diff --git a/base/arvo/clay.hoon b/base/arvo/clay.hoon
index 523f37556..616ad2f2f 100644
--- a/base/arvo/clay.hoon
+++ b/base/arvo/clay.hoon
@@ -1068,9 +1068,9 @@
       =+  vid=(read-at-aeon:ze u.nao p.q.i.xiq)
       ::  ~&  %red-at-aeon
       ?~  vid
-        ?~  u.nao
+        ?:  =(0 u.nao)
           ~&  [%oh-poor `path`[syd '0' r.p.q.i.xiq]]
-          $(xiq t.xiq) 
+          $(xiq t.xiq)
         ~&  [%oh-well desk=syd mood=p.q.i.xiq aeon=u.nao]
         $(xiq t.xiq, xaq [i.xiq xaq])
       $(xiq t.xiq, ..wake (balk p.i.xiq u.vid p.q.i.xiq))
diff --git a/base/lib/kiln/core.hook b/base/lib/kiln/core.hook
index 205a9b721..b9e19ec0e 100644
--- a/base/lib/kiln/core.hook
+++ b/base/lib/kiln/core.hook
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
         %-  flop
         =<  acc
         %+  roll  mes
-        =<  .(eny eny)
+        =<  .(eny ^eny)
         |=  [tan=tank acc=(list thought:talk) eny=@uvI]
         ^-  [acc=(list thought:talk) eny=@uvI]
         =+  (sham eny mes)
@@ -172,7 +172,10 @@
       %-  blab  :_  ~
       :*  ost  %merg
           /kiln/sync/[syd]/(scot %p her)/[sud]
-          our  syd  her  sud  %mate
+          our  syd  her  sud
+          ?:  =(0 .^(%cw /(scot %p our)/[syd]/(scot %da lat)))
+            %init
+          %mate
       ==
     ::
     ++  mere
@@ -182,9 +185,9 @@
         %-  spam
         ?:  ?=(%& -.mes)
           [leaf/"autosync succeeded from {<sud>} on {<her>} to {<syd>}" ~]
-        :*  leaf/"autsync faild from {<sud>} on {<her>} to {<syd>}"
+        :*  leaf/"autosync failed from {<sud>} on {<her>} to {<syd>}"
             leaf/"please manually merge the desks with"
-            leaf/":helm+merge %{(trip syd)} {(scow %p her)} %{(trip sud)}"
+            leaf/":+merge %{(trip syd)} {(scow %p her)} %{(trip sud)}"
             leaf/""
             leaf/"error code: {<p.p.mes>}"
             q.p.mes
@@ -215,7 +218,7 @@
     ++  lose
       ^+  .
       ~|  %kiln-work-fail
-      !!
+      .
     ::
     ++  gage-to-tage                                    ::
       |=  res=gage