diff --git a/lib/providers/contact_invite.dart b/lib/providers/contact_invite.dart
index 81014bc..0b22b0f 100644
--- a/lib/providers/contact_invite.dart
+++ b/lib/providers/contact_invite.dart
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ Future<AcceptedOrRejectedContact?> checkAcceptRejectContact(
       final signedContactResponse = await contactRequestInbox
           .getProtobuf(SignedContactResponse.fromBuffer, forceRefresh: true);
       if (signedContactResponse == null) {
-        log.error('failed to get signed contact response');
         return null;
       }
 
diff --git a/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.dart b/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.dart
index d9af1bb..c049566 100644
--- a/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.dart
+++ b/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.dart
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class DHTRecordPoolAllocations with _$DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
         childrenByParent, // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
     required IMap<String, TypedKey>
         parentByChild, // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
+    required ISet<TypedKey> rootRecords,
   }) = _DHTRecordPoolAllocations;
 
   factory DHTRecordPoolAllocations.fromJson(dynamic json) =>
@@ -38,7 +39,9 @@ class OwnedDHTRecordPointer with _$OwnedDHTRecordPointer {
 class DHTRecordPool with AsyncTableDBBacked<DHTRecordPoolAllocations> {
   DHTRecordPool._(Veilid veilid, VeilidRoutingContext routingContext)
       : _state = DHTRecordPoolAllocations(
-            childrenByParent: IMap(), parentByChild: IMap()),
+            childrenByParent: IMap(),
+            parentByChild: IMap(),
+            rootRecords: ISet()),
         _opened = <TypedKey, Mutex>{},
         _routingContext = routingContext,
         _veilid = veilid;
@@ -64,7 +67,7 @@ class DHTRecordPool with AsyncTableDBBacked<DHTRecordPoolAllocations> {
   DHTRecordPoolAllocations valueFromJson(Object? obj) => obj != null
       ? DHTRecordPoolAllocations.fromJson(obj)
       : DHTRecordPoolAllocations(
-          childrenByParent: IMap(), parentByChild: IMap());
+          childrenByParent: IMap(), parentByChild: IMap(), rootRecords: ISet());
   @override
   Object? valueToJson(DHTRecordPoolAllocations val) => val.toJson();
 
@@ -133,45 +136,70 @@ class DHTRecordPool with AsyncTableDBBacked<DHTRecordPoolAllocations> {
     await Future.wait(allFutures);
   }
 
-  Future<void> _addDependency(TypedKey parent, TypedKey child) async {
-    final childrenOfParent =
-        _state.childrenByParent[parent.toJson()] ?? ISet<TypedKey>();
-    if (childrenOfParent.contains(child)) {
-      // Dependency already added (consecutive opens, etc)
-      return;
-    }
-    if (_state.parentByChild.containsKey(child.toJson())) {
-      throw StateError('Child has two parents: $child <- $parent');
-    }
-    if (_state.childrenByParent.containsKey(child.toJson())) {
-      // dependencies should be opened after their parents
-      throw StateError('Child is not a leaf: $child');
-    }
+  Future<void> _addDependency(TypedKey? parent, TypedKey child) async {
+    if (parent == null) {
+      if (_state.rootRecords.contains(child)) {
+        // Dependency already added
+        return;
+      }
+      if (_state.parentByChild.containsKey(child.toJson())) {
+        throw StateError('Child is already parented: $child');
+      }
+      if (_state.childrenByParent.containsKey(child.toJson())) {
+        // dependencies should be opened after their parents
+        throw StateError('Child is not a leaf: $child');
+      }
 
-    _state = await store(_state.copyWith(
-        childrenByParent: _state.childrenByParent
-            .add(parent.toJson(), childrenOfParent.add(child)),
-        parentByChild: _state.parentByChild.add(child.toJson(), parent)));
+      _state = await store(
+          _state.copyWith(rootRecords: _state.rootRecords.add(child)));
+    } else {
+      final childrenOfParent =
+          _state.childrenByParent[parent.toJson()] ?? ISet<TypedKey>();
+      if (childrenOfParent.contains(child)) {
+        // Dependency already added (consecutive opens, etc)
+        return;
+      }
+      if (_state.rootRecords.contains(child)) {
+        throw StateError('Child already added as root: $child');
+      }
+      if (_state.parentByChild.containsKey(child.toJson())) {
+        throw StateError('Child has two parents: $child <- $parent');
+      }
+      if (_state.childrenByParent.containsKey(child.toJson())) {
+        // dependencies should be opened after their parents
+        throw StateError('Child is not a leaf: $child');
+      }
+
+      _state = await store(_state.copyWith(
+          childrenByParent: _state.childrenByParent
+              .add(parent.toJson(), childrenOfParent.add(child)),
+          parentByChild: _state.parentByChild.add(child.toJson(), parent)));
+    }
   }
 
   Future<void> _removeDependency(TypedKey child) async {
-    final parent = _state.parentByChild[child.toJson()];
-    if (parent == null) {
-      return;
-    }
-    final children = _state.childrenByParent[parent.toJson()]!.remove(child);
-    late final DHTRecordPoolAllocations newState;
-    if (children.isEmpty) {
-      newState = _state.copyWith(
-          childrenByParent: _state.childrenByParent.remove(parent.toJson()),
-          parentByChild: _state.parentByChild.remove(child.toJson()));
+    if (_state.rootRecords.contains(child)) {
+      _state = await store(
+          _state.copyWith(rootRecords: _state.rootRecords.remove(child)));
     } else {
-      newState = _state.copyWith(
-          childrenByParent:
-              _state.childrenByParent.add(parent.toJson(), children),
-          parentByChild: _state.parentByChild.remove(child.toJson()));
+      final parent = _state.parentByChild[child.toJson()];
+      if (parent == null) {
+        return;
+      }
+      final children = _state.childrenByParent[parent.toJson()]!.remove(child);
+      late final DHTRecordPoolAllocations newState;
+      if (children.isEmpty) {
+        newState = _state.copyWith(
+            childrenByParent: _state.childrenByParent.remove(parent.toJson()),
+            parentByChild: _state.parentByChild.remove(child.toJson()));
+      } else {
+        newState = _state.copyWith(
+            childrenByParent:
+                _state.childrenByParent.add(parent.toJson(), children),
+            parentByChild: _state.parentByChild.remove(child.toJson()));
+      }
+      _state = await store(newState);
     }
-    _state = await store(newState);
   }
 
   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.freezed.dart b/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.freezed.dart
index ad600be..3ef24be 100644
--- a/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.freezed.dart
+++ b/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.freezed.dart
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ mixin _$DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
   IMap<String, ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>> get childrenByParent =>
       throw _privateConstructorUsedError; // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
   IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> get parentByChild =>
+      throw _privateConstructorUsedError; // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
+  ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> get rootRecords =>
       throw _privateConstructorUsedError;
 
   Map<String, dynamic> toJson() => throw _privateConstructorUsedError;
@@ -40,7 +42,8 @@ abstract class $DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWith<$Res> {
   @useResult
   $Res call(
       {IMap<String, ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>> childrenByParent,
-      IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> parentByChild});
+      IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> parentByChild,
+      ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> rootRecords});
 }
 
 /// @nodoc
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@ class _$DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWithImpl<$Res,
   $Res call({
     Object? childrenByParent = null,
     Object? parentByChild = null,
+    Object? rootRecords = null,
   }) {
     return _then(_value.copyWith(
       childrenByParent: null == childrenByParent
@@ -69,6 +73,10 @@ class _$DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWithImpl<$Res,
           ? _value.parentByChild
           : parentByChild // ignore: cast_nullable_to_non_nullable
               as IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>,
+      rootRecords: null == rootRecords
+          ? _value.rootRecords
+          : rootRecords // ignore: cast_nullable_to_non_nullable
+              as ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>,
     ) as $Val);
   }
 }
@@ -84,7 +92,8 @@ abstract class _$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWith<$Res>
   @useResult
   $Res call(
       {IMap<String, ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>> childrenByParent,
-      IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> parentByChild});
+      IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> parentByChild,
+      ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> rootRecords});
 }
 
 /// @nodoc
@@ -101,6 +110,7 @@ class __$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWithImpl<$Res>
   $Res call({
     Object? childrenByParent = null,
     Object? parentByChild = null,
+    Object? rootRecords = null,
   }) {
     return _then(_$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations(
       childrenByParent: null == childrenByParent
@@ -111,6 +121,10 @@ class __$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWithImpl<$Res>
           ? _value.parentByChild
           : parentByChild // ignore: cast_nullable_to_non_nullable
               as IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>,
+      rootRecords: null == rootRecords
+          ? _value.rootRecords
+          : rootRecords // ignore: cast_nullable_to_non_nullable
+              as ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>,
     ));
   }
 }
@@ -119,7 +133,9 @@ class __$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWithImpl<$Res>
 @JsonSerializable()
 class _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations implements _DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
   const _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations(
-      {required this.childrenByParent, required this.parentByChild});
+      {required this.childrenByParent,
+      required this.parentByChild,
+      required this.rootRecords});
 
   factory _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations.fromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) =>
       _$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsFromJson(json);
@@ -129,10 +145,13 @@ class _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations implements _DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
 // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
   @override
   final IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> parentByChild;
+// String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
+  @override
+  final ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> rootRecords;
 
   @override
   String toString() {
-    return 'DHTRecordPoolAllocations(childrenByParent: $childrenByParent, parentByChild: $parentByChild)';
+    return 'DHTRecordPoolAllocations(childrenByParent: $childrenByParent, parentByChild: $parentByChild, rootRecords: $rootRecords)';
   }
 
   @override
@@ -143,12 +162,15 @@ class _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations implements _DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
             (identical(other.childrenByParent, childrenByParent) ||
                 other.childrenByParent == childrenByParent) &&
             (identical(other.parentByChild, parentByChild) ||
-                other.parentByChild == parentByChild));
+                other.parentByChild == parentByChild) &&
+            const DeepCollectionEquality()
+                .equals(other.rootRecords, rootRecords));
   }
 
   @JsonKey(ignore: true)
   @override
-  int get hashCode => Object.hash(runtimeType, childrenByParent, parentByChild);
+  int get hashCode => Object.hash(runtimeType, childrenByParent, parentByChild,
+      const DeepCollectionEquality().hash(rootRecords));
 
   @JsonKey(ignore: true)
   @override
@@ -169,8 +191,9 @@ abstract class _DHTRecordPoolAllocations implements DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
   const factory _DHTRecordPoolAllocations(
       {required final IMap<String, ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>>
           childrenByParent,
-      required final IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>
-          parentByChild}) = _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations;
+      required final IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> parentByChild,
+      required final ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>
+          rootRecords}) = _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations;
 
   factory _DHTRecordPoolAllocations.fromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) =
       _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations.fromJson;
@@ -179,6 +202,8 @@ abstract class _DHTRecordPoolAllocations implements DHTRecordPoolAllocations {
   IMap<String, ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>> get childrenByParent;
   @override // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
   IMap<String, Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> get parentByChild;
+  @override // String key due to IMap<> json unsupported in key
+  ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>> get rootRecords;
   @override
   @JsonKey(ignore: true)
   _$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsCopyWith<_$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations>
diff --git a/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.g.dart b/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.g.dart
index fd5af1b..b52a302 100644
--- a/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.g.dart
+++ b/lib/veilid_support/dht_support/dht_record_pool.g.dart
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ _$_DHTRecordPoolAllocations _$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsFromJson(
           json['parent_by_child'] as Map<String, dynamic>,
           (value) => value as String,
           (value) => Typed<FixedEncodedString43>.fromJson(value)),
+      rootRecords: ISet<Typed<FixedEncodedString43>>.fromJson(
+          json['root_records'],
+          (value) => Typed<FixedEncodedString43>.fromJson(value)),
     );
 
 Map<String, dynamic> _$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsToJson(
@@ -34,6 +37,9 @@ Map<String, dynamic> _$$_DHTRecordPoolAllocationsToJson(
         (value) => value,
         (value) => value.toJson(),
       ),
+      'root_records': instance.rootRecords.toJson(
+        (value) => value.toJson(),
+      ),
     };
 
 _$_OwnedDHTRecordPointer _$$_OwnedDHTRecordPointerFromJson(