diff --git a/go/state/flag.go b/go/state/flag.go
index 611ed6d..2634c8e 100644
--- a/go/state/flag.go
+++ b/go/state/flag.go
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ package state
 const (
 	FLAG_INMATCH = 1
 	FLAG_TERMINATE = 2
+	FLAG_DIRTY = 4
 )
diff --git a/go/state/state.go b/go/state/state.go
index 5f21436..73e0aa6 100644
--- a/go/state/state.go
+++ b/go/state/state.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package state
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 // State holds the command stack, error condition of a unique execution session.
@@ -261,12 +262,14 @@ func(st *State) Up() (string, error) {
 	if l == 0 {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("exit called beyond top frame")
 	}
+	log.Printf("execpath before %v", st.execPath)
 	st.execPath = st.execPath[:l-1]
 	sym := ""
 	if len(st.execPath) > 0 {
 		sym = st.execPath[len(st.execPath)-1]
 	}
 	st.sizeIdx = 0
+	log.Printf("execpath after %v", st.execPath)
 	return sym, nil
 }
 
@@ -316,3 +319,7 @@ func(st *State) SetInput(input []byte) error {
 // Reset to initial state (start navigation over).
 func(st *State) Reset() {
 }
+
+func(st State) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("path: %s", strings.Join(st.execPath, "/"))
+}
diff --git a/go/testdata/testdata.go b/go/testdata/testdata.go
index 2905572..d7a7154 100644
--- a/go/testdata/testdata.go
+++ b/go/testdata/testdata.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func foo() error {
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.HALT, nil, nil, nil)
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.INCMP, []string{"0", "_"}, nil, nil)
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.INCMP, []string{"1", "baz"}, nil, nil)
-	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.CATCH, []string{"_catch"}, []byte{1}, []uint8{1})
+	//b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.CATCH, []string{"_catch"}, []byte{1}, []uint8{1})
 
 	data := make(map[string]string)
 	data["inky"] = "one"
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func bar() error {
 	b := []byte{}
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.LOAD, []string{"pinky"}, []byte{0}, nil)
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.HALT, nil, nil, nil)
-	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.INCMP, []string{"0", "_home"}, nil, nil)
+	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.INCMP, []string{"*", "^"}, nil, nil)
 
 	tpl := "this is bar - an end node"
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func defaultCatch() error {
 	b := []byte{}
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.MOUT, []string{"0", "back"}, nil, nil)
 	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.HALT, nil, nil, nil)
-	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.MOVE, []string{"_"}, nil, nil)
+	b = vm.NewLine(b, vm.INCMP, []string{"*", "_"}, nil, nil)
 
 	tpl := "invalid input"
 
diff --git a/go/vm/input.go b/go/vm/input.go
index 9245bdf..a927d5d 100644
--- a/go/vm/input.go
+++ b/go/vm/input.go
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 
+	"git.defalsify.org/festive/cache"
 	"git.defalsify.org/festive/state"
 )
 
 var (
 	inputRegexStr = "^[a-zA-Z0-9].*$"
 	inputRegex = regexp.MustCompile(inputRegexStr)
-	ctrlRegexStr = "^[><_]$"
+	ctrlRegexStr = "^[><_^]$"
 	ctrlRegex = regexp.MustCompile(ctrlRegexStr)
 	symRegexStr = "^[a-zA-Z0-9][a-zA-Z0-9_]+$"
 	symRegex = regexp.MustCompile(symRegexStr)
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ func CheckTarget(target []byte, st *state.State) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // route parsed target symbol to navigation state change method,
-func applyTarget(target []byte, st *state.State, ctx context.Context) (string, uint16, error) {
+func applyTarget(target []byte, st *state.State, ca cache.Memory, ctx context.Context) (string, uint16, error) {
 	var err error
 	sym, idx := st.Where()
 
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ func applyTarget(target []byte, st *state.State, ctx context.Context) (string, u
 	switch target[0] {
 	case '_':
 		sym, err = st.Up()
+		ca.Pop()
 		if err != nil {
 			return sym, idx, err
 		}
@@ -115,9 +117,15 @@ func applyTarget(target []byte, st *state.State, ctx context.Context) (string, u
 		if err != nil {
 			return sym, idx, err
 		}
+	case '^':
+		_, err := st.SetFlag(state.FLAG_TERMINATE)
+		if err != nil {
+			return sym, idx, err
+		}
 	default:
 		sym = string(target)
 		st.Down(sym)
+		ca.Push()
 		idx = 0
 	}
 	return sym, idx, nil
diff --git a/go/vm/runner.go b/go/vm/runner.go
index e58a69f..4d7f07c 100644
--- a/go/vm/runner.go
+++ b/go/vm/runner.go
@@ -50,12 +50,25 @@ func(vmi *Vm) Reset() {
 func(vm *Vm) Run(b []byte, ctx context.Context) ([]byte, error) {
 	running := true
 	for running {
+		r, err := vm.st.MatchFlag(state.FLAG_TERMINATE, false)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		if r {
+			log.Printf("terminate set! bailing!")
+			return []byte{}, nil
+		}
+		_, err = vm.st.SetFlag(state.FLAG_DIRTY)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
 		op, bb, err := opSplit(b)
 		if err != nil {
 			return b, err
 		}
 		b = bb
 		log.Printf("execute code %x (%s) %x", op, OpcodeString[op], b)
+		log.Printf("state: %v", vm.st)
 		switch op {
 		case CATCH:
 			b, err = vm.RunCatch(b, ctx)
@@ -112,20 +125,20 @@ func(vm *Vm) RunDeadCheck(b []byte, ctx context.Context) ([]byte, error) {
 	if len(b) > 0 {
 		return b, nil
 	}
-	log.Printf("no code remaining, let's check if we terminate")
 	r, err := vm.st.MatchFlag(state.FLAG_TERMINATE, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 	if r {
+		log.Printf("Terminate found!!")
 		return b, nil
 	}
+	log.Printf("no code remaining but not terminating")
 	location, _ := vm.st.Where()
 	if location == "" {
 		return b, fmt.Errorf("dead runner with no current location")
 	}
 	b = NewLine(nil, MOVE, []string{"_catch"}, nil, nil)
-	log.Printf("code is now %x", b)
 	return b, nil
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +151,6 @@ func(vm *Vm) RunMap(b []byte, ctx context.Context) ([]byte, error) {
 
 // RunMap executes the CATCH opcode
 func(vm *Vm) RunCatch(b []byte, ctx context.Context) ([]byte, error) {
-	log.Printf("zzz %x", b)
 	sym, sig, mode, b, err := ParseCatch(b)
 	if err != nil {
 		return b, err
@@ -251,14 +263,22 @@ func(vm *Vm) RunInCmp(b []byte, ctx context.Context) ([]byte, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return b, err
 	}
-	if sym != string(input) {
-		return b, nil
+	log.Printf("sym is %s", sym)
+	if sym == "*" {
+		log.Printf("input wildcard match ('%s'), target '%s'", input, target)
+	} else {
+		if sym != string(input) {
+			return b, nil
+		}
+		log.Printf("input match for '%s', target '%s'", input, target)
 	}
 
-	log.Printf("input match for '%s', target '%s'", input, target)
 	_, err = vm.st.SetFlag(state.FLAG_INMATCH)
+	if err != nil {
+		return b, err
+	}
 
-	target, _, err = applyTarget([]byte(target), vm.st, ctx)
+	target, _, err = applyTarget([]byte(target), vm.st, vm.ca, ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return b, err
 	}
@@ -330,6 +350,13 @@ func(vm *Vm) RunMPrev(b []byte, ctx context.Context) ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 func(vm *Vm) Render() (string, error) {
+	changed, err := vm.st.ResetFlag(state.FLAG_DIRTY)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)	
+	}
+	if !changed {
+		log.Printf("Render called when not dirty, please investigate.")
+	}
 	sym, idx := vm.st.Where()
 	r, err := vm.pg.Render(sym, idx)
 	if err != nil {