diff --git a/llarp/link/utp.cpp b/llarp/link/utp.cpp
index 60f4bf8af..dbbea5eeb 100644
--- a/llarp/link/utp.cpp
+++ b/llarp/link/utp.cpp
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ namespace llarp
         ssize_t s = utp_writev(sock, vecs.data(), vecs.size());
         if(s < 0)
           return;
+        if(s > 0)
+          lastSend = parent->Now();
+
         METRICS_DYNAMIC_INT_UPDATE(
             "utp.session.tx", RouterID(remoteRC.pubkey).ToString().c_str(), s);
         m_TXRate += s;
@@ -241,7 +244,7 @@ namespace llarp
         return false;
       if(sendq.size() >= MaxSendQueueSize)
       {
-        return now - lastActive > 5000;
+        return now - lastSend > 5000;
       }
       // let utp manage this
       return state == eClose;
diff --git a/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp b/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp
index 8671dac59..2461b2f5f 100644
--- a/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp
+++ b/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ namespace llarp
       SharedSecret txKey;
       /// timestamp last active
       llarp_time_t lastActive;
+      /// timestamp last send success
+      llarp_time_t lastSend;
       /// session timeout (60s)
       const static llarp_time_t sessionTimeout = DefaultLinkSessionLifetime;
 
diff --git a/llarp/nodedb.cpp b/llarp/nodedb.cpp
index a14adf34c..48cc6912e 100644
--- a/llarp/nodedb.cpp
+++ b/llarp/nodedb.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ llarp_nodedb::RemoveIf(
         ++itr;
     }
   }
-  llarp_threadpool_queue_job(disk, {job, AsyncKillRCJobs::Work});
+  llarp_threadpool_queue_job(disk, {job, &AsyncKillRCJobs::Work});
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index 4f11f40ba..9e6c31dd6 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -366,7 +366,6 @@ namespace llarp
       }
       if(results[0].Verify(crypto(), Now()))
       {
-        nodedb()->Insert(results[0]);
         TryConnectAsync(results[0], 10);
         return;
       }
@@ -415,11 +414,6 @@ namespace llarp
     if(remote.Verify(crypto(), Now()))
     {
       LogDebug("verified signature");
-      // store into filesystem
-      if(!nodedb()->Insert(remote))
-      {
-        LogWarn("failed to store");
-      }
       if(!TryConnectAsync(remote, 10))
       {
         // or error?
@@ -616,11 +610,11 @@ namespace llarp
     {
       if(!rc.Verify(crypto(), Now()))
         continue;
-      nodedb()->Insert(rc);
+      nodedb()->InsertAsync(rc);
 
       if(ConnectionToRouterAllowed(rc.pubkey)
          && numConnected < minConnectedRouters)
-        TryEstablishTo(rc.pubkey);
+        TryConnectAsync(rc, 10);
     }
   }
 
@@ -684,7 +678,6 @@ namespace llarp
       if(whitelistRouters
          && lokinetRouters.find(result.pubkey) == lokinetRouters.end())
         continue;
-      nodedb()->Insert(result);
       TryConnectAsync(result, 10);
     }
   }
@@ -1093,7 +1086,8 @@ namespace llarp
       }
     }
 
-    size_t N = nodedb()->num_loaded();
+    const size_t connected = NumberOfConnectedRouters();
+    const size_t N         = nodedb()->num_loaded();
     if(N < minRequiredRouters)
     {
       LogInfo("We need at least ", minRequiredRouters,
@@ -1110,8 +1104,6 @@ namespace llarp
       else
         LogError("we have no bootstrap nodes specified");
     }
-
-    const size_t connected = NumberOfConnectedRouters();
     if(connected < minConnectedRouters)
     {
       size_t dlt = minConnectedRouters - connected;