diff --git a/llarp/dht/message.cpp b/llarp/dht/message.cpp
index 7435cc3cb..dfaabfea3 100644
--- a/llarp/dht/message.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dht/message.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace llarp
         // first key
         if (firstKey)
         {
-          if (!(*key == "A"))
+          if (!(key->startswith("A")))
             return false;
           if (!bencode_read_string(buffer, &strbuf))
             return false;
diff --git a/llarp/dht/messages/findname.cpp b/llarp/dht/messages/findname.cpp
index 049cc0724..975ee2a09 100644
--- a/llarp/dht/messages/findname.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dht/messages/findname.cpp
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@ namespace llarp::dht
   bool
   FindNameMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* val)
   {
-    if (key == "H")
+    if (key.startswith("H"))
     {
       return NameHash.BDecode(val);
     }
-    if (key == "T")
+    if (key.startswith("T"))
     {
       return bencode_read_integer(val, &TxID);
     }
diff --git a/llarp/dht/messages/findrouter.cpp b/llarp/dht/messages/findrouter.cpp
index 9ce1f4d40..35978122d 100644
--- a/llarp/dht/messages/findrouter.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dht/messages/findrouter.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ namespace llarp
     {
       llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
 
-      if (key == "E")
+      if (key.startswith("E"))
       {
         uint64_t result;
         if (!bencode_read_integer(val, &result))
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ namespace llarp
         return true;
       }
 
-      if (key == "I")
+      if (key.startswith("I"))
       {
         uint64_t result;
         if (!bencode_read_integer(val, &result))
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ namespace llarp
         iterative = result != 0;
         return true;
       }
-      if (key == "K")
+      if (key.startswith("K"))
       {
         if (!bencode_read_string(val, &strbuf))
           return false;
@@ -134,11 +134,11 @@ namespace llarp
         std::copy(strbuf.base, strbuf.base + targetKey.SIZE, targetKey.begin());
         return true;
       }
-      if (key == "T")
+      if (key.startswith("T"))
       {
         return bencode_read_integer(val, &txid);
       }
-      if (key == "V")
+      if (key.startswith("V"))
       {
         return bencode_read_integer(val, &version);
       }
diff --git a/llarp/dht/messages/gotintro.cpp b/llarp/dht/messages/gotintro.cpp
index 0480a521a..f96a9cd4b 100644
--- a/llarp/dht/messages/gotintro.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dht/messages/gotintro.cpp
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     GotIntroMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
     {
-      if (key == "I")
+      if (key.startswith("I"))
       {
         return BEncodeReadList(found, buf);
       }
-      if (key == "K")
+      if (key.startswith("K"))
       {
         if (closer)  // duplicate key?
           return false;
diff --git a/llarp/dht/messages/gotname.cpp b/llarp/dht/messages/gotname.cpp
index 2f1720938..78c0f2e74 100644
--- a/llarp/dht/messages/gotname.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dht/messages/gotname.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace llarp::dht
   bool
   GotNameMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* val)
   {
-    if (key == "D")
+    if (key.startswith("D"))
     {
       llarp_buffer_t str{};
       if (not bencode_read_string(val, &str))
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ namespace llarp::dht
       std::copy_n(str.cur, str.sz, result.ciphertext.data());
       return true;
     }
-    if (key == "N")
+    if (key.startswith("N"))
     {
       return result.nonce.BDecode(val);
     }
-    if (key == "T")
+    if (key.startswith("T"))
     {
       return bencode_read_integer(val, &TxID);
     }
diff --git a/llarp/dht/messages/gotrouter.cpp b/llarp/dht/messages/gotrouter.cpp
index 9fcb56c31..46bb89303 100644
--- a/llarp/dht/messages/gotrouter.cpp
+++ b/llarp/dht/messages/gotrouter.cpp
@@ -53,22 +53,22 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     GotRouterMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* val)
     {
-      if (key == "K")
+      if (key.startswith("K"))
       {
         if (closerTarget)  // duplicate key?
           return false;
         closerTarget = std::make_unique<dht::Key_t>();
         return closerTarget->BDecode(val);
       }
-      if (key == "N")
+      if (key.startswith("N"))
       {
         return BEncodeReadList(nearKeys, val);
       }
-      if (key == "R")
+      if (key.startswith("R"))
       {
         return BEncodeReadList(foundRCs, val);
       }
-      if (key == "T")
+      if (key.startswith("T"))
       {
         return bencode_read_integer(val, &txid);
       }
diff --git a/llarp/exit/session.cpp b/llarp/exit/session.cpp
index 9a873fb55..8c8553922 100644
--- a/llarp/exit/session.cpp
+++ b/llarp/exit/session.cpp
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ namespace llarp
 
       if (m_WritePacket)
       {
-        llarp::net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view()};
+        llarp::net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view_all()};
         if (pkt.empty())
           return false;
         m_LastUse = m_router->Now();
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ namespace llarp
     void
     SNodeSession::SendPacketToRemote(const llarp_buffer_t& buf, service::ProtocolType t)
     {
-      net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view()};
+      net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view_all()};
       if (pkt.empty())
         return;
       pkt.ZeroAddresses();
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ namespace llarp
     void
     ExitSession::SendPacketToRemote(const llarp_buffer_t& buf, service::ProtocolType t)
     {
-      net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view()};
+      net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view_all()};
       if (pkt.empty())
         return;
 
diff --git a/llarp/handlers/exit.cpp b/llarp/handlers/exit.cpp
index df508141c..11c9d35c2 100644
--- a/llarp/handlers/exit.cpp
+++ b/llarp/handlers/exit.cpp
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     ExitEndpoint::QueueSNodePacket(const llarp_buffer_t& buf, huint128_t from)
     {
-      net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view()};
+      net::IPPacket pkt{buf.view_all()};
       if (pkt.empty())
         return false;
       // rewrite ip
diff --git a/llarp/messages/dht_immediate.cpp b/llarp/messages/dht_immediate.cpp
index 2ab9f13e3..479932979 100644
--- a/llarp/messages/dht_immediate.cpp
+++ b/llarp/messages/dht_immediate.cpp
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ namespace llarp
   bool
   DHTImmediateMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == "m")
+    if (key.startswith("m"))
       return llarp::dht::DecodeMesssageList(dht::Key_t(session->GetPubKey()), buf, msgs);
-    if (key == "v")
+    if (key.startswith("v"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &version))
         return false;
diff --git a/llarp/messages/discard.hpp b/llarp/messages/discard.hpp
index 46d24d429..5a3458a59 100644
--- a/llarp/messages/discard.hpp
+++ b/llarp/messages/discard.hpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf) override
     {
-      if (key == "a")
+      if (key.startswith("a"))
       {
         llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
         if (!bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
diff --git a/llarp/messages/link_intro.cpp b/llarp/messages/link_intro.cpp
index 88d1af2d1..2ffab6f3c 100644
--- a/llarp/messages/link_intro.cpp
+++ b/llarp/messages/link_intro.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace llarp
   bool
   LinkIntroMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == "a")
+    if (key.startswith("a"))
     {
       llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
       if (!bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
@@ -20,18 +20,18 @@ namespace llarp
         return false;
       return *strbuf.cur == 'i';
     }
-    if (key == "n")
+    if (key.startswith("n"))
     {
       if (N.BDecode(buf))
         return true;
       llarp::LogWarn("failed to decode nonce in LIM");
       return false;
     }
-    if (key == "p")
+    if (key.startswith("p"))
     {
       return bencode_read_integer(buf, &P);
     }
-    if (key == "r")
+    if (key.startswith("r"))
     {
       if (rc.BDecode(buf))
         return true;
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace llarp
       llarp::DumpBuffer(*buf);
       return false;
     }
-    if (key == "v")
+    if (key.startswith("v"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &version))
         return false;
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace llarp
       llarp::LogDebug("LIM version ", version);
       return true;
     }
-    if (key == "z")
+    if (key.startswith("z"))
     {
       return Z.BDecode(buf);
     }
diff --git a/llarp/messages/link_message_parser.cpp b/llarp/messages/link_message_parser.cpp
index 971af9a6d..814b7d0d6 100644
--- a/llarp/messages/link_message_parser.cpp
+++ b/llarp/messages/link_message_parser.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ namespace llarp
       if (!key)
         return false;
       // we are expecting the first key to be 'a'
-      if (!(*key == "a"))
+      if (!key->startswith("a"))
       {
         llarp::LogWarn("message has no message type");
         return false;
diff --git a/llarp/messages/relay_commit.cpp b/llarp/messages/relay_commit.cpp
index 74b5ecc35..4cffe912f 100644
--- a/llarp/messages/relay_commit.cpp
+++ b/llarp/messages/relay_commit.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace llarp
   bool
   LR_CommitMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == "c")
+    if (key.startswith("c"))
     {
       /// so we dont put it into the shitty queue
       pathid.Fill('c');
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ namespace llarp
       return false;
     if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictEntry("t", txid, read, *key, buffer))
       return false;
-    if (*key == "u")
+    if (key->startswith("u"))
     {
       nextRC = std::make_unique<RouterContact>();
       return nextRC->BDecode(buffer);
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ namespace llarp
     if (!BEncodeMaybeVerifyVersion(
             "v", version, llarp::constants::proto_version, read, *key, buffer))
       return false;
-    if (*key == "w")
+    if (key->startswith("w"))
     {
       // check for duplicate
       if (work)
diff --git a/llarp/messages/relay_status.cpp b/llarp/messages/relay_status.cpp
index 8d0732059..0f5fdc607 100644
--- a/llarp/messages/relay_status.cpp
+++ b/llarp/messages/relay_status.cpp
@@ -60,25 +60,25 @@ namespace llarp
   LR_StatusMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
     bool read = false;
-    if (key == "c")
+    if (key.startswith("c"))
     {
       return BEncodeReadArray(frames, buf);
     }
-    if (key == "p")
+    if (key.startswith("p"))
     {
       if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictEntry("p", pathid, read, key, buf))
       {
         return false;
       }
     }
-    else if (key == "s")
+    else if (key.startswith("s"))
     {
       if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictInt("s", status, read, key, buf))
       {
         return false;
       }
     }
-    else if (key == "v")
+    else if (key.startswith("v"))
     {
       if (!BEncodeMaybeVerifyVersion("v", version, llarp::constants::proto_version, read, key, buf))
       {
diff --git a/llarp/net/address_info.cpp b/llarp/net/address_info.cpp
index 70788b258..fd5424632 100644
--- a/llarp/net/address_info.cpp
+++ b/llarp/net/address_info.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace llarp
     llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
 
     // rank
-    if (key == "c")
+    if (key.startswith("c"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &i))
         return false;
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace llarp
     }
 
     // dialect
-    if (key == "d")
+    if (key.startswith("d"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
         return false;
@@ -67,13 +67,13 @@ namespace llarp
     }
 
     // encryption public key
-    if (key == "e")
+    if (key.startswith("e"))
     {
       return pubkey.BDecode(buf);
     }
 
     // ip address
-    if (key == "i")
+    if (key.startswith("i"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
         return false;
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ namespace llarp
     }
 
     // port
-    if (key == "p")
+    if (key.startswith("p"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &i))
         return false;
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ namespace llarp
     }
 
     // version
-    if (key == "v")
+    if (key.startswith("v"))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &i))
         return false;
diff --git a/llarp/net/exit_info.cpp b/llarp/net/exit_info.cpp
index 2af7c707f..ef91471d3 100644
--- a/llarp/net/exit_info.cpp
+++ b/llarp/net/exit_info.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ namespace llarp
       return false;
     if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictInt("v", version, read, k, buf))
       return false;
-    if (k == "a")
+    if (k.startswith("a"))
     {
       in6_addr tmp;
       if (not bdecode_ip_string(buf, tmp))
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ namespace llarp
       ipAddress = IpAddress(addr);
       return true;
     }
-    if (k == "b")
+    if (k.startswith("b"))
     {
       in6_addr tmp;
       if (not bdecode_ip_string(buf, tmp))
diff --git a/llarp/net/traffic_policy.cpp b/llarp/net/traffic_policy.cpp
index f8d00d80d..e94cb94a7 100644
--- a/llarp/net/traffic_policy.cpp
+++ b/llarp/net/traffic_policy.cpp
@@ -167,11 +167,11 @@ namespace llarp::net
         [&](llarp_buffer_t* buffer, llarp_buffer_t* key) -> bool {
           if (key == nullptr)
             return true;
-          if (*key == "p")
+          if (key->startswith("p"))
           {
             return BEncodeReadSet(protocols, buffer);
           }
-          if (*key == "r")
+          if (key->startswith("r"))
           {
             return BEncodeReadSet(ranges, buffer);
           }
diff --git a/llarp/router_contact.cpp b/llarp/router_contact.cpp
index f565255d2..e06c8101f 100644
--- a/llarp/router_contact.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router_contact.cpp
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ namespace llarp
     if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictEntry("k", pubkey, read, key, buf))
       return false;
 
-    if (key == "r")
+    if (key.startswith("r"))
     {
       RouterVersion r;
       if (not r.BDecode(buf))
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ namespace llarp
       return true;
     }
 
-    if (key == "n")
+    if (key.startswith("n"))
     {
       llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
       if (!bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ namespace llarp
     if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictInt("v", version, read, key, buf))
       return false;
 
-    if (key == "x" and serializeExit)
+    if (key.startswith("x") and serializeExit)
     {
       return bencode_discard(buf);
     }
diff --git a/llarp/routing/dht_message.cpp b/llarp/routing/dht_message.cpp
index 510754049..72ffe6bb4 100644
--- a/llarp/routing/dht_message.cpp
+++ b/llarp/routing/dht_message.cpp
@@ -10,17 +10,17 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     DHTMessage::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* val)
     {
-      if (key == "M")
+      if (key.startswith("M"))
       {
         llarp::dht::Key_t fromKey;
         fromKey.Zero();
         return llarp::dht::DecodeMesssageList(fromKey, val, M, true);
       }
-      if (key == "S")
+      if (key.startswith("S"))
       {
         return bencode_read_integer(val, &S);
       }
-      if (key == "V")
+      if (key.startswith("V"))
       {
         return bencode_read_integer(val, &V);
       }
diff --git a/llarp/routing/message_parser.cpp b/llarp/routing/message_parser.cpp
index 68e015dc9..16f77ae87 100644
--- a/llarp/routing/message_parser.cpp
+++ b/llarp/routing/message_parser.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace llarp
       if (firstKey)
       {
         llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
-        if (!(*key == "A"))
+        if (!(key->startswith("A")))
           return false;
         if (!bencode_read_string(buffer, &strbuf))
           return false;
diff --git a/llarp/service/intro_set.cpp b/llarp/service/intro_set.cpp
index 5141256db..07c39497f 100644
--- a/llarp/service/intro_set.cpp
+++ b/llarp/service/intro_set.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ namespace llarp::service
   EncryptedIntroSet::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
     bool read = false;
-    if (key == "x")
+    if (key.startswith("x"))
     {
       llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
       if (not bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ namespace llarp::service
     if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictEntry("a", addressKeys, read, key, buf))
       return false;
 
-    if (key == "e")
+    if (key.startswith("e"))
     {
       net::TrafficPolicy policy;
       if (not policy.BDecode(buf))
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ namespace llarp::service
       return true;
     }
 
-    if (key == "i")
+    if (key.startswith("i"))
     {
       return BEncodeReadList(intros, buf);
     }
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ namespace llarp::service
     if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictEntry("n", topic, read, key, buf))
       return false;
 
-    if (key == "p")
+    if (key.startswith("p"))
     {
       return bencode_read_list(
           [&](llarp_buffer_t* buf, bool more) {
@@ -213,12 +213,12 @@ namespace llarp::service
           buf);
     }
 
-    if (key == "r")
+    if (key.startswith("r"))
     {
       return BEncodeReadSet(ownedRanges, buf);
     }
 
-    if (key == "s")
+    if (key.startswith("s"))
     {
       byte_t* begin = buf->cur;
       if (not bencode_discard(buf))
diff --git a/llarp/service/protocol.cpp b/llarp/service/protocol.cpp
index 0b9939c59..b838c44cd 100644
--- a/llarp/service/protocol.cpp
+++ b/llarp/service/protocol.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace llarp
       bool read = false;
       if (!BEncodeMaybeReadDictInt("a", proto, read, k, buf))
         return false;
-      if (k == "d")
+      if (k.startswith("d"))
       {
         llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
         if (!bencode_read_string(buf, &strbuf))
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ namespace llarp
     ProtocolFrame::DecodeKey(const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* val)
     {
       bool read = false;
-      if (key == "A")
+      if (key.startswith("A"))
       {
         llarp_buffer_t strbuf;
         if (!bencode_read_string(val, &strbuf))
diff --git a/llarp/util/bencode.hpp b/llarp/util/bencode.hpp
index c02453f58..24f6a520b 100644
--- a/llarp/util/bencode.hpp
+++ b/llarp/util/bencode.hpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ namespace llarp
   BEncodeMaybeReadDictList(
       const char* k, List_t& item, bool& read, const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == k)
+    if (key.startswith(k))
     {
       if (!BEncodeReadList(item, buf))
       {
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace llarp
   BEncodeMaybeReadDictEntry(
       const char* k, Item_t& item, bool& read, const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == k)
+    if (key.startswith(k))
     {
       if (!item.BDecode(buf))
       {
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ namespace llarp
   BEncodeMaybeReadDictInt(
       const char* k, Int_t& i, bool& read, const llarp_buffer_t& key, llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == k)
+    if (key.startswith(k))
     {
       uint64_t read_i;
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &read_i))
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ namespace llarp
       const llarp_buffer_t& key,
       llarp_buffer_t* buf)
   {
-    if (key == k)
+    if (key.startswith(k))
     {
       if (!bencode_read_integer(buf, &item))
         return false;
diff --git a/llarp/util/buffer.cpp b/llarp/util/buffer.cpp
index 2373ceadc..bc495dacd 100644
--- a/llarp/util/buffer.cpp
+++ b/llarp/util/buffer.cpp
@@ -4,18 +4,6 @@
 #include <cstdarg>
 #include <cstdio>
 
-size_t
-llarp_buffer_t::size_left() const
-{
-  size_t diff = cur - base;
-  if (diff > sz)
-  {
-    return 0;
-  }
-
-  return sz - diff;
-}
-
 bool
 llarp_buffer_t::writef(const char* fmt, ...)
 {
@@ -127,12 +115,6 @@ llarp_buffer_t::copy() const
   return copy;
 }
 
-llarp::byte_view_t
-llarp_buffer_t::view() const
-{
-  return {base, sz};
-
-}
 
 namespace llarp
 {
diff --git a/llarp/util/buffer.hpp b/llarp/util/buffer.hpp
index 1bfef5db4..343b2f466 100644
--- a/llarp/util/buffer.hpp
+++ b/llarp/util/buffer.hpp
@@ -117,7 +117,14 @@ struct [[deprecated("this type is stupid, use something else")]] llarp_buffer_t
     return base + sz;
   }
 
-  size_t size_left() const;
+  size_t size_left() const
+  {
+    size_t diff = cur - base;
+    assert(diff <= sz);
+    if (diff > sz)
+      return 0;
+    return sz - diff;
+  }
 
   template <typename OutputIt>
   bool read_into(OutputIt begin, OutputIt end);
@@ -149,12 +156,23 @@ struct [[deprecated("this type is stupid, use something else")]] llarp_buffer_t
   /// make a copy of this buffer
   std::vector<byte_t> copy() const;
 
-  /// get a read only view over the entire region
-  llarp::byte_view_t view() const;
+  /// get a read-only view over the entire region
+  llarp::byte_view_t view_all() const
+  {
+    return {base, sz};
+  }
+
+  /// get a read-only view over the remaining/unused region
+  llarp::byte_view_t view_remaining() const
+  {
+    return {cur, size_left()};
+  }
 
-  bool operator==(std::string_view data) const
+  /// Part of the curse.  Returns true if the remaining buffer space starts with the given string view.
+  bool startswith(std::string_view prefix_str) const
   {
-    return std::string_view{reinterpret_cast<const char*>(base), sz} == data;
+    llarp::byte_view_t prefix{reinterpret_cast<const byte_t*>(prefix_str.data()), prefix_str.size()};
+    return view_remaining().substr(0, prefix.size()) == prefix;
   }
 
  private: