diff --git a/piker/brokers/cli.py b/piker/brokers/cli.py
index d54b2203..626b4ff8 100644
--- a/piker/brokers/cli.py
+++ b/piker/brokers/cli.py
@@ -471,11 +471,15 @@ def search(
 
     '''
     # global opts
-    brokermods = list(config['brokermods'].values())
+    brokermods: list[ModuleType] = list(config['brokermods'].values())
+
+    # TODO: this is coming from the `search --pdb` NOT from
+    # the `piker --pdb` XD ..
+    # -[ ] pull from the parent click ctx's values..dumdum
+    # assert pdb
 
     # define tractor entrypoint
     async def main(func):
-
         async with maybe_open_pikerd(
             loglevel=config['loglevel'],
             debug_mode=pdb,