diff --git a/pkg/vere/dawn.c b/pkg/vere/dawn.c
index e586daac0..c7bb3b95f 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/dawn.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/dawn.c
@@ -320,12 +320,18 @@ u3_dawn_vent(u3_noun ship, u3_noun feed, u3_noun* rift)
 
     //  (each feed:jael (lest error=term))
     //
-    fed = u3dq("veri:dawn", u3k(ship), u3k(feed), u3k(pot), u3k(liv));
+    if ( c3__pawn == rank ) {
+      //  comets skip +veri:dawn
+      fed = u3nc(c3y, u3k(feed));
+    }
+    else {
+      fed = u3dq("veri:dawn", u3k(ship), u3k(feed), u3k(pot), u3k(liv));
 
-    if ( c3n == u3h(fed) ) {
-      // bails, won't return
-      _dawn_fail(ship, rank, u3t(fed));
-      return u3_none;
+      if ( c3n == u3h(fed) ) {
+        // bails, won't return
+        _dawn_fail(ship, rank, u3t(fed));
+        return u3_none;
+      }
     }
 
     u3_assert(c3y == u3du(u3h(u3t(fed))) && u3h(u3h(u3t(fed))) == 2);
diff --git a/pkg/vere/king.c b/pkg/vere/king.c
index cdc404cb1..150e9bf0c 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/king.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/king.c
@@ -744,6 +744,21 @@ _boothack_key(u3_noun kef)
   return seed;
 }
 
+/* _boothack_is_comet_key(): check if a parsed key is for a comet
+*/
+static c3_o
+_boothack_is_comet_key(u3_noun seed)
+{
+  if ( c3y == u3ud(u3h(seed)) ) {
+    u3_noun ship = u3h(seed);
+    u3_noun clan = u3dc("clan:title", ship, u3_nul);
+    c3_o u3n_is_pawn = (c3__pawn == clan);
+    u3z(clan);
+    return u3n_is_pawn;
+  }
+  return c3n;
+}
+
 /* _boothack_doom(): parse CLI arguments into $doom
 */
 static u3_noun
@@ -770,9 +785,11 @@ _boothack_doom(void)
     u3z(whu);
     u3z(fak);
   }
-  else if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.who_c ||
+  else if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.who_c ||              // -w
             ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c &&
-              28 < strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c) ) ) {
+              28 < strlen(u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c) ) ||  // -F comet
+            0 != u3_Host.ops_u.key_c ||              // -k
+            0 != u3_Host.ops_u.gen_c ) {             // -G
     u3_noun kef;
 
     if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.key_c ) {
@@ -804,12 +821,14 @@ _boothack_doom(void)
     if ( 0 != u3_Host.ops_u.fak_c ) {
       bot = u3nc(c3__fake, u3nc(u3_nul, _boothack_key(kef)));
     }
-    else
-      bot = u3nc(c3__dawn, _boothack_key(kef));
+    else {
+      u3_noun seed = _boothack_key(kef);
+      bot = u3nc(c3__dawn, seed);
+    }
   }
   else {
-    //  XX allow parent star to be specified?
-    //
+    // if no key is provided, mine a comet with +come:dawn
+    // XX allow mining under a specified star(s)?
     bot = u3nc(c3__come, u3_nul);
   }