diff --git a/cmd/africastalking/main.go b/cmd/africastalking/main.go
index 2975d03..3f7e372 100644
--- a/cmd/africastalking/main.go
+++ b/cmd/africastalking/main.go
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ func main() {
 		OutputSize:    uint32(size),
 		FlagCount:     uint32(128),
 		MenuSeparator: menuSeparator,
+		ResetOnEmptyInput: true,
 	}
 
 	if engineDebug {
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	rp := &at.ATRequestParser{}
 	bsh := request.NewBaseRequestHandler(cfg, rs, stateStore, userdataStore, rp, hl)
+	bsh = bsh.WithEngineFunc(lhs.GetEngine)
 	sh := at.NewATRequestHandler(bsh)
 
 	mux := http.NewServeMux()
diff --git a/cmd/async/main.go b/cmd/async/main.go
index a55a19b..9a064a6 100644
--- a/cmd/async/main.go
+++ b/cmd/async/main.go
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"context"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
@@ -93,6 +96,7 @@ func main() {
 		OutputSize:    uint32(size),
 		FlagCount:     uint32(128),
 		MenuSeparator: menuSeparator,
+		ResetOnEmptyInput: true,
 	}
 
 	if engineDebug {
@@ -127,7 +131,6 @@ func main() {
 	lhs.SetDataStore(&userdataStore)
 
 	accountService := services.New(ctx, menuStorageService)
-
 	hl, err := lhs.GetHandler(accountService)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
@@ -145,6 +148,8 @@ func main() {
 		sessionId: sessionId,
 	}
 	sh := request.NewBaseRequestHandler(cfg, rs, stateStore, userdataStore, rp, hl)
+	sh = sh.WithEngineFunc(lhs.GetEngine)
+
 	cfg.SessionId = sessionId
 	rqs := request.RequestSession{
 		Ctx:    ctx,
@@ -184,11 +189,19 @@ func main() {
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 		fmt.Println("")
-		_, err = fmt.Scanln(&rqs.Input)
+		in := bufio.NewReader(os.Stdin)
+		s, err := in.ReadString('\n')
 		if err != nil {
+			if err == io.EOF {
+				logg.DebugCtxf(ctx, "have EOF, bailing")
+				break
+			}
 			logg.ErrorCtxf(ctx, "error in input", "err", err)
 			fmt.Errorf("error in input: %v", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
+		rqs.Input = []byte{}
+		s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+		rqs.Input = []byte(s)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/http/main.go b/cmd/http/main.go
index e691254..13ef408 100644
--- a/cmd/http/main.go
+++ b/cmd/http/main.go
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ func main() {
 		OutputSize:    uint32(size),
 		FlagCount:     uint32(128),
 		MenuSeparator: menuSeparator,
+		ResetOnEmptyInput: true,
 	}
 
 	if engineDebug {
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	rp := &httprequest.DefaultRequestParser{}
 	bsh := request.NewBaseRequestHandler(cfg, rs, stateStore, userdataStore, rp, hl)
+	bsh = bsh.WithEngineFunc(lhs.GetEngine)
 	sh := httprequest.NewHTTPRequestHandler(bsh)
 	s := &http.Server{
 		Addr:    fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", host, strconv.Itoa(int(port))),
diff --git a/cmd/main.go b/cmd/main.go
index 360f8af..564649a 100644
--- a/cmd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/main.go
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ func main() {
 		OutputSize:    uint32(size),
 		FlagCount:     uint32(128),
 		MenuSeparator: menuSeparator,
+		EngineDebug: engineDebug,
+		ResetOnEmptyInput: true,
 	}
 
 	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(conns)
@@ -124,17 +126,12 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	accountService := services.New(ctx, menuStorageService)
-	hl, err := lhs.GetHandler(accountService)
+	_, err = lhs.GetHandler(accountService)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "get accounts service handler: %v\n", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-
-	en := lhs.GetEngine()
-	en = en.WithFirst(hl.Init)
-	if engineDebug {
-		en = en.WithDebug(nil)
+	       fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "get accounts service handler: %v\n", err)
+	       os.Exit(1)
 	}
+	en := lhs.GetEngine(cfg, rs, pe)
 
 	cint := make(chan os.Signal)
 	cterm := make(chan os.Signal)
diff --git a/cmd/ssh/main.go b/cmd/ssh/main.go
index d3afbb0..96dd150 100644
--- a/cmd/ssh/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ssh/main.go
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ func main() {
 		Root:       "root",
 		OutputSize: uint32(size),
 		FlagCount:  uint32(128),
+		ResetOnEmptyInput: true,
 	}
 	if stateDebug {
 		cfg.StateDebug = true
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 9be5609..04cfbd6 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ module git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-vise
 go 1.23.4
 
 require (
-	git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.2.3-0.20250120121301-10739fb4a8c9
+	git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.2.3-0.20250205173834-d1f6647211ac
 	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common v0.0.0-20250121134736-ba8cbbccea7d
 	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.0.0-20250123142805-2181388f5bf1
-	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.8.0-beta.10.0.20250124100946-03d19283f6fa
+	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250204132347-1eb0b1555244
 	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250129070628-5a539172c694
 	github.com/alecthomas/assert/v2 v2.2.2
 	github.com/gofrs/uuid v4.4.0+incompatible
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index b2e2876..dae909d 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
-git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.2.3-0.20250120121301-10739fb4a8c9 h1:sPcqXQcywxA8W3W+9qQncLPmsrgqTIlec7vmD4/7vyA=
-git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.2.3-0.20250120121301-10739fb4a8c9/go.mod h1:jyBMe1qTYUz3mmuoC9JQ/TvFeW0vTanCUcPu3H8p4Ck=
+git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.2.3-0.20250205173834-d1f6647211ac h1:f/E0ZTclVfMEnD/3Alrzzbg+dOm138zGydV42jT0JPw=
+git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.2.3-0.20250205173834-d1f6647211ac/go.mod h1:jyBMe1qTYUz3mmuoC9JQ/TvFeW0vTanCUcPu3H8p4Ck=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common v0.0.0-20250121134736-ba8cbbccea7d h1:5mzLas+jxTUtusOKx4XvU+n2QvrV/mH17MnJRy46siQ=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common v0.0.0-20250121134736-ba8cbbccea7d/go.mod h1:wgQJZGIS6QuNLHqDhcsvehsbn5PvgV7aziRebMnJi60=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.0.0-20250123142805-2181388f5bf1 h1:BJHfokTHzrw9QjQ+4s2HmSER0iBPuE7byW5oQC2zLIQ=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.0.0-20250123142805-2181388f5bf1/go.mod h1:gOn89ipaDcDvmQXRMQYKUqcw/sJcwVOPVt2eC6Geip8=
-git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.8.0-beta.10.0.20250124100946-03d19283f6fa h1:yQLKwby3eD/zNjNw/INU5lGiLuWPEHdsgASwMA4UptE=
-git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.8.0-beta.10.0.20250124100946-03d19283f6fa/go.mod h1:pjKp9L/ZsWW3kMB0UoIl1yv9TBIuU33mn9Aghxp7vGk=
-git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250121135340-ca97e23e8c84 h1:VoBmqsjlRdz+IPbtKsAkc1IrMepjR+QlesZT31Jokrk=
-git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250121135340-ca97e23e8c84/go.mod h1:DpibtYpnT3nG4Kn556hRAkdu4+CtiI/6MbnQHal51mQ=
-git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250121153115-bfb16bd5a57a h1:jyS1Q8ktEGnH8R5ne/1GN7SyuDPtEGTrGtC8Px3fVJc=
-git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250121153115-bfb16bd5a57a/go.mod h1:DpibtYpnT3nG4Kn556hRAkdu4+CtiI/6MbnQHal51mQ=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250204132347-1eb0b1555244 h1:BXotWSKg04U97sf/xeWJuUTSVgKk2aEK+5BtBrnafXQ=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250204132347-1eb0b1555244/go.mod h1:6B6ByxXOiRY0NR7K02Bf3fEu7z+2c/6q8PFVNjC5G8w=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250129070628-5a539172c694 h1:DjJlBSz0S13acft5XZDWk7ZYnzElym0xLMYEVgyNJ+E=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250129070628-5a539172c694/go.mod h1:DpibtYpnT3nG4Kn556hRAkdu4+CtiI/6MbnQHal51mQ=
 github.com/alecthomas/assert/v2 v2.2.2 h1:Z/iVC0xZfWTaFNE6bA3z07T86hd45Xe2eLt6WVy2bbk=
diff --git a/handlers/application/menuhandler.go b/handlers/application/menuhandler.go
index e25764d..dc3326b 100644
--- a/handlers/application/menuhandler.go
+++ b/handlers/application/menuhandler.go
@@ -125,12 +125,6 @@ func (h *MenuHandlers) Init(ctx context.Context, sym string, input []byte) (reso
 
 	h.st = h.pe.GetState()
 	h.ca = h.pe.GetMemory()
-
-	if len(input) == 0 {
-		// move to the top node
-		h.st.Code = []byte{}
-	}
-
 	sessionId, ok := ctx.Value("SessionId").(string)
 	if ok {
 		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
diff --git a/handlers/application/menuhandler_test.go b/handlers/application/menuhandler_test.go
index 8cfe358..4e7ec0d 100644
--- a/handlers/application/menuhandler_test.go
+++ b/handlers/application/menuhandler_test.go
@@ -175,20 +175,6 @@ func TestInit(t *testing.T) {
 			input:          []byte("1"),
 			expectedResult: resource.Result{},
 		},
-		{
-			name: "Move to top node on empty input",
-			setup: func() (*MenuHandlers, context.Context) {
-				pe := persist.NewPersister(testStore).WithSession(sessionId).WithContent(st, ca)
-				h := &MenuHandlers{
-					flagManager: fm,
-					pe:          pe,
-				}
-				st.Code = []byte("some pending bytecode")
-				return h, context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
-			},
-			input:          []byte(""),
-			expectedResult: resource.Result{},
-		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
diff --git a/handlers/local.go b/handlers/local.go
index 77e3980..96d2d8c 100644
--- a/handlers/local.go
+++ b/handlers/local.go
@@ -8,11 +8,17 @@ import (
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/persist"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
+	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 
 	"git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api/remote"
+//	sarafu_engine "git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-vise/engine"
 	"git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-vise/handlers/application"
 )
 
+var (
+	logg = logging.NewVanilla().WithDomain("sarafu-vise.engine")
+)
+
 type HandlerService interface {
 	GetHandler() (*application.MenuHandlers, error)
 }
@@ -24,6 +30,7 @@ type LocalHandlerService struct {
 	UserdataStore *db.Db
 	Cfg           engine.Config
 	Rs            resource.Resource
+	first         resource.EntryFunc
 }
 
 func NewLocalHandlerService(ctx context.Context, fp string, debug bool, dbResource *resource.DbResource, cfg engine.Config, rs resource.Resource) (*LocalHandlerService, error) {
@@ -118,13 +125,19 @@ func (ls *LocalHandlerService) GetHandler(accountService remote.AccountService)
 	ls.DbRs.AddLocalFunc("update_all_profile_items", appHandlers.UpdateAllProfileItems)
 	ls.DbRs.AddLocalFunc("set_back", appHandlers.SetBack)
 	ls.DbRs.AddLocalFunc("show_blocked_account", appHandlers.ShowBlockedAccount)
+	ls.first = appHandlers.Init
 
 	return appHandlers, nil
 }
 
-// TODO: enable setting of sessionId on engine init time
-func (ls *LocalHandlerService) GetEngine() *engine.DefaultEngine {
-	en := engine.NewEngine(ls.Cfg, ls.Rs)
-	en = en.WithPersister(ls.Pe)
+func (ls *LocalHandlerService) GetEngine(cfg engine.Config, rs resource.Resource, pr *persist.Persister) engine.Engine {
+	en := engine.NewEngine(cfg, rs)
+	if ls.first != nil {
+		en = en.WithFirst(ls.first)
+	}
+	en = en.WithPersister(pr)
+	if cfg.EngineDebug {
+		en = en.WithDebug(nil)
+	}
 	return en
 }
diff --git a/ssh/ssh.go b/ssh/ssh.go
index 81d7835..bab538a 100644
--- a/ssh/ssh.go
+++ b/ssh/ssh.go
@@ -177,20 +177,14 @@ func (s *SshRunner) GetEngine(sessionId string) (engine.Engine, func(), error) {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	// TODO: clear up why pointer here and by-value other cmds
-	accountService := services.New(ctx, menuStorageService)
-
-	hl, err := lhs.GetHandler(accountService)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
-	}
-
-	en := lhs.GetEngine()
-	en = en.WithFirst(hl.Init)
-	if s.Debug {
-		en = en.WithDebug(nil)
-	}
 	// TODO: this is getting very hacky!
+	accountService := services.New(ctx, menuStorageService)
+	_, err = lhs.GetHandler(accountService)
+	if err != nil {
+	       fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "get accounts service handler: %v\n", err)
+	       os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	en := lhs.GetEngine(lhs.Cfg, rs, pe)
 	closer := func() {
 		err := menuStorageService.Close(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/testutil/engine.go b/testutil/engine.go
index a179b5d..167ad5a 100644
--- a/testutil/engine.go
+++ b/testutil/engine.go
@@ -137,14 +137,14 @@ func TestEngine(sessionId string) (engine.Engine, func(), chan bool) {
 		panic("Unknown account service type")
 	}
 
-	hl, err := lhs.GetHandler(testtag.AccountService)
+	// TODO: triggers withfirst assignment
+	_, err = lhs.GetHandler(testtag.AccountService)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	en := lhs.GetEngine()
-	en = en.WithFirst(hl.Init)
+	en := lhs.GetEngine(lhs.Cfg, rs, pe)
 	cleanFn := func() {
 		err := en.Finish(ctx)
 		if err != nil {