diff --git a/piker/clearing/_allocate.py b/piker/clearing/_allocate.py
index cdb243d6..9529991a 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_allocate.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_allocate.py
@@ -244,14 +244,6 @@ class Allocator(Struct):
         return round(prop * self.slots)
 
 
-_derivs = (
-    'future',
-    'continuous_future',
-    'option',
-    'futures_option',
-)
-
-
 def mk_allocator(
 
     symbol: Symbol,
@@ -278,45 +270,9 @@ def mk_allocator(
         'currency_limit': 6e3,
         'slots': 6,
     }
-
     defaults.update(user_def)
 
-    alloc = Allocator(
+    return Allocator(
         symbol=symbol,
         **defaults,
     )
-
-    asset_type = symbol.type_key
-
-    # specific configs by asset class / type
-
-    if asset_type in _derivs:
-        # since it's harder to know how currency "applies" in this case
-        # given leverage properties
-        alloc.size_unit = '# units'
-
-        # set units limit to slots size thus making make the next
-        # entry step 1.0
-        alloc.units_limit = alloc.slots
-
-    else:
-        alloc.size_unit = 'currency'
-
-    # if the current position is already greater then the limit
-    # settings, increase the limit to the current position
-    if alloc.size_unit == 'currency':
-        startup_size = startup_pp.size * startup_pp.ppu
-
-        if startup_size > alloc.currency_limit:
-            alloc.currency_limit = round(startup_size, ndigits=2)
-
-    else:
-        startup_size = abs(startup_pp.size)
-
-        if startup_size > alloc.units_limit:
-            alloc.units_limit = startup_size
-
-            if asset_type in _derivs:
-                alloc.slots = alloc.units_limit
-
-    return alloc
diff --git a/piker/ui/_position.py b/piker/ui/_position.py
index cbd28b18..9e4c5ff4 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_position.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_position.py
@@ -458,6 +458,14 @@ def position_line(
     return line
 
 
+_derivs = (
+    'future',
+    'continuous_future',
+    'option',
+    'futures_option',
+)
+
+
 class PositionTracker:
     '''
     Track and display real-time positions for a single symbol
@@ -564,14 +572,54 @@ class PositionTracker:
     def update_from_pp(
         self,
         position: Optional[Position] = None,
+        set_as_startup: bool = False,
 
     ) -> None:
-        '''Update graphics and data from average price and size passed in our
-        EMS ``BrokerdPosition`` msg.
+        '''
+        Update graphics and data from average price and size passed in
+        our EMS ``BrokerdPosition`` msg.
 
         '''
         # live pp updates
         pp = position or self.live_pp
+        if set_as_startup:
+            startup_pp = pp
+        else:
+            startup_pp = self.startup_pp
+        alloc = self.alloc
+
+        # update allocator settings
+        asset_type = pp.symbol.type_key
+
+        # specific configs by asset class / type
+        if asset_type in _derivs:
+            # since it's harder to know how currency "applies" in this case
+            # given leverage properties
+            alloc.size_unit = '# units'
+
+            # set units limit to slots size thus making make the next
+            # entry step 1.0
+            alloc.units_limit = alloc.slots
+
+        else:
+            alloc.size_unit = 'currency'
+
+        # if the current position is already greater then the limit
+        # settings, increase the limit to the current position
+        if alloc.size_unit == 'currency':
+            startup_size = self.startup_pp.size * startup_pp.ppu
+
+            if startup_size > alloc.currency_limit:
+                alloc.currency_limit = round(startup_size, ndigits=2)
+
+        else:
+            startup_size = abs(startup_pp.size)
+
+            if startup_size > alloc.units_limit:
+                alloc.units_limit = startup_size
+
+                if asset_type in _derivs:
+                    alloc.slots = alloc.units_limit
 
         self.update_line(
             pp.ppu,
@@ -581,7 +629,7 @@ class PositionTracker:
 
         # label updates
         self.size_label.fields['slots_used'] = round(
-            self.alloc.slots_used(pp), ndigits=1)
+            alloc.slots_used(pp), ndigits=1)
         self.size_label.render()
 
         if pp.size == 0:
diff --git a/piker/ui/order_mode.py b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
index ff974501..ee484bf3 100644
--- a/piker/ui/order_mode.py
+++ b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
@@ -639,11 +639,6 @@ async def open_order_mode(
             iter(accounts.keys())
         ) if accounts else 'paper'
 
-        # Pack position messages by account, should only be one-to-one.
-        # NOTE: requires the backend exactly specifies
-        # the expected symbol key in its positions msg.
-        # pps_by_account = {}
-
         # update pp trackers with data relayed from ``brokerd``.
         for account_name in accounts:
 
@@ -656,6 +651,7 @@ async def open_order_mode(
                 # XXX: BLEH, do we care about this on the client side?
                 bsuid=symbol,
             )
+
             # allocator config
             alloc = mk_allocator(
                 symbol=symbol,
@@ -750,7 +746,6 @@ async def open_order_mode(
         # to order sync pane handler
         for key in ('account', 'size_unit',):
             w = form.fields[key]
-
             w.currentTextChanged.connect(
                 partial(
                     order_pane.on_selection_change,
@@ -773,6 +768,9 @@ async def open_order_mode(
         # Begin order-response streaming
         done()
 
+        # Pack position messages by account, should only be one-to-one.
+        # NOTE: requires the backend exactly specifies
+        # the expected symbol key in its positions msg.
         for (broker, acctid), msgs in position_msgs.items():
             for msg in msgs:
                 log.info(f'Loading pp for {symkey}:\n{pformat(msg)}')
@@ -869,8 +867,7 @@ async def process_trade_msg(
             log.info(f'{fqsn} matched pp msg: {fmsg}')
             tracker = mode.trackers[msg['account']]
             tracker.live_pp.update_from_msg(msg)
-            # update order pane widgets
-            tracker.update_from_pp()
+            tracker.update_from_pp(set_as_startup=True)  # status/pane UI
             mode.pane.update_status_ui(tracker)
 
             if tracker.live_pp.size: