diff --git a/vere/king.c b/vere/king.c
index 91434cb46..87160a5ec 100644
--- a/vere/king.c
+++ b/vere/king.c
@@ -94,25 +94,20 @@ static c3_c sag_w;
 ::  +pill: boot-sequence ingredients
 ::
 +$  pill
-  $%  ::  %fast: fast-boot with %zuse and vanes pre-installed (+solid)
-      ::
-      ::  p: jammed pill
-      ::  q: optional %into ovum overriding that of .p
-      ::
-      [%fast p=@ q=(unit ovum)]
-      ::  %full: complete bootstrapping sequence (+brass)
-      ::
-      ::  p: jammed pill
-      ::
-      [%full p=@]
-      ::  %lite: lightweight boot sequence (+ivory)
-      ::
-      ::  p: jammed pill
-      ::  q: module ova
-      ::  r: userspace ova
-      ::
-      [%lite p=@ q=(list ovum) r=(list ovum)]
-  ==
+  %+  each
+    ::  %&: complete pill (either +brass or +solid)
+    ::
+    ::  p: jammed pill
+    ::  q: optional %into ovum overriding that of .p
+    ::
+    [p=@ q=(unit ovum)]
+  ::  %|: incomplete pill (+ivory)
+  ::
+  ::  p: jammed pill
+  ::  q: module ova
+  ::  r: userspace ova
+  ::
+  [p=@ q=(list ovum) r=(list ovum)]
 ::  +cede: lord to client
 ::
 ::  XX not implemented
@@ -432,7 +427,7 @@ _boothack_pill(void)
   //  XX stat first to print error on failure?
   //
 
-  return u3nc(c3__full, u3m_file(u3_Host.ops_u.pil_c));
+  return u3nt(c3y, u3m_file(u3_Host.ops_u.pil_c), u3_nul);
 }
 
 /* _boothack_key(): parse a private key file or value
diff --git a/vere/pier.c b/vere/pier.c
index 389637345..c44378bc1 100644
--- a/vere/pier.c
+++ b/vere/pier.c
@@ -863,12 +863,19 @@ _pier_boot_vent(u3_pier* pir_u)
   //  extract boot formulas and module/userspace ova from pill
   //
   {
+    u3_noun pil_p, pil_q, pil_r;
     u3_noun pro;
 
     c3_assert( c3y == u3du(pir_u->pil) );
-    c3_assert( c3__full == u3h(pir_u->pil) );
 
-    pro = u3m_soft(0, u3ke_cue, u3k(u3t(pir_u->pil)));
+    if ( c3y == u3h(pir_u->pil) ) {
+      u3x_trel(pir_u->pil, 0, &pil_p, &pil_q);
+    }
+    else {
+      u3x_qual(pir_u->pil, 0, &pil_p, &pil_q, &pil_r);
+    }
+
+    pro = u3m_soft(0, u3ke_cue, u3k(pil_p));
 
     if ( 0 != u3h(pro) ) {
       fprintf(stderr, "boot: failed: unable to parse pill\r\n");
@@ -877,8 +884,37 @@ _pier_boot_vent(u3_pier* pir_u)
 
     u3x_trel(u3t(pro), &bot, &mod, &use);
     u3k(bot); u3k(mod); u3k(use);
-    u3z(pro);
 
+    //  optionally replace filesystem in userspace
+    //
+    if ( c3y == u3h(pir_u->pil) ) {
+      if ( u3_nul != pil_q ) {
+        u3_noun new = u3nc(u3k(u3t(pil_q)), u3_nul);
+        u3_noun ova = use;
+        u3_noun ovo;
+
+        while ( u3_nul != ova ) {
+          ovo = u3h(ova);
+
+          if ( c3__into != u3h(u3t(ovo)) ) {
+            new = u3nc(u3k(ovo), new);
+          }
+
+          ova = u3t(ova);
+        }
+
+        u3z(use);
+        use = u3kb_flop(new);
+      }
+    }
+    //  prepend %lite module and userspace ova
+    //
+    else {
+      mod = u3kb_weld(u3k(pil_q), mod);
+      use = u3kb_weld(u3k(pil_r), use);
+    }
+
+    u3z(pro);
     u3z(pir_u->pil);
     pir_u->pil = u3_nul;
   }