diff --git a/src/actor.ts b/src/actor.ts
index a449c39..2cc484b 100644
--- a/src/actor.ts
+++ b/src/actor.ts
@@ -30,68 +30,68 @@ export type RewriteStage = Array<Rewrite>;
 export type Rewrite = { pattern: Pattern, template: Template };
 
 export const _CRec = Symbol.for('rec');
-export const CRec = Record.makeConstructor<{label: Assertion, arity: number}, Ref>()(
+export const CRec = Record.makeConstructor<{label: Value<never>, arity: number}, never>()(
     _CRec, ['label', 'arity']);
 
 export const _CArr = Symbol.for('arr');
-export const CArr = Record.makeConstructor<{arity: number}, Ref>()(
+export const CArr = Record.makeConstructor<{arity: number}, never>()(
     _CArr, ['arity']);
 
 export const _CDict = Symbol.for('dict');
-export const CDict = Record.makeConstructor<{}, Ref>()(
+export const CDict = Record.makeConstructor<{}, never>()(
     _CDict, []);
 
 export type ConstructorSpec =
-    | Record<typeof _CRec, [Assertion, number], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _CArr, [number], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _CDict, [], Ref>;
+    | Record<typeof _CRec, [Value<never>, number], never>
+    | Record<typeof _CArr, [number], never>
+    | Record<typeof _CDict, [], never>;
 
 export const _PDiscard = Symbol.for('_');
-export const PDiscard = Record.makeConstructor<{}, Ref>()(
+export const PDiscard = Record.makeConstructor<{}, never>()(
     _PDiscard, []);
 
 export const _PBind = Symbol.for('bind');
-export const PBind = Record.makeConstructor<{name: string, pattern: Pattern}, Ref>()(
+export const PBind = Record.makeConstructor<{name: string, pattern: Pattern}, never>()(
     _PBind, ['name', 'pattern']);
 
 export const _PAnd = Symbol.for('and');
-export const PAnd = Record.makeConstructor<{patterns: Array<Pattern>}, Ref>()(
+export const PAnd = Record.makeConstructor<{patterns: Array<Pattern>}, never>()(
     _PAnd, ['patterns']);
 
 export const _PNot = Symbol.for('not');
-export const PNot = Record.makeConstructor<{pattern: Pattern}, Ref>()(
+export const PNot = Record.makeConstructor<{pattern: Pattern}, never>()(
     _PNot, ['pattern']);
 
 export const _Lit = Symbol.for('lit');
-export const Lit = Record.makeConstructor<{value: Assertion}, Ref>()(
+export const Lit = Record.makeConstructor<{value: Value<never>}, never>()(
     _Lit, ['value']);
 
 export const _PCompound = Symbol.for('compound');
 export const PCompound =
-    Record.makeConstructor<{ctor: ConstructorSpec, members: Dictionary<Pattern, Ref>}, Ref>()(
+    Record.makeConstructor<{ctor: ConstructorSpec, members: Dictionary<Pattern, never>}, never>()(
         _PCompound, ['ctor', 'members']);
 
 export type Pattern =
-    | Record<typeof _PDiscard, [], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _PBind, [string, Pattern], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _PAnd, [Pattern[]], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _PNot, [Pattern], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _Lit, [Assertion], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _PCompound, [ConstructorSpec, Dictionary<Pattern, Ref>], Ref>;
+    | Record<typeof _PDiscard, [], never>
+    | Record<typeof _PBind, [string, Pattern], never>
+    | Record<typeof _PAnd, [Pattern[]], never>
+    | Record<typeof _PNot, [Pattern], never>
+    | Record<typeof _Lit, [Value<never>], never>
+    | Record<typeof _PCompound, [ConstructorSpec, Dictionary<Pattern, never>], never>;
 
 export const _TRef = Symbol.for('ref');
-export const TRef = Record.makeConstructor<{name: string}, Ref>()(
+export const TRef = Record.makeConstructor<{name: string}, never>()(
     _TRef, ['name']);
 
 export const _TCompound = Symbol.for('compound');
 export const TCompound =
-    Record.makeConstructor<{ctor: ConstructorSpec, members: Dictionary<Template, Ref>}, Ref>()(
+    Record.makeConstructor<{ctor: ConstructorSpec, members: Dictionary<Template, never>}, never>()(
         _TCompound, ['ctor', 'members']);
 
 export type Template =
-    | Record<typeof _TRef, [string], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _Lit, [Assertion], Ref>
-    | Record<typeof _TCompound, [ConstructorSpec, Dictionary<Template, Ref>], Ref>;
+    | Record<typeof _TRef, [string], never>
+    | Record<typeof _Lit, [Value<never>], never>
+    | Record<typeof _TCompound, [ConstructorSpec, Dictionary<Template, never>], never>;
 
 export type Bindings = { [name: string]: Assertion };
 
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ export function match(p: Pattern, v: Assertion): Bindings | null {
                     case _CDict:
                         if (!Dictionary.isDictionary<Assertion, Ref>(v)) return false;
                         for (const [key, pp] of members) {
-                            const vv = v.get(key);
+                            const vv = v.get(key as Assertion);
                             if (vv === void 0) return false;
                             if (!walk(pp, vv)) return false;
                         }
@@ -334,13 +334,16 @@ export function instantiate(t: Template, b: Bindings): Assertion {
                 return v;
             }
             case _Lit:
-                return Lit._.value(t);
+                return Lit._.value(t) as Assertion;
             case _TCompound: {
                 const ctor = TCompound._.ctor(t);
                 const members = TCompound._.members(t);
                 switch (ctor.label) {
                     case _CRec: {
-                        const v = Record<Assertion, any, Ref>(CRec._.label(ctor), []);
+                        const v = Record<Assertion, any, Ref>(
+                            CRec._.label(ctor) as Assertion,
+                            [],
+                        );
                         v.length = CRec._.arity(ctor);
                         for (const [key, tt] of members) {
                             v[key as number] = walk(tt);
@@ -358,7 +361,7 @@ export function instantiate(t: Template, b: Bindings): Assertion {
                     case _CDict: {
                         const v = new Dictionary<Assertion, Ref>();
                         for (const [key, tt] of members) {
-                            v.set(key, walk(tt));
+                            v.set(key as Assertion, walk(tt));
                         }
                         return v;
                     }
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index d47ef43..ef625e6 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Actor, Assertion, attenuate, CRec, forwarder, Lit, Pattern, PCompound, Ref, rfilter, Turn } from './actor.js';
+import { Actor, Assertion, attenuate, CRec, Lit, Pattern, PCompound, rfilter, Turn } from './actor.js';
 import { Dictionary, Record } from 'preserves';
 import { Dataspace, Observe } from './dataspace.js';
 import { Worker } from 'worker_threads';
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Turn.for(new Actor(), async (t: Turn) => {
                           new Dictionary()),
                 PCompound(CRec(Observe.constructorInfo.label,
                                Observe.constructorInfo.arity),
-                          new Dictionary<Pattern, Ref>([
+                          new Dictionary<Pattern, never>([
                               [0, Lit(SetBox.constructorInfo.label)]]))));
 
     const ds_for_client = attenuate(
@@ -70,15 +70,15 @@ Turn.for(new Actor(), async (t: Turn) => {
                           new Dictionary()),
                 PCompound(CRec(Observe.constructorInfo.label,
                                Observe.constructorInfo.arity),
-                          new Dictionary<Pattern, Ref>([
+                          new Dictionary<Pattern, never>([
                               [0, Lit(BoxState.constructorInfo.label)]]))));
 
 
     const boxpath = path.join(__dirname, 'box.js');
     const clientpath = path.join(__dirname, 'client.js');
 
-    spawnModule(t, boxpath, [ds_for_box, 500000, 25000]);
-    // spawnWorker(t, boxpath, [ds_for_box, 50000, 2500]);
+    // spawnModule(t, boxpath, [ds_for_box, 500000, 25000]);
+    spawnWorker(t, boxpath, [ds_for_box, 50000, 2500]);
 
     spawnModule(t, clientpath, ds_for_client);
     // spawnWorker(t, clientpath, ds_for_client);
diff --git a/src/protocol.ts b/src/protocol.ts
index 87608c9..6abe1ab 100644
--- a/src/protocol.ts
+++ b/src/protocol.ts
@@ -1,31 +1,76 @@
-import { Handle, Ref } from 'actor';
+import { Attenuation, Handle, Pattern, Ref, Template } from './actor.js';
 import { Record, Value } from 'preserves';
 
 export const _Assert = Symbol.for('assert');
-export const Assert = Record.makeConstructor<{assertion: Value<WireRef>, handle: Handle}, WireRef>()(
-    _Assert, ['assertion', 'handle']);
-
 export const _Retract = Symbol.for('retract');
-export const Retract = Record.makeConstructor<{handle: Handle}, WireRef>()(
-    _Retract, ['handle']);
-
 export const _Message = Symbol.for('message');
-export const Message = Record.makeConstructor<{body: Value<WireRef>}, WireRef>()(
-    _Message, ['body']);
-
 export const _Sync = Symbol.for('sync');
-export const Sync = Record.makeConstructor<{peer: WireRef}, WireRef>()(
-    _Sync, ['peer']);
 
-export type EntityMessage =
-    | Record<typeof _Assert, [Value<WireRef>, Handle], WireRef>
-    | Record<typeof _Retract, [Handle], WireRef>
-    | Record<typeof _Message, [Value<WireRef>], WireRef>
-    | Record<typeof _Sync, [WireRef], WireRef>;
+function mk<T extends object>() {
+    return {
+        Assert: Record.makeConstructor<{assertion: Value<T>, handle: Handle}, T>()(
+            _Assert, ['assertion', 'handle']),
+        Retract: Record.makeConstructor<{handle: Handle}, T>()(
+            _Retract, ['handle']),
+        Message: Record.makeConstructor<{body: Value<T>}, T>()(
+            _Message, ['body']),
+        Sync: Record.makeConstructor<{peer: T}, T>()(
+            _Sync, ['peer']),
+    };
+}
 
-export type TurnMessage = Array<[Oid, EntityMessage]>;
+export type EntityMessage<T extends object> =
+    | Record<typeof _Assert, [Value<T>, Handle], T>
+    | Record<typeof _Retract, [Handle], T>
+    | Record<typeof _Message, [Value<T>], T>
+    | Record<typeof _Sync, [T], T>;
+
+export type TurnMessage<T extends object> = Array<[Oid, EntityMessage<T>]>;
 
 export type Oid = number;
-export type RefLocation = "mine" | "your";
-export type WireRef = { loc: RefLocation, oid: Oid };
-export type WireSymbol = { name: WireRef, ref: Ref, count: number };
+
+export type WireSymbol = { oid: Oid, ref: Ref, count: number };
+
+export type WireRef =
+    | { loc: "mine", oid: Oid }
+    | { loc: "your", oid: Oid, attenuation: EncodedAttenuation };
+
+export const IO = mk<WireRef>();
+
+export function myRef(oid: Oid): WireRef & { loc: "mine" } {
+    return { loc: 'mine', oid };
+}
+
+export function yourRef(oid: Oid, attenuation: EncodedAttenuation): WireRef & { loc: "your" } {
+    return { loc: 'your', oid, attenuation };
+}
+
+export type EncodedAttenuation = Array<Array<[Value<WireRef>, Value<WireRef>]>>;
+
+export function encodeAttenuation(a: Attenuation | undefined): EncodedAttenuation {
+    if (a === void 0) return [];
+    return a.map(s => s.map(({pattern, template}) => [
+        pattern as Value<WireRef>,
+        template as Value<WireRef>,
+    ]));
+}
+
+export function decodeAttenuation(v: Array<Value<WireRef>>): Attenuation {
+    function complain(): never {
+        throw new Error(
+            `Received invalid attenuation ${v.asPreservesText()} from peer`);
+    }
+
+    if (v.length === 0) return [];
+    return v.map(s => {
+        if (!Array.isArray(s)) complain();
+        return s.map(e => {
+            if (!(Array.isArray(e) && e.length === 2)) complain();
+            // TODO: check structure of pattern and template
+            return {
+                pattern: e[0] as Pattern,
+                template: e[1] as Template,
+            };
+        });
+    });
+}
diff --git a/src/relay.ts b/src/relay.ts
index 8af4a0e..626e67b 100644
--- a/src/relay.ts
+++ b/src/relay.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,21 @@
-import { Actor, Assertion, Entity, Handle, Ref, Turn } from './actor.js';
-import { Bytes, decode, encode, IdentityMap, mapPointers, underlying, Value } from 'preserves';
+import { Actor, Assertion, attenuate, Entity, Handle, Ref, Turn } from './actor.js';
+import { Bytes, canonicalString, decode, encode, FlexMap, IdentityMap, mapPointers, underlying, Value } from 'preserves';
 import {
-    Oid,
-    Assert,
+    EncodedAttenuation,
     EntityMessage,
-    Message,
-    Retract,
-    Sync,
+    IO,
+    Oid,
+    TurnMessage,
+    WireRef,
     WireSymbol,
     _Assert,
-    _Retract,
     _Message,
+    _Retract,
     _Sync,
-    WireRef,
-    TurnMessage,
+    decodeAttenuation,
+    encodeAttenuation,
+    myRef,
+    yourRef,
 } from './protocol.js';
 import { queueTask } from './task.js';
 
@@ -50,34 +52,36 @@ export class SyncPeerEntity implements Entity {
 
 export class RelayEntity implements Entity {
     readonly relay: Relay;
-    readonly e: WireSymbol;
+    readonly oid: Oid;
 
-    constructor(relay: Relay, e: WireSymbol) {
+    constructor(relay: Relay, oid: Oid) {
         this.relay = relay;
-        this.e = e;
+        this.oid = oid;
     }
 
-    send(m: EntityMessage): void {
-        this.relay.send(this.e.name.oid, m);
+    send(m: EntityMessage<WireRef>): void {
+        this.relay.send(this.oid, m);
     }
 
     assert(_turn: Turn, assertion: Assertion, handle: Handle): void {
-        this.send(Assert(this.relay.register(assertion, handle), handle));
+        this.send(IO.Assert(this.relay.register(assertion, handle), handle));
     }
 
     retract(_turn: Turn, handle: Handle): void {
         this.relay.deregister(handle);
-        this.send(Retract(handle));
+        this.send(IO.Retract(handle));
     }
 
     message(_turn: Turn, body: Assertion): void {
-        this.send(Message(this.relay.register(body, null)));
+        this.send(IO.Message(this.relay.register(body, null)));
     }
 
     sync(turn: Turn, peer: Ref): void {
         const peerEntity = new SyncPeerEntity(this.relay, peer);
-        peerEntity.e = this.relay.rewriteRefOut(turn.ref(peerEntity), false, null);
-        this.send(Sync(peerEntity.e.name));
+        const exported: Array<WireSymbol> = [];
+        const ior = this.relay.rewriteRefOut(turn.ref(peerEntity), false, exported);
+        peerEntity.e = exported[0];
+        this.send(IO.Sync(ior));
     }
 }
 
@@ -86,17 +90,15 @@ export class Membrane {
     readonly byRef = new IdentityMap<Ref, WireSymbol>();
 
     grab<Table extends "byOid" | "byRef">(table: Table,
-                                          key: (Table extends "byOid" ? Oid : Ref),
+                                          key: Parameters<Membrane[Table]['get']>[0],
                                           transient: boolean,
                                           f: () => WireSymbol): WireSymbol
     {
-        let e =
-            (this[table] as IdentityMap<Table extends "byOid" ? Oid : Ref, WireSymbol>)
-                .get(key);
+        let e = this[table].get(key as any);
         if (e === void 0) {
             e = f();
             this.byRef.set(e.ref, e);
-            this.byOid.set(e.name.oid, e);
+            this.byOid.set(e.oid, e);
         }
         if (!transient) e.count++;
         return e;
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ export class Membrane {
     drop(e: WireSymbol): void {
         e.count--;
         if (e.count === 0) {
-            this.byOid.delete(e.name.oid);
+            this.byOid.delete(e.oid);
             this.byRef.delete(e.ref);
         }
     }
@@ -126,9 +128,9 @@ export interface RelayOptions {
     packetWriter: PacketWriter;
     setup(t: Turn, r: Relay): void;
     debug?: boolean;
+    trustPeer?: boolean;
 }
 
-
 export class Relay {
     readonly actor: Actor;
     readonly w: PacketWriter;
@@ -140,21 +142,22 @@ export class Relay {
     readonly exported = new Membrane();
     readonly imported = new Membrane();
     nextLocalOid: Oid = 0;
-    pendingTurn: TurnMessage = [];
+    pendingTurn: TurnMessage<WireRef> = [];
     debug: boolean;
+    trustPeer: boolean;
 
     constructor(t: Turn, options: RelayOptions) {
         this.actor = t.actor;
         this.w = options.packetWriter;
         this.debug = options.debug ?? false;
+        this.trustPeer = options.trustPeer ?? true;
         options.setup(t, this);
     }
 
     rewriteOut(assertion: Assertion, transient: boolean): [Value<WireRef>, Array<WireSymbol>]
     {
         const exported: Array<WireSymbol> = [];
-        const rewritten =
-            mapPointers(assertion, r => this.rewriteRefOut(r, transient, exported).name);
+        const rewritten = mapPointers(assertion, r => this.rewriteRefOut(r, transient, exported));
         return [rewritten, exported];
     }
 
@@ -175,44 +178,61 @@ export class Relay {
         (this.outboundAssertions.get(handle) ?? []).forEach(e => this.releaseRefOut(e));
     }
 
-    rewriteRefOut(r: Ref, transient: boolean, exported: Array<WireSymbol> | null): WireSymbol {
+    rewriteRefOut(r: Ref, transient: boolean, exported: Array<WireSymbol>): WireRef {
         if (r.target instanceof RelayEntity && r.target.relay === this) {
-            return r.target.e;
-        } else {
-            const e = this.exported.grab("byRef", r, transient, () => {
-                if (transient) throw new Error("Cannot send transient reference");
-                return { name: { loc: "mine", oid: this.nextLocalOid++ }, ref: r, count: 0 };
-            });
-            exported?.push(e);
-            return e;
+            if (r.attenuation === void 0 || r.attenuation.length === 0) {
+                // No extra conditions on this reference since it was sent to us.
+                return yourRef(r.target.oid, []);
+            } else {
+                // This reference has been attenuated since it was sent to us.
+                // Do we trust the peer to enforce such attenuation on our behalf?
+                if (this.trustPeer) {
+                    return yourRef(r.target.oid, encodeAttenuation(r.attenuation));
+                } else {
+                    // fall through: treat the attenuated ref as a local ref, and re-export it.
+                }
+            }
         }
+
+        const e = this.exported.grab(
+            "byRef", r, transient, () => {
+                if (transient) throw new Error("Cannot send transient reference");
+                return { oid: this.nextLocalOid++, ref: r, count: 0 };
+            });
+        exported.push(e);
+        return myRef(e.oid);
     }
 
     releaseRefOut(e: WireSymbol) {
         this.exported.drop(e);
     }
 
-    rewriteRefIn(t: Turn, n: WireRef, imported: Array<WireSymbol> | null): Ref {
+    rewriteRefIn(t: Turn, n: WireRef, imported: Array<WireSymbol>): Ref {
         switch (n.loc) {
-            case 'your':
-                return this.lookupLocal(n.oid);
+            case 'your': {
+                const r = this.lookupLocal(n.oid);
+                if (n.attenuation.length === 0 || r === INERT_REF) {
+                    return r;
+                } else {
+                    type AttenuatedRef = Ref & { __attenuations?: FlexMap<EncodedAttenuation, Ref> };
+                    const ar = r as AttenuatedRef;
+                    if (ar.__attenuations === void 0) {
+                        ar.__attenuations = new FlexMap(canonicalString);
+                    }
+                    return ar.__attenuations.getOrSet(n.attenuation, () =>
+                        attenuate(r, ... decodeAttenuation(n.attenuation)));
+                }
+            }
             case 'mine': {
-                const e = this.imported.grab("byOid", n.oid, false, () => {
-                    const e: WireSymbol = {
-                        name: { loc: 'your', oid: n.oid },
-                        ref: null as any,
-                        count: 0,
-                    };
-                    e.ref = t.ref(new RelayEntity(this, e as WireSymbol));
-                    return e;
-                });
-                imported?.push(e);
+                const e = this.imported.grab("byOid", n.oid, false, () =>
+                    ({ oid: n.oid, ref: t.ref(new RelayEntity(this, n.oid)), count: 0 }));
+                imported.push(e);
                 return e.ref;
             }
         }
     }
 
-    send(remoteOid: Oid, m: EntityMessage): void {
+    send(remoteOid: Oid, m: EntityMessage<WireRef>): void {
         if (this.pendingTurn.length === 0) {
             queueTask(() => {
                 if (this.debug) console.log('OUT', this.pendingTurn.asPreservesText());
@@ -221,7 +241,7 @@ export class Relay {
                     encodePointer: n => {
                         switch (n.loc) {
                             case 'mine': return [0, n.oid];
-                            case 'your': return [1, n.oid];
+                            case 'your': return [1, n.oid, ... n.attenuation];
                         }
                     },
                 })));
@@ -240,40 +260,47 @@ export class Relay {
             const bs = Bytes.from(bs0);
             const wireTurn = decode<WireRef>(bs, {
                 decodePointer: v => {
-                    if (!Array.isArray(v) || v.length !== 2) {
+                    function complain(): never {
                         throw new Error(
                             `Received invalid object reference ${v.asPreservesText()} from peer`);
                     }
-                    const loc = v[0] === 0 ? 'mine' : 'your';
-                    return { loc, oid: v[1] as Oid };
+                    if (!(Array.isArray(v) && v.length >= 2 && typeof v[1] === 'number')) {
+                        complain();
+                    }
+                    const oid = v[1] as Oid;
+                    switch (v[0]) {
+                        case 0:
+                            if (v.length > 2) complain();
+                            return myRef(oid);
+                        case 1:
+                            // TODO: check EncodedAttenuation
+                            return yourRef(oid, v.slice(2) as EncodedAttenuation);
+                        default:
+                            complain();
+                    }
                 },
-            });
+            }) as TurnMessage<WireRef>;
+            // ^ TODO: deep check that v is a TurnMessage
             if (this.debug) console.log('IN', wireTurn.asPreservesText());
-            if (!Array.isArray(wireTurn)) invalidTopLevelMessage(wireTurn);
             wireTurn.forEach(v => {
-                if (Array.isArray(v) && v.length === 2 && typeof v[0] === 'number') {
-                    const [localOid, m] = v;
-                    // TODO: deep check that m is EntityMessage
-                    this.handle(t, this.lookupLocal(localOid), m as EntityMessage);
-                } else {
-                    invalidTopLevelMessage(wireTurn);
-                }
+                const [localOid, m] = v;
+                this.handle(t, this.lookupLocal(localOid), m);
             });
         });
     }
 
-    handle(t: Turn, r: Ref, m: EntityMessage) {
+    handle(t: Turn, r: Ref, m: EntityMessage<WireRef>) {
         switch (m.label) {
             case _Assert: {
-                const [a, imported] = this.rewriteIn(t, Assert._.assertion(m));
-                this.inboundAssertions.set(Assert._.handle(m), {
+                const [a, imported] = this.rewriteIn(t, IO.Assert._.assertion(m));
+                this.inboundAssertions.set(IO.Assert._.handle(m), {
                     localHandle: t.assert(r, a),
                     imported,
                 });
                 break;
             }
             case _Retract: {
-                const remoteHandle = Retract._.handle(m);
+                const remoteHandle = IO.Retract._.handle(m);
                 const h = this.inboundAssertions.get(remoteHandle);
                 if (h === void 0) throw new Error(`Peer retracted invalid handle ${remoteHandle}`);
                 this.inboundAssertions.delete(remoteHandle);
@@ -282,14 +309,14 @@ export class Relay {
                 break;
             }
             case _Message: {
-                const [a, imported] = this.rewriteIn(t, Message._.body(m));
+                const [a, imported] = this.rewriteIn(t, IO.Message._.body(m));
                 if (imported.length > 0) throw new Error("Cannot receive transient reference");
                 t.message(r, a);
                 break;
             }
             case _Sync: {
                 const imported: Array<WireSymbol> = [];
-                const k = this.rewriteRefIn(t, Sync._.peer(m), imported);
+                const k = this.rewriteRefIn(t, IO.Sync._.peer(m), imported);
                 t.sync(r).then(t => {
                     t.message(k, true);
                     imported.forEach(e => this.imported.drop(e));
@@ -300,11 +327,6 @@ export class Relay {
     }
 }
 
-function invalidTopLevelMessage(m: Value<WireRef>): never {
-    throw new Error(
-        `Received invalid top-level protocol message from peer: ${m.asPreservesText()}`);
-}
-
 export interface RelayActorOptions extends RelayOptions {
     initialOid?: Oid;
     initialRef?: Ref;
@@ -316,10 +338,10 @@ export function spawnRelay(t: Turn, options: RelayActorOptions): Promise<Ref | n
         t.spawn(t => {
             const relay = new Relay(t, options);
             if (options.initialRef !== void 0) {
-                relay.rewriteRefOut(options.initialRef, false, null);
+                relay.rewriteRefOut(options.initialRef, false, []);
             }
             if (options.initialOid !== void 0) {
-                resolve(relay.rewriteRefIn(t, { loc: 'mine', oid: options.initialOid }, null));
+                resolve(relay.rewriteRefIn(t, myRef(options.initialOid), []));
             } else {
                 resolve(null);
             }