diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/analyzer.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/analyzer.rs
index e7c555d76..fa62a535c 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/analyzer.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/analyzer.rs
@@ -52,16 +52,18 @@ pub mod remote_analyzer {
         pub data: Vec<u8>
     }
 
-    pub fn get_data(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-        routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
-        up_destinations: &Urc<RefCell<[bool; drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT]>>) -> Result<RemoteBuffer, &'static str> {
+    pub fn get_data(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+        up_destinations: &Urc<RefCell<[bool; drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT]>>
+    ) -> Result<RemoteBuffer, &'static str> {
             // gets data from satellites and returns consolidated data
             let mut remote_data: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
             let mut remote_overflow = false;
             let mut remote_sent_bytes = 0;
             let mut remote_total_bytes = 0;
 
-            let data_vec = match drtio::analyzer_query(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, up_destinations) {
+            let data_vec = match drtio::analyzer_query(
+                io, aux_mutex, routing_table, up_destinations
+            ) {
                 Ok(data_vec) => data_vec,
                 Err(e) => return Err(e)
             };
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ pub mod remote_analyzer {
 
 
 
-fn worker(stream: &mut TcpStream, _io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
+fn worker(stream: &mut TcpStream, _io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, 
     _routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
     _up_destinations: &Urc<RefCell<[bool; drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT]>>
 ) -> Result<(), IoError<SchedError>> {
@@ -97,7 +99,7 @@ fn worker(stream: &mut TcpStream, _io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mu
 
     #[cfg(has_drtio)]
     let remote = remote_analyzer::get_data(
-        _io, _aux_mutex, _ddma_mutex, _routing_table, _up_destinations);
+        _io, _aux_mutex, _routing_table, _up_destinations);
     #[cfg(has_drtio)]
     let (header, remote_data) = match remote {
         Ok(remote) => (Header {
@@ -144,7 +146,7 @@ fn worker(stream: &mut TcpStream, _io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mu
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub fn thread(io: Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
+pub fn thread(io: Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
     routing_table: &Urc<RefCell<drtio_routing::RoutingTable>>,
     up_destinations: &Urc<RefCell<[bool; drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT]>>) {
     let listener = TcpListener::new(&io, 65535);
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ pub fn thread(io: Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
         disarm();
 
         let routing_table = routing_table.borrow();
-        match worker(&mut stream, &io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, &routing_table, up_destinations) {
+        match worker(&mut stream, &io, aux_mutex, &routing_table, up_destinations) {
             Ok(())   => (),
             Err(err) => error!("analyzer aborted: {}", err)
         }
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/kern_hwreq.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/kern_hwreq.rs
index b178d8e29..7fd0b379c 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/kern_hwreq.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/kern_hwreq.rs
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@ mod remote_i2c {
     use rtio_mgt::drtio;
     use sched::{Io, Mutex};
 
-    pub fn start(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::I2cStartRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno
-        });
+    pub fn start(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8
+    ) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::I2cStartRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::I2cBasicReply { succeeded }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(()) } else { Err("i2c basic reply error") }
@@ -34,11 +37,14 @@ mod remote_i2c {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn restart(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::I2cRestartRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno
-        });
+    pub fn restart(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, 
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8
+    ) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::I2cRestartRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::I2cBasicReply { succeeded }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(()) } else { Err("i2c basic reply error") }
@@ -54,11 +60,14 @@ mod remote_i2c {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn stop(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::I2cStopRequest  {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno
-        });
+    pub fn stop(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8
+    ) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno,
+            &drtioaux::Packet::I2cStopRequest  {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::I2cBasicReply { succeeded }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(()) } else { Err("i2c basic reply error") }
@@ -74,12 +83,15 @@ mod remote_i2c {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn write(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, data: u8) -> Result<bool, &'static str> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::I2cWriteRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno,
-            data: data
-        });
+    pub fn write(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, data: u8
+    ) -> Result<bool, &'static str> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::I2cWriteRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno,
+                data: data
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::I2cWriteReply { succeeded, ack }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(ack) } else { Err("i2c write reply error") }
@@ -95,12 +107,15 @@ mod remote_i2c {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn read(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, ack: bool) -> Result<u8, &'static str> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::I2cReadRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno,
-            ack: ack
-        });
+    pub fn read(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, ack: bool
+    ) -> Result<u8, &'static str> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::I2cReadRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno,
+                ack: ack
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::I2cReadReply { succeeded, data }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(data) } else { Err("i2c read reply error") }
@@ -116,13 +131,16 @@ mod remote_i2c {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn switch_select(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, address: u8, mask: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::I2cSwitchSelectRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno,
-            address: address,
-            mask: mask,
-        });
+    pub fn switch_select(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, address: u8, mask: u8
+    ) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::I2cSwitchSelectRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno,
+                address: address,
+                mask: mask,
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::I2cBasicReply { succeeded }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(()) } else { Err("i2c basic reply error") }
@@ -145,8 +163,10 @@ mod remote_spi {
     use rtio_mgt::drtio;
     use sched::{Io, Mutex};
 
-    pub fn set_config(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, flags: u8, length: u8, div: u8, cs: u8) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::SpiSetConfigRequest {
+    pub fn set_config(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, flags: u8, length: u8, div: u8, cs: u8
+    ) -> Result<(), ()> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::SpiSetConfigRequest {
             destination: destination,
             busno: busno,
             flags: flags,
@@ -169,8 +189,10 @@ mod remote_spi {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn write(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, data: u32) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::SpiWriteRequest {
+    pub fn write(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8, data: u32
+    ) -> Result<(), ()> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::SpiWriteRequest {
             destination: destination,
             busno: busno,
             data: data
@@ -190,11 +212,13 @@ mod remote_spi {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn read(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8) -> Result<u32, ()> {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::SpiReadRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            busno: busno
-        });
+    pub fn read(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, busno: u8
+    ) -> Result<u32, ()> {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::SpiReadRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                busno: busno
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::SpiReadReply { succeeded, data }) => {
                 if succeeded { Ok(data) } else { Err(()) }
@@ -214,7 +238,7 @@ mod remote_spi {
 
 #[cfg(has_drtio)]
 macro_rules! dispatch {
-    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $ddma_mutex:ident, $mod_local:ident, $mod_remote:ident, $routing_table:ident, $busno:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
+    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $mod_local:ident, $mod_remote:ident, $routing_table:ident, $busno:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
         let destination = ($busno >> 16) as u8;
         let busno = $busno as u8;
         let hop = $routing_table.0[destination as usize][0];
@@ -222,28 +246,27 @@ macro_rules! dispatch {
             $mod_local::$func(busno, $($param, )*)
         } else {
             let linkno = hop - 1;
-            $mod_remote::$func($io, $aux_mutex, $ddma_mutex, linkno, destination, busno, $($param, )*)
+            $mod_remote::$func($io, $aux_mutex, linkno, destination, busno, $($param, )*)
         }
     }}
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(has_drtio))]
 macro_rules! dispatch {
-    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $ddma_mutex:ident, $mod_local:ident, $mod_remote:ident, $routing_table:ident, $busno:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
+    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $mod_local:ident, $mod_remote:ident, $routing_table:ident, $busno:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
         let busno = $busno as u8;
         $mod_local::$func(busno, $($param, )*)
     }}
 }
 
 pub fn process_kern_hwreq(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
-        ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
         _routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
         _up_destinations: &Urc<RefCell<[bool; drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT]>>,
         request: &kern::Message) -> Result<bool, Error<SchedError>> {
     match request {
         &kern::RtioInitRequest => {
             info!("resetting RTIO");
-            rtio_mgt::reset(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex);
+            rtio_mgt::reset(io, aux_mutex);
             kern_acknowledge()
         }
 
@@ -259,47 +282,47 @@ pub fn process_kern_hwreq(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
         }
 
         &kern::I2cStartRequest { busno } => {
-            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, start).is_ok();
+            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, start).is_ok();
             kern_send(io, &kern::I2cBasicReply { succeeded: succeeded })
         }
         &kern::I2cRestartRequest { busno } => {
-            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, restart).is_ok();
+            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, restart).is_ok();
             kern_send(io, &kern::I2cBasicReply { succeeded: succeeded })
         }
         &kern::I2cStopRequest { busno } => {
-            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, stop).is_ok();
+            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, stop).is_ok();
             kern_send(io, &kern::I2cBasicReply { succeeded: succeeded })
         }
         &kern::I2cWriteRequest { busno, data } => {
-            match dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, write, data) {
+            match dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, write, data) {
                 Ok(ack) => kern_send(io, &kern::I2cWriteReply { succeeded: true, ack: ack }),
                 Err(_) => kern_send(io, &kern::I2cWriteReply { succeeded: false, ack: false })
             }
         }
         &kern::I2cReadRequest { busno, ack } => {
-            match dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, read, ack) {
+            match dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno, read, ack) {
                 Ok(data) => kern_send(io, &kern::I2cReadReply { succeeded: true, data: data }),
                 Err(_) => kern_send(io, &kern::I2cReadReply { succeeded: false, data: 0xff })
             }
         }
         &kern::I2cSwitchSelectRequest { busno, address, mask } => {
-            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno,
+            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_i2c, remote_i2c, _routing_table, busno,
                 switch_select, address, mask).is_ok();
             kern_send(io, &kern::I2cBasicReply { succeeded: succeeded })
         }
 
         &kern::SpiSetConfigRequest { busno, flags, length, div, cs } => {
-            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_spi, remote_spi, _routing_table, busno,
+            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_spi, remote_spi, _routing_table, busno,
                 set_config, flags, length, div, cs).is_ok();
             kern_send(io, &kern::SpiBasicReply { succeeded: succeeded })
         },
         &kern::SpiWriteRequest { busno, data } => {
-            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_spi, remote_spi, _routing_table, busno,
+            let succeeded = dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_spi, remote_spi, _routing_table, busno,
                 write, data).is_ok();
             kern_send(io, &kern::SpiBasicReply { succeeded: succeeded })
         }
         &kern::SpiReadRequest { busno } => {
-            match dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, local_spi, remote_spi, _routing_table, busno, read) {
+            match dispatch!(io, aux_mutex, local_spi, remote_spi, _routing_table, busno, read) {
                 Ok(data) => kern_send(io, &kern::SpiReadReply { succeeded: true, data: data }),
                 Err(_) => kern_send(io, &kern::SpiReadReply { succeeded: false, data: 0 })
             }
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/main.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/main.rs
index 94cfd23c5..08367375a 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/main.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/main.rs
@@ -210,17 +210,15 @@ fn startup() {
     #[cfg(any(has_rtio_moninj, has_drtio))]
     {
         let aux_mutex = aux_mutex.clone();
-        let ddma_mutex = ddma_mutex.clone();
         let drtio_routing_table = drtio_routing_table.clone();
-        io.spawn(4096, move |io| { moninj::thread(io, &aux_mutex, &ddma_mutex, &drtio_routing_table) });
+        io.spawn(4096, move |io| { moninj::thread(io, &aux_mutex, &drtio_routing_table) });
     }
     #[cfg(has_rtio_analyzer)]
     {
         let aux_mutex = aux_mutex.clone();
         let drtio_routing_table = drtio_routing_table.clone();
         let up_destinations = up_destinations.clone();
-        let ddma_mutex = ddma_mutex.clone();
-        io.spawn(8192, move |io| { analyzer::thread(io, &aux_mutex, &ddma_mutex, &drtio_routing_table, &up_destinations) });
+        io.spawn(8192, move |io| { analyzer::thread(io, &aux_mutex, &drtio_routing_table, &up_destinations) });
     }
 
     #[cfg(has_grabber)]
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/moninj.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/moninj.rs
index 88f6c6aaf..1ef6b4215 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/moninj.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/moninj.rs
@@ -53,12 +53,14 @@ mod remote_moninj {
     use rtio_mgt::drtio;
     use sched::{Io, Mutex};
 
-    pub fn read_probe(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, channel: u16, probe: u8) -> u64 {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::MonitorRequest { 
-            destination: destination,
-            channel: channel,
-            probe: probe
-        });
+    pub fn read_probe(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8,
+        destination: u8, channel: u16, probe: u8) -> u64 {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::MonitorRequest { 
+                destination: destination,
+                channel: channel,
+                probe: probe
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::MonitorReply { value }) => return value,
             Ok(packet) => error!("received unexpected aux packet: {:?}", packet),
@@ -67,7 +69,8 @@ mod remote_moninj {
         0
     }
 
-    pub fn inject(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, channel: u16, overrd: u8, value: u8) {
+    pub fn inject(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, 
+        destination: u8, channel: u16, overrd: u8, value: u8) {
         let _lock = aux_mutex.lock(io).unwrap();
         drtioaux::send(linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::InjectionRequest {
             destination: destination,
@@ -77,12 +80,14 @@ mod remote_moninj {
         }).unwrap();
     }
 
-    pub fn read_injection_status(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, destination: u8, channel: u16, overrd: u8) -> u8 {
-        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::InjectionStatusRequest {
-            destination: destination,
-            channel: channel,
-            overrd: overrd
-        });
+    pub fn read_injection_status(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8,
+        destination: u8, channel: u16, overrd: u8) -> u8 {
+        let reply = drtio::aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::InjectionStatusRequest {
+                destination: destination,
+                channel: channel,
+                overrd: overrd
+            });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::InjectionStatusReply { value }) => return value,
             Ok(packet) => error!("received unexpected aux packet: {:?}", packet),
@@ -94,7 +99,7 @@ mod remote_moninj {
 
 #[cfg(has_drtio)]
 macro_rules! dispatch {
-    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $ddma_mutex:ident, $routing_table:ident, $channel:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
+    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $routing_table:ident, $channel:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
         let destination = ($channel >> 16) as u8;
         let channel = $channel as u16;
         let hop = $routing_table.0[destination as usize][0];
@@ -102,21 +107,21 @@ macro_rules! dispatch {
             local_moninj::$func(channel, $($param, )*)
         } else {
             let linkno = hop - 1;
-            remote_moninj::$func($io, $aux_mutex, $ddma_mutex, linkno, destination, channel, $($param, )*)
+            remote_moninj::$func($io, $aux_mutex, linkno, destination, channel, $($param, )*)
         }
     }}
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(has_drtio))]
 macro_rules! dispatch {
-    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $ddma_mutex:ident, $routing_table:ident, $channel:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
+    ($io:ident, $aux_mutex:ident, $routing_table:ident, $channel:expr, $func:ident $(, $param:expr)*) => {{
         let channel = $channel as u16;
         local_moninj::$func(channel, $($param, )*)
     }}
 }
 
-fn connection_worker(io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex, _routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
-        mut stream: &mut TcpStream) -> Result<(), Error<SchedError>> {
+fn connection_worker(io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+    mut stream: &mut TcpStream) -> Result<(), Error<SchedError>> {
     let mut probe_watch_list = BTreeMap::new();
     let mut inject_watch_list = BTreeMap::new();
     let mut next_check = 0;
@@ -144,9 +149,10 @@ fn connection_worker(io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex, _routing_
                         let _ = inject_watch_list.remove(&(channel, overrd));
                     }
                 },
-                HostMessage::Inject { channel, overrd, value } => dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _ddma_mutex, _routing_table, channel, inject, overrd, value),
+                HostMessage::Inject { channel, overrd, value } => dispatch!(
+                    io, _aux_mutex, _routing_table, channel, inject, overrd, value),
                 HostMessage::GetInjectionStatus { channel, overrd } => {
-                    let value = dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _ddma_mutex, _routing_table, channel, read_injection_status, overrd);
+                    let value = dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _routing_table, channel, read_injection_status, overrd);
                     let reply = DeviceMessage::InjectionStatus {
                         channel: channel,
                         overrd: overrd,
@@ -163,7 +169,7 @@ fn connection_worker(io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex, _routing_
 
         if clock::get_ms() > next_check {
             for (&(channel, probe), previous) in probe_watch_list.iter_mut() {
-                let current = dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _ddma_mutex, _routing_table, channel, read_probe, probe);
+                let current = dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _routing_table, channel, read_probe, probe);
                 if previous.is_none() || previous.unwrap() != current {
                     let message = DeviceMessage::MonitorStatus {
                         channel: channel,
@@ -178,7 +184,7 @@ fn connection_worker(io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex, _routing_
                 }
             }
             for (&(channel, overrd), previous) in inject_watch_list.iter_mut() {
-                let current = dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _ddma_mutex, _routing_table, channel, read_injection_status, overrd);
+                let current = dispatch!(io, _aux_mutex, _routing_table, channel, read_injection_status, overrd);
                 if previous.is_none() || previous.unwrap() != current {
                     let message = DeviceMessage::InjectionStatus {
                         channel: channel,
@@ -199,19 +205,18 @@ fn connection_worker(io: &Io, _aux_mutex: &Mutex, _ddma_mutex: &Mutex, _routing_
     }
 }
 
-pub fn thread(io: Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &Urc<RefCell<drtio_routing::RoutingTable>>) {
+pub fn thread(io: Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &Urc<RefCell<drtio_routing::RoutingTable>>) {
     let listener = TcpListener::new(&io, 2047);
     listener.listen(1383).expect("moninj: cannot listen");
 
     loop {
         let aux_mutex = aux_mutex.clone();
-        let ddma_mutex = ddma_mutex.clone();
         let routing_table = routing_table.clone();
         let stream = listener.accept().expect("moninj: cannot accept").into_handle();
         io.spawn(16384, move |io| {
             let routing_table = routing_table.borrow();
             let mut stream = TcpStream::from_handle(&io, stream);
-            match connection_worker(&io, &aux_mutex, &ddma_mutex, &routing_table, &mut stream) {
+            match connection_worker(&io, &aux_mutex, &routing_table, &mut stream) {
                 Ok(()) => {},
                 Err(err) => error!("moninj aborted: {}", err)
             }
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_dma.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_dma.rs
index c057edaeb..ce0fd4088 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_dma.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_dma.rs
@@ -91,12 +91,12 @@ pub mod remote_dma {
         Ok(playback_state)
     }
 
-    pub fn erase(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &RoutingTable,
-            ddma_mutex: &Mutex, id: u32) {
+    pub fn erase(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
+            routing_table: &RoutingTable, id: u32) {
         let _lock = ddma_mutex.lock(io).unwrap();
         let destinations = unsafe { TRACES.get(&id).unwrap() };
         for destination in destinations.keys() {
-            match drtio::ddma_send_erase(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, id, *destination) {
+            match drtio::ddma_send_erase(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, id, *destination) {
                 Ok(_) => (),
                 Err(e) => error!("Error erasing trace on DMA: {}", e)
             } 
@@ -104,12 +104,12 @@ pub mod remote_dma {
         unsafe { TRACES.remove(&id); }
     }
 
-    pub fn upload_traces(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &RoutingTable,
-            ddma_mutex: &Mutex, id: u32) {
+    pub fn upload_traces(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
+            routing_table: &RoutingTable, id: u32) {
         let _lock = ddma_mutex.lock(io);
         let traces = unsafe { TRACES.get_mut(&id).unwrap() };
         for (destination, mut trace) in traces {
-            match drtio::ddma_upload_trace(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, id, *destination, trace.get_trace())
+            match drtio::ddma_upload_trace(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, id, *destination, trace.get_trace())
             {
                 Ok(_) => trace.state = RemoteState::Loaded,
                 Err(e) => error!("Error adding DMA trace on destination {}: {}", destination, e)
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ pub mod remote_dma {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn playback(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &RoutingTable,
-            ddma_mutex: &Mutex, id: u32, timestamp: u64) {
+    pub fn playback(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
+            routing_table: &RoutingTable, id: u32, timestamp: u64) {
         // triggers playback on satellites
         let destinations = unsafe { 
             let _lock = ddma_mutex.lock(io).unwrap();
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ pub mod remote_dma {
                     continue;
                 }
             }
-            match drtio::ddma_send_playback(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, id, *destination, timestamp) {
+            match drtio::ddma_send_playback(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, id, *destination, timestamp) {
                 Ok(_) => (),
                 Err(e) => error!("Error during remote DMA playback: {}", e)
             }
@@ -152,15 +152,15 @@ pub mod remote_dma {
         };
     }
 
-    pub fn destination_changed(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &RoutingTable,
-            ddma_mutex: &Mutex, destination: u8, up: bool) {
+    pub fn destination_changed(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
+        routing_table: &RoutingTable, destination: u8, up: bool) {
         // update state of the destination, resend traces if it's up
         let _lock = ddma_mutex.lock(io).unwrap();
         let traces_iter = unsafe { TRACES.iter_mut() };
         for (id, dest_traces) in traces_iter {
             if let Some(trace) = dest_traces.get_mut(&destination) {
                 if up {
-                    match drtio::ddma_upload_trace(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, *id, destination, trace.get_trace())
+                    match drtio::ddma_upload_trace(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, *id, destination, trace.get_trace())
                     {
                         Ok(_) => trace.state = RemoteState::Loaded,
                         Err(e) => error!("Error adding DMA trace on destination {}: {}", destination, e)
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_mgt.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_mgt.rs
index de1b3332c..0eb1679fc 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_mgt.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/rtio_mgt.rs
@@ -61,23 +61,27 @@ pub mod drtio {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn aux_transact(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-            linkno: u8, request: &drtioaux::Packet ) -> Result<drtioaux::Packet, &'static str> {
-        let _lock = aux_mutex.lock(io).unwrap();
-        drtioaux::send(linkno, request).unwrap();
-        loop {
-            let reply = recv_aux_timeout(io, linkno, 200);
-            match reply {
-                Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackStatus { id, destination, error, channel, timestamp }) => {
-                    remote_dma::playback_done(io, ddma_mutex, id, destination, error, channel, timestamp);
-                },
-                Ok(packet) => return Ok(packet),
-                Err(e) => return Err(e)
-            }
+    fn process_async_packets(io: &Io, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, packet: drtioaux::Packet
+    ) -> Option<drtioaux::Packet> {
+        // returns None if an async packet has been consumed
+        match packet {
+            drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackStatus { id, destination, error, channel, timestamp } => {
+                remote_dma::playback_done(io, ddma_mutex, id, destination, error, channel, timestamp);
+                None
+            },
+            other => Some(other)
         }
     }
 
-    fn ping_remote(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8) -> u32 {
+    pub fn aux_transact(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, request: &drtioaux::Packet
+    ) -> Result<drtioaux::Packet, &'static str> {
+        let _lock = aux_mutex.lock(io).unwrap();
+        drtioaux::send(linkno, request).unwrap();
+        let reply = recv_aux_timeout(io, linkno, 200)?;
+        Ok(reply)
+    }
+
+    fn ping_remote(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8) -> u32 {
         let mut count = 0;
         loop {
             if !link_rx_up(linkno) {
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ pub mod drtio {
             if count > 100 {
                 return 0;
             }
-            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::EchoRequest);
+            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::EchoRequest);
             match reply {
                 Ok(drtioaux::Packet::EchoReply) => {
                     // make sure receive buffer is drained
@@ -123,10 +127,10 @@ pub mod drtio {
         }
     }
 
-    fn load_routing_table(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, 
+    fn load_routing_table(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
         linkno: u8, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
         for i in 0..drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT {
-            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingSetPath {
+            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingSetPath {
                 destination: i as u8,
                 hops: routing_table.0[i]
             })?;
@@ -137,10 +141,12 @@ pub mod drtio {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn set_rank(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex, linkno: u8, rank: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingSetRank {
-            rank: rank
-        })?;
+    fn set_rank(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
+        linkno: u8, rank: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno,
+            &drtioaux::Packet::RoutingSetRank {
+                rank: rank
+            })?;
         if reply != drtioaux::Packet::RoutingAck {
             return Err("unexpected reply");
         }
@@ -229,45 +235,60 @@ pub mod drtio {
                 let linkno = hop - 1;
                 if destination_up(up_destinations, destination) {
                     if up_links[linkno as usize] {
-                        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationStatusRequest {
-                            destination: destination
-                        });
-                        match reply {
-                            Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationDownReply) => {
-                                destination_set_up(routing_table, up_destinations, destination, false);
-                                remote_dma::destination_changed(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, destination, false);
+                        loop {
+                            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+                                &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationStatusRequest {
+                                    destination: destination
+                                });
+                            if let Ok(reply) = reply {
+                                let reply = process_async_packets(io, ddma_mutex, reply);
+                                match reply {
+                                    Some(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationDownReply) => {
+                                        destination_set_up(routing_table, up_destinations, destination, false);
+                                        remote_dma::destination_changed(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, destination, false);
+                                    }
+                                    Some(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationOkReply) => (),
+                                    Some(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationSequenceErrorReply { channel }) => {
+                                        error!("[DEST#{}] RTIO sequence error involving channel 0x{:04x}:{}", destination, channel, resolve_channel_name(channel as u32));
+                                        unsafe { SEEN_ASYNC_ERRORS |= ASYNC_ERROR_SEQUENCE_ERROR };
+                                    }
+                                    Some(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationCollisionReply { channel }) => {
+                                        error!("[DEST#{}] RTIO collision involving channel 0x{:04x}:{}", destination, channel, resolve_channel_name(channel as u32));
+                                        unsafe { SEEN_ASYNC_ERRORS |= ASYNC_ERROR_COLLISION };
+                                    }
+                                    Some(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationBusyReply { channel }) => {
+                                        error!("[DEST#{}] RTIO busy error involving channel 0x{:04x}:{}", destination, channel, resolve_channel_name(channel as u32));
+                                        unsafe { SEEN_ASYNC_ERRORS |= ASYNC_ERROR_BUSY };
+                                    }
+                                    Some(packet) => error!("[DEST#{}] received unexpected aux packet: {:?}", destination, packet),
+                                    None => { 
+                                        // continue asking until we get Destination...Reply or error out
+                                        // wait a bit not to overwhelm the receiver causing gateway errors
+                                        io.sleep(10).unwrap(); 
+                                        continue;
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            } else { 
+                                error!("[DEST#{}] communication failed ({})", destination, reply.unwrap_err()); 
                             }
-                            Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationOkReply) => (),
-                            Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationSequenceErrorReply { channel }) => {
-                                error!("[DEST#{}] RTIO sequence error involving channel 0x{:04x}:{}", destination, channel, resolve_channel_name(channel as u32));
-                                unsafe { SEEN_ASYNC_ERRORS |= ASYNC_ERROR_SEQUENCE_ERROR };
-                            }
-                            Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationCollisionReply { channel }) => {
-                                error!("[DEST#{}] RTIO collision involving channel 0x{:04x}:{}", destination, channel, resolve_channel_name(channel as u32));
-                                unsafe { SEEN_ASYNC_ERRORS |= ASYNC_ERROR_COLLISION };
-                            }
-                            Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationBusyReply { channel }) => {
-                                error!("[DEST#{}] RTIO busy error involving channel 0x{:04x}:{}", destination, channel, resolve_channel_name(channel as u32));
-                                unsafe { SEEN_ASYNC_ERRORS |= ASYNC_ERROR_BUSY };
-                            }
-                            Ok(packet) => error!("[DEST#{}] received unexpected aux packet: {:?}", destination, packet),
-                            Err(e) => error!("[DEST#{}] communication failed ({})", destination, e)
+                            break;
                         }
                     } else {
                         destination_set_up(routing_table, up_destinations, destination, false);
-                        remote_dma::destination_changed(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, destination, false);
+                        remote_dma::destination_changed(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, destination, false);
                     }
                 } else {
                     if up_links[linkno as usize] {
-                        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationStatusRequest {
-                            destination: destination
-                        });
+                        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+                            &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationStatusRequest {
+                                destination: destination
+                            });
                         match reply {
                             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationDownReply) => (),
                             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DestinationOkReply) => {
                                 destination_set_up(routing_table, up_destinations, destination, true);
                                 init_buffer_space(destination as u8, linkno);
-                                remote_dma::destination_changed(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, destination, true);
+                                remote_dma::destination_changed(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, destination, true);
                             },
                             Ok(packet) => error!("[DEST#{}] received unexpected aux packet: {:?}", destination, packet),
                             Err(e) => error!("[DEST#{}] communication failed ({})", destination, e)
@@ -299,17 +320,17 @@ pub mod drtio {
                     /* link was previously down */
                     if link_rx_up(linkno) {
                         info!("[LINK#{}] link RX became up, pinging", linkno);
-                        let ping_count = ping_remote(&io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno);
+                        let ping_count = ping_remote(&io, aux_mutex, linkno);
                         if ping_count > 0 {
                             info!("[LINK#{}] remote replied after {} packets", linkno, ping_count);
                             up_links[linkno as usize] = true;
                             if let Err(e) = sync_tsc(&io, aux_mutex, linkno) {
                                 error!("[LINK#{}] failed to sync TSC ({})", linkno, e);
                             }
-                            if let Err(e) = load_routing_table(&io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, routing_table) {
+                            if let Err(e) = load_routing_table(&io, aux_mutex, linkno, routing_table) {
                                 error!("[LINK#{}] failed to load routing table ({})", linkno, e);
                             }
-                            if let Err(e) = set_rank(&io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, 1) {
+                            if let Err(e) = set_rank(&io, aux_mutex, linkno, 1) {
                                 error!("[LINK#{}] failed to set rank ({})", linkno, e);
                             }
                             info!("[LINK#{}] link initialization completed", linkno);
@@ -324,7 +345,7 @@ pub mod drtio {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn reset(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex) {
+    pub fn reset(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex) {
         for linkno in 0..csr::DRTIO.len() {
             unsafe {
                 (csr::DRTIO[linkno].reset_write)(1);
@@ -340,7 +361,7 @@ pub mod drtio {
         for linkno in 0..csr::DRTIO.len() {
             let linkno = linkno as u8;
             if link_rx_up(linkno) {
-                let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno,
+                let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno,
                     &drtioaux::Packet::ResetRequest);
                 match reply {
                     Ok(drtioaux::Packet::ResetAck) => (),
@@ -351,8 +372,7 @@ pub mod drtio {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn ddma_upload_trace(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-            routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+    pub fn ddma_upload_trace(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
             id: u32, destination: u8, trace: &Vec<u8>) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
         let linkno = routing_table.0[destination as usize][0] - 1;
         let mut i = 0;
@@ -362,7 +382,7 @@ pub mod drtio {
             let last = i + len == trace.len();
             trace_slice[..len].clone_from_slice(&trace[i..i+len]);
             i += len;
-            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, 
+            let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
                 &drtioaux::Packet::DmaAddTraceRequest {
                     id: id, destination: destination, last: last, length: len as u16, trace: trace_slice});
             match reply {
@@ -376,12 +396,10 @@ pub mod drtio {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-
-    pub fn ddma_send_erase(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-            routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable, 
+    pub fn ddma_send_erase(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable, 
             id: u32, destination: u8) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
         let linkno = routing_table.0[destination as usize][0] - 1;
-        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, 
+        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
             &drtioaux::Packet::DmaRemoveTraceRequest { id: id, destination: destination });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DmaRemoveTraceReply { succeeded: true }) => Ok(()),
@@ -391,12 +409,11 @@ pub mod drtio {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn ddma_send_playback(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-            routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+    pub fn ddma_send_playback(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
             id: u32, destination: u8, timestamp: u64) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
         let linkno = routing_table.0[destination as usize][0] - 1;
-        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, &drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackRequest{
-                id: id, destination: destination, timestamp: timestamp });
+        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
+            &drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackRequest{ id: id, destination: destination, timestamp: timestamp });
         match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackReply { succeeded: true }) => return Ok(()),
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackReply { succeeded: false }) =>
@@ -407,11 +424,10 @@ pub mod drtio {
     }
 
     #[cfg(has_rtio_analyzer)]
-    fn analyzer_get_data(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-        routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable, destination: u8
-    ) -> Result<RemoteBuffer, &'static str> {
+    fn analyzer_get_data(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+        destination: u8) -> Result<RemoteBuffer, &'static str> {
         let linkno = routing_table.0[destination as usize][0] - 1;
-        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, 
+        let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
             &drtioaux::Packet::AnalyzerHeaderRequest { destination: destination });
         let (sent, total, overflow) = match reply {
             Ok(drtioaux::Packet::AnalyzerHeader { 
@@ -425,7 +441,7 @@ pub mod drtio {
         if sent > 0 {
             let mut last_packet = false;
             while !last_packet {
-                let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, linkno, 
+                let reply = aux_transact(io, aux_mutex, linkno, 
                     &drtioaux::Packet::AnalyzerDataRequest { destination: destination });
                 match reply {
                     Ok(drtioaux::Packet::AnalyzerData { last, length, data }) => { 
@@ -447,14 +463,13 @@ pub mod drtio {
     }
 
     #[cfg(has_rtio_analyzer)]
-    pub fn analyzer_query(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex,
-        routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
+    pub fn analyzer_query(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, routing_table: &drtio_routing::RoutingTable,
         up_destinations: &Urc<RefCell<[bool; drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT]>>
     ) -> Result<Vec<RemoteBuffer>, &'static str> {
         let mut remote_buffers: Vec<RemoteBuffer> = Vec::new();
         for i in 1..drtio_routing::DEST_COUNT {
             if destination_up(up_destinations, i as u8) {
-                remote_buffers.push(analyzer_get_data(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, i as u8)?);
+                remote_buffers.push(analyzer_get_data(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, i as u8)?);
             }
         }
         Ok(remote_buffers)
@@ -542,9 +557,9 @@ pub fn startup(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
     io.spawn(4096, async_error_thread);
 }
 
-pub fn reset(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex, ddma_mutex: &Mutex) {
+pub fn reset(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex) {
     unsafe {
         csr::rtio_core::reset_write(1);
     }
-    drtio::reset(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex)
+    drtio::reset(io, aux_mutex)
 }
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs b/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs
index 95b3ca28f..64e015038 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/runtime/session.rs
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ fn process_kern_message(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
 
         kern_recv_dotrace(request);
 
-        if kern_hwreq::process_kern_hwreq(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, up_destinations, request)? {
+        if kern_hwreq::process_kern_hwreq(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, up_destinations, request)? {
             return Ok(false)
         }
 
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ fn process_kern_message(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
                 if let Some(_id) = session.congress.dma_manager.record_start(name) {
                     // replace the record
                     #[cfg(has_drtio)]
-                    remote_dma::erase(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, _id);
+                    remote_dma::erase(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, _id);
                 }
                 kern_acknowledge()
             }
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ fn process_kern_message(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
                 let _id = session.congress.dma_manager.record_stop(duration, enable_ddma, io, ddma_mutex);
                 #[cfg(has_drtio)]
                 if enable_ddma {
-                    remote_dma::upload_traces(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, _id);
+                    remote_dma::upload_traces(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, _id);
                 }
                 cache::flush_l2_cache();
                 kern_acknowledge()
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ fn process_kern_message(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
             &kern::DmaEraseRequest { name } => {
                 #[cfg(has_drtio)]
                 if let Some(id) = session.congress.dma_manager.get_id(name) {
-                    remote_dma::erase(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, *id);
+                    remote_dma::erase(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, *id);
                 }
                 session.congress.dma_manager.erase(name);
                 kern_acknowledge()
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ fn process_kern_message(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
             }
             &kern::DmaStartRemoteRequest { id: _id, timestamp: _timestamp } => {
                 #[cfg(has_drtio)]
-                remote_dma::playback(io, aux_mutex, routing_table, ddma_mutex, _id as u32, _timestamp as u64);
+                remote_dma::playback(io, aux_mutex, ddma_mutex, routing_table, _id as u32, _timestamp as u64);
                 kern_acknowledge()
             }
             &kern::DmaAwaitRemoteRequest { id: _id } => {
@@ -510,7 +510,6 @@ fn process_kern_message(io: &Io, aux_mutex: &Mutex,
                     }
                 }
             }
-
             request => unexpected!("unexpected request {:?} from kernel CPU", request)
         }.and(Ok(false))
     })
diff --git a/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs b/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs
index 6eb1c7d9d..8226cbc33 100644
--- a/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs
+++ b/artiq/firmware/satman/main.rs
@@ -109,37 +109,44 @@ fn process_aux_packet(_manager: &mut DmaManager, analyzer: &mut Analyzer, _repea
             let hop = 0;
 
             if hop == 0 {
-                let errors;
-                unsafe {
-                    errors = csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_read();
-                }
-                if errors & 1 != 0 {
-                    let channel;
+                // async messages
+                if let Some(status) = _manager.check_state() {
+                    info!("playback done, error: {}, channel: {}, timestamp: {}", status.error, status.channel, status.timestamp);
+                    drtioaux::send(0, &drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackStatus { 
+                        destination: *_rank, id: status.id, error: status.error, channel: status.channel, timestamp: status.timestamp })?;
+                } else {
+                    let errors;
                     unsafe {
-                        channel = csr::drtiosat::sequence_error_channel_read();
-                        csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_write(1);
+                        errors = csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_read();
                     }
-                    drtioaux::send(0,
-                        &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationSequenceErrorReply { channel })?;
-                } else if errors & 2 != 0 {
-                    let channel;
-                    unsafe {
-                        channel = csr::drtiosat::collision_channel_read();
-                        csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_write(2);
+                    if errors & 1 != 0 {
+                        let channel;
+                        unsafe {
+                            channel = csr::drtiosat::sequence_error_channel_read();
+                            csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_write(1);
+                        }
+                        drtioaux::send(0,
+                            &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationSequenceErrorReply { channel })?;
+                    } else if errors & 2 != 0 {
+                        let channel;
+                        unsafe {
+                            channel = csr::drtiosat::collision_channel_read();
+                            csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_write(2);
+                        }
+                        drtioaux::send(0,
+                            &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationCollisionReply { channel })?;
+                    } else if errors & 4 != 0 {
+                        let channel;
+                        unsafe {
+                            channel = csr::drtiosat::busy_channel_read();
+                            csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_write(4);
+                        }
+                        drtioaux::send(0,
+                            &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationBusyReply { channel })?;
                     }
-                    drtioaux::send(0,
-                        &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationCollisionReply { channel })?;
-                } else if errors & 4 != 0 {
-                    let channel;
-                    unsafe {
-                        channel = csr::drtiosat::busy_channel_read();
-                        csr::drtiosat::rtio_error_write(4);
+                    else {
+                        drtioaux::send(0, &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationOkReply)?;
                     }
-                    drtioaux::send(0,
-                        &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationBusyReply { channel })?;
-                }
-                else {
-                    drtioaux::send(0, &drtioaux::Packet::DestinationOkReply)?;
                 }
             }
 
@@ -643,13 +650,6 @@ pub extern fn main() -> i32 {
                     error!("aux packet error: {}", e);
                 }
             }
-            if let Some(status) = dma_manager.check_state() {
-                info!("playback done, error: {}, channel: {}, timestamp: {}", status.error, status.channel, status.timestamp);
-                if let Err(e) = drtioaux::send(0, &drtioaux::Packet::DmaPlaybackStatus { 
-                    destination: rank, id: status.id, error: status.error, channel: status.channel, timestamp: status.timestamp }) {
-                    error!("error sending DMA playback status: {}", e);
-                }
-            }
         }
 
         drtiosat_reset_phy(true);