diff --git a/apps/cic-cache/cic_cache/db/models/base.py b/apps/cic-cache/cic_cache/db/models/base.py
index 16d01d0e..9da79975 100644
--- a/apps/cic-cache/cic_cache/db/models/base.py
+++ b/apps/cic-cache/cic_cache/db/models/base.py
@@ -100,3 +100,4 @@ class SessionBase(Model):
             logg.debug('destroying session {}'.format(session_key))
             session.commit()
             session.close()
+            del SessionBase.localsessions[session_key]
diff --git a/apps/cic-cache/requirements.txt b/apps/cic-cache/requirements.txt
index 92e95994..54b7a895 100644
--- a/apps/cic-cache/requirements.txt
+++ b/apps/cic-cache/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-cic-base~=0.2.0a2
+cic-base~=0.2.0a4
 alembic==1.4.2
 confini>=0.3.6rc3,<0.5.0
 uwsgi==2.0.19.1
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ semver==2.13.0
 psycopg2==2.8.6
 celery==4.4.7
 redis==3.5.3
-chainsyncer[sql]~=0.0.3a4
+chainsyncer[sql]~=0.0.3a5
 erc20-faucet~=0.2.2a2
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/db/models/base.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/db/models/base.py
index 9cdcabf7..47a0bb93 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/db/models/base.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/db/models/base.py
@@ -126,3 +126,4 @@ class SessionBase(Model):
             logg.debug('commit and destroy session {}'.format(session_key))
             session.commit()
             session.close()
+            del SessionBase.localsessions[session_key]
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/pytest/fixtures_database.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/pytest/fixtures_database.py
index d7fa81d8..539c6bf7 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/pytest/fixtures_database.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/pytest/fixtures_database.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def database_engine(
         SessionBase.poolable = False
     dsn = dsn_from_config(load_config)
     #SessionBase.connect(dsn, True)
-    SessionBase.connect(dsn, debug=load_config.get('DATABASE_DEBUG') != None)
+    SessionBase.connect(dsn, debug=load_config.true('DATABASE_DEBUG'))
     return dsn
 
 
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/queue/query.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/queue/query.py
index 9ce3a17f..c29bb430 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/queue/query.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/queue/query.py
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ def get_upcoming_tx(chain_spec, status=StatusEnum.READYSEND, not_status=None, re
     q_outer = q_outer.join(Lock, isouter=True)
     q_outer = q_outer.filter(or_(Lock.flags==None, Lock.flags.op('&')(LockEnum.SEND.value)==0))
 
+
     if not is_alive(status):
         SessionBase.release_session(session)
         raise ValueError('not a valid non-final tx value: {}'.format(status))
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/dispatcher.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/dispatcher.py
index 08a54185..7e22e911 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/dispatcher.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/dispatcher.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class DispatchSyncer:
 
     def __init__(self, chain_spec):
         self.chain_spec = chain_spec
+        self.session = None
 
 
     def chain(self):
@@ -100,16 +101,18 @@ class DispatchSyncer:
         c = len(txs.keys())
         logg.debug('processing {} txs {}'.format(c, list(txs.keys())))
         chain_str = str(self.chain_spec)
-        session = SessionBase.create_session()
+        self.session = SessionBase.create_session()
         for k in txs.keys():
             tx_raw = txs[k]
             tx_raw_bytes = bytes.fromhex(strip_0x(tx_raw))
             tx = unpack(tx_raw_bytes, self.chain_spec)
             
             try:
-                set_reserved(self.chain_spec, tx['hash'], session=session)
+                set_reserved(self.chain_spec, tx['hash'], session=self.session)
+                self.session.commit()
             except NotLocalTxError as e:
                 logg.warning('dispatcher was triggered with non-local tx {}'.format(tx['hash']))
+                self.session.rollback()
                 continue
 
             s_check = celery.signature(
@@ -132,16 +135,25 @@ class DispatchSyncer:
             s_check.link(s_send)
             t = s_check.apply_async()
             logg.info('processed {}'.format(k))
+        self.session.close()
+        self.session = None
 
 
-    def loop(self, w3, interval):
+    def loop(self, interval):
         while run:
             txs = {}
             typ = StatusBits.QUEUED
             utxs = get_upcoming_tx(self.chain_spec, typ)
             for k in utxs.keys():
                 txs[k] = utxs[k]
-            self.process(w3, txs)
+            try:
+                conn = RPCConnection.connect(self.chain_spec, 'default')
+                self.process(conn, txs)
+            except ConnectionError as e:
+                if self.session != None:
+                    self.session.close()
+                    self.session = None
+                logg.error('connection to node failed: {}'.format(e))
 
             if len(utxs) > 0:
                 time.sleep(self.yield_delay)
@@ -151,8 +163,7 @@ class DispatchSyncer:
 
 def main(): 
     syncer = DispatchSyncer(chain_spec)
-    conn = RPCConnection.connect(chain_spec, 'default')
-    syncer.loop(conn, float(config.get('DISPATCHER_LOOP_INTERVAL')))
+    syncer.loop(float(config.get('DISPATCHER_LOOP_INTERVAL')))
 
     sys.exit(0)
 
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/config/test/database.ini b/apps/cic-eth/config/test/database.ini
index 8c355ef3..34070210 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/config/test/database.ini
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/config/test/database.ini
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ HOST=localhost
 PORT=5432
 ENGINE=sqlite
 DRIVER=pysqlite
-DEBUG=
+DEBUG=0
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/services_requirements.txt b/apps/cic-eth/services_requirements.txt
index 16713117..66ea7f8b 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/services_requirements.txt
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/services_requirements.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-chainsyncer[sql]~=0.0.3a4
-chainqueue~=0.0.2b6
+chainsyncer[sql]~=0.0.3a5
+chainqueue~=0.0.2b7
 alembic==1.4.2
 confini>=0.3.6rc4,<0.5.0
 redis==3.5.3
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/ext/test_address.py b/apps/cic-eth/tests/task/test_task_address.py
similarity index 71%
rename from apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/ext/test_address.py
rename to apps/cic-eth/tests/task/test_task_address.py
index b7d92b69..fbcce337 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/ext/test_address.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/tests/task/test_task_address.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # external imports
+import celery
 from chainlib.eth.nonce import RPCNonceOracle
 from chainlib.eth.tx import (
         receipt,
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ def test_translate(
         cic_registry,
         init_celery_tasks,
         register_lookups,
+        celery_session_worker,
     ):
 
     nonce_oracle = RPCNonceOracle(contract_roles['CONTRACT_DEPLOYER'], eth_rpc)
@@ -46,6 +48,20 @@ def test_translate(
         'recipient': agent_roles['BOB'],
         'recipient_label': None,
             }
-    tx = translate_tx_addresses(tx, [contract_roles['CONTRACT_DEPLOYER']], default_chain_spec.asdict())
-    assert tx['sender_label'] == 'alice'
-    assert tx['recipient_label'] == 'bob'
+    
+    #tx = translate_tx_addresses(tx, [contract_roles['CONTRACT_DEPLOYER']], default_chain_spec.asdict())
+    s = celery.signature(
+            'cic_eth.ext.address.translate_tx_addresses',
+            [
+                tx,
+                [contract_roles['CONTRACT_DEPLOYER']],
+                default_chain_spec.asdict(),
+                ],
+            queue=None,
+            )
+    t = s.apply_async()
+    r = t.get_leaf()
+    assert t.successful()
+
+    assert r['sender_label'] == 'alice'
+    assert r['recipient_label'] == 'bob'
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/db/test_nonce_db.py b/apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/db/test_nonce_db.py
index 2b2dee6e..400cee16 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/db/test_nonce_db.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/tests/unit/db/test_nonce_db.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-# third-party imports
+# extended imports
 import pytest
 import uuid
+import unittest
 
 # local imports
 from cic_eth.db.models.nonce import (
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ def test_nonce_reserve(
     o = q.first()
     assert o.nonce == 43
 
-    nonce = NonceReservation.release(eth_empty_accounts[0], str(uu))
+    nonce = NonceReservation.release(eth_empty_accounts[0], str(uu), session=init_database)
     init_database.commit()
     assert nonce == (str(uu), 42)
 
diff --git a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/db/models/base.py b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/db/models/base.py
index d76ee6c4..af5b9067 100644
--- a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/db/models/base.py
+++ b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/db/models/base.py
@@ -127,3 +127,4 @@ class SessionBase(Model):
             logg.debug('commit and destroy session {}'.format(session_key))
             session.commit()
             session.close()
+            del SessionBase.localsessions[session_key]
diff --git a/apps/contract-migration/reset.sh b/apps/contract-migration/reset.sh
index 2066e4c5..3b99a3d0 100755
--- a/apps/contract-migration/reset.sh
+++ b/apps/contract-migration/reset.sh
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 mkdir -p $CIC_DATA_DIR
+>&2 echo using data dir $CIC_DATA_DIR for environment variable dump
 
 # this is consumed in downstream services to set environment variables
 cat << EOF > $CIC_DATA_DIR/.env