diff --git a/piker/data/feed.py b/piker/data/feed.py
index cdd19070..bde8fe72 100644
--- a/piker/data/feed.py
+++ b/piker/data/feed.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import trio
 from trio_typing import TaskStatus
 import tractor
 from pydantic import BaseModel
-from fuzzywuzzy import process as fuzzy
 
 from ..brokers import get_brokermod
 from ..log import get_logger, get_console_log
@@ -376,38 +375,6 @@ class Feed:
 
             yield self._trade_stream
 
-    @asynccontextmanager
-    async def open_symbol_search(self) -> AsyncIterator[dict]:
-
-        open_search = getattr(self.mod, 'open_symbol_search', None)
-        if open_search is None:
-
-            # just return a pure pass through searcher
-            async def passthru(text: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-                return text
-
-            self.search = passthru
-            yield self.search
-            self.search = None
-            return
-
-        async with self._brokerd_portal.open_context(
-            open_search,
-        ) as (ctx, cache):
-
-            # shield here since we expect the search rpc to be
-            # cancellable by the user as they see fit.
-            async with ctx.open_stream(shield=True) as stream:
-
-                async def search(text: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-                    await stream.send(text)
-                    return await stream.receive()
-
-                # deliver search func to consumer
-                self.search = search
-                yield search
-                self.search = None
-
 
 def sym_to_shm_key(
     broker: str,
@@ -417,7 +384,7 @@ def sym_to_shm_key(
 
 
 # cache of brokernames to feeds
-_cache: Dict[str, Feed] = {}
+_cache: Dict[str, Callable] = {}
 _cache_lock: trio.Lock = trio.Lock()
 
 
@@ -434,21 +401,60 @@ def get_multi_search() -> Callable[..., Awaitable]:
         async def pack_matches(
             brokername: str,
             pattern: str,
+            search: Callable[..., Awaitable[dict]],
         ) -> None:
-            matches[brokername] = await feed.search(pattern)
+            log.debug(f'Searching {brokername} for "{pattern}"')
+            matches[brokername] = await search(pattern)
 
         # TODO: make this an async stream?
         async with trio.open_nursery() as n:
 
-            for (brokername, startup_sym), feed in _cache.items():
-                if feed.search:
-                    n.start_soon(pack_matches, brokername, pattern)
+            for brokername, search in _cache.items():
+                n.start_soon(pack_matches, brokername, pattern, search)
 
         return matches
 
     return multisearcher
 
 
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def open_symbol_search(
+    brokermod: ModuleType,
+    brokerd_portal: tractor._portal.Portal,
+) -> AsyncIterator[dict]:
+
+    global _cache
+
+    open_search = getattr(brokermod, 'open_symbol_search', None)
+    if open_search is None:
+
+        # just return a pure pass through searcher
+        async def passthru(text: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+            return text
+
+        yield passthru
+        return
+
+    async with brokerd_portal.open_context(
+        open_search,
+    ) as (ctx, cache):
+
+        # shield here since we expect the search rpc to be
+        # cancellable by the user as they see fit.
+        async with ctx.open_stream() as stream:
+
+            async def search(text: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+                await stream.send(text)
+                return await stream.receive()
+
+            # deliver search func to consumer
+            try:
+                _cache[brokermod.name] = search
+                yield search
+            finally:
+                _cache.pop(brokermod.name)
+
+
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def open_feed(
     brokername: str,
@@ -536,8 +542,8 @@ async def open_feed(
 
             feed._max_sample_rate = max(ohlc_sample_rates)
 
-            _cache[(brokername, sym)] = feed
-
-            async with feed.open_symbol_search():
+            if brokername in _cache:
                 yield feed
-
+            else:
+                async with open_symbol_search(mod, feed._brokerd_portal):
+                    yield feed