diff --git a/llarp/exit/session.cpp b/llarp/exit/session.cpp
index 8c8553922..5205d2a8a 100644
--- a/llarp/exit/session.cpp
+++ b/llarp/exit/session.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <llarp/quic/tunnel.hpp>
 #include <llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp>
 #include <llarp/util/meta/memfn.hpp>
+#include <memory>
 #include <utility>
 
 namespace llarp
@@ -142,7 +143,8 @@ namespace llarp
 
       if (success)
       {
-        auto self = shared_from_this();
+        auto self = std::static_pointer_cast<BaseSession>(shared_from_this());
+
         for (auto& f : m_PendingCallbacks)
           f(self);
       }
@@ -189,7 +191,6 @@ namespace llarp
         }
       };
       ForEachPath(sendExitClose);
-      m_router->pathContext().RemovePathSet(shared_from_this());
       return path::Builder::Stop();
     }
 
diff --git a/llarp/exit/session.hpp b/llarp/exit/session.hpp
index d28227661..57bf29ab2 100644
--- a/llarp/exit/session.hpp
+++ b/llarp/exit/session.hpp
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ namespace llarp
     static constexpr auto LifeSpan = path::default_lifetime;
 
     /// a persisting exit session with an exit router
-    struct BaseSession : public llarp::path::Builder,
-                         public std::enable_shared_from_this<BaseSession>
+    struct BaseSession : public llarp::path::Builder
     {
       static constexpr size_t MaxUpstreamQueueLength = 256;
 
@@ -45,18 +44,6 @@ namespace llarp
 
       ~BaseSession() override;
 
-      std::shared_ptr<path::PathSet>
-      GetSelf() override
-      {
-        return shared_from_this();
-      }
-
-      std::weak_ptr<path::PathSet>
-      GetWeak() override
-      {
-        return weak_from_this();
-      }
-
       void
       BlacklistSNode(const RouterID snode) override;
 
diff --git a/llarp/handlers/tun.hpp b/llarp/handlers/tun.hpp
index f4c963385..414444697 100644
--- a/llarp/handlers/tun.hpp
+++ b/llarp/handlers/tun.hpp
@@ -161,12 +161,6 @@ namespace llarp
         return m_OwnedRanges;
       }
 
-      llarp_time_t
-      PathAlignmentTimeout() const override
-      {
-        return m_PathAlignmentTimeout;
-      }
-
       /// ip packet against any exit policies we have
       /// returns false if this traffic is disallowed by any of those policies
       /// returns true otherwise
diff --git a/llarp/path/path.cpp b/llarp/path/path.cpp
index c66dca2ac..302069a89 100644
--- a/llarp/path/path.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/path.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace llarp
   {
     Path::Path(
         const std::vector<RouterContact>& h,
-        std::weak_ptr<PathSet> pathset,
+        const std::shared_ptr<PathSet>& pathset,
         PathRole startingRoles,
         std::string shortName)
         : m_PathSet{std::move(pathset)}, _role{startingRoles}, m_shortName{std::move(shortName)}
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ namespace llarp
       // initialize parts of the introduction
       intro.router = hops[hsz - 1].rc.pubkey;
       intro.pathID = hops[hsz - 1].txID;
-      if (auto parent = m_PathSet.lock())
-        EnterState(ePathBuilding, parent->Now());
+
+      EnterState(ePathBuilding, pathset->Now());
     }
 
     void
diff --git a/llarp/path/path.hpp b/llarp/path/path.hpp
index e453e6820..3f5a8aedb 100644
--- a/llarp/path/path.hpp
+++ b/llarp/path/path.hpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace llarp
 
       Path(
           const std::vector<RouterContact>& routers,
-          std::weak_ptr<PathSet> parent,
+          const std::shared_ptr<PathSet>& parent,
           PathRole startingRoles,
           std::string shortName);
 
diff --git a/llarp/path/path_context.cpp b/llarp/path/path_context.cpp
index 2fc3e0d0e..f3fe561e9 100644
--- a/llarp/path/path_context.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/path_context.cpp
@@ -421,10 +421,6 @@ namespace llarp
       return nullptr;
     }
 
-    void
-    PathContext::RemovePathSet(PathSet_ptr)
-    {}
-
     void
     PathContext::periodic_tick()
     {
diff --git a/llarp/path/path_context.hpp b/llarp/path/path_context.hpp
index 166d38c8d..473afe15d 100644
--- a/llarp/path/path_context.hpp
+++ b/llarp/path/path_context.hpp
@@ -111,9 +111,6 @@ namespace llarp
       void
       AddOwnPath(PathSet_ptr set, Path_ptr p);
 
-      void
-      RemovePathSet(PathSet_ptr set);
-
       using TransitHopsMap_t = std::unordered_multimap<PathID_t, TransitHop_ptr>;
 
       struct SyncTransitMap_t
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
index 65a6142e2..6508626c1 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <llarp/link/link_manager.hpp>
 
 #include <functional>
+#include <memory>
 
 namespace llarp
 {
@@ -448,14 +449,17 @@ namespace llarp
         LogWarn(Name(), " building too fast to edge router ", edge);
         return;
       }
+      LogTrace("build one aligning to ", RouterID{hops.back().pubkey});
       // async generate keys
       auto ctx = std::make_shared<AsyncPathKeyExchangeContext>();
       ctx->router = m_router;
-      auto self = GetSelf();
+      auto self = shared_from_this();
+
       ctx->pathset = self;
       std::string path_shortName = "[path " + m_router->ShortName() + "-";
       path_shortName = path_shortName + std::to_string(m_router->NextPathBuildNumber()) + "]";
-      auto path = std::make_shared<path::Path>(hops, GetWeak(), roles, std::move(path_shortName));
+      LogTrace("make ", path_shortName);
+      auto path = std::make_shared<path::Path>(hops, self, roles, std::move(path_shortName));
       LogInfo(Name(), " build ", path->ShortName(), ": ", path->HopsString());
 
       path->SetBuildResultHook([self](Path_ptr p) { self->HandlePathBuilt(p); });
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp
index a01198974..7b8a6aab2 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <llarp/util/decaying_hashset.hpp>
 
 #include <atomic>
+#include <memory>
 #include <set>
 
 namespace llarp
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathset.cpp b/llarp/path/pathset.cpp
index 0474544d2..8aaa9b50b 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathset.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathset.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <llarp/routing/dht_message.hpp>
 #include <llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp>
 
+#include <memory>
 #include <random>
 
 namespace llarp
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ namespace llarp
     {
       const auto now = llarp::time_now_ms();
       Lock_t l{m_PathsMutex};
-      for (auto& item : m_Paths)
+      for (const auto& item : m_Paths)
       {
         item.second->Tick(now, r);
       }
@@ -77,17 +78,20 @@ namespace llarp
     PathSet::Tick(llarp_time_t)
     {
       std::unordered_set<RouterID> endpoints;
-      for (auto& item : m_Paths)
+      for (const auto& item : m_Paths)
       {
         endpoints.emplace(item.second->Endpoint());
       }
 
+      if (endpoints.empty())
+        return;
+
       m_PathCache.clear();
       for (const auto& ep : endpoints)
       {
         if (auto path = GetPathByRouter(ep))
         {
-          m_PathCache[ep] = path->weak_from_this();
+          m_PathCache.try_emplace(ep, std::weak_ptr{path});
         }
       }
     }
@@ -112,6 +116,7 @@ namespace llarp
         else
           ++itr;
       }
+      m_PathCache.clear();
     }
 
     Path_ptr
@@ -173,7 +178,8 @@ namespace llarp
       {
         if (auto itr = m_PathCache.find(id); itr != m_PathCache.end())
         {
-          return itr->second.lock();
+          if (auto ptr = itr->second.lock())
+            chosen = ptr;
         }
       }
       auto itr = m_Paths.begin();
@@ -192,6 +198,7 @@ namespace llarp
         }
         ++itr;
       }
+      m_PathCache[id] = chosen;
       return chosen;
     }
 
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathset.hpp b/llarp/path/pathset.hpp
index f7fe5690e..1802ad69d 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathset.hpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathset.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <list>
 #include <map>
+#include <memory>
 #include <tuple>
 #include <unordered_set>
 
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ namespace llarp
     using PathSet_ptr = std::shared_ptr<PathSet>;
 
     /// a set of paths owned by an entity
-    struct PathSet
+    struct PathSet : std::enable_shared_from_this<PathSet>
     {
       /// maximum number of paths a path set can maintain
       static constexpr size_t max_paths = 32;
@@ -107,14 +108,6 @@ namespace llarp
       /// @params numDesiredPaths the number of paths to maintain
       PathSet(size_t numDesiredPaths);
 
-      /// get a shared_ptr of ourself
-      virtual PathSet_ptr
-      GetSelf() = 0;
-
-      /// get a weak_ptr of ourself
-      virtual std::weak_ptr<PathSet>
-      GetWeak() = 0;
-
       virtual void
       BuildOne(PathRole roles = ePathRoleAny) = 0;
 
@@ -319,7 +312,7 @@ namespace llarp
       PathMap_t m_Paths;
 
      private:
-      std::unordered_map<RouterID, std::weak_ptr<path::Path>> m_PathCache;
+      mutable std::unordered_map<RouterID, std::weak_ptr<path::Path>> m_PathCache;
     };
 
   }  // namespace path
diff --git a/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp b/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp
index 9a4d28222..ab6c8fb54 100644
--- a/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp
+++ b/llarp/service/endpoint.cpp
@@ -74,18 +74,6 @@ namespace llarp
         m_quic = std::make_unique<quic::TunnelManager>(*this);
     }
 
-    path::PathSet_ptr
-    Endpoint::GetSelf()
-    {
-      return std::static_pointer_cast<path::PathSet>(shared_from_this());
-    }
-
-    std::weak_ptr<path::PathSet>
-    Endpoint::GetWeak()
-    {
-      return std::weak_ptr<path::PathSet>{weak_from_this()};
-    }
-
     std::string_view
     Endpoint::endpoint_name() const
     {
@@ -258,7 +246,7 @@ namespace llarp
 
       LookupNameAsync(
           name,
-          [ptr = std::static_pointer_cast<Endpoint>(GetSelf()),
+          [ptr = std::static_pointer_cast<Endpoint>(shared_from_this()),
            name,
            auth = AuthInfo{token},
            ranges,
diff --git a/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp b/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp
index 7a9858425..98a76aa49 100644
--- a/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp
+++ b/llarp/service/endpoint.hpp
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ namespace llarp
     struct Endpoint : public path::Builder,
                       public ILookupHolder,
                       public IDataHandler,
-                      public EndpointBase,
-                      private std::enable_shared_from_this<Endpoint>
+                      public EndpointBase
     {
       explicit Endpoint(AbstractRouter& r);
       ~Endpoint() override;
@@ -330,7 +329,7 @@ namespace llarp
       bool
       ShouldBuildMore(llarp_time_t now) const override;
 
-      virtual llarp_time_t
+      constexpr llarp_time_t
       PathAlignmentTimeout() const
       {
         constexpr auto DefaultPathAlignmentTimeout = 10s;
@@ -444,12 +443,6 @@ namespace llarp
       virtual void
       IntroSetPublished();
 
-      path::PathSet_ptr
-      GetSelf() override;
-
-      std::weak_ptr<path::PathSet>
-      GetWeak() override;
-
       void
       AsyncProcessAuthMessage(
           std::shared_ptr<ProtocolMessage> msg, std::function<void(AuthResult)> hook);
diff --git a/llarp/service/outbound_context.cpp b/llarp/service/outbound_context.cpp
index 28b4a37af..fa4f0540a 100644
--- a/llarp/service/outbound_context.cpp
+++ b/llarp/service/outbound_context.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <llarp/profiling.hpp>
 #include <llarp/util/meta/memfn.hpp>
 
+#include <memory>
 #include <random>
 #include <algorithm>
 
@@ -200,12 +201,13 @@ namespace llarp
       path::Builder::HandlePathBuilt(p);
       p->SetDataHandler([self = weak_from_this()](auto path, auto frame) {
         if (auto ptr = self.lock())
-          return ptr->HandleHiddenServiceFrame(path, frame);
+          return std::static_pointer_cast<OutboundContext>(ptr)->HandleHiddenServiceFrame(
+              path, frame);
         return false;
       });
       p->SetDropHandler([self = weak_from_this()](auto path, auto id, auto seqno) {
         if (auto ptr = self.lock())
-          return ptr->HandleDataDrop(path, id, seqno);
+          return std::static_pointer_cast<OutboundContext>(ptr)->HandleDataDrop(path, id, seqno);
         return false;
       });
       if (markedBad)
@@ -253,7 +255,8 @@ namespace llarp
           currentConvoTag,
           t);
 
-      ex->hook = [self = shared_from_this(), path](auto frame) {
+      ex->hook = [self = std::static_pointer_cast<OutboundContext>(shared_from_this()),
+                  path](auto frame) {
         if (not self->Send(std::move(frame), path))
           return;
         self->m_Endpoint->Loop()->call_later(
@@ -296,7 +299,9 @@ namespace llarp
       {
         HiddenServiceAddressLookup* job = new HiddenServiceAddressLookup(
             m_Endpoint,
-            util::memFn(&OutboundContext::OnIntroSetUpdate, shared_from_this()),
+            util::memFn(
+                &OutboundContext::OnIntroSetUpdate,
+                std::static_pointer_cast<OutboundContext>(shared_from_this())),
             location,
             PubKey{addr.as_array()},
             path->Endpoint(),
diff --git a/llarp/service/outbound_context.hpp b/llarp/service/outbound_context.hpp
index b005bcd19..61dd099e4 100644
--- a/llarp/service/outbound_context.hpp
+++ b/llarp/service/outbound_context.hpp
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@ namespace llarp
     struct Endpoint;
 
     /// context needed to initiate an outbound hidden service session
-    struct OutboundContext : public path::Builder,
-                             public SendContext,
-                             public std::enable_shared_from_this<OutboundContext>
+    struct OutboundContext : public path::Builder, public SendContext
     {
       OutboundContext(const IntroSet& introSet, Endpoint* parent);
 
@@ -35,18 +33,6 @@ namespace llarp
       bool
       ShouldBundleRC() const override;
 
-      path::PathSet_ptr
-      GetSelf() override
-      {
-        return shared_from_this();
-      }
-
-      std::weak_ptr<path::PathSet>
-      GetWeak() override
-      {
-        return weak_from_this();
-      }
-
       Address
       Addr() const;