diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
index 3eb4b8df..53910f38 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ async def open_data_client() -> MethodProxy:
 
 @acm
 async def open_history_client(
-    symbol: str,
+    fqsn: str,
 
 ) -> tuple[Callable, int]:
     '''
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ async def open_history_client(
         mean: float = 0
         count: int = 0
 
-        head_dt = await proxy.get_head_time(fqsn=symbol)
+        head_dt = await proxy.get_head_time(fqsn=fqsn)
 
         async def get_hist(
             timeframe: float,
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ async def open_history_client(
             query_start = time.time()
             out, timedout = await get_bars(
                 proxy,
-                symbol,
+                fqsn,
                 timeframe,
                 end_dt=end_dt,
             )
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@ async def open_history_client(
                     # frame_size=2000,
                 )
 
-            if end_dt and end_dt <= head_dt:
+            if (
+                end_dt and end_dt <= head_dt
+            ):
                 raise DataUnavailable(f'First timestamp is {head_dt}')
 
             bars, bars_array, first_dt, last_dt = out
@@ -277,8 +279,14 @@ async def get_bars(
     # blank to start which tells ib to look up the latest datum
     end_dt: str = '',
 
-    # TODO: make this more dynamic based on measured frame rx latency..
-    timeout: float = 3,  # how long before we trigger a feed reset
+    # TODO: make this more dynamic based on measured frame rx latency?
+    # how long before we trigger a feed reset (seconds)
+    feed_reset_timeout: float = 3,
+
+    # how many days to subtract before giving up on further
+    # history queries for instrument, presuming that most don't
+    # not trade for a week XD
+    max_nodatas: int = 6,
 
     task_status: TaskStatus[trio.CancelScope] = trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED,
 
@@ -289,6 +297,7 @@ async def get_bars(
 
     '''
     global _data_resetter_task
+    nodatas_count: int = 0
 
     data_cs: trio.CancelScope | None = None
     result: tuple[
@@ -300,7 +309,7 @@ async def get_bars(
     result_ready = trio.Event()
 
     async def query():
-        nonlocal result, data_cs, end_dt
+        nonlocal result, data_cs, end_dt, nodatas_count
         while True:
             try:
                 out = await proxy.bars(
@@ -362,24 +371,34 @@ async def get_bars(
                     )
 
                 elif err.code == 162:
-                    if 'HMDS query returned no data' in err.message:
+                    if (
+                        'HMDS query returned no data' in msg
+                    ):
                         # XXX: this is now done in the storage mgmt
                         # layer and we shouldn't implicitly decrement
                         # the frame dt index since the upper layer may
                         # be doing so concurrently and we don't want to
                         # be delivering frames that weren't asked for.
-                        log.warning(
-                            f'NO DATA found ending @ {end_dt}\n'
-                        )
-
                         # try to decrement start point and look further back
                         # end_dt = end_dt.subtract(seconds=2000)
+                        logmsg = "SUBTRACTING DAY from DT index"
                         if end_dt is not None:
                             end_dt = end_dt.subtract(days=1)
-                            print("SUBTRACTING DAY")
-                        else:
+                        elif end_dt is None:
                             end_dt = pendulum.now().subtract(days=1)
 
+                        log.warning(
+                            f'NO DATA found ending @ {end_dt}\n'
+                            + logmsg
+                        )
+
+                        if nodatas_count >= max_nodatas:
+                            raise DataUnavailable(
+                                f'Presuming {fqsn} has no further history '
+                                f'after {max_nodatas} tries..'
+                            )
+
+                        nodatas_count += 1
                         continue
 
                     elif 'API historical data query cancelled' in err.message:
@@ -434,7 +453,7 @@ async def get_bars(
         # for a result before triggering a data feed reset.
         while not result_ready.is_set():
 
-            with trio.move_on_after(timeout):
+            with trio.move_on_after(feed_reset_timeout):
                 await result_ready.wait()
                 break