diff --git a/construct/construct.cc b/construct/construct.cc
index 4c2b7c2f4..5b0e37317 100644
--- a/construct/construct.cc
+++ b/construct/construct.cc
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ noexcept try
 
 	// This object registers a callback for a specific event in libircd; the
 	// closure is called from the main context (#1) running ircd::main().
-	// after libircd is ready for service in runlevel IDLE but before entering
+	// after libircd is ready for service in runlevel LOAD but before entering
 	// runlevel RUN. It is called again immediately after entering runlevel
 	// QUIT, but before any functionality of libircd destructs. This cues us
 	// to start and stop the homeserver.
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ noexcept try
 
 			// 2 This branch is taken the first time this function is called,
 			// and not taken the second time.
-			if(level == ircd::run::level::IDLE && !context && !nomatrix)
+			if(level == ircd::run::level::LOAD && !context && !nomatrix)
 			{
 				// 3 Launch the homeserver context (asynchronous).
 				context = { "matrix", ircd::context::POST, homeserver };
diff --git a/include/ircd/run.h b/include/ircd/run.h
index 72a95cdff..9e68ffda9 100644
--- a/include/ircd/run.h
+++ b/include/ircd/run.h
@@ -36,6 +36,43 @@ namespace ircd::run
 	extern const enum level &chadburn;
 }
 
+/// The run::level allows all observers to know the coarse state of IRCd and to
+/// react accordingly. This can be used by the embedder of libircd to know
+/// when it's safe to use or delete libircd resources. It is also used
+/// similarly by the library and its modules. Only one runlevel is active at
+/// any time.
+///
+/// * HALT is the off mode. Nothing is/will be running in libircd until
+/// an invocation of ircd::init();
+///
+/// * READY is the state after calling ircd::init(). Leaving READY is done with
+/// the user either calling their ios.run() to start executing tasks or calling
+/// ircd::quit() to HALT again.
+///
+/// * START indicates the daemon is executing its startup procedures. Leaving
+/// the START state occurs internally when there is success or a fatal error.
+///
+/// * RUN is the service mode. Full client and application functionality exists
+/// in this mode. Leaving the RUN mode is done with ircd::quit();
+///
+/// * QUIT indicates the daemon is executing the shutdown procedures. This
+/// will eventually return back to the HALT state.
+///
+/// * FAULT is a special mode indicating something really bad. The exact
+/// details of this mode are ambiguous. Users do not have to handle this.
+///
+enum class ircd::run::level
+:int
+{
+	FAULT    = -1,   ///<           Unrecoverable fault.
+	HALT     = 0,    ///<   x <--   IRCd Powered off.
+	READY    = 1,    ///<   |   |   Ready for user to run ios event loop.
+	START    = 2,    ///<   |   |   Starting internal subsystems.
+	LOAD     = 3,    ///<   |   |   Load user application.
+	RUN      = 4,    ///<   O   |   IRCd in service.
+	QUIT     = 5,    ///<   --> ^   Clean shutdown in progress.
+};
+
 /// An instance of this class registers itself to be called back when
 /// the ircd::run::level has changed. The context for this callback differs
 /// based on the level argument; not all invocations are on an ircd::ctx, etc.
@@ -88,43 +125,3 @@ struct ircd::run::changed
 	changed() noexcept;
 	~changed() noexcept;
 };
-
-/// The run::level allows all observers to know the coarse state of IRCd and to
-/// react accordingly. This can be used by the embedder of libircd to know
-/// when it's safe to use or delete libircd resources. It is also used
-/// similarly by the library and its modules. Only one runlevel is active at
-/// any time.
-///
-/// * HALT is the off mode. Nothing is/will be running in libircd until
-/// an invocation of ircd::init();
-///
-/// * READY is the state after calling ircd::init(). Leaving READY is done with
-/// the user either calling their ios.run() to start executing tasks or calling
-/// ircd::quit() to HALT again.
-///
-/// * START indicates the daemon is executing its startup procedures. Leaving
-/// the START state occurs internally when there is success or a fatal error.
-///
-/// * IDLE indicates the library is ready for use. The user can load their
-/// application in this mode before transitioning to RUN.
-///
-/// * RUN is the service mode. Full client and application functionality exists
-/// in this mode. Leaving the RUN mode is done with ircd::quit();
-///
-/// * QUIT indicates the daemon is executing the shutdown procedures. This
-/// will eventually return back to the HALT state.
-///
-/// * FAULT is a special mode indicating something really bad. The exact
-/// details of this mode are ambiguous. Users do not have to handle this.
-///
-enum class ircd::run::level
-:int
-{
-	FAULT    = -1,   ///<           Unrecoverable fault.
-	HALT     = 0,    ///<   x <--   IRCd Powered off.
-	READY    = 1,    ///<   |   |   Ready for user to run ios event loop.
-	START    = 2,    ///<   |   |   Starting internal subsystems.
-	IDLE     = 3,    ///<   |   |   Ready for user to load application.
-	RUN      = 4,    ///<   O   |   IRCd in service.
-	QUIT     = 5,    ///<   --> ^   Clean shutdown in progress.
-};
diff --git a/ircd/ircd.cc b/ircd/ircd.cc
index 1a56405b1..92d270747 100644
--- a/ircd/ircd.cc
+++ b/ircd/ircd.cc
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ noexcept
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		case run::level::IDLE:
+		case run::level::LOAD:
 		case run::level::START:
 		{
 			ctx::terminate(*main_context);
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ noexcept
 		case run::level::QUIT:
 			return;
 
-		case run::level::IDLE:
+		case run::level::LOAD:
 		case run::level::RUN:
 			break;
 	}
@@ -318,9 +318,9 @@ noexcept try
 		ircd::run::set(run::level::QUIT);
 	}};
 
-	// IRCd will now transition to the IDLE state allowing library user's to
+	// IRCd will now transition to the LOAD state allowing library user's to
 	// load their applications using the run::changed callback.
-	run::set(run::level::IDLE);
+	run::set(run::level::LOAD);
 
 	// IRCd will now transition to the RUN state indicating full functionality.
 	run::set(run::level::RUN);
diff --git a/ircd/run.cc b/ircd/run.cc
index 47b8d88c4..3b7ef5749 100644
--- a/ircd/run.cc
+++ b/ircd/run.cc
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ try
 		{
 			case level::HALT:  break;
 			case level::QUIT:  break;
-			case level::IDLE:  throw;
+			case level::LOAD:  throw;
 			default:           throw;
 		}
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ catch(const std::exception &e)
 {
 	switch(new_level)
 	{
-		case level::IDLE:  throw;
+		case level::LOAD:  throw;
 		default:           break;
 	}
 
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ ircd::run::reflect(const enum run::level &level)
 		case level::HALT:      return "HALT";
 		case level::READY:     return "READY";
 		case level::START:     return "START";
-		case level::IDLE:      return "IDLE";
+		case level::LOAD:      return "LOAD";
 		case level::RUN:       return "RUN";
 		case level::QUIT:      return "QUIT";
 		case level::FAULT:     return "FAULT";
diff --git a/matrix/matrix.cc b/matrix/matrix.cc
index af54a28d3..5494cf962 100644
--- a/matrix/matrix.cc
+++ b/matrix/matrix.cc
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ void
 ircd::m::on_load()
 try
 {
-	assert(ircd::run::level == run::level::IDLE);
+	assert(ircd::run::level == run::level::LOAD);
 }
 catch(const m::error &e)
 {