diff --git a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
index 14803144..5f2c0062 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/ib/feed.py
@@ -1246,54 +1246,12 @@ async def stream_quotes(
                     tn.start_soon(reset_on_feed)
 
                     async with aclosing(iter_quotes):
-                        # if syminfo.get('no_vlm', False):
-                        if not init_msg.shm_write_opts['has_vlm']:
-
-                            # generally speaking these feeds don't
-                            # include vlm data.
-                            atype: str = mkt.dst.atype
-                            log.info(
-                                f'No-vlm {mkt.fqme}@{atype}, skipping quote poll'
-                            )
-
-                        else:
-                            # wait for real volume on feed (trading might be
-                            # closed)
-                            while True:
-                                ticker = await iter_quotes.receive()
-
-                                # for a real volume contract we rait for
-                                # the first "real" trade to take place
-                                if (
-                                    # not calc_price
-                                    # and not ticker.rtTime
-                                    False
-                                    # not ticker.rtTime
-                                ):
-                                    # spin consuming tickers until we
-                                    # get a real market datum
-                                    log.debug(f"New unsent ticker: {ticker}")
-                                    continue
-
-                                else:
-                                    log.debug("Received first volume tick")
-                                    # ugh, clear ticks since we've
-                                    # consumed them (ahem, ib_insync is
-                                    # truly stateful trash)
-                                    # ticker.ticks = []
-
-                                    # XXX: this works because we don't use
-                                    # ``aclosing()`` above?
-                                    break
-
-                            quote = normalize(ticker)
-                            log.debug(f"First ticker received {quote}")
-
                         # tell data-layer spawner-caller that live
                         # quotes are now active desptie not having
                         # necessarily received a first vlm/clearing
                         # tick.
                         ticker = await iter_quotes.receive()
+                        quote = normalize(ticker)
                         feed_is_live.set()
                         fqme: str = quote['fqme']
                         await send_chan.send({fqme: quote})