.
+    """client for testing broker API methods with pretty printing of output.
     """
     log = get_console_log(loglevel)
     brokermod = import_module('.' + broker, 'piker.brokers')
diff --git a/piker/brokers/config.py b/piker/brokers/config.py
index 5d923adf..979e2605 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/config.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/config.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ def load() -> (configparser.ConfigParser, str):
     Create a ``broker.ini`` file if one dne.
     """
     config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-    # mode = 'r' if path.exists(_broker_conf_path) else 'a'
     read = config.read(_broker_conf_path)
     log.debug(f"Read config file {_broker_conf_path}")
     return config, _broker_conf_path
diff --git a/piker/brokers/questrade.py b/piker/brokers/questrade.py
index b7ad9d7c..f2661a73 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/questrade.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/questrade.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 Questrade API backend.
 """
+import inspect
 import json
 import time
 import datetime
@@ -47,7 +48,8 @@ def resproc(
 
 
 class Client:
-    """API client suitable for use as a long running broker daemon.
+    """API client suitable for use as a long running broker daemon or
+    for single api requests.
     """
     def __init__(self, config: 'configparser.ConfigParser'):
         self._sess = asks.Session()
@@ -243,13 +245,20 @@ async def serve_forever() -> None:
 
 
 async def api(methname, **kwargs) -> dict:
+    """Make (proxy) through an api call by name and return its result.
+    """
     async with get_client() as client:
         meth = getattr(client.api, methname, None)
         if meth is None:
             log.error(f"No api method `{methname}` could be found?")
-        else:
-            arg = kwargs.get('arg')
-            if arg:
-                return await meth(arg)
-            else:
-                return await meth(**kwargs)
+            return
+        elif not kwargs:
+            # verify kwargs requirements are met
+            sig = inspect.signature(meth)
+            if sig.parameters:
+                log.error(
+                    f"Argument(s) are required by the `{methname}` method: "
+                    f"{tuple(sig.parameters.keys())}")
+                return
+
+        return await meth(**kwargs)