diff --git a/internal/server/session.go b/internal/server/session.go
index 55c265a..f7b807f 100644
--- a/internal/server/session.go
+++ b/internal/server/session.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func (sn *session) read() {
 				sn.outbox <- wire.ErrorResponse(0, "unable to parse request: %v", err)
 				break
 			}
-			sn.outbox <- wire.NewResponse(req.Seq, wire.OK{})
+			sn.outbox <- wire.Response{req.Seq, wire.OK{}}
 		case websocket.BinaryMessage:
 			sn.outbox <- wire.ErrorResponse(0, "unable to parse binary frames")
 		}
diff --git a/internal/ui/ui.go b/internal/ui/ui.go
index edbbbee..7bed2d0 100644
--- a/internal/ui/ui.go
+++ b/internal/ui/ui.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package ui
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
 	"github.com/gdamore/tcell/v2"
 	"github.com/jordanorelli/astro-domu/internal/exit"
 	"github.com/jordanorelli/astro-domu/internal/wire"
@@ -15,18 +17,41 @@ type UI struct {
 }
 
 func (ui *UI) Run() {
+	ui.setupTerminal()
+	defer ui.clearTerminal()
+
+	if err := ui.connect(); err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	ui.mode = &boxWalker{width: 10, height: 6}
+	ui.Info("running ui")
+	if ui.handleUserInput() {
+		ui.Info("user requested close")
+		ui.Info("closing client")
+		ui.client.Close()
+		ui.Info("client closed")
+		ui.Info("finalizing screen")
+	}
+	ui.Info("run loop done, shutting down")
+}
+
+func (ui *UI) connect() error {
 	ui.client = &wire.Client{
 		Log:  ui.Child("client"),
 		Host: "127.0.0.1",
 		Port: 12805,
 	}
 
-	notifications, err := ui.client.Dial()
+	c, err := ui.client.Dial()
 	if err != nil {
-		exit.WithMessage(1, "unable to dial server: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to dial server: %v", err)
 	}
-	go ui.handleNotifications(notifications)
+	go ui.handleNotifications(c)
+	return nil
+}
 
+func (ui *UI) setupTerminal() {
 	screen, err := tcell.NewScreen()
 	if err != nil {
 		exit.WithMessage(1, "unable to create a screen: %v", err)
@@ -43,21 +68,11 @@ func (ui *UI) Run() {
 	ui.Debug("screen height: %d", height)
 	ui.Debug("screen colors: %v", screen.Colors())
 	ui.Debug("screen has mouse: %v", screen.HasMouse())
+}
 
-	ui.mode = &boxWalker{
-		width:  10,
-		height: 6,
-	}
-	ui.Info("running ui")
-	if ui.run() {
-		ui.Info("user requested close")
-		ui.Info("closing client")
-		ui.client.Close()
-		ui.Info("client closed")
-		ui.Info("finalizing screen")
-	}
-	ui.Info("run loop done, shutting down")
-	screen.Fini()
+func (ui *UI) clearTerminal() {
+	ui.screen.Clear()
+	ui.screen.Fini()
 }
 
 func (ui *UI) handleNotifications(c <-chan wire.Response) {
@@ -68,6 +83,7 @@ func (ui *UI) handleNotifications(c <-chan wire.Response) {
 	ui.Info("clearing and finalizing screen from notifications goroutine")
 	ui.screen.Clear()
 	ui.screen.Fini()
+	ui.Info("screen finalized")
 }
 
 // writeString writes a string in the given style from left to right beginning
@@ -87,7 +103,7 @@ func (ui *UI) writeString(x, y int, s string, style tcell.Style) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (ui *UI) run() bool {
+func (ui *UI) handleUserInput() bool {
 	ui.screen.Clear()
 	ui.mode.draw(ui)
 
@@ -98,6 +114,7 @@ func (ui *UI) run() bool {
 			// someone else shut us down, so return false
 			return false
 		}
+		ui.Info("screen sees event: %v", e)
 
 		switch v := e.(type) {
 		case *tcell.EventKey:
diff --git a/internal/wire/error.go b/internal/wire/error.go
index 6ce0865..272e670 100644
--- a/internal/wire/error.go
+++ b/internal/wire/error.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package wire
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 )
 
@@ -12,6 +13,10 @@ func (e Error) Error() string  { return e.val.Error() }
 func (e Error) NetTag() string { return "error" }
 func (e Error) Unwrap() error  { return e.val }
 
+func (e Error) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(e.Error())
+}
+
 func Errorf(t string, args ...interface{}) Error {
 	return Error{val: fmt.Errorf(t, args...)}
 }
diff --git a/internal/wire/ok.go b/internal/wire/ok.go
index f416341..e76b591 100644
--- a/internal/wire/ok.go
+++ b/internal/wire/ok.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ type OK struct{}
 
 func (OK) NetTag() string { return "ok" }
 
+func (OK) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) { return []byte(`"ok"`), nil }
+
 func init() {
 	Register(func() Value { return new(OK) })
 }
diff --git a/internal/wire/response.go b/internal/wire/response.go
index 5cbc28e..535e447 100644
--- a/internal/wire/response.go
+++ b/internal/wire/response.go
@@ -1,19 +1,45 @@
 package wire
 
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+)
+
 type Response struct {
-	Re   int         `json:"re,omitempty"`
-	Type string      `json:"type"`
-	Body interface{} `json:"body"`
+	Re   int
+	Body Value
+}
+
+func (r Response) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal([3]interface{}{r.Re, r.Body.NetTag(), r.Body})
 }
 
-func NewResponse(re int, v Value) Response {
-	return Response{
-		Re:   re,
-		Type: v.NetTag(),
-		Body: v,
+func (r *Response) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
+	var parts [3]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &parts); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(parts[0], &r.Re); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var tag string
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(parts[1], &tag); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	f, ok := registry[tag]
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown tag: %q", tag)
+	}
+	v := f()
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(parts[2], v); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
+	r.Body = v
+	return nil
 }
 
 func ErrorResponse(re int, t string, args ...interface{}) Response {
-	return NewResponse(re, Errorf(t, args...))
+	return Response{re, Errorf(t, args...)}
 }
diff --git a/internal/wire/self.go b/internal/wire/self.go
index c3e3533..e9583aa 100644
--- a/internal/wire/self.go
+++ b/internal/wire/self.go
@@ -7,3 +7,7 @@ type Self_Move struct {
 }
 
 func (Self_Move) NetTag() string { return "self/move" }
+
+func init() {
+	Register(func() Value { return new(Self_Move) })
+}