diff --git a/src/reader2/DDefineSsm.cpp b/src/reader2/DDefineSsm.cpp
index 78e29250..aae07b90 100644
--- a/src/reader2/DDefineSsm.cpp
+++ b/src/reader2/DDefineSsm.cpp
@@ -678,6 +678,8 @@ namespace xo {
             Super::on_parsed_expression_with_token(expr, tk, p_psm);
         }
 
+        // ----- printable facet -----
+
         bool
         DDefineSsm::pretty(const ppindentinfo & ppii) const
         {
diff --git a/src/reader2/ParserStateMachine.cpp b/src/reader2/ParserStateMachine.cpp
index 1223abe2..0b2367ad 100644
--- a/src/reader2/ParserStateMachine.cpp
+++ b/src/reader2/ParserStateMachine.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 #include "ParserStateMachine.hpp"
 #include "ParserStack.hpp"
 #include "SyntaxStateMachine.hpp"
+#include "ToplevelSeqSsm.hpp"
+#include "DefineSsm.hpp"
 #include <xo/object2/array/IPrintable_DArray.hpp>
 #include <xo/printable2/Printable.hpp>
 #include <xo/alloc2/arena/IAllocator_DArena.hpp>
@@ -39,16 +41,52 @@ namespace xo {
         bool
         ParserStateMachine::is_at_toplevel() const noexcept
         {
-            return ((stack_ == nullptr)
-                    || (stack_->parent() == nullptr));
+            /* top-level alwyas has DToplevelSeqSsm */
+
+            ParserStack * s = stack_;
+
+            if (s) {
+                auto def = obj<ASyntaxStateMachine,DDefineSsm>::from(s->top());
+
+                if (def) {
+                    /* carve-out for top-level DefineSsm: report 'at top-level' when
+                     * that top-level DefineSsm is on the stack, so we detect
+                     * this condition inside DefineSsm's event handling
+                     */
+                    s = stack_->parent();
+                }
+
+                if (s && s->parent() == nullptr) {
+                    auto top = obj<ASyntaxStateMachine,DToplevelSeqSsm>::from(s->top());
+
+                    return top;
+                }
+            } else {
+                /** this isn't a normal operating state, still need a batch/interactive toplevel seq.
+                 *  just the same seems better to call it top-level
+                 **/
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            return false;
         }
 
         bool
         ParserStateMachine::has_incomplete_expr() const noexcept
         {
+            scope log(XO_DEBUG(debug_flag_));
+
             // don't count toplevel expression
 
-            return !(this->is_at_toplevel());
+            ParserStack * s = stack_;
+
+            if (s) {
+                auto top = obj<ASyntaxStateMachine,DToplevelSeqSsm>::from(s->top());
+
+                return !top;
+            } else {
+                return false;
+            }
         }
 
         obj<ASyntaxStateMachine>
diff --git a/src/reader2/SchematikaParser.cpp b/src/reader2/SchematikaParser.cpp
index 9272cfc2..1bb188cb 100644
--- a/src/reader2/SchematikaParser.cpp
+++ b/src/reader2/SchematikaParser.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace xo {
         bool
         SchematikaParser::has_incomplete_expr() const
         {
-            return !(this->is_at_toplevel());
+            return psm_.has_incomplete_expr();
         }
 
         obj<ASyntaxStateMachine>
diff --git a/utest/SchematikaParser.test.cpp b/utest/SchematikaParser.test.cpp
index a0557fa6..665342dc 100644
--- a/utest/SchematikaParser.test.cpp
+++ b/utest/SchematikaParser.test.cpp
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ namespace xo {
         {
             const auto & testname = Catch::getResultCapture().getCurrentTestName();
 
-            constexpr bool c_debug_flag = false;
+            constexpr bool c_debug_flag = true;
             scope log(XO_DEBUG(c_debug_flag), xtag("test", testname));
 
             ParserFixture fixture(testname, c_debug_flag);