diff --git a/piker/clearing/_allocate.py b/piker/clearing/_allocate.py
index 6ef38692..7868666d 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_allocate.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_allocate.py
@@ -178,7 +178,9 @@ class Allocator(BaseModel):
             l_sub_pp = (self.currency_limit - live_cost_basis) / price
 
         else:
-            raise ValueError(f"Not valid size unit '{size}'")
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Not valid size unit '{size_unit}'"
+            )
 
         # an entry (adding-to or starting a pp)
         if (
@@ -290,7 +292,7 @@ def mk_allocator(
     # default allocation settings
     defaults: dict[str, float] = {
         'account': None,  # select paper by default
-        'size_unit': 'currency', #_size_units['currency'],
+        'size_unit': 'currency',
         'units_limit': 400,
         'currency_limit': 5e3,
         'slots': 4,
@@ -318,11 +320,14 @@ def mk_allocator(
 
     asset_type = symbol.type_key
 
-
     # specific configs by asset class / type
 
-    if asset_type in ('future', 'option', 'futures_option'):
-
+    if asset_type in (
+        'future',
+        'continuous_future',
+        'option',
+        'futures_option',
+    ):
         # since it's harder to know how currency "applies" in this case
         # given leverage properties
         alloc.size_unit = '# units'