diff --git a/piker/ui/_axes.py b/piker/ui/_axes.py
index d2bac3cd..08d2e1b5 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_axes.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_axes.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from typing import List, Tuple, Optional
 
 import pandas as pd
 import pyqtgraph as pg
-from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtGui
+from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QPointF
 
 from ._style import DpiAwareFont, hcolor, _font
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ class Axis(pg.AxisItem):
     ) -> None:
 
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
+
+        # XXX: pretty sure this makes things slower
+        # self.setCacheMode(QtGui.QGraphicsItem.DeviceCoordinateCache)
+
         self.linked_charts = linked_charts
         self._min_tick = min_tick
 
@@ -158,9 +162,12 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
         fg_color: str = 'black',
         opacity: int = 0,
         font_size_inches: Optional[float] = None,
-    ):
+    ) -> None:
+
         super().__init__(parent)
         self.setFlag(self.ItemIgnoresTransformations)
+        # XXX: pretty sure this is faster
+        self.setCacheMode(QtGui.QGraphicsItem.DeviceCoordinateCache)
 
         self.parent = parent
         self.opacity = opacity
@@ -177,7 +184,12 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
 
         self.rect = None
 
-    def paint(self, p, option, widget):
+    def paint(
+        self,
+        p: QtGui.QPainter,
+        opt: QtWidgets.QStyleOptionGraphicsItem,
+        w: QtWidgets.QWidget
+    ) -> None:
         # p.setCompositionMode(QtGui.QPainter.CompositionMode_SourceOver)
 
         if self.label_str:
diff --git a/piker/ui/_graphics/_cursor.py b/piker/ui/_graphics/_cursor.py
index 2e6c2c35..83f0ee96 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_graphics/_cursor.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_graphics/_cursor.py
@@ -218,7 +218,6 @@ class CrossHair(pg.GraphicsObject):
         self.active_plot = None
         self.digits = digits
         self._lastx = None
-        # self.setCacheMode(QtGui.QGraphicsItem.DeviceCoordinateCache)
 
     def add_plot(
         self,
@@ -240,7 +239,6 @@ class CrossHair(pg.GraphicsObject):
             opacity=_ch_label_opac,
             bg_color='default',
         )
-        yl.setCacheMode(QtGui.QGraphicsItem.DeviceCoordinateCache)
         yl.hide()  # on startup if mouse is off screen
 
         # TODO: checkout what ``.sigDelayed`` can be used for
@@ -283,8 +281,6 @@ class CrossHair(pg.GraphicsObject):
         )
         # place label off-screen during startup
         self.xaxis_label.setPos(self.plots[0].mapFromView(QPointF(0, 0)))
-        self.xaxis_label.setCacheMode(
-            QtGui.QGraphicsItem.DeviceCoordinateCache)
 
     def add_curve_cursor(
         self,
diff --git a/piker/ui/_graphics/_curve.py b/piker/ui/_graphics/_curve.py
index 49b93910..7bf39cea 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_graphics/_curve.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_graphics/_curve.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
 from ..._profile import pg_profile_enabled
 
 
+# TODO: got a feeling that dropping this inheritance gets us even more speedups
 class FastAppendCurve(pg.PlotCurveItem):
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):