diff --git a/syndicate/dataspace.rkt b/syndicate/dataspace.rkt
index fa04d37..6c29880 100644
--- a/syndicate/dataspace.rkt
+++ b/syndicate/dataspace.rkt
@@ -547,10 +547,10 @@
   (when (not (void? assertion))
     (bag-change! (ensure-patch-action! ac) assertion +1)))
 
-(define (adhoc-retract! ac assertion)
+(define (adhoc-retract! ac assertion [count 1])
   (when (not (void? assertion))
     (define-values (new-assertions summary)
-      (bag-change (actor-adhoc-assertions ac) assertion -1 #:clamp? #t))
+      (bag-change (actor-adhoc-assertions ac) assertion (- count) #:clamp? #t))
     (set-actor-adhoc-assertions! ac new-assertions)
     (match summary
       ;; 'absent->present absurd (if the call to `adhoc-retract!`
@@ -559,9 +559,10 @@
       ['present->present (void)]
       ['absent->absent (void)]))) ;; can happen if we're exploiting the clamping
 
-(define (adhoc-assert! ac assertion)
+(define (adhoc-assert! ac assertion [count 1])
   (when (not (void? assertion))
-    (define-values (new-assertions summary) (bag-change (actor-adhoc-assertions ac) assertion +1))
+    (define-values (new-assertions summary)
+      (bag-change (actor-adhoc-assertions ac) assertion count))
     (set-actor-adhoc-assertions! ac new-assertions)
     (match summary
       ;; 'absent->absent and 'present->absent absurd (assuming there
diff --git a/syndicate/syntax.rkt b/syndicate/syntax.rkt
index ae4b70e..3c8f521 100644
--- a/syndicate/syntax.rkt
+++ b/syndicate/syntax.rkt
@@ -599,13 +599,13 @@
   (until (message ack)
     (on-start (send! ack))))
 
-(define (assert! a)
+(define (assert! a [count 1])
   (ensure-in-script! 'assert!)
-  (adhoc-assert! (current-actor) a))
+  (adhoc-assert! (current-actor) a count))
 
-(define (retract! a)
+(define (retract! a [count 1])
   (ensure-in-script! 'retract!)
-  (adhoc-retract! (current-actor) a))
+  (adhoc-retract! (current-actor) a count))
 
 (define (current-adhoc-assertions)
   (actor-adhoc-assertions (current-actor)))