diff --git a/komrade/backend/keymaker.py b/komrade/backend/keymaker.py
index 9da10fb..9996936 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/keymaker.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/keymaker.py
@@ -70,16 +70,26 @@ from getpass import getpass
 class KomradeSymmetricKeyWithPassphrase(KomradeSymmetricKey):
     def hash(self,x): return self.crypt_keys.hash(x)
 
-    def __init__(self,passphrase=DEBUG_DEFAULT_PASSPHRASE, why=WHY_MSG):
-        if not passphrase:
-            # raise KomradeException
-            self.passhash=hasher(getpass(why))
+    @property
+    def passhash(self):
+        if not self._passhash:
+            self._passhash = getpass(WHY_MSG)
+        return self._passhash
+
+    def __init__(self,passphrase=None,passhash=None):
+        if passhash:
+            self._passhash = passhash
+        elif passphrase:
+            self._passhash = hasher(passphrase)
         else:
-            self.passhash=hasher(passphrase)
+            self._passhash = None
+        
 
     @property
     def data(self): return KEY_TYPE_SYMMETRIC_WITH_PASSPHRASE.encode('utf-8')
+    
     def __repr__(self): return f'[Symmetric Key] (generated by password)'
+    
     @property
     def cell(self):
         if not hasattr(self,'_cell'):
@@ -220,7 +230,14 @@ KEYMAKER_DEFAULT_KEY_TYPES = {
 
 
 
-def get_key_obj(keyname,data,passphrase=None,key_types=KEYMAKER_DEFAULT_KEY_TYPES):
+def get_key_obj(keyname,data,key_types=KEYMAKER_DEFAULT_KEY_TYPES):
+    try:
+        data_s = data.decode()
+        if data_s == KomradeSymmetricKeyWithPassphrase.__name__:
+            return KomradeSymmetricKeyWithPassphrase()
+    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+        pass
+
     return key_types[keyname](data)
 
 
@@ -234,7 +251,6 @@ def get_key_obj(keyname,data,passphrase=None,key_types=KEYMAKER_DEFAULT_KEY_TYPE
 class Keymaker(Logger):
     def __init__(self,
                 name=None,
-                passphrase=DEBUG_DEFAULT_PASSPHRASE,
                 uri_id=None,
                 keychain={},
                 path_crypt_keys=PATH_CRYPT_CA_KEYS,
@@ -249,7 +265,7 @@ class Keymaker(Logger):
         self.path_crypt_data=path_crypt_data
 
         # boot keychain
-        self._keychain = self.keychain(passphrase=passphrase)
+        self._keychain = self.keychain()
 
 
     def find_pubkey(self,name=None):
@@ -320,7 +336,7 @@ class Keymaker(Logger):
         
         return (name,pubkey)
 
-    def keychain(self,look_for=KEYMAKER_DEFAULT_ALL_KEY_NAMES,passphrase=None):
+    def keychain(self,look_for=KEYMAKER_DEFAULT_ALL_KEY_NAMES):
         # load existing keychain
         keys = self._keychain
         
@@ -328,8 +344,10 @@ class Keymaker(Logger):
         # name,pubkey = self.find_pubkey_and_name()
 
         # get uri
-        keys['pubkey'] = pubkey = self.find_pubkey()
+        pubkey = self.find_pubkey()
         if pubkey:
+            keys['pubkey'] = pubkey
+
             uri = pubkey.data_b64
             #uri = b64encode(pubkey) if type(pubkey)==bytes else b64encode(pubkey.encode())
             # get from cache
@@ -341,7 +359,7 @@ class Keymaker(Logger):
                 if key: keys[keyname]=get_key_obj(keyname,key)
         
         # try to assemble
-        keys = self.assemble(self.assemble(keys,passphrase=passphrase),passphrase=passphrase)
+        keys = self.assemble(self.assemble(keys))
         
         #store to existing set
         self._keychain = {**keys}
@@ -615,9 +633,8 @@ Keymaker ({self}) is forging new keys for {name}
             # self.log(encr_key_name,decr_key_name,unencr_key_name)
             if decrypt and unencr_key_name in keychain: continue
             if not decr_key_name in keychain:
-                # self.log('looking for decr key name:',decr_key_name,keychain)
-                keychain[decr_key_name] = KomradeSymmetricKeyWithPassphrase(passphrase=passphrase)
-            else:
+                self.log('! not in keychain: decr key name:',decr_key_name,keychain)
+                #keychain[decr_key_name] = KomradeSymmetricKeyWithPassphrase(passphrase=passphrase)
                 continue
             decr_key = keychain.get(decr_key_name)
             # self.log('?',decr_key,decr_key_name,encr_key_name,keychain[encr_key_name])
diff --git a/komrade/backend/komrades.py b/komrade/backend/komrades.py
index ea2b39d..715b9d6 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/komrades.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/komrades.py
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ from komrade.backend.keymaker import *
 
 class KomradeX(Caller):
 
-    def __init__(self, name=None, pubkey=None, passphrase=DEBUG_DEFAULT_PASSPHRASE):
-        super().__init__(name=name,passphrase=passphrase)
+    def __init__(self, name=None, pubkey=None):
+        super().__init__(name=name)
         # self.log(f'booted komrade with {name} and {passphrase} and\n\n{dict_format(self.keychain())}')
         # if SHOW_STATUS:
         #     from komrade.cli import CLI
@@ -184,9 +184,14 @@ class KomradeX(Caller):
         self.log(f'''Now saving name and public key on local device:''')
         self.crypt_keys.set(name, pubkey_b, prefix='/pubkey/')
         self.crypt_keys.set(uri_id, name, prefix='/name/')
-        self.crypt_keys.set(uri_id, privkey_encr_obj.data, prefix='/privkey_encr/')
         self.crypt_keys.set(uri_id,sec_login,prefix='/secret_login/')
 
+        # store privkey pieces
+        self.crypt_keys.set(uri_id, privkey_encr_obj.data, prefix='/privkey_encr/')
+        # just to show we used a passphrase -->
+        self.crypt_keys.set(uri_id, KomradeSymmetricKeyWithPassphrase.__name__, prefix='/privkey_decr/')
+
+
         # save qr too:
         self.save_uri_as_qrcode(uri_id)
         # self.log(f'saved public key as QR code to:\n {fnfn}\n\n{qr_str}')
@@ -331,8 +336,9 @@ def test_msg():
 
 
 def test_loading():
-    # z1 = Komrade('zuck')
-    # print(z1.keychain())
+    z1 = Komrade('zuck')
+    print(z1.keychain())
+    exit()
 
     z2 = Komrade(b'VUVDMgAAAC08BCMVA+0dMJXc66/W7hty669+3/3S61Q1yjmgJW8I0k3lqfDi')
     print(z2)
diff --git a/komrade/backend/messages.py b/komrade/backend/messages.py
index 5b09220..ca2935d 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/messages.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/messages.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class Message(Logger):
         self.log(f'Attempting to decrypt:\n{self}')
 
         # decrypt msg
-        self.log('attempting to decrypt',self.msg,'from',self.from_pubkey,'to',self.to_pubkey, self.to_whom,dict_format(self.to_whom.keychain()),self.to_whom.assemble(self.to_whom.keychain()))
+        # self.log('attempting to decrypt',self.msg,'from',self.from_pubkey,'to',self.to_pubkey, self.to_whom,dict_format(self.to_whom.keychain()),self.to_whom.assemble(self.to_whom.keychain()))
         if not self.to_whom.privkey:
             self.log(f'{self.to_whom} cannot decrypt this message! {dict_format(self.to_whom.keychain())}!\n\n{self.to_whom.name} {self.to_whom.pubkey} {self.to_name} {self.to_pubkey} {self.to_whom.keychain()}')
             return
diff --git a/komrade/backend/the_operator.py b/komrade/backend/the_operator.py
index 9f9acdb..9eb28ce 100644
--- a/komrade/backend/the_operator.py
+++ b/komrade/backend/the_operator.py
@@ -293,9 +293,6 @@ class TheOperator(Operator):
 
 
 
-
-
-
 def test_op():
     from komrade.backend.the_telephone import TheTelephone