diff --git a/include/vere/vere.h b/include/vere/vere.h
index 2183d483e3..c4c02449f8 100644
--- a/include/vere/vere.h
+++ b/include/vere/vere.h
@@ -581,7 +581,6 @@
       typedef struct _u3_opts {
         c3_c*   arv_c;                      //  -A, initial sync from
         c3_c*   gen_c;                      //  -G, czar generator
-        c3_c*   imp_c;                      //  -I, czar name
         c3_c*   nam_c;                      //  -n, unix hostname
         c3_c*   pil_c;                      //  -B, bootstrap from
         c3_c*   raf_c;                      //  -r, raft flotilla
diff --git a/vere/http.c b/vere/http.c
index 14d5fd4afe..2211ade956 100644
--- a/vere/http.c
+++ b/vere/http.c
@@ -1238,6 +1238,7 @@ static u3_noun
 _http_czar_host(void)
 {
   u3_noun dom = u3_nul;
+  return dom;
 
   // XX revisit
 #if 0
@@ -1275,7 +1276,6 @@ _http_czar_host(void)
       }
     }
   }
-#endif
 
   if ( u3_nul == dom ) {
     return dom;
@@ -1285,6 +1285,7 @@ _http_czar_host(void)
   dom = u3nc(u3i_string(u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c + 1), u3kb_flop(u3k(dom)));
 
   return u3nt(u3_nul, c3y, u3kb_flop(u3k(dom)));
+#endif
 }
 
 /* u3_http_ef_bake(): notify %eyre that we're live
diff --git a/vere/main.c b/vere/main.c
index 0f60f735b1..0fbf9783c6 100644
--- a/vere/main.c
+++ b/vere/main.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
   u3_Host.ops_u.veb = c3n;
   u3_Host.ops_u.kno_w = DefaultKernel;
 
-  while ( (ch_i=getopt(argc, argv,"G:B:K:A:I:w:u:f:F:k:l:n:p:r:NabcdgqsvxMPDXRS")) != -1 ) {
+  while ( (ch_i=getopt(argc, argv,"G:B:K:A:w:u:f:F:k:l:n:p:r:NabcdgqsvxMPDXRS")) != -1 ) {
     switch ( ch_i ) {
       case 'M': {
         u3_Host.ops_u.mem = c3y;
@@ -109,11 +109,6 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
         u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c = strdup(optarg);
         break;
       }
-      // XX remove in deference to -K
-      case 'I': {
-        u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c = _main_presig(optarg);
-        break;
-      }
       case 'F': {
         u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c = _main_presig(optarg);
         break;
@@ -143,7 +138,6 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
       }
       case 'K': {
         u3_Host.ops_u.key_c = strdup(optarg);
-        u3_Host.ops_u.nuu = c3y;
         break;
       }
       case 'k': {
@@ -194,18 +188,11 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     }
   }
 
-  // XX remove -I
-  if ( (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c) && (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c) ) {
-    fprintf(stderr, "-I is redundant with -F\n");
-    return c3n;
+  if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c ) {
+    u3_Host.ops_u.who_c = strdup(u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c);
   }
 
-  // set galaxy name
-  // XX need to do this with -K too
-  // -A is required when booting a galaxy
-  if ( (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c) && (4 == strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c)) ) {
-    u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c = strdup(u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c);
-  }
+  c3_t imp_t = ( (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.who_c) && (4 == strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.who_c)) );
 
   if ( (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c) && (c3n == u3_Host.ops_u.nuu) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "-F only makes sense on initial boot\n");
@@ -220,22 +207,18 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     u3_Host.ops_u.net = c3y;  /* remote networking is always on in real mode. */
   }
 
-  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c != 0 && ( u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c == 0 ||
-                                     u3_Host.ops_u.nuu   == c3n ) ) {
+  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c != 0 && !imp_t ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "-A only makes sense when creating a new galaxy\n");
     return c3n;
   }
 
-  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c != 0 &&
-       u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c == 0 &&
-       u3_Host.ops_u.nuu   == c3y ) {
+  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c == 0 && imp_t ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "can't create a new galaxy without specifying "
                     "the initial sync path with -A\n");
     return c3n;
   }
 
-  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.gen_c != 0 && ( u3_Host.ops_u.imp_c == 0 ||
-                                     u3_Host.ops_u.nuu   == c3n ) ) {
+  if ( u3_Host.ops_u.gen_c != 0 && ( !imp_t || u3_Host.ops_u.nuu == c3n ) ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "-G only makes sense when creating a new galaxy\n");
     return c3n;
   }
@@ -350,7 +333,6 @@ u3_ve_usage(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     "-F ship       Fake keys; also disables networking\n",
     "-f            Fuzz testing\n",
     "-g            Set GC flag\n",
-    "-I galaxy     Start as ~galaxy\n",
     "-k stage      Start at Hoon kernel version stage\n",
     "-l port       Initial peer port\n",
     "-M            Memory madness\n",