diff --git a/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc b/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc
index f2849e16b..d55fa125c 100644
--- a/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc
+++ b/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc
@@ -222,11 +222,9 @@ ircd::m::dbs::_index_event_refs_prev(db::txn &txn,
 		prev_id[i] = prev.prev_event(i),
 		prev_idx[i] = 0;
 
-	auto _opts(opts);
-	_opts.interpose = {};
 	const size_t found
 	{
-		find_event_idx({prev_idx, count}, {prev_id, count}, _opts)
+		find_event_idx({prev_idx, count}, {prev_id, count}, opts)
 	};
 
 	for(size_t i(0); i < count; ++i)
@@ -249,8 +247,6 @@ ircd::m::dbs::_index_event_refs_prev(db::txn &txn,
 		}
 
 		assert(opts.event_idx != prev_idx[i]);
-		assert(prev_idx[i] < opts.event_idx);
-		assert(prev_idx[i] <= vm::sequence::retired);
 		assert(prev_idx[i] != 0 && opts.event_idx != 0);
 		thread_local char buf[EVENT_REFS_KEY_MAX_SIZE];
 		const string_view &key