diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as
index ce6f7d9fc..d0c08d082 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as
@@ -232,10 +232,9 @@ public class LocationDirector extends BasicDirector
     public function mayMoveTo (placeId :int, rl :ResultListener) :Boolean
     {
         var vetoed :Boolean = false;
-        _observers.apply(function (obs :Object) :Boolean {
+        _observers.apply(function (obs :Object) :void {
             var lobs :LocationObserver = (obs as LocationObserver);
             vetoed = vetoed || !lobs.locationMayChange(placeId);
-            return true;
         });
 
         // if we're actually going somewhere, let the controller know that
@@ -536,9 +535,8 @@ public class LocationDirector extends BasicDirector
 
     protected function notifyFailure (placeId :int, reason :String) :void
     {
-        _observers.apply(function (obs :Object) :Boolean {
+        _observers.apply(function (obs :Object) :void {
             (obs as LocationObserver).locationChangeFailed(placeId, reason);
-            return true;
         });
     }
 
@@ -582,10 +580,9 @@ public class LocationDirector extends BasicDirector
     protected var _moveListener :ResultListener;
 
     /** The operation used to inform observers that the location changed. */
-    protected var _didChangeOp :Function = function (obs :Object) :Boolean
+    protected var _didChangeOp :Function = function (obs :Object) :void
     {
         (obs as LocationObserver).locationDidChange(_plobj);
-        return true;
     };
 
     /** We require that a moveTo request be outstanding for one minute
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as
index 94533e029..e0d4c1d9e 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ public class Client extends EventDispatcher
     protected var _comm :Communicator;
 
     /** Our list of client observers. */
-    protected var _observers :ObserverList =
-        new ObserverList(ObserverList.SAFE_IN_ORDER_NOTIFY);
+//    protected var _observers :ObserverList =
+//        new ObserverList(ObserverList.SAFE_IN_ORDER_NOTIFY);
 
     /** General startup information provided by the server. */
     protected var _bstrap :BootstrapData;
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as
index a882762e9..f89f44313 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public class ObserverList
      */
     public function add (observer :Object) :void
     {
-        if (_list.indexOf(observer) == -1) {
+        if (!ArrayUtil.contains(_list, observer)) {
             _list.push(observer);
         }
     }
@@ -43,11 +43,9 @@ public class ObserverList
 
     /**
      * Apply some operation to all observers.
-     * The function to be passed in should expect one argument and return a
-     * Boolean.
-     * function (observer :Object) :Boolean.
-     * The function should return false if the observer should be removed
-     * from the list.
+     * The function to be passed in should expect one argument and either
+     * return void or a Boolean. If returning a Boolean, returning false
+     * indicates that the observer should be removed from the list.
      */
     public function apply (func :Function) :void
     {
@@ -58,8 +56,8 @@ public class ObserverList
         }
         for (var ii :int = list.length-1; ii >= 0; ii--) {
             try {
-                var result :Boolean = func(list[ii]);
-                if (!result) {
+                var result :* = func(list[ii]);
+                if (result !== undefined && !Boolean(result)) {
                     // remove it if directed to do so
                     remove(list[ii]);
                 }