diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/_util.py b/piker/brokers/ib/_util.py
index 2941284a..cb3affc7 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/_util.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/_util.py
@@ -197,15 +197,20 @@ async def vnc_click_hack(
 ) -> None:
     '''
     Reset the data or network connection for the VNC attached
-    ib gateway using magic combos.
+    ib-gateway using a (magic) keybinding combo.
 
     '''
     try:
-        import asyncvnc
+        from pyvnc import (
+            AsyncVNCClient,
+            VNCConfig,
+            Point,
+            MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT,
+        )
     except ModuleNotFoundError:
         log.warning(
             "In order to leverage `piker`'s built-in data reset hacks, install "
-            "the `asyncvnc` project: https://github.com/barneygale/asyncvnc"
+            "the `pyvnc` project: https://github.com/regulad/pyvnc.git"
         )
         return
 
@@ -216,24 +221,27 @@ async def vnc_click_hack(
         'connection': 'r'
     }[reset_type]
 
-    async with asyncvnc.connect(
-        host,
-        port=port,
-
-        # TODO: doesn't work?
-        # see, https://github.com/barneygale/asyncvnc/issues/7
-        password='doggy',
-
-    ) as client:
-
-        # move to middle of screen
-        # 640x1800
-        client.mouse.move(
-            x=500,
-            y=500,
+    with tractor.devx.open_crash_handler():
+        client = await AsyncVNCClient.connect(
+            VNCConfig(
+                host=host,
+                port=port,
+                password='doggy',
+            )
         )
-        client.mouse.click()
-        client.keyboard.press('Ctrl', 'Alt', key)  # keys are stacked
+        async with client:
+            # move to middle of screen
+            # 640x1800
+            await client.move(
+                Point(
+                    500,
+                    500,
+                )
+            )
+            # ensure the ib-gw window is active
+            await client.click(MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT)
+            # send the hotkeys combo B)
+            await client.press('Ctrl', 'Alt', key)  # keys are stacked
 
 
 def i3ipc_fin_wins_titled(
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 78ac0eb2..d76f05d5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ dependencies = [
     "websockets ==12.0",
     "msgspec>=0.19.0,<0.20",
     "tractor",
-    "asyncvnc",
     "tomlkit",
     "trio-typing>=0.10.0",
     "numba>=0.61.0",
+    "pyvnc",
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
@@ -107,17 +107,32 @@ uis = [
 # console ehancements and eventually remote debugging extras/helpers.
 # use `uv --dev` to enable
 dev = [
-    "pytest >=6.0.0, <7.0.0",
+    "pytest",
     "elasticsearch >=8.9.0, <9.0.0",
-    'xonsh',
     "prompt-toolkit ==3.0.40",
     "cython >=3.0.0, <4.0.0",
     "greenback >=1.1.1, <2.0.0",
     "ruff>=0.9.6",
     "pyperclip>=1.9.0",
     "i3ipc>=2.2.1",
+
+    # ?from git, see below.
+    "xonsh",
 ]
 
+[tool.pytest.ini_options]
+# https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/reference/reference.html#configuration-options
+testpaths = [
+    "tests",
+]
+# https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/reference/reference.html#confval-console_output_style
+console_output_style = 'progress'
+
+# https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/plugins.html#disabling-plugins-from-autoloading
+# https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/plugins.html#deactivating-unregistering-a-plugin-by-name
+addopts = '-p no:xonsh'
+
+
 [project.scripts]
 piker = "piker.cli:cli"
 pikerd = "piker.cli:pikerd"
@@ -138,8 +153,8 @@ python-downloads = 'manual'
 
 [tool.uv.sources]
 pyqtgraph = { git = "https://github.com/pikers/pyqtgraph.git" }
-asyncvnc = { git = "https://github.com/pikers/asyncvnc.git", branch = "main" }
 tomlkit = { git = "https://github.com/pikers/tomlkit.git", branch ="piker_pin" }
+pyvnc = { git = "https://github.com/regulad/pyvnc.git" }
 
 # TODO, long term we should be synced to upstream `main` branch!
 # tractor = { git = "https://github.com/goodboy/tractor.git", branch ="piker_pin" }