diff --git a/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/AuditLogger.java b/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/AuditLogger.java
index e469df58..684e1df4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/AuditLogger.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/AuditLogger.java
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ public class AuditLogger
     }
 
     /** The interval that rolls over the log file. */
-    protected Interval _rollover = new Interval() {
+    protected Interval _rollover = new Interval(Interval.RUN_DIRECT) {
         @Override public void expired () {
             checkRollOver();
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/SerialExecutor.java b/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/SerialExecutor.java
index 7045d48f..58881d64 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/SerialExecutor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/samskivert/util/SerialExecutor.java
@@ -135,9 +135,8 @@ public class SerialExecutor
             final ExecutorThread thread = new ExecutorThread(task);
             thread.start();
 
-            // start up a timer that will abort this thread after the specified
-            // timeout
-            new Interval() {
+            // start up a timer that will abort this thread after the specified timeout
+            new Interval(Interval.RUN_DIRECT) {
                 @Override public void expired () {
                     // this will NOOP if the task has already completed
                     thread.abort();