diff --git a/vere/main.c b/vere/main.c
index 0ae11fca2c..ebcd0c2a23 100644
--- a/vere/main.c
+++ b/vere/main.c
@@ -196,11 +196,6 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
 
   c3_t imp_t = ( (0 != u3_Host.ops_u.who_c) && (4 == strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.who_c)) );
 
-  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.ets_c == 0 && c3y == u3_Host.ops_u.etn ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "can't trust Ethereum snapshot without specifying "
                     "snapshot with -E\n");
@@ -213,12 +208,6 @@ _main_getopt(c3_i argc, c3_c** argv)
     return c3n;
   }
 
-  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.nuu == c3n ) {
     fprintf(stderr, "-G only makes sense when bootstrapping a new instance\n");
     return c3n;
diff --git a/vere/sist.c b/vere/sist.c
index 4644ea551b..620ead285f 100644
--- a/vere/sist.c
+++ b/vere/sist.c
@@ -1696,15 +1696,27 @@ u3_sist_boot(void)
     // Authenticate and initialize terminal.
     u3_term_ef_bake(pig);
 
-    // queue initial galaxy sync
-    {
-      u3_noun rac = u3do("clan:title", u3k(u3A->own));
+    // queue initial filesystem sync
+    //
+    // from the Arvo directory if specified
+    if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.arv_c ) {
+      u3_unix_ef_initial_into();
+    }
+    // otherwise from the pill
+    else {
+      c3_c ful_c[2048];
 
-      if ( c3__czar == rac ) {
-        u3_unix_ef_initial_into();
+      snprintf(ful_c, 2048, "%s/.urb/urbit.pill", u3_Host.dir_c);
+
+      {
+        u3_noun sys = u3ke_cue(u3m_file(ful_c));
+        u3_noun fil;
+
+        u3x_trel(sys, 0, 0, &fil);
+        u3v_plow(u3k(fil));
+
+        u3z(sys);
       }
-
-      u3z(rac);
     }
 
     // Create the event log