diff --git a/pkg/urbit/include/c/motes.h b/pkg/urbit/include/c/motes.h
index cd2668632ac..e8b944394d0 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/include/c/motes.h
+++ b/pkg/urbit/include/c/motes.h
@@ -387,6 +387,7 @@
 #   define c3__ergo   c3_s4('e','r','g','o')
 #   define c3__esh    c3_s3('e','s','h')
 #   define c3__etch   c3_s4('e','t','c','h')
+#   define c3__evil   c3_s4('e','v','i','l')
 #   define c3__ex     c3_s2('e','x')
 #   define c3__exit   c3_s4('e','x','i','t')
 #   define c3__eyre   c3_s4('e','y','r','e')
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/jets/e/aes_siv.c b/pkg/urbit/jets/e/aes_siv.c
index a891eb4319a..4c1b0158372 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/jets/e/aes_siv.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/jets/e/aes_siv.c
@@ -149,9 +149,11 @@ _cqea_siv_de(c3_y*   key_y,
     txt_y = u3r_bytes_alloc(0, txt_w, txt);
     out_y = u3a_malloc(txt_w);
 
-    ret = ( 0 != (*low_f)(txt_y, txt_w, dat_u, soc_w, key_y, iv_y, out_y) )
-      ? u3_none
-      : u3nc(0, u3i_bytes(txt_w, out_y));
+    if ( 0 != (*low_f)(txt_y, txt_w, dat_u, soc_w, key_y, iv_y, out_y) ) {
+      return u3m_bail(c3__evil);
+    }
+
+    ret = u3nc(0, u3i_bytes(txt_w, out_y));
 
     u3a_free(txt_y);
     u3a_free(out_y);
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/noun/manage.c b/pkg/urbit/noun/manage.c
index 2fc24a23aec..c0659f42b91 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/noun/manage.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/noun/manage.c
@@ -1348,6 +1348,11 @@ u3m_soft(c3_w    mil_w,
 
       pro = u3nc(u3k(cod), u3_nul);
     }
+    //  %evil leaves no trace
+    //
+    else if ( c3__evil == cod ) {
+      pro = u3nc(u3k(cod), u3_nul);
+    }
     else {
       u3_noun mok = u3dc("mook", 2, u3k(tax));
       pro = u3nc(u3k(cod), u3k(u3t(mok)));
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c
index 5ce2d29069d..bdc3201afc4 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
       c3_d           foq_d;             //  forward queue size
       c3_d           fow_d;             //  forwarded count
       c3_d           fod_d;             //  forwards dropped count
+      c3_d           bad_d;             //  bad ciphertext count
     } sat_u;                            //
   } u3_ames;
 
@@ -768,51 +769,47 @@ _ames_cap_queue(u3_ames* sam_u)
   }
 }
 
-/* _ames_punt_goof(): print %bail error report(s).
-*/
-static void
-_ames_punt_goof(u3_noun lud)
-{
-  if ( 2 == u3qb_lent(lud) ) {
-    u3_pier_punt_goof("hear", u3k(u3h(lud)));
-    u3_pier_punt_goof("crud", u3k(u3h(u3t(lud))));
-  }
-  else {
-    u3_noun dul = lud;
-    c3_w len_w = 1;
-
-    while ( u3_nul != dul ) {
-      u3l_log("ames: bail %u\r\n", len_w++);
-      u3_pier_punt_goof("ames", u3k(u3h(dul)));
-      dul = u3t(dul);
-    }
-  }
-
-  u3z(lud);
-}
-
 /* _ames_hear_bail(): handle packet failure.
 */
 static void
 _ames_hear_bail(u3_ovum* egg_u, u3_noun lud)
 {
   u3_ames* sam_u = (u3_ames*)egg_u->car_u;
-  sam_u->sat_u.fal_d++;
+  c3_w     len_w = u3qb_lent(lud);
 
-  if (  (u3C.wag_w & u3o_verbose)
-     || (0 == (sam_u->sat_u.fal_d % 1000)) )
-  {
-    _ames_punt_goof(lud);
-    u3l_log("ames: packet failed (%" PRIu64 " total)\n\n", sam_u->sat_u.fal_d);
+  if ( (1 == len_w) && c3__evil == u3h(u3h(lud)) ) {
+    sam_u->sat_u.bad_d++;
+
+    if (  (u3C.wag_w & u3o_verbose)
+       || (0 == (sam_u->sat_u.bad_d % 100)) )
+    {
+      u3l_log("ames: heard bad crypto (%" PRIu64 " total), "
+              "check azimuth state\r\n",
+              sam_u->sat_u.bad_d);
+    }
   }
   else {
-    u3z(lud);
+    sam_u->sat_u.fal_d++;
 
-    if (  0 == (sam_u->sat_u.fal_d % 1000) )  {
-      u3l_log("ames: packet failed (%" PRIu64 " total)\n\n", sam_u->sat_u.fal_d);
+    if (  (u3C.wag_w & u3o_verbose)
+       || (0 == (sam_u->sat_u.fal_d % 100)) )
+    {
+      if ( 2 == len_w ) {
+        u3_pier_punt_goof("hear", u3k(u3h(lud)));
+        u3_pier_punt_goof("crud", u3k(u3h(u3t(lud))));
+      }
+      //  !2 traces is unusual, just print the first if present
+      //
+      else if ( len_w ) {
+        u3_pier_punt_goof("hear", u3k(u3h(lud)));
+      }
+
+      u3l_log("ames: packet failed (%" PRIu64 " total)\r\n",
+              sam_u->sat_u.fal_d);
     }
   }
 
+  u3z(lud);
   u3_ovum_free(egg_u);
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/worker/serf.c b/pkg/urbit/worker/serf.c
index 982cb8ec966..85420a122e0 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/worker/serf.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/worker/serf.c
@@ -565,6 +565,14 @@ _serf_work(u3_serf* sef_u, c3_w mil_w, u3_noun job)
                                sef_u->mug_l,
                                vir));
   }
+  //  event rejected -- bad ciphertext
+  //
+  else if ( c3__evil == u3h(gon) ) {
+    sef_u->sen_d = sef_u->dun_d;
+
+    u3z(job);
+    return u3nt(c3__bail, gon, u3_nul);
+  }
   //  event rejected
   //
   else {