diff --git a/piker/clearing/_ems.py b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
index 782351c0..c77ffd1b 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_ems.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ from collections import (
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager as acm
 from decimal import Decimal
 from math import isnan
-from pprint import pformat
 from time import time_ns
 from types import ModuleType
 from typing import (
@@ -43,6 +42,7 @@ import trio
 from trio_typing import TaskStatus
 import tractor
 from tractor import trionics
+from tractor.devx.pformat import ppfmt
 
 from ._util import (
     log,  # sub-sys logger
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ async def open_brokerd_dialog(
             msg = BrokerdPosition(**msg)
             log.info(
                 f'loading pp for {brokermod.__name__}:\n'
-                f'{pformat(msg.to_dict())}',
+                f'{ppfmt(msg.to_dict())}',
             )
 
             # TODO: state any mismatch here?
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
 
     brokerd_msg: dict[str, Any]
     async for brokerd_msg in brokerd_trades_stream:
-        fmsg = pformat(brokerd_msg)
+        fmsg = ppfmt(brokerd_msg)
         log.info(
             f'Rx brokerd trade msg:\n'
             f'{fmsg}'
@@ -1039,7 +1039,8 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                     )
 
                 status_msg.reqid = reqid  # THIS LINE IS CRITICAL!
-                status_msg.brokerd_msg = msg
+                if not status_msg.brokerd_msg:
+                    status_msg.brokerd_msg = msg
                 status_msg.src = msg.broker_details['name']
 
                 if not status_msg.req:
@@ -1072,7 +1073,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                 else:  # open
                     # relayed from backend but probably not handled so
                     # just log it
-                    log.info(f'{broker} opened order {msg}')
+                    log.info(f'{broker!r} opened order {msg}')
 
             # BrokerdFill
             case {
@@ -1185,7 +1186,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
             }:
                 msg = (
                     f'Unhandled broker status for dialog {reqid}:\n'
-                    f'{pformat(brokerd_msg)}'
+                    f'{ppfmt(brokerd_msg)}'
                 )
                 if (
                     oid := book._ems2brokerd_ids.inverse.get(reqid)
@@ -1194,7 +1195,7 @@ async def translate_and_relay_brokerd_events(
                     # clearable limits..
                     if status_msg := book._active.get(oid):
                         msg += (
-                            f'last status msg: {pformat(status_msg)}\n\n'
+                            f'last status msg: {ppfmt(status_msg)}\n\n'
                             f'this msg:{fmsg}\n'
                         )
 
@@ -1233,7 +1234,7 @@ async def process_client_order_cmds(
     async for cmd in client_order_stream:
         log.info(
             f'Received order cmd:\n'
-            f'{pformat(cmd)}\n'
+            f'{ppfmt(cmd)}\n'
         )
 
         # CAWT DAMN we need struct support!
@@ -1398,8 +1399,8 @@ async def process_client_order_cmds(
                 # handle relaying the ems side responses back to
                 # the client/cmd sender from this request
                 log.info(
-                    f'Sending live order to {broker}:\n'
-                    f'{pformat(msg)}'
+                    f'Sending live order to {broker!r}:\n'
+                    f'{ppfmt(msg)}'
                 )
 
                 await brokerd_order_stream.send(msg)