diff --git a/sys/src/9/alphapc/trap.c b/sys/src/9/alphapc/trap.c
index 556b0bb13..70317bb0c 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/alphapc/trap.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/alphapc/trap.c
@@ -543,9 +543,9 @@ notify(Ureg *ur)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag != NUser && (up->notified || up->notify==0)) {
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -564,9 +564,8 @@ notify(Ureg *ur)
 
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)up->notify, BY2WD, 0)
 	|| !okaddr(sp-ERRMAX-6*BY2WD, sizeof(Ureg)+ERRMAX-6*BY2WD, 1)) {
-		pprint("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
-print("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -618,7 +617,6 @@ noted(Ureg *kur, Ureg **urp, ulong arg0)
 	if(arg0!=NRSTR && !up->notified) {
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pprint("call to noted() when not notified\n");
-print("call to noted() when not notified\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 	up->notified = 0;
@@ -630,16 +628,14 @@ print("call to noted() when not notified\n");
 	oureg = (ulong)nur;
 	if((oureg & (BY2V-1))
 	|| !okaddr((ulong)oureg-BY2WD, BY2WD+sizeof(Ureg), 0)){
-		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted() when not notified\n");
-print("bad ureg in noted or call to noted() when not notified\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted() when not notified\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
 	if(!validstatus(kur->status, nur->status)) {
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pprint("bad noted ureg status %lux\n", (ulong)nur->status);
-print("bad noted ureg status %lux\n", (ulong)nur->status);
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -648,9 +644,8 @@ print("bad noted ureg status %lux\n", (ulong)nur->status);
 	case NCONT:
 	case NRSTR:
 		if(!okaddr(nur->pc, BY2WD, 0) || !okaddr(nur->usp, BY2WD, 0)){
-			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
-print("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			qunlock(&up->debug);
+			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			pexit("Suicide", 0);
 		}
 		up->ureg = (Ureg*)(*(ulong*)(oureg-BY2WD));
@@ -661,9 +656,8 @@ print("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 
 	case NSAVE:
 		if(!okaddr(nur->pc, BY2WD, 0) || !okaddr(nur->usp, BY2WD, 0)){
-			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
-print("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			qunlock(&up->debug);
+			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			pexit("Suicide", 0);
 		}
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
@@ -677,15 +671,13 @@ print("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
-print("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/* fall through */
 		
 	case NDFLT:
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/sys/src/9/bitsy/devether.c b/sys/src/9/bitsy/devether.c
index fe117f8a6..6a090330b 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/bitsy/devether.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/bitsy/devether.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ etherconfig(int on, char *spec, DevConf *cf)
 			ether->ea[0], ether->ea[1], ether->ea[2],
 			ether->ea[3], ether->ea[4], ether->ea[5]);
 		seprint(p, e, "\n");
-		pprint(buf);
+		print("%s", buf);
 
 		etherxx[ctlrno] = ether;
 		return 0;
diff --git a/sys/src/9/bitsy/trap.c b/sys/src/9/bitsy/trap.c
index 2b8f80973..60df33d31 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/bitsy/trap.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/bitsy/trap.c
@@ -617,8 +617,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	/* sanity clause */
 	oureg = (ulong)nureg;
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)oureg-BY2WD, BY2WD+sizeof(Ureg), 0)){
-		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted when not notified\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted when not notified\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -656,16 +656,13 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/* fall through */
 		
 	case NDFLT:
-		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug){ 
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		} else
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 }
@@ -698,9 +695,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag!=NUser && (up->notified || up->notify==0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -719,8 +716,8 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)up->notify, 1, 0)
 	|| !okaddr(sp-ERRMAX-4*BY2WD, sizeof(Ureg)+ERRMAX+4*BY2WD, 1)){
-		pprint("suicide: bad address in notify\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: bad address in notify\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
diff --git a/sys/src/9/kw/syscall.c b/sys/src/9/kw/syscall.c
index 4853cfd83..7cf9e20c7 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/kw/syscall.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/kw/syscall.c
@@ -80,16 +80,12 @@ noted(Ureg* cur, uintptr arg0)
 		cur->sp = PTR2UINT(nf);
 		break;
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg %#p\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/*FALLTHROUGH*/
 	case NDFLT:
-		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug){ 
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		}
-		else
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag != NDebug);
 	}
 }
@@ -127,9 +123,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag != NUser && (up->notified || up->notify == 0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -144,8 +140,8 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 	if(!okaddr(PTR2UINT(up->notify), 1, 0)){
-		pprint("suicide: notify function address %#p\n", up->notify);
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: notify function address %#p\n", up->notify);
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
diff --git a/sys/src/9/mtx/trap.c b/sys/src/9/mtx/trap.c
index 767e96c3b..2d81677f9 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/mtx/trap.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/mtx/trap.c
@@ -717,9 +717,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ur)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag!=NUser && (up->notified || up->notify==0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -738,8 +738,8 @@ notify(Ureg* ur)
 
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)up->notify, BY2WD, 0) ||
 	   !okaddr(sp-ERRMAX-4*BY2WD, sizeof(Ureg)+ERRMAX+4*BY2WD, 1)) {
-		pprint("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -788,8 +788,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	/* sanity clause */
 	oureg = (ulong)nureg;
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)oureg-BY2WD, BY2WD+sizeof(Ureg), 0)){
-		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted when not notified\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted when not notified\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -799,8 +799,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	case NCONT:
 	case NRSTR:
 		if(!okaddr(nureg->pc, 1, 0) || !okaddr(nureg->usp, BY2WD, 0)){
-			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			qunlock(&up->debug);
+			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			pexit("Suicide", 0);
 		}
 		up->ureg = (Ureg*)(*(ulong*)(oureg-BY2WD));
@@ -810,8 +810,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	case NSAVE:
 		if(!okaddr(nureg->pc, BY2WD, 0)
 		|| !okaddr(nureg->usp, BY2WD, 0)){
-			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			qunlock(&up->debug);
+			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			pexit("Suicide", 0);
 		}
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
@@ -823,14 +823,13 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/* fall through */
 		
 	case NDFLT:
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/sys/src/9/omap/syscall.c b/sys/src/9/omap/syscall.c
index e40a82174..378a08a21 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/omap/syscall.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/omap/syscall.c
@@ -80,16 +80,12 @@ noted(Ureg* cur, uintptr arg0)
 		cur->sp = PTR2UINT(nf);
 		break;
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg %#p\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/*FALLTHROUGH*/
 	case NDFLT:
-		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug){ 
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		}
-		else
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag != NDebug);
 	}
 }
@@ -127,9 +123,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag != NUser && (up->notified || up->notify == 0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -144,8 +140,8 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 	if(!okaddr(PTR2UINT(up->notify), 1, 0)){
-		pprint("suicide: notify function address %#p\n", up->notify);
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: notify function address %#p\n", up->notify);
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
diff --git a/sys/src/9/omap4/trap.c b/sys/src/9/omap4/trap.c
index 653334726..14e4ee0ad 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/omap4/trap.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/omap4/trap.c
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ notify(Ureg *ureg)
 		sprint(n->msg + l, " pc=0x%.8lux", ureg->pc);
 	}
 	if(n->flag != NUser && (up->notified || up->notify == 0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 	if(up->notified){
@@ -247,7 +247,6 @@ noted(Ureg *ureg, ulong arg0)
 		break;
 	
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/* fallthrough */
 	
diff --git a/sys/src/9/pc/trap.c b/sys/src/9/pc/trap.c
index 36d68d884..867767198 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/pc/trap.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/pc/trap.c
@@ -846,9 +846,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag!=NUser && (up->notified || up->notify==0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -964,16 +964,13 @@ if(0) print("%s %lud: noted %.8lux %.8lux\n",
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/* fall through */
 
 	case NDFLT:
-		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug){
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		} else
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/sys/src/9/port/devproc.c b/sys/src/9/port/devproc.c
index 86e2ceba3..11a04bb55 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/port/devproc.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/port/devproc.c
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ procopen(Chan *c, int omode)
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		pprint("procopen %#lux\n", QID(c->qid));
+		print("procopen %#lux\n", QID(c->qid));
 		error(Egreg);
 	}
 
@@ -1156,7 +1156,7 @@ procwrite(Chan *c, void *va, long n, vlong off)
 			error(Ebadarg);
 		break;
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown qid in procwrite\n");
+		print("unknown qid in procwrite\n");
 		error(Egreg);
 	}
 	poperror();
diff --git a/sys/src/9/port/fault.c b/sys/src/9/port/fault.c
index 47717ed87..b7fc8e9f2 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/port/fault.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/port/fault.c
@@ -328,7 +328,6 @@ okaddr(ulong addr, ulong len, int write)
 			return 1;
 		}
 	}
-	pprint("suicide: invalid address %#lux/%lud in sys call pc=%#lux\n", addr, len, userpc());
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -336,6 +335,7 @@ void
 validaddr(ulong addr, ulong len, int write)
 {
 	if(!okaddr(addr, len, write)){
+		pprint("suicide: invalid address %#lux/%lud in sys call pc=%#lux\n", addr, len, userpc());
 		postnote(up, 1, "sys: bad address in syscall", NDebug);
 		error(Ebadarg);
 	}
diff --git a/sys/src/9/ppc/trap.c b/sys/src/9/ppc/trap.c
index a5ae921d5..7fd90f302 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/ppc/trap.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/ppc/trap.c
@@ -728,9 +728,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ur)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag!=NUser && (up->notified || up->notify==0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -750,8 +750,8 @@ notify(Ureg* ur)
 
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)up->notify, BY2WD, 0) ||
 	   !okaddr(sp-ERRMAX-4*BY2WD, sizeof(Ureg)+ERRMAX+4*BY2WD, 1)) {
-		pprint("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: bad address or sp in notify\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -800,8 +800,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	/* sanity clause */
 	oureg = (ulong)nureg;
 	if(!okaddr((ulong)oureg-BY2WD, BY2WD+sizeof(Ureg), 0)){
-		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted when not notified\n");
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("bad ureg in noted or call to noted when not notified\n");
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}
 
@@ -811,8 +811,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	case NCONT:
 	case NRSTR:
 		if(!okaddr(nureg->pc, 1, 0) || !okaddr(nureg->usp, BY2WD, 0)){
-			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			qunlock(&up->debug);
+			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			pexit("Suicide", 0);
 		}
 		up->ureg = (Ureg*)(*(ulong*)(oureg-BY2WD));
@@ -822,8 +822,8 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 	case NSAVE:
 		if(!okaddr(nureg->pc, BY2WD, 0)
 		|| !okaddr(nureg->usp, BY2WD, 0)){
-			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			qunlock(&up->debug);
+			pprint("suicide: trap in noted\n");
 			pexit("Suicide", 0);
 		}
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
@@ -835,14 +835,13 @@ noted(Ureg* ureg, ulong arg0)
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg 0x%lux\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/* fall through */
 		
 	case NDFLT:
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag!=NDebug);
 	}
 	up->fpstate &= ~FPillegal;
diff --git a/sys/src/9/teg2/syscall.c b/sys/src/9/teg2/syscall.c
index 4cf83093a..c8becce22 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/teg2/syscall.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/teg2/syscall.c
@@ -86,16 +86,12 @@ noted(Ureg* cur, uintptr arg0)
 		cur->sp = PTR2UINT(nf);
 		break;
 	default:
-		pprint("unknown noted arg %#p\n", arg0);
 		up->lastnote.flag = NDebug;
 		/*FALLTHROUGH*/
 	case NDFLT:
-		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug){ 
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		if(up->lastnote.flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", up->lastnote.msg);
-		}
-		else
-			qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(up->lastnote.msg, up->lastnote.flag != NDebug);
 	}
 }
@@ -133,9 +129,9 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 	}
 
 	if(n->flag != NUser && (up->notified || up->notify == 0)){
+		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		if(n->flag == NDebug)
 			pprint("suicide: %s\n", n->msg);
-		qunlock(&up->debug);
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 
@@ -150,8 +146,8 @@ notify(Ureg* ureg)
 		pexit(n->msg, n->flag != NDebug);
 	}
 	if(!okaddr(PTR2UINT(up->notify), 1, 0)){
-		pprint("suicide: notify function address %#p\n", up->notify);
 		qunlock(&up->debug);
+		pprint("suicide: notify function address %#p\n", up->notify);
 		pexit("Suicide", 0);
 	}