diff --git a/include/ircd/m/vm.h b/include/ircd/m/vm.h
index ce1338917..04072e580 100644
--- a/include/ircd/m/vm.h
+++ b/include/ircd/m/vm.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ namespace ircd::m::vm
 	extern const opts default_opts;
 	extern const copts default_copts;
 
+	string_view reflect(const fault &);
 	const uint64_t &sequence(const eval &);
 	uint64_t retired_sequence(id::event::buf &);
 	uint64_t retired_sequence();
@@ -44,19 +45,23 @@ namespace ircd::m::vm
 struct ircd::m::vm::eval
 :instance_list<eval>
 {
+	enum phase :uint8_t;
+
 	static uint64_t id_ctr; // monotonic
 
 	const vm::opts *opts {&default_opts};
 	const vm::copts *copts {nullptr};
 	ctx::ctx *ctx {ctx::current};
 	uint64_t id {++id_ctr};
-	uint64_t sequence {0};
-	db::txn *txn {nullptr};
+	string_view room_id;
 	const json::iov *issue {nullptr};
 	const event *event_ {nullptr};
-	string_view room_id;
+	enum phase phase {(enum phase)0};
+	uint64_t sequence {0};
+	db::txn *txn {nullptr};
 	event::id::buf event_id;
 
+  public:
 	operator const event::id::buf &() const;
 
 	fault operator()(const event &);
@@ -73,7 +78,15 @@ struct ircd::m::vm::eval
 	eval(const eval &) = delete;
 	~eval() noexcept;
 
-	friend string_view reflect(const fault &);
+	friend string_view reflect(const enum phase &);
+};
+
+/// Evaluation phases
+enum ircd::m::vm::eval::phase
+:uint8_t
+{
+	ACCEPT        = 0x00,
+	ENTER         = 0x01,
 };
 
 /// Evaluation faults. These are reasons which evaluation has halted but may
diff --git a/ircd/m/m.cc b/ircd/m/m.cc
index 3e971853b..fc916a930 100644
--- a/ircd/m/m.cc
+++ b/ircd/m/m.cc
@@ -513,8 +513,10 @@ ircd::m::vm::eval::operator()(const room &room,
 	// eval is attempting to do.
 	issue = &event;
 	room_id = room.room_id;
+	phase = phase::ENTER;
 	const unwind deissue{[this]
 	{
+		phase = phase::ACCEPT;
 		room_id = {};
 		issue = nullptr;
 	}};
@@ -548,13 +550,21 @@ ircd::m::vm::eval::operator()(json::iov &event,
 	// allows other parallel evals to have deep access to exactly what this
 	// eval is attempting to do.
 	assert(!room_id || issue == &event);
-	issue = &event;
+	if(!room_id)
+	{
+		issue = &event;
+		phase = phase::ENTER;
+	}
+
 	const unwind deissue{[this]
 	{
 		// issue is untouched when room_id is set; that indicates it was set
 		// and will be unset by another eval function (i.e above).
 		if(!room_id)
+		{
+			phase = phase::ACCEPT;
 			issue = nullptr;
+		}
 	}};
 
 	return function(*this, event, contents);
@@ -574,8 +584,14 @@ ircd::m::vm::eval::operator()(const event &event)
 	// allows other parallel evals to have deep access to exactly what this
 	// eval is working on. The pointer must be nulled on the way out.
 	this->event_= &event;
+	if(!issue)
+		phase = phase::ENTER;
+
 	const unwind null_event{[this]
 	{
+		if(!issue)
+			phase = phase::ACCEPT;
+
 		this->event_ = nullptr;
 	}};
 
@@ -649,6 +665,18 @@ ircd::m::vm::reflect(const enum fault &code)
 	return "??????";
 }
 
+ircd::string_view
+ircd::m::vm::reflect(const enum eval::phase &phase)
+{
+	switch(phase)
+	{
+		case eval::phase::ACCEPT:      return "ACCEPT";
+		case eval::phase::ENTER:       return "ENTER";
+	}
+
+	return "??????";
+}
+
 //
 // accepted
 //