diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c186c5905..202767c92 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -276,17 +276,9 @@ if(SUBMODULE_CHECK)
   endif()
 endif()
 
-# We only actually need pybind11 with WITH_HIVE, but if we don't load it here then something further
-# down loads a broken PythonInterp that loads Python2, but Python2 headers are not C++17 compatible.
-# So load this here universally so that pybind's more intelligent python finder finds python3.x
-# (which the crappier loader invoked below then respects).
-# however! travis is FUBAR right now so disable it in travis builds
-if(TRAVIS_CI_SUCKS OR NOT WITH_HIVE)
-  message(WARNING "you're on travis (which is broken garbage) or are compiling without routerhive, we have disabled pybind11, THANKS!")
-else()
+if(WITH_HIVE)
   add_subdirectory(external/pybind11 EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 endif()
-
 if(WITH_TESTS)
   add_subdirectory(external/googletest EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 endif()
diff --git a/cmake/unix.cmake b/cmake/unix.cmake
index 41513e1df..1c8d19022 100644
--- a/cmake/unix.cmake
+++ b/cmake/unix.cmake
@@ -64,7 +64,10 @@ elseif(DOWNLOAD_UV)
 endif()
 include_directories(${LIBUV_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
-find_package(LokiMQ 1.2 QUIET)
+option(FORCE_LOKIMQ_SUBMODULE "force using lokimq submodule" OFF)
+if(NOT FORCE_LOKIMQ_SUBMODULE)
+  find_package(LokiMQ 1.2)
+endif()
 if(LokiMQ_FOUND)
   message(STATUS "using system lokimq")
 else()
diff --git a/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.cpp b/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.cpp
index 09133c798..fcb5456e4 100644
--- a/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.cpp
+++ b/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.cpp
@@ -368,7 +368,9 @@ namespace libuv
     OnTick(uv_check_t* t)
     {
       ticker_glue* ticker = static_cast<ticker_glue*>(t->data);
-      LoopCall(t, ticker->func);
+      ticker->func();
+      Loop* loop = static_cast<Loop*>(t->loop->data);
+      loop->FlushLogic();
     }
 
     bool
@@ -841,11 +843,7 @@ namespace libuv
   int
   Loop::run()
   {
-    uv_timer_start(
-        m_TickTimer,
-        [](uv_timer_t* t) { static_cast<Loop*>(t->loop->data)->FlushLogic(); },
-        1000,
-        1000);
+    m_EventLoopThreadID = std::this_thread::get_id();
     return uv_run(&m_Impl, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
   }
 
@@ -988,7 +986,6 @@ namespace libuv
   void
   Loop::stopped()
   {
-    tick(50);
     llarp::LogInfo("we have stopped");
   }
 
@@ -1072,7 +1069,27 @@ namespace libuv
   void
   Loop::call_soon(std::function<void(void)> f)
   {
-    m_LogicCalls.tryPushBack(f);
+    if (not m_EventLoopThreadID.has_value())
+    {
+      m_LogicCalls.tryPushBack(f);
+      uv_async_send(&m_WakeUp);
+      return;
+    }
+    const auto inEventLoop = *m_EventLoopThreadID == std::this_thread::get_id();
+
+    while (m_LogicCalls.full() and inEventLoop)
+    {
+      FlushLogic();
+    }
+    if (inEventLoop)
+    {
+      if (m_LogicCalls.tryPushBack(f) != llarp::thread::QueueReturn::Success)
+      {
+        f();
+      }
+    }
+    else
+      m_LogicCalls.pushBack(f);
     uv_async_send(&m_WakeUp);
   }
 
diff --git a/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.hpp b/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.hpp
index 6d4cd5bb0..6b458d6a2 100644
--- a/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.hpp
+++ b/llarp/ev/ev_libuv.hpp
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ namespace libuv
 
     llarp::thread::Queue<PendingTimer> m_timerQueue;
     llarp::thread::Queue<uint32_t> m_timerCancelQueue;
+    std::optional<std::thread::id> m_EventLoopThreadID;
   };
 
 }  // namespace libuv
diff --git a/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp b/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
index c6ace036c..f64acc2dd 100644
--- a/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ namespace llarp
     virtual void
     Stop() = 0;
 
+    /// non gracefully stop the router
+    virtual void
+    Die() = 0;
+
     /// pump low level links
     virtual void
     PumpLL() = 0;
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index 47b23e1e6..0113b14af 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -1021,6 +1021,26 @@ namespace llarp
     _linkManager.Stop();
   }
 
+  void
+  Router::Die()
+  {
+    if (!_running)
+      return;
+    if (_stopping)
+      return;
+
+    _stopping.store(true);
+    LogContext::Instance().RevertRuntimeLevel();
+    LogWarn("stopping router hard");
+#if defined(WITH_SYSTEMD)
+    sd_notify(0, "STOPPING=1\nSTATUS=Shutting down HARD");
+#endif
+    hiddenServiceContext().StopAll();
+    _exitContext.Stop();
+    StopLinks();
+    Close();
+  }
+
   void
   Router::Stop()
   {
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.hpp b/llarp/router/router.hpp
index 5c18717a1..fbcf96fd5 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.hpp
@@ -352,6 +352,10 @@ namespace llarp
     void
     Stop() override;
 
+    /// non graceful stop router
+    void
+    Die() override;
+
     /// close all sessions and shutdown all links
     void
     StopLinks();
diff --git a/llarp/util/thread/logic.cpp b/llarp/util/thread/logic.cpp
index 1aded0fd9..e370a490a 100644
--- a/llarp/util/thread/logic.cpp
+++ b/llarp/util/thread/logic.cpp
@@ -15,21 +15,13 @@ namespace llarp
   void
   Logic::Call(std::function<void(void)> func)
   {
-    if (can_flush())
-    {
-      func();
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      m_Queue(std::move(func));
-    }
+    m_Queue(std::move(func));
   }
 
   void
   Logic::SetQueuer(std::function<void(std::function<void(void)>)> q)
   {
     m_Queue = std::move(q);
-    m_Queue([self = this]() { self->m_ID = std::this_thread::get_id(); });
   }
 
   uint32_t
@@ -63,16 +55,11 @@ namespace llarp
     }
   }
 
-  bool
-  Logic::can_flush() const
-  {
-    return *m_ID == std::this_thread::get_id();
-  }
-
   void
   Logic::set_event_loop(llarp_ev_loop* loop)
   {
     m_Loop = loop;
+    SetQueuer([loop](std::function<void(void)> work) { loop->call_soon(work); });
   }
 
   void
diff --git a/llarp/util/thread/logic.hpp b/llarp/util/thread/logic.hpp
index 4faf2f730..d7e26bf64 100644
--- a/llarp/util/thread/logic.hpp
+++ b/llarp/util/thread/logic.hpp
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 #include <ev/ev.hpp>
 #include <util/mem.h>
-#include <optional>
 
 namespace llarp
 {
@@ -26,9 +25,6 @@ namespace llarp
     void
     remove_call(uint32_t id);
 
-    bool
-    can_flush() const;
-
     void
     SetQueuer(std::function<void(std::function<void(void)>)> q);
 
@@ -39,9 +35,7 @@ namespace llarp
     clear_event_loop();
 
    private:
-    using ID_t = std::thread::id;
     llarp_ev_loop* m_Loop = nullptr;
-    std::optional<ID_t> m_ID;
     std::function<void(std::function<void(void)>)> m_Queue;
   };
 }  // namespace llarp
diff --git a/test/regress/2020-06-08-key-backup-bug.cpp b/test/regress/2020-06-08-key-backup-bug.cpp
index 693a55436..d10f47da0 100644
--- a/test/regress/2020-06-08-key-backup-bug.cpp
+++ b/test/regress/2020-06-08-key-backup-bug.cpp
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ TEST_CASE("key backup bug regression test", "[regress]")
             REQUIRE(endpointAddress != ep->GetIdentity().pub.Addr());
           }
         }
-        // close the router "later" so llarp_main_run exits
-        ctx->CloseAsync();
+        // close the router right away
+        ctx->router->Die();
       });
       REQUIRE(ctx->Run({}) == 0);
       ctx.reset();