diff --git a/pkg/urbit/include/vere/vere.h b/pkg/urbit/include/vere/vere.h
index 85399f63f..e2e0beb00 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/include/vere/vere.h
+++ b/pkg/urbit/include/vere/vere.h
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
           c3_o       diz_o;                 //  spinner activated
           c3_d       eve_d;                 //  spin count
           c3_d       end_d;                 //  spinner end tick (ms)
-          c3_c*      why_c;                 //  spinner label
+          c3_c       why_c[5];              //  spinner label
         } sun_u;
       } u3_utat;
 
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@
       /* u3_term_start_spinner(): prepare spinner state. RETAIN.
       */
         void
-        u3_term_start_spinner(c3_c* why_c, c3_o now_o);
+        u3_term_start_spinner(u3_noun say, c3_o now_o);
 
       /* u3_term_stop_spinner(): reset spinner state and restore input line.
       */
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/pier.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/pier.c
index 0597b5b39..dd83f7197 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/pier.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/pier.c
@@ -643,11 +643,11 @@ static void
 _pier_work_spin_start(u3_writ* wit_u)
 {
   u3_pier* pir_u = wit_u->pir_u;
-  c3_o now_o = c3n;
-  c3_c* why_c = 0;
+  c3_o     now_o = c3n;
+  u3_noun    say = u3_blip;
 
   if ( wit_u->evt_d <= pir_u->lif_d ) {
-    why_c = strdup("nock");
+    say = c3__nock;
   }
   else {
     u3_noun why;
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ _pier_work_spin_start(u3_writ* wit_u)
 
 
       if ( c3__term != why ) {
-        why_c = u3r_string(why);
+        say = why;
       }
       else if (  ( u3_none != (cad = u3r_at(7, wit_u->job)) ) &&
                  ( u3_none != (tag = u3r_at(2, cad)) ) &&
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ _pier_work_spin_start(u3_writ* wit_u)
     }
   }
 
-  u3_term_start_spinner(why_c, now_o);
+  u3_term_start_spinner(say, now_o);
 }
 
 /* _pier_work_spin_stop(): deactivate spinner.
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/term.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/term.c
index bc06ab846..3d7e550be 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/term.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/term.c
@@ -787,12 +787,11 @@ _term_spin_timer_cb(uv_timer_t* tim_u)
   *cur_c++ = daz_c[lag_d % strlen(daz_c)];
   c3_w sol_w = 1;  //  spinner length (utf-32)
 
-  if ( tat_u->sun_u.why_c ) {
+  if ( tat_u->sun_u.why_c[0] ) {
     strncpy(cur_c, dal_c, 2);
     cur_c += 2;
     sol_w += 1;  //  length of dal_c (utf-32)
 
-    // c3_w wel_w = strlen(tat_u.sun_u->why_c);
     strncpy(cur_c, tat_u->sun_u.why_c, 4);
     cur_c += 4;
     sol_w += 4;  // XX assumed utf-8
@@ -826,17 +825,17 @@ _term_spin_timer_cb(uv_timer_t* tim_u)
 #define _SPIN_RATE_US 250UL  //  spinner rate (ms/frame)
 #define _SPIN_IDLE_US 500UL  //  spinner cools down if stopped this long
 
-/* u3_term_start_spinner(): prepare spinner state
+/* u3_term_start_spinner(): prepare spinner state. RETAIN.
 */
 void
-u3_term_start_spinner(c3_c* why_c, c3_o now_o)
+u3_term_start_spinner(u3_noun say, c3_o now_o)
 {
   if ( c3n == u3_Host.ops_u.tem ) {
     u3_utty* uty_u = _term_main();
     u3_utat* tat_u = &uty_u->tat_u;
 
-    c3_free(tat_u->sun_u.why_c);
-    tat_u->sun_u.why_c = why_c;
+    tat_u->sun_u.why_c[4] = 0;
+    u3r_bytes(0, 4, (c3_y*)tat_u->sun_u.why_c, say);
 
     tat_u->sun_u.eve_d = 0;
     // XX must be c3n for cursor backoff from EOL?
@@ -854,9 +853,6 @@ u3_term_start_spinner(c3_c* why_c, c3_o now_o)
                      wen_d, _SPIN_RATE_US);
     }
   }
-  else {
-    c3_free(why_c);
-  }
 }
 
 /* u3_term_stop_spinner(): reset spinner state and restore input line.
@@ -868,8 +864,7 @@ u3_term_stop_spinner(void)
     u3_utty* uty_u = _term_main();
     u3_utat* tat_u = &uty_u->tat_u;
 
-    c3_free(tat_u->sun_u.why_c);
-    tat_u->sun_u.why_c = 0;
+    memset(tat_u->sun_u.why_c, 0, 5);
 
     uv_timer_stop(&tat_u->sun_u.tim_u);