diff --git a/piker/data/_sharedmem.py b/piker/data/_sharedmem.py
index 2169e262..5d38cbbd 100644
--- a/piker/data/_sharedmem.py
+++ b/piker/data/_sharedmem.py
@@ -272,9 +272,8 @@ class ShmArray:
             return end
 
         except ValueError as err:
-            # shoudl raise if diff detected
+            # should raise if diff detected
             self.diff_err_fields(data)
-
             raise err
 
     def diff_err_fields(
diff --git a/piker/ui/_display.py b/piker/ui/_display.py
index 463f243d..f6b8dce3 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_display.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_display.py
@@ -61,18 +61,19 @@ log = get_logger(__name__)
 _quote_throttle_rate: int = 58  # Hz
 
 
-def update_fsp_chart(
-    chart: ChartPlotWidget,
-    shm: ShmArray,
-    graphics_name: str,
-    array_key: Optional[str],
+def try_read(array: np.ndarray) -> Optional[np.ndarray]:
+    '''
+    Try to read the last row from a shared mem array or ``None``
+    if the array read returns a zero-length array result.
 
-) -> None:
-
-    array = shm.array
+    Can be used to check for backfilling race conditions where an array
+    is currently being (re-)written by a writer actor but the reader is
+    unaware and reads during the window where the first and last indexes
+    are being updated.
 
+    '''
     try:
-        last_row = array[-1]
+        return array[-1]
     except IndexError:
         # XXX: race condition with backfilling shm.
         #
@@ -85,6 +86,23 @@ def update_fsp_chart(
         # signal that a prepend is taking place and this consumer can
         # respond (eg. redrawing graphics) accordingly.
         log.warning(f'Read-race on shm array: {graphics_name}@{shm.token}')
+
+    # the array read was emtpy
+    return None
+
+
+def update_fsp_chart(
+    chart: ChartPlotWidget,
+    shm: ShmArray,
+    graphics_name: str,
+    array_key: Optional[str],
+
+) -> None:
+
+    array = shm.array
+    last_row = try_read(array)
+    # guard against unreadable case
+    if not last_row:
         return
 
     # update graphics
@@ -850,13 +868,17 @@ async def check_for_new_bars(
             # current bar) and then either write the current bar manually
             # or place a cursor for visual cue of the current time step.
 
+            array = ohlcv.array
+            # avoid unreadable race case on backfills
+            while not try_read(array):
+                await trio.sleep(0.01)
+
             # XXX: this puts a flat bar on the current time step
             # TODO: if we eventually have an x-axis time-step "cursor"
             # we can get rid of this since it is extra overhead.
-
             price_chart.update_ohlc_from_array(
                 price_chart.name,
-                ohlcv.array,
+                array,
                 just_history=False,
             )
 
@@ -870,6 +892,9 @@ async def check_for_new_bars(
 
             # each subplot
             for name, chart in linkedsplits.subplots.items():
+
+                # TODO: do we need the same unreadable guard as for the
+                # price chart (above) here?
                 chart.update_curve_from_array(
                     chart.name,
                     chart._shm.array,