diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/api.py b/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
index 2d13541a..cb934187 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/api.py
@@ -49,7 +49,12 @@ from bidict import bidict
 import trio
 import tractor
 from tractor import to_asyncio
-import pendulum
+from pendulum import (
+    from_timestamp,
+    DateTime,
+    Duration,
+    duration as mk_duration,
+)
 from eventkit import Event
 from ib_insync import (
     client as ib_client,
@@ -221,16 +226,20 @@ def bars_to_np(bars: list) -> np.ndarray:
 # https://interactivebrokers.github.io/tws-api/historical_limitations.html#non-available_hd
 _samplings: dict[int, tuple[str, str]] = {
     1: (
+        # ib strs
         '1 secs',
         f'{int(2e3)} S',
-        pendulum.duration(seconds=2e3),
+
+        mk_duration(seconds=2e3),
     ),
     # TODO: benchmark >1 D duration on query to see if
     # throughput can be made faster during backfilling.
     60: (
+        # ib strs
         '1 min',
         '2 D',
-        pendulum.duration(days=2),
+
+        mk_duration(days=2),
     ),
 }
 
@@ -315,7 +324,7 @@ class Client:
 
         **kwargs,
 
-    ) -> tuple[BarDataList, np.ndarray, pendulum.Duration]:
+    ) -> tuple[BarDataList, np.ndarray, Duration]:
         '''
         Retreive OHLCV bars for a fqme over a range to the present.
 
@@ -324,11 +333,20 @@ class Client:
         # https://interactivebrokers.github.io/tws-api/historical_data.html
         bars_kwargs = {'whatToShow': 'TRADES'}
         bars_kwargs.update(kwargs)
-        bar_size, duration, dt_duration = _samplings[sample_period_s]
+        (
+            bar_size,
+            ib_duration_str,
+            default_dt_duration,
+        ) = _samplings[sample_period_s]
+
+        dt_duration: DateTime = (
+            duration
+            or default_dt_duration
+        )
 
         global _enters
         log.info(
-            f"REQUESTING {duration}'s worth {bar_size} BARS\n"
+            f"REQUESTING {ib_duration_str}'s worth {bar_size} BARS\n"
             f'{_enters} @ end={end_dt}"'
         )
 
@@ -353,7 +371,7 @@ class Client:
 
             # time history length values format:
             # ``durationStr=integer{SPACE}unit (S|D|W|M|Y)``
-            durationStr=duration,
+            durationStr=ib_duration_str,
 
             # always use extended hours
             useRTH=False,
@@ -383,29 +401,55 @@ class Client:
         # => we recursively call this method until we get at least
         # as many bars such that they sum in aggregate to the the
         # desired total time (duration) at most.
-        elif (
-            end_dt
-            and (
-                (len(bars) * sample_period_s) < dt_duration.in_seconds()
-            )
-        ):
-            log.warning(
-                f'Recursing to get more bars from {end_dt} for {dt_duration}'
-            )
-            end_dt -= dt_duration
-            (
-                r_bars,
-                r_arr,
-                r_duration,
-            ) = await self.bars(
-                fqme,
-                start_dt=start_dt,
-                end_dt=end_dt,
-            )
-            r_bars.extend(bars)
-            bars = r_bars
+        if end_dt:
+            nparr: np.ndarray = bars_to_np(bars)
+            times: np.ndarray = nparr['time']
+            first: float = times[0]
+            tdiff: float = times[-1] - first
+
+            if (
+                # len(bars) * sample_period_s) < dt_duration.in_seconds()
+                tdiff < dt_duration.in_seconds()
+            ):
+                end_dt: DateTime = from_timestamp(first)
+                log.warning(
+                    f'Frame result was shorter then {dt_duration}!?\n'
+                    'Recursing for more bars:\n'
+                    f'end_dt: {end_dt}\n'
+                    f'dt_duration: {dt_duration}\n'
+                )
+                (
+                    r_bars,
+                    r_arr,
+                    r_duration,
+                ) = await self.bars(
+                    fqme,
+                    start_dt=start_dt,
+                    end_dt=end_dt,
+                    sample_period_s=sample_period_s,
+
+                    # TODO: make a table for Duration to
+                    # the ib str values in order to use this?
+                    # duration=duration,
+                )
+                r_bars.extend(bars)
+                bars = r_bars
 
         nparr = bars_to_np(bars)
+
+        # timestep should always be at least as large as the
+        # period step.
+        tdiff: np.ndarray = np.diff(nparr['time'])
+        to_short: np.ndarray = tdiff < sample_period_s
+        if (to_short).any():
+            # raise ValueError(
+            log.error(
+                f'OHLC frame for {sample_period_s} has {to_short.size} '
+                'time steps which are shorter then expected?!"'
+            )
+            # OOF: this will break teardown?
+            # breakpoint()
+
         return bars, nparr, dt_duration
 
     async def con_deats(
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py b/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py
index 1b144e3c..b317da22 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/broker.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Order and trades endpoints for use with ``piker``'s EMS.
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 from contextlib import ExitStack
-from collections import ChainMap
+# from collections import ChainMap
 from functools import partial
 from pprint import pformat
 import time
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
index bf84cba4..99b8aef9 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
@@ -196,10 +196,8 @@ async def open_history_client(
                     f'mean: {mean}'
                 )
 
-            if (
-                out is None
-            ):
-                # could be trying to retreive bars over weekend
+            # could be trying to retreive bars over weekend
+            if out is None:
                 log.error(f"Can't grab bars starting at {end_dt}!?!?")
                 raise NoData(
                     f'{end_dt}',
@@ -213,7 +211,24 @@ async def open_history_client(
             ):
                 raise DataUnavailable(f'First timestamp is {head_dt}')
 
-            bars, bars_array, first_dt, last_dt = out
+            # also see return type for `get_bars()`
+            bars: ibis.objects.BarDataList
+            bars_array: np.ndarray
+            first_dt: datetime
+            last_dt: datetime
+            (
+                bars,
+                bars_array,
+                first_dt,
+                last_dt,
+            ) = out
+
+            # TODO: audit the sampling period here as well?
+            # timestep should always be at least as large as the
+            # period step.
+            # tdiff: np.ndarray = np.diff(bars_array['time'])
+            # if (tdiff < timeframe).any():
+            #     await tractor.pause()
 
             # volume cleaning since there's -ve entries,
             # wood luv to know what crookery that is..