diff --git a/piker/data/_sampling.py b/piker/data/_sampling.py
index dc247630..ecad241d 100644
--- a/piker/data/_sampling.py
+++ b/piker/data/_sampling.py
@@ -32,19 +32,27 @@ from ..log import get_logger
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
 
-# TODO: we could stick these in a composed type to avoid
-# angering the "i hate module scoped variables crowd" (yawn).
-_ohlcv_shms: dict[int, list[ShmArray]] = {}
+class sampler:
+    '''
+    Global sampling engine registry.
 
-# holds one-task-per-sample-period tasks which are spawned as-needed by
-# data feed requests with a given detected time step usually from
-# history loading.
-_incrementers: dict[int, trio.CancelScope] = {}
+    Manages state for sampling events, shm incrementing and
+    sample period logic.
 
-# holds all the ``tractor.Context`` remote subscriptions for
-# a particular sample period increment event: all subscribers are
-# notified on a step.
-_subscribers: dict[int, tractor.Context] = {}
+    '''
+    # TODO: we could stick these in a composed type to avoid
+    # angering the "i hate module scoped variables crowd" (yawn).
+    ohlcv_shms: dict[int, list[ShmArray]] = {}
+
+    # holds one-task-per-sample-period tasks which are spawned as-needed by
+    # data feed requests with a given detected time step usually from
+    # history loading.
+    incrementers: dict[int, trio.CancelScope] = {}
+
+    # holds all the ``tractor.Context`` remote subscriptions for
+    # a particular sample period increment event: all subscribers are
+    # notified on a step.
+    subscribers: dict[int, tractor.Context] = {}
 
 
 async def increment_ohlc_buffer(
@@ -73,19 +81,17 @@ async def increment_ohlc_buffer(
     # to solve this is to make this task aware of the instrument's
     # tradable hours?
 
-    global _incrementers, _ohlcv_shms, _subscribers
-
     # adjust delay to compensate for trio processing time
-    ad = min(_ohlcv_shms.keys()) - 0.001
+    ad = min(sampler.ohlcv_shms.keys()) - 0.001
 
     total_s = 0  # total seconds counted
-    lowest = min(_ohlcv_shms.keys())
+    lowest = min(sampler.ohlcv_shms.keys())
     ad = lowest - 0.001
 
     with trio.CancelScope() as cs:
 
         # register this time period step as active
-        _incrementers[delay_s] = cs
+        sampler.incrementers[delay_s] = cs
         task_status.started(cs)
 
         while True:
@@ -98,7 +104,7 @@ async def increment_ohlc_buffer(
             # TODO:
             # - this in ``numba``
             # - just lookup shms for this step instead of iterating?
-            for delay_s, shms in _ohlcv_shms.items():
+            for delay_s, shms in sampler.ohlcv_shms.items():
                 if total_s % delay_s != 0:
                     continue
 
@@ -125,7 +131,7 @@ async def increment_ohlc_buffer(
 
             # broadcast the buffer index step to any subscribers for
             # a given sample period.
-            subs = _subscribers.get(delay_s, ())
+            subs = sampler.subscribers.get(delay_s, ())
 
             for ctx in subs:
                 try:
@@ -151,8 +157,7 @@ async def iter_ohlc_periods(
 
     '''
     # add our subscription
-    global _subscribers
-    subs = _subscribers.setdefault(delay_s, [])
+    subs = sampler.subscribers.setdefault(delay_s, [])
     subs.append(ctx)
 
     try:
@@ -313,6 +318,8 @@ async def uniform_rate_send(
     quote_stream: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel,
     stream: tractor.MsgStream,
 
+    task_status: TaskStatus = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
+
 ) -> None:
 
     # TODO: compute the approx overhead latency per cycle
@@ -323,6 +330,8 @@ async def uniform_rate_send(
     last_send = time.time()
     diff = 0
 
+    task_status.started()
+
     while True:
 
         # compute the remaining time to sleep for this throttled cycle
diff --git a/piker/data/feed.py b/piker/data/feed.py
index c3d17ac2..0e1f1248 100644
--- a/piker/data/feed.py
+++ b/piker/data/feed.py
@@ -56,10 +56,7 @@ from ._source import (
 )
 from ..ui import _search
 from ._sampling import (
-    # TODO: should probably group these in a compound type at this point XD
-    _ohlcv_shms,
-    _subscribers,
-    _incrementers,
+    sampler,
     increment_ohlc_buffer,
     iter_ohlc_periods,
     sample_and_broadcast,
@@ -118,7 +115,7 @@ class _FeedsBus(BaseModel):
                 trio.CancelScope] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
         ) -> None:
             with trio.CancelScope() as cs:
-                self.nursery.start_soon(
+                await self.nursery.start(
                     target,
                     *args,
                 )
@@ -255,23 +252,26 @@ async def manage_history(
     await feed_is_live.wait()
 
     if opened:
-        _ohlcv_shms.setdefault(delay_s, []).append(shm)
+        sampler.ohlcv_shms.setdefault(delay_s, []).append(shm)
 
         # start shm incrementing for OHLC sampling at the current
         # detected sampling period if one dne.
-        if _incrementers.get(delay_s) is None:
-            cs = await bus.start_task(increment_ohlc_buffer, delay_s)
+        if sampler.incrementers.get(delay_s) is None:
+            cs = await bus.start_task(
+                increment_ohlc_buffer,
+                delay_s,
+            )
 
     await trio.sleep_forever()
     cs.cancel()
 
 
 async def allocate_persistent_feed(
-
     bus: _FeedsBus,
     brokername: str,
     symbol: str,
     loglevel: str,
+
     task_status: TaskStatus[trio.CancelScope] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
 
 ) -> None: