diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationProvider.java
index 9226106cb..9c1e896a5 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationProvider.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: LocationProvider.java,v 1.19 2003/02/26 17:54:56 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: LocationProvider.java,v 1.20 2003/07/16 18:03:30 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.crowd.server;
 
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@ public class LocationProvider
             PlaceObject pold = (PlaceObject)_omgr.getObject(oldloc);
             if (pold != null) {
                 Integer key = new Integer(bodoid);
+                pold.startTransaction();
                 try {
-                    pold.startTransaction();
                     // remove their occupant info (which is keyed on oid)
                     pold.removeFromOccupantInfo(key);
                     // and remove them from the occupant list
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/GameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/GameManager.java
index 7e1c54428..bc15bd4d8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/GameManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/GameManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: GameManager.java,v 1.66 2003/06/29 23:11:23 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: GameManager.java,v 1.67 2003/07/16 18:03:30 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.parlor.game;
 
@@ -659,8 +659,8 @@ public class GameManager extends PlaceManager
             return;
         }
 
+        _gameobj.startTransaction();
         try {
-            _gameobj.startTransaction();
 
             // let the derived class do its pre-end stuff
             gameWillEnd();
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/InvocationDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/InvocationDirector.java
index c4be97444..b6daf635c 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/InvocationDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/client/InvocationDirector.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: InvocationDirector.java,v 1.28 2003/07/12 22:34:03 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: InvocationDirector.java,v 1.29 2003/07/16 18:03:30 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.presents.client;
 
@@ -335,8 +335,8 @@ public class InvocationDirector
                 _clobj.addListener(InvocationDirector.this);
 
                 // reregister our receivers
+                _clobj.startTransaction();
                 try {
-                    _clobj.startTransaction();
                     Iterator iter = receivers.entries();
                     while (iter.hasNext()) {
                         _clobj.addToReceivers((Registration)iter.next());
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
index e14214295..a8975a43f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SpotSceneManager.java,v 1.41 2003/06/03 21:41:33 ray Exp $
+// $Id: SpotSceneManager.java,v 1.42 2003/07/16 18:03:30 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.whirled.spot.server;
 
@@ -423,20 +423,23 @@ public class SpotSceneManager extends SceneManager
             removeFromCluster(body.getOid());
 
             put(body.getOid(), body);
+            _ssobj.startTransaction();
             try {
                 body.startTransaction();
-                _ssobj.startTransaction();
-                bodyAdded(this, body); // do the hokey pokey
+                try {
+                    bodyAdded(this, body); // do the hokey pokey
 
-                if (_clobj != null) {
-                    ((ClusteredBodyObject)body).setClusterOid(
-                        _clobj.getOid());
-                    _clobj.addToOccupants(body.getOid());
-                    _ssobj.updateClusters(_cluster);
+                    if (_clobj != null) {
+                        ((ClusteredBodyObject)body).setClusterOid(
+                            _clobj.getOid());
+                        _clobj.addToOccupants(body.getOid());
+                        _ssobj.updateClusters(_cluster);
+                    }
+
+                } finally {
+                    body.commitTransaction();
                 }
-
             } finally {
-                body.commitTransaction();
                 _ssobj.commitTransaction();
             }
 
@@ -454,19 +457,22 @@ public class SpotSceneManager extends SceneManager
                 return;
             }
 
+            body.startTransaction();
             try {
-                body.startTransaction();
                 _ssobj.startTransaction();
-                ((ClusteredBodyObject)body).setClusterOid(-1);
-                bodyRemoved(this, body); // do the hokey pokey
+                try {
+                    ((ClusteredBodyObject)body).setClusterOid(-1);
+                    bodyRemoved(this, body); // do the hokey pokey
 
-                if (_clobj != null) {
-                    _clobj.removeFromOccupants(bodyOid);
-                    _ssobj.updateClusters(_cluster);
+                    if (_clobj != null) {
+                        _clobj.removeFromOccupants(bodyOid);
+                        _ssobj.updateClusters(_cluster);
+                    }
+
+                } finally {
+                    _ssobj.commitTransaction();
                 }
-
             } finally {
-                _ssobj.commitTransaction();
                 body.commitTransaction();
             }