diff --git a/pkg/noun/allocate.h b/pkg/noun/allocate.h
index 15e8883660..b9b04c1fd4 100644
--- a/pkg/noun/allocate.h
+++ b/pkg/noun/allocate.h
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ STATIC_ASSERT( u3a_vits <= u3a_min_log,
 
     /* u3a_is_north(): yes if road [r] is north road.
     */
-#     define  u3a_is_north(r)  __((r)->cap_p > (r)->hat_p)
+#     define  u3a_is_north(r)  __((r)->mat_p > (r)->rut_p)
 
     /* u3a_is_south(): yes if road [r] is south road.
     */
diff --git a/pkg/noun/manage.c b/pkg/noun/manage.c
index c7e4e7e227..ae6b4517c5 100644
--- a/pkg/noun/manage.c
+++ b/pkg/noun/manage.c
@@ -398,9 +398,7 @@ _cm_signal_deep(void)
   // go utterly haywire.
   //
   if ( 0 == u3H->rod_u.bug.mer ) {
-    u3H->rod_u.bug.mer = u3i_string(
-      "emergency buffer with sufficient space to cons the trace and bail"
-    );
+    u3H->rod_u.bug.mer = u3i_tape("emergency buffer");
   }
 
   u3t_boot();
@@ -1217,13 +1215,12 @@ u3m_hate(c3_w pad_w)
   c3_w fag_w = u3R->how.fag_w;
   u3m_leap(pad_w);
 
+  u3R->bug.mer = u3i_tape("emergency buffer");
+
   //  inherit forward-flowing flags
   //
   u3R->how.fag_w |= (fag_w & u3a_flag_cash);
 
-  u3R->bug.mer = u3i_string(
-    "emergency buffer with sufficient space to cons the trace and bail"
-  );
 }
 
 //  RETAINS `now`.
diff --git a/pkg/vere/melt.c b/pkg/vere/melt.c
index abc939f3ab..d2460efad8 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/melt.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/melt.c
@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ u3_melt_all(FILE *fil_u)
   //
   u3_assert( &(u3H->rod_u) == u3R );
 
+  u3z(u3H->rod_u.bug.mer);
+
   can_u.siz_w = 32;
   can_u.tac   = c3_malloc(sizeof(*can_u.tac) * can_u.siz_w);
 
@@ -194,6 +196,8 @@ u3_melt_all(FILE *fil_u)
 
   c3_free(can_u.tac);
 
+  u3H->rod_u.bug.mer = u3i_tape("emergency buffer");
+
   return u3a_idle(u3R) - pre_w;
 }