diff --git a/llarp/config.cpp b/llarp/config.cpp
index 5d6ea1434..82ed7986b 100644
--- a/llarp/config.cpp
+++ b/llarp/config.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ llarp_generic_ensure_config(std::ofstream &f, std::string basepath)
   f << "upstream=" << DEFAULT_RESOLVER_EU << std::endl;
   f << "# opennic au resolver" << std::endl;
   f << "upstream=" << DEFAULT_RESOLVER_AU << std::endl;
-  f << "bind=127.3.2.1:53" << std::endl;
+  f << "bind=127.0.0.1:53" << std::endl;
   f << std::endl << std::endl;
 
   f << "# network database settings block " << std::endl;
diff --git a/llarp/dns.cpp b/llarp/dns.cpp
index 91a96d7ef..98c08ad2e 100644
--- a/llarp/dns.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dns.cpp
@@ -230,12 +230,6 @@ extern "C"
   decode_answer(const char *const buffer, uint32_t *pos)
   {
     dns_msg_answer *answer = new dns_msg_answer;
-    // skip for now until we can handle compressed labels
-    /*
-    std::string aName      = getDNSstring((char *)buffer);
-    buffer += aName.size() + 1;
-    */
-
     /*
     llarp_buffer_t bob;
     bob.base = (unsigned char *)buffer;
@@ -243,14 +237,10 @@ extern "C"
     llarp::DumpBuffer(bob);
     */
 
-    // hexDump(buffer, 10);
-
     const char *moveable = buffer;
     // llarp::LogDebug("Advancing to pos ", std::to_string(*pos));
     moveable += (*pos);  // advance to position
 
-    // hexDumpAt(buffer, (*pos) - 2, 12);
-    // hexDump(moveable, 12);
     if(*moveable == '\xc0')
     {
       // hexDump(moveable, 12);
@@ -273,7 +263,14 @@ extern "C"
     else
     {
       // get DNSString?
-      llarp::LogWarn("Need to parse string");
+      llarp::LogWarn("Need to parse string, implement me");
+      /*
+      uint32_t readAt32 = *pos;
+      answer->name = getDNSstring(buffer, &readAt32);
+        llarp::LogInfo("Parsed string ", answer->name, " read ", std::to_string(readAt32));
+        moveable += readAt32; (*pos) += readAt32;
+      */
+      //moveable++; (*pos)++;
     }
     /*
     hexDump(moveable, 10);
@@ -369,10 +366,12 @@ extern "C"
         {
           std::string revname = getDNSstring(buffer, pos);
           llarp::LogInfo("revDNSname: ", revname);
+          //answer->rData = new uint8_t[answer->rdLen + 1];
           answer->rData.resize(answer->rdLen);
           memcpy(answer->rData.data(), revname.c_str(), answer->rdLen);
+          //answer->rData = (uint8_t *)strdup(revname.c_str()); // safer? nope
           moveable += answer->rdLen;
-          (*pos) += answer->rdLen;  // advance the length
+          //(*pos) += answer->rdLen;  // advance the length
         }
         break;
         case 15:
diff --git a/llarp/dnsc.cpp b/llarp/dnsc.cpp
index a29853044..2990a529b 100644
--- a/llarp/dnsc.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dnsc.cpp
@@ -218,17 +218,6 @@ generic_handle_dnsc_recvfrom(dnsc_answer_request *request,
   llarp::LogDebug("msg nsc ", msg->nsCount);
   llarp::LogDebug("msg arc ", msg->arCount);
 
-  // we may need to parse question first
-
-  /*
-   dns_msg_question *question = decode_question((const char *)castBuf);
-   llarp::LogInfo("que name  ", question->name);
-   castBuf += question->name.length() + 8;
-
-   dns_msg_answer *answer = decode_answer((const char *)castBuf);
-   castBuf += answer->name.length() + 4 + 4 + 4 + answer->rdLen;
-   */
-
   // FIXME: only handling one atm
   uint32_t pos               = 12;  // just set after header
   dns_msg_question *question = nullptr;
@@ -241,6 +230,7 @@ generic_handle_dnsc_recvfrom(dnsc_answer_request *request,
     // castBuf += question->name.length() + 1 + 4;
     // castBuf += 2;  // skip answer label
   }
+  llarp::LogInfo("Question ", std::to_string(question->type), " ", question->name);
 
   // FIXME: only handling one atm
   std::vector< dns_msg_answer * > answers;
@@ -306,8 +296,15 @@ generic_handle_dnsc_recvfrom(dnsc_answer_request *request,
     // pos = 0; // reset pos
     answer = decode_answer(castBufc, &pos);
     // answers.push_back(answer);
-    llarp::LogDebug("Read an authority");
+      llarp::LogDebug("Read an authority for ",
+                     request->question.name, " at ", std::to_string(pos));
     // castBuf += answer->name.length() + 4 + 4 + 4 + answer->rdLen;
+      if(pos > sz)
+      {
+          llarp::LogWarn("Would read past end of dns packet. for ",
+                         request->question.name);
+          break;
+      }
   }
 
   /*
@@ -396,6 +393,14 @@ generic_handle_dnsc_recvfrom(dnsc_answer_request *request,
 
   int ip = 0;
 
+    // if no answer, just bail now
+    if (!answer)
+    {
+        request->found  = false;
+        request->resolved(request);
+        return;
+    }
+    
   /* search for and print IPv4 addresses */
   // if(dnsQuery->reqType == 0x01)
   /*
@@ -452,7 +457,7 @@ generic_handle_dnsc_recvfrom(dnsc_answer_request *request,
       return;
     }
   }
-  else if(request->question.type == 12)
+  else if(answer->type == 12)
   {
     llarp::LogDebug("Resolving PTR");
     request->found = true;