diff --git a/piker/_daemon.py b/piker/_daemon.py
index 999b8fce..e732a15d 100644
--- a/piker/_daemon.py
+++ b/piker/_daemon.py
@@ -426,9 +426,19 @@ async def spawn_brokerd(
 
     # ask `pikerd` to spawn a new sub-actor and manage it under its
     # actor nursery
+    modpath = brokermod.__name__
+    broker_enable = [modpath]
+    for submodname in getattr(
+        brokermod,
+        '__enable_modules__',
+        [],
+    ):
+        subpath = f'{modpath}.{submodname}'
+        broker_enable.append(subpath)
+
     portal = await _services.actor_n.start_actor(
         dname,
-        enable_modules=_data_mods + [brokermod.__name__],
+        enable_modules=_data_mods + broker_enable,
         loglevel=loglevel,
         debug_mode=_services.debug_mode,
         **tractor_kwargs
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py b/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..877b0667
--- /dev/null
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# piker: trading gear for hackers
+# Copyright (C) Tyler Goodlet (in stewardship for pikers)
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""
+Interactive Brokers API backend.
+
+Sub-modules within break into the core functionalities:
+
+- ``broker.py`` part for orders / trading endpoints
+- ``data.py`` for real-time data feed endpoints
+
+- ``client.py`` for the core API machinery which is ``trio``-ized
+  wrapping around ``ib_insync``.
+
+- ``report.py`` for the hackery to build manual pp calcs
+  to avoid ib's absolute bullshit FIFO style position
+  tracking..
+
+"""
+from .client import (
+    get_client,
+    open_history_client,
+    open_symbol_search,
+    stream_quotes,
+    trades_dialogue,
+)
+
+# tractor RPC enable arg
+__enable_modules__: list[str] = [
+    'client',
+]
+
+# passed to ``tractor.ActorNursery.start_actor()``
+_spawn_kwargs = {
+    'infect_asyncio': True,
+}
+
+# annotation to let backend agnostic code
+# know if ``brokerd`` should be spawned with
+# ``tractor``'s aio mode.
+_infect_asyncio: bool = True
diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib.py b/piker/brokers/ib/client.py
similarity index 99%
rename from piker/brokers/ib.py
rename to piker/brokers/ib/client.py
index 9b32521f..cbbbd8d4 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/client.py
@@ -15,11 +15,8 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 """
-Interactive Brokers API backend.
-
-Note the client runs under an ``asyncio`` loop (since ``ib_insync`` is
-built on it) and thus actor aware API calls must be spawned with
-``infected_aio==True``.
+``ib`` core API client machinery; mostly sane wrapping around
+``ib_insync``.
 
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -61,12 +58,12 @@ import numpy as np
 import pendulum
 
 
-from .. import config
-from ..log import get_logger, get_console_log
-from ..data._source import base_ohlc_dtype
-from ..data._sharedmem import ShmArray
-from ._util import SymbolNotFound, NoData
-from ..clearing._messages import (
+from piker import config
+from piker.log import get_logger, get_console_log
+from piker.data._source import base_ohlc_dtype
+from piker.data._sharedmem import ShmArray
+from .._util import SymbolNotFound, NoData
+from piker.clearing._messages import (
     BrokerdOrder, BrokerdOrderAck, BrokerdStatus,
     BrokerdPosition, BrokerdCancel,
     BrokerdFill, BrokerdError,
@@ -75,10 +72,7 @@ from ..clearing._messages import (
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
-# passed to ``tractor.ActorNursery.start_actor()``
-_spawn_kwargs = {
-    'infect_asyncio': True,
-}
+
 _time_units = {
     's': ' sec',
     'm': ' mins',
@@ -118,12 +112,6 @@ _search_conf = {
 }
 
 
-# annotation to let backend agnostic code
-# know if ``brokerd`` should be spawned with
-# ``tractor``'s aio mode.
-_infect_asyncio: bool = True
-
-
 # overrides to sidestep pretty questionable design decisions in
 # ``ib_insync``:
 class NonShittyWrapper(Wrapper):