diff --git a/include/ircd/exception.h b/include/ircd/exception.h
index 5f86c05c0..bb2e3ca4b 100644
--- a/include/ircd/exception.h
+++ b/include/ircd/exception.h
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ namespace ircd
 	struct exception; // Root exception
 
 	// util
+	bool system_category(const std::error_category &) noexcept;
+	bool system_category(const std::error_code &) noexcept;
+	bool is(const std::error_code &, const std::errc &) noexcept;
 	std::error_code make_error_code(const int &code = errno);
 	std::error_code make_error_code(const std::error_code &);
 	std::error_code make_error_code(const std::system_error &);
@@ -40,11 +43,6 @@ namespace ircd
 	template<class... args> std::exception_ptr make_system_eptr(args&&...);
 	template<class... args> [[noreturn]] void throw_system_error(args&&...);
 
-	bool system_category(const std::error_category &);
-	bool system_category(const std::error_code &);
-	bool system_category(const boost::system::error_category &);
-	bool system_category(const boost::system::error_code &);
-
 	string_view string(const mutable_buffer &, const std::error_code &);
 	string_view string(const mutable_buffer &, const std::system_error &);
 	string_view string(const mutable_buffer &, const boost::system::error_code &);
diff --git a/ircd/exception.cc b/ircd/exception.cc
index 79fef2d8d..fe7b30ee5 100644
--- a/ircd/exception.cc
+++ b/ircd/exception.cc
@@ -88,25 +88,23 @@ ircd::string(const mutable_buffer &buf,
 }
 
 bool
-ircd::system_category(const boost::system::error_code &ec)
+ircd::is(const std::error_code &ec,
+         const std::errc &errc)
+noexcept
 {
-	return system_category(ec.category());
-}
-
-bool
-ircd::system_category(const boost::system::error_category &ec)
-{
-	return ec == boost::system::system_category();
+	return system_category(ec) && ec.value() == int(errc);
 }
 
 bool
 ircd::system_category(const std::error_code &ec)
+noexcept
 {
 	return system_category(ec.category());
 }
 
 bool
 ircd::system_category(const std::error_category &ec)
+noexcept
 {
 	return ec == std::system_category() ||
 	       ec == std::generic_category() ||
diff --git a/ircd/net.cc b/ircd/net.cc
index e9dcc973d..41bda9042 100644
--- a/ircd/net.cc
+++ b/ircd/net.cc
@@ -2228,10 +2228,10 @@ noexcept try
 	// After life_guard is constructed it is safe to use *this in this frame.
 	const life_guard<socket> s{wp};
 
-	if(!timedout && ec != errc::operation_canceled && !fini)
+	if(!timedout && !is(ec, errc::operation_canceled) && !fini)
 		cancel_timeout();
 
-	if(timedout && system_category(ec) && ec == errc::operation_canceled)
+	if(timedout && is(ec, errc::operation_canceled))
 		ec = make_error_code(errc::timed_out);
 
 	if(unlikely(!ec && !sd.is_open()))
@@ -2393,10 +2393,10 @@ noexcept try
 	};
 
 	// The timer was set by socket::connect() and may need to be canceled.
-	if(!timedout && ec != errc::operation_canceled && !fini)
+	if(!timedout && !is(ec, errc::operation_canceled) && !fini)
 		cancel_timeout();
 
-	if(timedout && ec == errc::operation_canceled && system_category(ec))
+	if(timedout && is(ec, errc::operation_canceled))
 		ec = make_error_code(errc::timed_out);
 
 	// A connect error; abort here by calling the user back with error.