diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 1b2d9fb..74ed33e 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ const { decrypt } = require('./encryption')
  * @typedef {import('./encryption').EncryptionFormat} EncryptionFormat
  * @typedef {import('./msg-v3/tangle')} Tangle
  * @typedef {Buffer | Uint8Array} B4A
+ * @typedef {{
+ *   db: {
+ *     path: string
+ *   }
+ * }} ExpectedConfig
+ * @typedef {{db?: Partial<ExpectedConfig['db']>, keypair: Keypair;}} Config
  */
 
 /**
@@ -69,6 +75,16 @@ const { decrypt } = require('./encryption')
  * } CB
  */
 
+/**
+ * @param {Config} config
+ * @returns {asserts config is ExpectedConfig}
+ */
+function assertValidConfig(config) {
+  if (typeof config.db?.path !== 'string') {
+    throw new Error('db requires config.db.path')
+  }
+}
+
 class DBTangle extends MsgV3.Tangle {
   /**
    * @param {MsgID} rootID
@@ -121,9 +137,11 @@ class DBTangle extends MsgV3.Tangle {
 
 /**
  * @param {any} peer
- * @param {{ path: string; keypair: Keypair; }} config
+ * @param {Config} config
  */
 function initDB(peer, config) {
+  assertValidConfig(config)
+
   /** @type {Array<Rec | null>} */
   const recs = []
 
@@ -152,7 +170,7 @@ function initDB(peer, config) {
     },
   }
 
-  const log = Log(Path.join(config.path, 'db.bin'), {
+  const log = Log(Path.join(config.db.path, 'log'), {
     blockSize: 64 * 1024,
     codec,
     /**
@@ -168,7 +186,7 @@ function initDB(peer, config) {
     },
   })
 
-  const ghosts = new Ghosts(Path.join(config.path, 'ghosts'))
+  const ghosts = new Ghosts(Path.join(config.db.path, 'ghosts'))
 
   peer.close.hook(function (/** @type {any} */ fn, /** @type {any} */ args) {
     log.close(() => {
diff --git a/lib/msg-v3/util.js b/lib/msg-v3/util.js
index 78e8a48..9455185 100644
--- a/lib/msg-v3/util.js
+++ b/lib/msg-v3/util.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 /**
  * @param {any} obj
  */
@@ -11,4 +10,4 @@ function isEmptyObject(obj) {
 
 module.exports = {
   isEmptyObject,
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/test/account-add.test.js b/test/account-add.test.js
index 0f6bfd9..7869e5d 100644
--- a/test/account-add.test.js
+++ b/test/account-add.test.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ test('account.add()', async (t) => {
     const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
     const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ test('account.add()', async (t) => {
     const peer1 = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer1.db.loaded()
     const id = await p(peer1.db.account.create)({
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ test('account.add()', async (t) => {
     const peer2 = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypair2, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypair2, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer2.db.loaded()
     await p(peer2.db.add)(msg1, id)
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ test('account.add()', async (t) => {
     const peer1again = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer1again.db.loaded()
     await p(peer1again.db.add)(msg1, id) // re-add because lost during rimraf
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ test('account.add()', async (t) => {
     let peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypair1, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
 
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ test('account.add()', async (t) => {
     const carol = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypair3, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypair3, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await carol.db.loaded()
 
diff --git a/test/account-create.test.js b/test/account-create.test.js
index 7b06ae8..fa314a9 100644
--- a/test/account-create.test.js
+++ b/test/account-create.test.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test('account.create() ', async (t) => {
     const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
     const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ test('account.create() ', async (t) => {
     const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
     const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ test('account.create() ', async (t) => {
     const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
     const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({ keypair, subdomain })
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ test('account.create() ', async (t) => {
     const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
     const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({ keypair, subdomain })
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ test('account.create() ', async (t) => {
     const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
 
@@ -140,7 +140,10 @@ test('account.create() ', async (t) => {
     })
     assert.ok(gotError, 'account not found')
 
-    const account = await p(peer.db.account.findOrCreate)({ keypair, subdomain })
+    const account = await p(peer.db.account.findOrCreate)({
+      keypair,
+      subdomain,
+    })
     assert.ok(account, 'account created')
     const msg = peer.db.get(account)
     assert.equal(msg.data.key.bytes, keypair.public, 'msg.data')
diff --git a/test/add.test.js b/test/add.test.js
index 5b7805b..4422905 100644
--- a/test/add.test.js
+++ b/test/add.test.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test('add()', async (t) => {
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
diff --git a/test/del.test.js b/test/del.test.js
index ef788bc..0d1cdd3 100644
--- a/test/del.test.js
+++ b/test/del.test.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ test('del()', async (t) => {
   const keypair = Keypair.generate('ed25519', 'alice')
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ test('del()', async (t) => {
 
   await p(peer.close)(true)
 
-  const log = Log(path.join(DIR, 'db.bin'), {
+  const log = Log(path.join(DIR, 'log'), {
     cacheSize: 1,
     blockSize: 64 * 1024,
     codec: {
diff --git a/test/erase.test.js b/test/erase.test.js
index be97a5b..9cb75b9 100644
--- a/test/erase.test.js
+++ b/test/erase.test.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ test('erase()', async (t) => {
   const keypair = Keypair.generate('ed25519', 'alice')
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ test('erase()', async (t) => {
 
   await p(peer.close)(true)
 
-  const log = Log(path.join(DIR, 'db.bin'), {
+  const log = Log(path.join(DIR, 'log'), {
     cacheSize: 1,
     blockSize: 64 * 1024,
     codec: {
diff --git a/test/feed-get-id.test.js b/test/feed-get-id.test.js
index eb56540..fc25b85 100644
--- a/test/feed-get-id.test.js
+++ b/test/feed-get-id.test.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test('feed.getID()', async (t) => {
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
diff --git a/test/feed-publish.test.js b/test/feed-publish.test.js
index bcdefd2..25af71d 100644
--- a/test/feed-publish.test.js
+++ b/test/feed-publish.test.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ test('feed.publish()', async (t) => {
     peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
 
@@ -158,5 +158,5 @@ test('feed.publish()', async (t) => {
     )
   })
 
-    await p(peer.close)(true)
+  await p(peer.close)(true)
 })
diff --git a/test/get.test.js b/test/get.test.js
index b199339..389f2db 100644
--- a/test/get.test.js
+++ b/test/get.test.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test('get()', async (t) => {
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
diff --git a/test/getTangle.test.js b/test/getTangle.test.js
index 6ac983e..c524ff8 100644
--- a/test/getTangle.test.js
+++ b/test/getTangle.test.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ test('getTangle()', async (t) => {
     peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
       .use(require('../lib'))
       .use(require('ssb-box'))
-      .call(null, { keypair: keypairA, path: DIR })
+      .call(null, { keypair: keypairA, db: { path: DIR } })
 
     await peer.db.loaded()
 
diff --git a/test/ghosts.tests.js b/test/ghosts.tests.js
index bea9624..ff1cc4c 100644
--- a/test/ghosts.tests.js
+++ b/test/ghosts.tests.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ test('ghosts.add, ghosts.get, ghosts.getMinDepth', async (t) => {
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ test('ghosts.add queues very-concurrent calls', async (t) => {
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
diff --git a/test/msg-v3/lipmaa.test.js b/test/msg-v3/lipmaa.test.js
index bcf8815..a5e2967 100644
--- a/test/msg-v3/lipmaa.test.js
+++ b/test/msg-v3/lipmaa.test.js
@@ -28,11 +28,7 @@ test('MsgV3 lipmaa prevs', (t) => {
   const msgID1 = MsgV3.getMsgID(msg1)
   tangle.add(msgID1, msg1)
   assert.equal(msg1.metadata.tangles[mootID].depth, 1, 'msg1 depth')
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    msg1.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev,
-    [mootID],
-    'msg1 prev'
-  )
+  assert.deepEqual(msg1.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev, [mootID], 'msg1 prev')
 
   const msg2 = MsgV3.create({
     account,
@@ -47,11 +43,7 @@ test('MsgV3 lipmaa prevs', (t) => {
   const msgID2 = MsgV3.getMsgID(msg2)
   tangle.add(msgID2, msg2)
   assert.equal(msg2.metadata.tangles[mootID].depth, 2, 'msg2 depth')
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    msg2.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev,
-    [msgID1],
-    'msg2 prev'
-  )
+  assert.deepEqual(msg2.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev, [msgID1], 'msg2 prev')
 
   const msg3 = MsgV3.create({
     account,
@@ -85,11 +77,7 @@ test('MsgV3 lipmaa prevs', (t) => {
   const msgID4 = MsgV3.getMsgID(msg4)
   tangle.add(msgID4, msg4)
   assert.equal(msg4.metadata.tangles[mootID].depth, 4, 'msg4 depth')
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    msg4.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev,
-    [msgID3],
-    'msg4 prev'
-  )
+  assert.deepEqual(msg4.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev, [msgID3], 'msg4 prev')
 
   const msg5 = MsgV3.create({
     account,
@@ -104,11 +92,7 @@ test('MsgV3 lipmaa prevs', (t) => {
   const msgID5 = MsgV3.getMsgID(msg5)
   tangle.add(msgID5, msg5)
   assert.equal(msg5.metadata.tangles[mootID].depth, 5, 'msg5 depth')
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    msg5.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev,
-    [msgID4],
-    'msg5 prev'
-  )
+  assert.deepEqual(msg5.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev, [msgID4], 'msg5 prev')
 
   const msg6 = MsgV3.create({
     account,
@@ -123,11 +107,7 @@ test('MsgV3 lipmaa prevs', (t) => {
   const msgID6 = MsgV3.getMsgID(msg6)
   tangle.add(msgID6, msg6)
   assert.equal(msg6.metadata.tangles[mootID].depth, 6, 'msg6 depth')
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    msg6.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev,
-    [msgID5],
-    'msg6 prev'
-  )
+  assert.deepEqual(msg6.metadata.tangles[mootID].prev, [msgID5], 'msg6 prev')
 
   const msg7 = MsgV3.create({
     account,
diff --git a/test/msgs-iterator.test.js b/test/msgs-iterator.test.js
index a673c60..c6bd2d3 100644
--- a/test/msgs-iterator.test.js
+++ b/test/msgs-iterator.test.js
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ test('msgs() iterator', async (t) => {
   const keypair = Keypair.generate('ed25519', 'alice')
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
-  const account = (await p(peer.db.account.create)({subdomain: 'person'}))
+  const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({ subdomain: 'person' })
 
   for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
     await p(peer.db.feed.publish)({
diff --git a/test/on-record-added.test.js b/test/on-record-added.test.js
index 949e4d3..0bca52f 100644
--- a/test/on-record-added.test.js
+++ b/test/on-record-added.test.js
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ test('onRecordAdded', async (t) => {
   const keypair = Keypair.generate('ed25519', 'alice')
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
 
-  const account = (await p(peer.db.account.create)({subdomain: 'person'}))
+  const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({ subdomain: 'person' })
 
   const listened = []
   var remove = peer.db.onRecordAdded((ev) => {
diff --git a/test/re-open.test.js b/test/re-open.test.js
index 89f8f80..31c5861 100644
--- a/test/re-open.test.js
+++ b/test/re-open.test.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ test('publish some msgs, close, re-open', async (t) => {
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
   const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({ subdomain: 'person' })
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ test('publish some msgs, close, re-open', async (t) => {
   const peer2 = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
     .use(require('ssb-box'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
   // t.pass('re-opened')
 
   await peer2.db.loaded()
diff --git a/test/records-iterator.test.js b/test/records-iterator.test.js
index 349021b..6b20fe7 100644
--- a/test/records-iterator.test.js
+++ b/test/records-iterator.test.js
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ test('records() iterator', async (t) => {
   const keypair = Keypair.generate('ed25519', 'alice')
   const peer = SecretStack({ appKey: caps.shse })
     .use(require('../lib'))
-    .call(null, { keypair, path: DIR })
+    .call(null, { keypair, db: { path: DIR } })
 
   await peer.db.loaded()
-  const account = (await p(peer.db.account.create)({ subdomain: 'person' }))
+  const account = await p(peer.db.account.create)({ subdomain: 'person' })
 
   for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
     await p(peer.db.feed.publish)({