diff --git a/TODO.FACTOR.txt b/TODO.FACTOR.txt
index 6e39f02e15..0896d4c971 100644
--- a/TODO.FACTOR.txt
+++ b/TODO.FACTOR.txt
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 + 0.87:
 
+- thrown_* vars are not gc roots
+- "ker" C+u: for a moment, full vocab list is shown
 - : foo \ each reload foo ; foo  eventually crashes
 - list usability
   - popup: -- close button
   - popup: -- pin button
 - some module operations don't work on module-links
 - modules: core/ libs/ apps/
-- xml: "</a>" string>xml miscompiles
 - top level window positioning on ms windows
 - scroll>rect broken if there are gadgets in between
 - completion is not ideal: eg, C+e "buttons"
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@
   - callback scheduling issue
   - httpd crash
   - fep when closing window
-  - : foo "ppc" make-image stdio get duplex-stream-out pane-stream-pane pane-clear foo ; foo
 - these things are "Too Slow":
   - all-words
   - make-image
diff --git a/vm/types.c b/vm/types.c
index 1d0320b6dc..277894136a 100644
--- a/vm/types.c
+++ b/vm/types.c
@@ -381,7 +381,11 @@ void update_xt(F_WORD* word)
 /* <word> ( name vocabulary -- word ) */
 F_WORD *allot_word(CELL vocab, CELL name)
 {
+	REGISTER_ROOT(vocab);
+	REGISTER_ROOT(name);
 	F_WORD *word = allot_object(WORD_TYPE,sizeof(F_WORD));
+	UNREGISTER_ROOT(name);
+	UNREGISTER_ROOT(vocab);
 	word->hashcode = tag_fixnum(rand());
 	word->vocabulary = vocab;
 	word->name = name;