diff --git a/src/obiskio/src/pool.rs b/src/obiskio/src/pool.rs
index 6b24aa1..85ce42c 100644
--- a/src/obiskio/src/pool.rs
+++ b/src/obiskio/src/pool.rs
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ impl SKFilePool {
     /// Ensure entry `id` has an open fd. Evicts LRU if at capacity.
     /// Must be called under pool lock.
     fn ensure_open(&mut self, id: usize) -> SKResult<()> {
-        if self.open.contains(&id) {
-            return Ok(());
+        if self.open.get(&id).is_some() {
+            return Ok(()); // promotes to MRU
         }
         if self.entries[id].logically_closed {
             return Err(std::io::Error::new(
@@ -272,27 +272,25 @@ impl SKFileWriter {
     /// Accumulate one SuperKmer. Drains to fd when `pending ≥ flush_threshold`.
     pub fn write(&mut self, sk: &SuperKmer) -> SKResult<()> {
         self.check_not_closed()?;
-        write_superkmer(&mut self.pending, sk)?;
-        self.meta.instances += 1;
-        self.meta.count_sum += sk.count() as u64;
-        self.meta.length_sum += sk.seql() as u64;
-        if self.pending.len() >= self.flush_threshold {
-            self.drain()?;
-        }
-        Ok(())
+        self.write_one(sk)
     }
 
     /// Accumulate a slice of SuperKmers, draining whenever the threshold is exceeded.
     pub fn write_batch(&mut self, sks: &[SuperKmer]) -> SKResult<()> {
         self.check_not_closed()?;
         for sk in sks {
-            write_superkmer(&mut self.pending, sk)?;
-            self.meta.instances += 1;
-            self.meta.count_sum += sk.count() as u64;
-            self.meta.length_sum += sk.seql() as u64;
-            if self.pending.len() >= self.flush_threshold {
-                self.drain()?;
-            }
+            self.write_one(sk)?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn write_one(&mut self, sk: &SuperKmer) -> SKResult<()> {
+        write_superkmer(&mut self.pending, sk)?;
+        self.meta.instances += 1;
+        self.meta.count_sum += sk.count() as u64;
+        self.meta.length_sum += sk.seql() as u64;
+        if self.pending.len() >= self.flush_threshold {
+            self.drain()?;
         }
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -308,7 +306,6 @@ impl SKFileWriter {
         {
             let mut pool = self.pool.lock().unwrap();
             pool.ensure_open(self.id)?;
-            let _ = pool.open.get(&self.id);
             fd_arc = Arc::clone(&pool.entries[self.id].fd);
             fd_guard = fd_arc.lock().unwrap(); // acquire fd lock under pool lock
             // pool drops here → pool lock released, fd lock still held
@@ -390,7 +387,7 @@ impl SKFileWriter {
     /// Drain pending bytes to the fd (no compressor flush).
     ///
     /// Two-phase locking:
-    /// 1. Pool lock → ensure_open → promote MRU → acquire entry fd lock (under pool lock).
+    /// 1. Pool lock → ensure_open (promotes to MRU) → acquire entry fd lock (under pool lock).
     /// 2. Release pool lock. Write pending under entry fd lock only.
     ///
     /// Holding fd lock while releasing pool lock prevents eviction of our entry
@@ -402,7 +399,6 @@ impl SKFileWriter {
         {
             let mut pool = self.pool.lock().unwrap();
             pool.ensure_open(self.id)?;
-            let _ = pool.open.get(&self.id); // promote to MRU
             fd_arc = Arc::clone(&pool.entries[self.id].fd);
             fd_guard = fd_arc.lock().unwrap(); // acquire fd lock under pool lock
             // pool drops here → pool lock released, fd lock still held