diff --git a/jets/f/ut_fire.c b/jets/f/ut_fire.c
index 439186881..b0aba3e98 100644
--- a/jets/f/ut_fire.c
+++ b/jets/f/ut_fire.c
@@ -6,6 +6,19 @@
 
 /* logic
 */
+  static u3_noun
+  _fire_vet(u3_noun van)
+  {
+    // u3_noun vet = u3j_hook(u3k(van), "vet");
+    u3_noun vet = u3r_at(u3qfu_van_vet, van);
+
+    switch ( vet ) {
+      case c3n:
+      case c3y: return vet;
+      default: return u3m_bail(c3__fail);
+    }
+  }
+
   static u3_noun
   _fire_mull(u3_noun van,
              u3_noun sut,
@@ -18,6 +31,9 @@
                        u3k(gen));
     u3_noun ret;
 
+    if ( c3n == _fire_vet(van) ) {
+      ret = c3y;
+    }
     if ( c3y == u3qdi_has(rib, key) ) {
       ret = c3y;
     }
@@ -27,8 +43,11 @@
                              u3qfu_van_rib,
                              u3k(rob),
                              0);
-      ret = u3qfu_mull(von, sut, c3__noun, dox, gen);
+      u3_noun mul = u3qfu_mull(von, sut, c3__noun, dox, gen);
 
+      ret = c3y;
+  
+      u3z(mul);
       u3z(von);
       u3z(rob);
     }
diff --git a/jets/f/ut_mull.c b/jets/f/ut_mull.c
index fcc7e797b..d3d662883 100644
--- a/jets/f/ut_mull.c
+++ b/jets/f/ut_mull.c
@@ -9,19 +9,6 @@
   static u3_noun
   _mull_in(u3_noun, u3_noun, u3_noun, u3_noun, u3_noun);
 
-  static u3_noun
-  _mull_vet(u3_noun van)
-  {
-    // u3_noun vet = u3j_hook(u3k(van), "vet");
-    u3_noun vet = u3r_at(u3qfu_van_vet, van);
-
-    switch ( vet ) {
-      case c3n:
-      case c3y: return vet;
-      default: return u3m_bail(c3__fail);
-    }
-  }
-
   static u3_noun
   _mull_core(u3_noun pac,
              u3_noun con)
@@ -698,14 +685,7 @@
              u3_noun dox,
              u3_noun gen)
   {
-    if ( c3n == _mull_vet(van) ) {
-      return c3y;
-    } else {
-      u3_noun mul = _mull_in(van, sut, gol, dox, gen);
-
-      u3z(mul);
-      return c3y;
-    }
+    return _mull_in(van, sut, gol, dox, gen);
   }
 
 /* boilerplate