diff --git a/pkg/vere/serf.c b/pkg/vere/serf.c
index f61883ef29..80a5b1ccf3 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/serf.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/serf.c
@@ -51,6 +51,25 @@ ::    next steps:
 --
 */
 
+/*  serf memory-threshold levels
+*/
+enum {
+  _serf_mas_init = 0,  //  initial
+  _serf_mas_hit1 = 1,  //  past low threshold
+  _serf_mas_hit0 = 2   //  have high threshold
+};
+
+/*  serf post-op flags
+*/
+enum {
+  _serf_fag_none = 0,       //  nothing to do
+  _serf_fag_hit1 = 1 << 0,  //  hit low threshold
+  _serf_fag_hit0 = 1 << 1,  //  hit high threshold
+  _serf_fag_mute = 1 << 2,  //  mutated state
+  _serf_fag_much = 1 << 3,  //  bytecode hack
+  _serf_fag_vega = 1 << 4   //  kernel reset
+};
+
 /* _serf_grab(): garbage collect, checking for profiling. RETAIN.
 */
 static void
@@ -174,28 +193,27 @@ u3_serf_grab(void)
 void
 u3_serf_post(u3_serf* sef_u)
 {
-  if ( c3y == sef_u->rec_o ) {
+  if ( sef_u->fag_w & (_serf_fag_hit1|_serf_fag_much|_serf_fag_vega) ) {
     u3m_reclaim();
-    sef_u->rec_o = c3n;
   }
 
   //  XX this runs on replay too, |mass s/b elsewhere
   //
-  if ( c3y == sef_u->mut_o ) {
+  if ( sef_u->fag_w & _serf_fag_mute ) {
     _serf_grab(sef_u->sac);
     sef_u->sac   = u3_nul;
-    sef_u->mut_o = c3n;
   }
 
-  if ( c3y == sef_u->pac_o ) {
+  if ( sef_u->fag_w & _serf_fag_hit0 ) {
     u3a_print_memory(stderr, "serf: pack: gained", u3m_pack());
     u3l_log("");
-    sef_u->pac_o = c3n;
   }
 
   if ( u3C.wag_w & u3o_toss ) {
     u3m_toss();
   }
+
+  sef_u->fag_w = _serf_fag_none;
 }
 
 /* _serf_curb(): check for memory threshold
@@ -206,22 +224,11 @@ _serf_curb(c3_w pre_w, c3_w pos_w, c3_w hes_w)
   return (pre_w > hes_w) && (pos_w <= hes_w);
 }
 
-/*  serf memory-threshold levels
-*/
-enum {
-  _serf_init = 0,
-  _serf_hit1 = 1,
-  _serf_hit0 = 2
-};
-
 /* _serf_sure_feck(): event succeeded, send effects.
 */
 static u3_noun
 _serf_sure_feck(u3_serf* sef_u, c3_w pre_w, u3_noun vir)
 {
-  c3_o rec_o = c3n;
-  c3_o pac_o = c3n;
-
   //  intercept |mass, observe |reset
   //
   {
@@ -252,7 +259,7 @@ _serf_sure_feck(u3_serf* sef_u, c3_w pre_w, u3_noun vir)
       //  reclaim memory from persistent caches on |reset
       //
       if ( c3__vega == u3h(fec) ) {
-        rec_o = c3y;
+        sef_u->fag_w |= _serf_fag_vega;
       }
 
       riv = u3t(riv);
@@ -289,29 +296,29 @@ _serf_sure_feck(u3_serf* sef_u, c3_w pre_w, u3_noun vir)
     //  (and track state to avoid thrashing)
     //
     if ( pos_w < pre_w ) {
-      if (  (_serf_hit0 != sef_u->mas_w)
+      if (  (_serf_mas_hit0 != sef_u->mas_w)
          && _serf_curb(pre_w, pos_w, 1 << 25) )
       {
-        sef_u->mas_w = _serf_hit0;
-        pac_o = c3y;
-        pri   = 0;
+        sef_u->mas_w  = _serf_mas_hit0;
+        sef_u->fag_w |= _serf_fag_hit0;
+        pri           = 0;
       }
-      else if (  (_serf_init == sef_u->mas_w)
+      else if (  (_serf_mas_init == sef_u->mas_w)
               && _serf_curb(pre_w, pos_w, 1 << 27) )
       {
-        sef_u->mas_w = _serf_hit1;
-        rec_o = c3y;
-        pri   = 1;
+        sef_u->mas_w  = _serf_mas_hit1;
+        sef_u->fag_w |= _serf_fag_hit1;
+        pri         = 1;
       }
     }
-    else if ( _serf_init != sef_u->mas_w ) {
+    else if ( _serf_mas_init != sef_u->mas_w ) {
       if ( ((1 << 26) + (1 << 27)) < pos_w ) {
-        sef_u->mas_w = _serf_init;
+        sef_u->mas_w = _serf_mas_init;
       }
-      else if (  (_serf_hit0 == sef_u->mas_w)
+      else if (  (_serf_mas_hit0 == sef_u->mas_w)
               && ((1 << 26) < pos_w) )
       {
-        sef_u->mas_w = _serf_hit1;
+        sef_u->mas_w = _serf_mas_hit1;
       }
     }
 
@@ -321,8 +328,8 @@ _serf_sure_feck(u3_serf* sef_u, c3_w pre_w, u3_noun vir)
     //    - bytecode caches grow rapidly and can't be simply capped
     //    - we don't make very effective use of our free lists
     //
-    if ( 0 == (sef_u->dun_d % 1000ULL) ) {
-      rec_o = c3y;
+    if ( !(sef_u->dun_d % 1024ULL) ) {
+      sef_u->fag_w |= _serf_fag_much;
     }
 
     //  notify daemon of memory pressure via "fake" effect
@@ -334,9 +341,6 @@ _serf_sure_feck(u3_serf* sef_u, c3_w pre_w, u3_noun vir)
     }
   }
 
-  sef_u->rec_o = c3o(sef_u->rec_o, rec_o);
-  sef_u->pac_o = c3o(sef_u->pac_o, pac_o);
-
   return vir;
 }
 
@@ -351,7 +355,7 @@ _serf_sure_core(u3_serf* sef_u, u3_noun cor)
   u3A->roc     = cor;
   u3A->eve_d   = sef_u->dun_d;
   sef_u->mug_l = u3r_mug(u3A->roc);
-  sef_u->mut_o = c3y;
+  sef_u->fag_w |= _serf_fag_mute;
 }
 
 /* _serf_sure(): event succeeded, save state and process effects.
@@ -1053,9 +1057,7 @@ u3_serf_init(u3_serf* sef_u)
   //   }
   // }
 
-  sef_u->pac_o = c3n;
-  sef_u->rec_o = c3n;
-  sef_u->mut_o = c3n;
+  sef_u->fag_w = _serf_fag_none;
   sef_u->sac   = u3_nul;
 
   return rip;
diff --git a/pkg/vere/serf.h b/pkg/vere/serf.h
index 08dbec9cd3..7cd2ca47d0 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/serf.h
+++ b/pkg/vere/serf.h
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@
         c3_d    dun_d;             //  last event processed
         c3_l    mug_l;             //  hash of state
         c3_w    mas_w;             //  memory threshold state
-        c3_o    pac_o;             //  pack kernel
-        c3_o    rec_o;             //  reclaim cache
-        c3_o    mut_o;             //  mutated kerne
+        c3_w    fag_w;             //  post-op flags
         u3_noun sac;               //  space measurementl
         void  (*xit_f)(void);      //  exit callback
       } u3_serf;