diff --git a/piker/clearing/_ems.py b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
index 0411f026..24a78420 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_ems.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
@@ -667,19 +667,19 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                 # received this ack, in which case we relay that cancel
                 # signal **asap** to the backend broker
                 # status = book._active.get(oid)
-                status = book._active[oid]
-                req = status.req
+                status_msg = book._active[oid]
+                req = status_msg.req
                 if req and req.action == 'cancel':
                     # assign newly providerd broker backend request id
                     # and tell broker to cancel immediately
-                    status.reqid = reqid
+                    status_msg.reqid = reqid
                     await brokerd_trades_stream.send(req)
 
                 # 2. the order is now active and will be mirrored in
                 # our book -> registered as live flow
                 else:
                     # TODO: should we relay this ack state?
-                    status.resp = 'pending'
+                    status_msg.resp = 'pending'
 
                 # no msg to client necessary
                 continue
@@ -729,6 +729,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                 # msg-chain/dialog.
                 ems_client_order_stream = router.dialogues[oid]
                 status_msg = book._active[oid]
+                old_resp = status_msg.resp
                 status_msg.resp = status
 
                 # retrieve existing live flow
@@ -746,7 +747,11 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
 
                 if status == 'closed':
                     log.info(f'Execution for {oid} is complete!')
-                    status_msg = book._active.pop(oid)
+
+                    # only if we already rxed a fill then probably
+                    # this clear is fully complete? (frickin ib..)
+                    if old_resp == 'fill':
+                        status_msg = book._active.pop(oid)
 
                 elif status == 'canceled':
                     log.info(f'Cancellation for {oid} is complete!')
@@ -823,6 +828,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                 'status': status,
                 'reqid': reqid,
             }:
+                status_msg = book._active[oid]
                 log.warning(
                     'Unhandled broker status:\n'
                     f'{pformat(brokerd_msg)}\n'
@@ -837,10 +843,19 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                 oid := book._ems2brokerd_ids.inverse.get(reqid)
             ):
                 # proxy through the "fill" result(s)
-                log.info(f'Fill for {oid} cleared with:\n{pformat(msg)}')
                 msg = BrokerdFill(**brokerd_msg)
+                log.info(f'Fill for {oid} cleared with:\n{pformat(msg)}')
+
                 ems_client_order_stream = router.dialogues[oid]
+
+                # wtf a fill can come after 'closed' from ib?
                 status_msg = book._active[oid]
+
+                # only if we already rxed a 'closed'
+                # this clear is fully complete? (frickin ib..)
+                if status_msg.resp == 'closed':
+                    status_msg = book._active.pop(oid)
+
                 status_msg.resp = 'fill'
                 status_msg.reqid = reqid
                 status_msg.brokerd_msg = msg
@@ -849,6 +864,10 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
             case _:
                 raise ValueError(f'Brokerd message {brokerd_msg} is invalid')
 
+        # XXX: ugh sometimes we don't access it?
+        if status_msg:
+            del status_msg
+
     # TODO: do we want this to keep things cleaned up?
     # it might require a special status from brokerd to affirm the
     # flow is complete?