diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
index ca6e8da35..9928c560f 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/llvm_ir_generator.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
             llty = ll.FunctionType(ll.VoidType(), [self.llty_of_type(builtins.TException())])
         elif name == "__artiq_reraise":
             llty = ll.FunctionType(ll.VoidType(), [])
-        elif name == "rpc":
+        elif name == "send_rpc":
             llty = ll.FunctionType(ll.IntType(32), [ll.IntType(32), ll.IntType(8).as_pointer()],
                                    var_arg=True)
         else:
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
                 tag += self._rpc_tag(arg.type, arg.type, None)
             else:
                 tag += self._rpc_tag(arg.type, arg.type, arg.loc)
-        tag += b":\x00"
+        tag += b"\x00"
         lltag = self.llconst_of_const(ir.Constant(tag, builtins.TStr()))
 
         llargs = []
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ class LLVMIRGenerator:
             self.llbuilder.store(llarg, llargslot)
             llargs.append(llargslot)
 
-        return self.llbuiltin("rpc"), [llservice, lltag] + llargs
+        return self.llbuiltin("send_rpc"), [llservice, lltag] + llargs
 
     def prepare_call(self, insn):
         if types.is_rpc_function(insn.target_function().type):
diff --git a/soc/runtime/ksupport.c b/soc/runtime/ksupport.c
index 9a866908c..187e33220 100644
--- a/soc/runtime/ksupport.c
+++ b/soc/runtime/ksupport.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static const struct symbol runtime_exports[] = {
 
     {"log", &log},
     {"lognonl", &lognonl},
-    {"rpc", &rpc},
+    {"send_rpc", &send_rpc},
 
     /* direct syscalls */
     {"rtio_get_counter", &rtio_get_counter},
@@ -301,19 +301,19 @@ void watchdog_clear(int id)
     mailbox_send_and_wait(&request);
 }
 
-int rpc(int service, const char *tag, ...)
+int send_rpc(int service, const char *tag, ...)
 {
-    struct msg_rpc_send_request request;
-    struct msg_base *reply;
+    struct msg_rpc_send request;
 
-    request.type = MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_SEND_REQUEST;
+    request.type = MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_SEND;
     request.service = service;
     request.tag = tag;
     va_start(request.args, tag);
     mailbox_send_and_wait(&request);
     va_end(request.args);
 
-    reply = mailbox_wait_and_receive();
+    // struct msg_base *reply;
+    // reply = mailbox_wait_and_receive();
     // if(reply->type == MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_REPLY) {
     //     int result = ((struct msg_rpc_reply *)reply)->result;
     //     mailbox_acknowledge();
@@ -325,8 +325,8 @@ int rpc(int service, const char *tag, ...)
     //     mailbox_acknowledge();
     //     __artiq_raise(&exception);
     // } else {
-        log("Malformed MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_REQUEST reply type %d",
-            reply->type);
+        // log("Malformed MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_REQUEST reply type %d",
+        //     reply->type);
         while(1);
     // }
 }
diff --git a/soc/runtime/ksupport.h b/soc/runtime/ksupport.h
index 41561330f..2aa83ce63 100644
--- a/soc/runtime/ksupport.h
+++ b/soc/runtime/ksupport.h
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ long long int now_init(void);
 void now_save(long long int now);
 int watchdog_set(int ms);
 void watchdog_clear(int id);
-int rpc(int service, const char *tag, ...);
+int send_rpc(int service, const char *tag, ...);
 void lognonl(const char *fmt, ...);
 void log(const char *fmt, ...);
 
diff --git a/soc/runtime/messages.h b/soc/runtime/messages.h
index 55d53aca9..46294f8e6 100644
--- a/soc/runtime/messages.h
+++ b/soc/runtime/messages.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ enum {
     MESSAGE_TYPE_WATCHDOG_SET_REQUEST,
     MESSAGE_TYPE_WATCHDOG_SET_REPLY,
     MESSAGE_TYPE_WATCHDOG_CLEAR,
-    MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_SEND_REQUEST,
+    MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_SEND,
     MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_RECV_REQUEST,
     MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_RECV_REPLY,
     MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_EXCEPTION,
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ struct msg_watchdog_clear {
     int id;
 };
 
-struct msg_rpc_send_request {
+struct msg_rpc_send {
     int type;
     int service;
     const char *tag;
diff --git a/soc/runtime/session.c b/soc/runtime/session.c
index eadaa1990..f5e846477 100644
--- a/soc/runtime/session.c
+++ b/soc/runtime/session.c
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ static int send_rpc_request(int service, const char *tag, va_list args)
     out_packet_start(REMOTEMSG_TYPE_RPC_REQUEST);
     out_packet_int32(service);
 
-    while(*tag != ':') {
+    while(*tag) {
         void *value = va_arg(args, void*);
         if(!kloader_validate_kpointer(value))
             return 0;
@@ -735,8 +735,8 @@ static int process_kmsg(struct msg_base *umsg)
             break;
         }
 
-        case MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_SEND_REQUEST: {
-            struct msg_rpc_send_request *msg = (struct msg_rpc_send_request *)umsg;
+        case MESSAGE_TYPE_RPC_SEND: {
+            struct msg_rpc_send *msg = (struct msg_rpc_send *)umsg;
 
             if(!send_rpc_request(msg->service, msg->tag, msg->args)) {
                 log("Failed to send RPC request");