diff --git a/pkg/urbit/noun/trace.c b/pkg/urbit/noun/trace.c
index 81485d4465..cf38957ecc 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/noun/trace.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/noun/trace.c
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ u3t_event_trace(const c3_c* name, c3_c type)
           "\"tid\": 1, \"ts\": %" PRIu64 ", \"id\": \"0x100\"}, \n",
           name,
           type,
-          u3_Host.tra_u.nid_w,
+          getpid(),
           u3t_trace_time());
   u3_Host.tra_u.con_w++;
 }
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/serf/main.c b/pkg/urbit/serf/main.c
index 5218be6e35..62f753facc 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/serf/main.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/serf/main.c
@@ -576,11 +576,35 @@ _serf_poke_work(c3_d    evt_d,              //  event number
                 c3_l    mug_l,              //  mug of state
                 u3_noun job)                //  full event
 {
-  if ( evt_d <= u3V.len_w ) {
+  if ( u3C.wag_w & u3o_trace ) {
+    if ( u3_Host.tra_u.con_w == 0  && u3_Host.tra_u.fun_w == 0 ) {
+      u3t_trace_open();
+    }
+    else if ( u3_Host.tra_u.con_w >= 100000 ) {
+      u3t_trace_close();
+      u3t_trace_open();
+    }
+  }
+
+  if ( evt_d < 6 ) {
+    c3_c lab_c[8];
+    snprintf(lab_c, 8, "boot: %llu", evt_d);
+
+    u3t_event_trace(lab_c, 'B');
     _serf_work_boot(evt_d, mug_l, job);
+    u3t_event_trace(lab_c, 'E');
   }
   else {
+    u3_noun wir = u3h(u3t(job));
+    u3_noun cad = u3h(u3t(u3t(job)));
+
+    c3_c lab_c[2048];
+    snprintf(lab_c, 2048, "event %llu: [%s %s]", evt_d,
+             u3m_pretty_path(wir), u3m_pretty(cad));
+
+    u3t_event_trace(lab_c, 'B');
     _serf_work_live(evt_d, mug_l, job);
+    u3t_event_trace(lab_c, 'E');
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/reck.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/reck.c
index 4110fd6e0a..c4a2b3ddc1 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/reck.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/reck.c
@@ -444,7 +444,6 @@ _reck_kick_norm(u3_pier* pir_u, u3_noun pox, u3_noun fav)
 void
 u3_reck_kick(u3_pier* pir_u, u3_noun ovo)
 {
-  u3t_event_trace("Effect", 'b');
   if ( (c3n == _reck_kick_spec(pir_u, u3k(u3h(ovo)), u3k(u3t(ovo)))) &&
        (c3n == _reck_kick_norm(pir_u, u3k(u3h(ovo)), u3k(u3t(ovo)))) )
   {
@@ -480,5 +479,4 @@ u3_reck_kick(u3_pier* pir_u, u3_noun ovo)
 #endif
   }
   u3z(ovo);
-  u3t_event_trace("Effect", 'e');
 }