diff --git a/connection_state.go b/connection_state.go
index 789e2c20..41328934 100644
--- a/connection_state.go
+++ b/connection_state.go
@@ -14,14 +14,12 @@ import (
 
 const ReplayWindow = 8192
 
-// sessionEpoch hands out a receiver-local ordinal to every ConnectionState as
-// it is created. The RX staging sort (overlay/batch) orders packets by
-// (epoch, message counter). A re-handshake never rekeys an existing tunnel; it
-// brings up a whole new hostinfo (and ConnectionState) with its own counter
-// space starting near zero, while the old tunnel keeps decrypting in-flight
-// packets until it is torn down. During that cutover one flush batch can hold
-// packets from both tunnels, and the epoch is what keeps the old tunnel's
-// packets sorted ahead of the new tunnel's.
+// sessionEpoch hands out a receiver-local ordinal to every ConnectionState at creation. The RX
+// staging sort (overlay/batch) orders packets by (epoch, message counter). A re-handshake never
+// rekeys an existing tunnel; it brings up a new hostinfo and ConnectionState with a counter space
+// starting near zero, while the old tunnel keeps decrypting until torn down. During that cutover
+// one flush batch can hold packets from both tunnels, and the epoch keeps the old tunnel's
+// packets sorted first.
 var sessionEpoch atomic.Uint64
 
 type ConnectionState struct {
diff --git a/control_lifecycle_test.go b/control_lifecycle_test.go
index 1eef98c8..a9f5323f 100644
--- a/control_lifecycle_test.go
+++ b/control_lifecycle_test.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func newReadyControl(t *testing.T) (*Control, *fakeDevice, *fakeConn) {
 		inside:     dev,
 		outside:    conn,
 		writers:    []udp.Conn{conn},
-		batchers:   make([]batch.RxBatcher, 1),
+		batchers:   make([]*batch.MultiCoalescer, 1),
 		routines:   1,
 		hostMap:    newHostMap(l),
 		lightHouse: lh,
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func TestControl_StartMultiqueueFailureReleases(t *testing.T) {
 		inside:   dev,
 		outside:  conn,
 		writers:  []udp.Conn{conn},
-		batchers: make([]batch.RxBatcher, 2),
+		batchers: make([]*batch.MultiCoalescer, 2),
 		routines: 2,
 		l:        test.NewLogger(),
 	}
diff --git a/interface.go b/interface.go
index a6c512bf..f384565a 100644
--- a/interface.go
+++ b/interface.go
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ type Interface struct {
 	writers []udp.Conn
 	queues  []tio.Queue
 	// batchers is one per tun queue, wrapping queues[i]. readOutsidePackets
-	// commits plaintext into the batch.RxBatcher; the plaintext is decrypted
+	// commits plaintext into the batcher; the plaintext is decrypted
 	// in place inside the UDP receive buffers, so listenOut must call Flush
 	// at the end of each UDP recvmmsg batch, before those buffers are
 	// reused (every udp.Conn ListenOut guarantees that ordering).
-	batchers []batch.RxBatcher
+	batchers []*batch.MultiCoalescer
 	wg       sync.WaitGroup
 
 	// fatalErr holds the first unexpected reader error that caused shutdown.
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		routines:              c.routines,
 		version:               c.version,
 		writers:               make([]udp.Conn, c.routines),
-		batchers:              make([]batch.RxBatcher, c.routines),
+		batchers:              make([]*batch.MultiCoalescer, c.routines),
 		myVpnNetworks:         cs.myVpnNetworks,
 		myVpnNetworksTable:    cs.myVpnNetworksTable,
 		myVpnAddrs:            cs.myVpnAddrs,
diff --git a/outside.go b/outside.go
index 378558d6..442e4ecd 100644
--- a/outside.go
+++ b/outside.go
@@ -316,8 +316,8 @@ var (
 
 // newPacket validates and parses the interesting bits for the firewall out of the ip and sub protocol headers
 func newPacket(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
-	// fp is reused across packets; reset the parse byproducts here so a
-	// parser's early-error return can't leak the previous packet's offsets.
+	// fp is reused across packets; reset the parse byproducts so an early-error return cannot
+	// leak the previous packet's offsets.
 	fp.IPHdrLen = 0
 	fp.FragAny = false
 	if len(data) < 1 {
@@ -389,8 +389,8 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
 			}
 
 			fp.Protocol = uint8(proto)
-			// offset is the L4 header start: 40 for a plain packet, past the
-			// extension chain otherwise. The coalescer only accepts 40.
+			// offset is the L4 header start: 40 for a plain packet, past the extension chain
+			// otherwise. The coalescer only accepts 40.
 			fp.IPHdrLen = offset
 			if incoming {
 				fp.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset : offset+2])
@@ -409,8 +409,7 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
 				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 			}
 
-			// Either way this packet is a fragment shape the coalescer must
-			// not touch, first fragment included.
+			// A fragment shape the coalescer must not touch either way, first fragment included.
 			fp.FragAny = true
 
 			// Check if this is the first fragment
@@ -471,8 +470,8 @@ func parseV4(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
 	// Check if this is the second or further fragment of a fragmented packet.
 	flagsfrags := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[6:8])
 	fp.Fragment = (flagsfrags & 0x1FFF) != 0
-	// Any fragmentation at all (MF or offset): first fragments have readable
-	// ports for the firewall but must never be coalesced.
+	// Any fragmentation at all (MF or offset): first fragments have readable ports for the
+	// firewall but must never be coalesced.
 	fp.FragAny = (flagsfrags & 0x3fff) != 0
 	fp.IPHdrLen = ihl
 
diff --git a/overlay/batch/batch.go b/overlay/batch/batch.go
index 81c21011..be6b844d 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/batch.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/batch.go
@@ -1,36 +1,11 @@
 package batch
 
-import "github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
-
 // SortKey identifies a packet's position in its sender's transmission order.
-// Epoch is a receiver-local ordinal for the tunnel (ConnectionState) that
-// decrypted the packet. A re-handshake replaces the tunnel outright — new
-// hostinfo, new keys, a fresh counter space — and the replacement's epoch is
-// higher, so during the cutover overlap the old tunnel's packets sort first.
-// Counter is the packet's AEAD message counter within that tunnel. The replay
-// window has already rejected duplicates by Commit time, so keys are unique
-// per tunnel and (Epoch, Counter) is a total order with no ties.
+// Epoch is a receiver-local ordinal for the tunnel (ConnectionState) that decrypted the packet:
+// a re-handshake replaces the tunnel outright and the replacement's epoch is higher,
+// so the old tunnel's packets sort first during the cutover overlap.
+// Counter is the packet's AEAD message counter within that tunnel.
 type SortKey struct {
 	Epoch   uint64
 	Counter uint64
 }
-
-type RxBatcher interface {
-	// Commit stages pkt to be flushed by the batch. key must carry the
-	// packet's session epoch and message counter; pp must be the firewall's
-	// parse of this same packet. The caller must keep pkt valid until the
-	// next Flush, and not re-use it. pp, by contrast, is borrowed only for
-	// the duration of the call — the caller reuses one ParsedPacket per
-	// receive loop — so implementations must copy what they need from it.
-	Commit(pkt []byte, key SortKey, pp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error
-	// Flush emits every staged packet. Packets are first sorted by key, so
-	// within each protocol lane emission follows the sender's transmission
-	// order regardless of arrival order. One shape may legally be overtaken
-	// by later same-flow data: a pure TCP ACK, which does not close its
-	// flow's open coalesce chain (a late ACK is just a stale ACK). Cross-lane
-	// order (TCP vs UDP vs everything else) is not preserved.
-	// Returns the first error observed; keeps draining so one bad packet
-	// doesn't hold up the rest.
-	// After Flush returns, committed payload slices may be recycled.
-	Flush() error
-}
diff --git a/overlay/batch/coalesce_core.go b/overlay/batch/coalesce_core.go
index b0c00a81..a78623e5 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/coalesce_core.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/coalesce_core.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ type flowKey struct {
 // so this matches a typical carrier-side recvmmsg batch on the UDP socket.
 const initialSlots = 64
 
-// parsedIP is the IP-level result of parseIPPrologue.
+// parsedIP is the IP-level result of the prologue parsers.
 // The caller layers L4-specific parsing (TCP / UDP) on top.
 type parsedIP struct {
 	fk       flowKey
@@ -31,46 +31,11 @@ type parsedIP struct {
 	pkt []byte
 }
 
-// parseIPPrologue extracts the IP-level fields the coalescers care about:
-// IHL/payload length, version, src/dst addresses, and the L4 protocol byte.
-// Returns ok=false for malformed input, IPv4 with options or fragmentation,
-// or IPv6 with extension headers (all rejected by both coalescers in
-// identical ways before this refactor).
-//
-// On success, p.pkt is len-trimmed to the IP-declared length so callers
-// don't have to repeat the trim. wantProto is the IANA protocol number to
-// require (6 for TCP, 17 for UDP); ok=false for any other value.
-// This is the standalone-lane-Commit entry; the dispatcher path uses
-// parseIPAt, where the protocol was already resolved upstream.
-func parseIPPrologue(pkt []byte, wantProto byte) (parsedIP, bool) {
-	var p parsedIP
-	if len(pkt) < 20 {
-		return p, false
-	}
-	switch pkt[0] >> 4 {
-	case 4:
-		if pkt[9] != wantProto {
-			return p, false
-		}
-		return parseIPv4Prologue(pkt)
-	case 6:
-		if len(pkt) < 40 {
-			return p, false
-		}
-		if pkt[6] != wantProto {
-			return p, false
-		}
-		return parseIPv6Prologue(pkt)
-	}
-	return p, false
-}
-
-// parseIPAt is the dispatcher-path prologue: newPacket already resolved the
-// L4 protocol and header offset once for the firewall, so the proto sniff is
-// replaced by a cross-check of the caller's ipHdrLen. A plain header (v4:
-// IHL 20, v6: exactly 40 — no options, no extension headers) is the only
-// coalesceable shape, which is the same rule parseIPPrologue enforces
-// through its own reads.
+// parseIPAt validates the IP header for lane parsing. newPacket already resolved the L4 protocol
+// and offset for the firewall, so there is no proto sniff here; the caller's ipHdrLen is
+// cross-checked instead. A plain header (v4 IHL 20, v6 exactly 40) is the only coalesceable
+// shape. The v6 check is load-bearing: it rejects extension-header packets whose L4 is not at
+// byte 40. On success p.pkt is trimmed to the IP-declared length.
 func parseIPAt(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) (parsedIP, bool) {
 	var p parsedIP
 	if len(pkt) < 20 {
@@ -91,18 +56,16 @@ func parseIPAt(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) (parsedIP, bool) {
 	return p, false
 }
 
-// parseIPv4Prologue is the shared IPv4 tail of the two prologue entries.
-// The caller has verified len(pkt) >= 20 and either the protocol
-// (parseIPPrologue) or the upstream-resolved header length (parseIPAt).
+// parseIPv4Prologue is the shared IPv4 tail of the prologue entries; the
+// caller has verified len(pkt) >= 20 and the version.
 func parseIPv4Prologue(pkt []byte) (parsedIP, bool) {
 	var p parsedIP
 	ihl := int(pkt[0]&0x0f) * 4
 	if ihl != 20 {
 		return p, false
 	}
-	// Reject actual fragmentation (MF or non-zero frag offset). On the
-	// dispatcher path FragAny was already gated; kept as defense in depth —
-	// a fragment folded into a superpacket would corrupt reassembly.
+	// Reject any fragmentation (MF or nonzero offset). The dispatcher already gated FragAny; kept
+	// as defense in depth, since a fragment folded into a superpacket would corrupt reassembly.
 	if binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[6:8])&0x3fff != 0 {
 		return p, false
 	}
@@ -118,8 +81,8 @@ func parseIPv4Prologue(pkt []byte) (parsedIP, bool) {
 	return p, true
 }
 
-// parseIPv6Prologue is the shared IPv6 tail; caller has verified
-// len(pkt) >= 40 and version/proto-or-offset.
+// parseIPv6Prologue is the shared IPv6 tail; the caller has verified
+// len(pkt) >= 40, the version, and that the L4 header sits at byte 40.
 func parseIPv6Prologue(pkt []byte) (parsedIP, bool) {
 	var p parsedIP
 	payloadLen := int(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[4:6]))
diff --git a/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce.go b/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce.go
index 26781b42..8a33d9c4 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package batch
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"log/slog"
@@ -9,47 +10,34 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 )
 
-// MultiCoalescer stages plaintext packets with their (epoch, counter) sort
-// keys, and at Flush replays them in sender-transmission order into
-// lane-specific batchers selected by the IP/L4 protocol of the packet.
+// MultiCoalescer stages plaintext packets with their (epoch, counter) sort keys and, at Flush,
+// replays them in sender-transmission order into lane-specific batchers selected by L4 protocol.
 //
-// Sorting *before* the lanes see anything is what makes the ordering story
-// simple: each lane consumes packets in transmission order, builds its slots
-// in that order, and emits them in creation order. Wire reorder inside a
-// flush batch is repaired here, before it can fragment a lane's coalesce
-// chains, so the lanes carry no reorder-repair machinery of their own.
+// Sorting before dispatch keeps the ordering story simple: each lane consumes packets in
+// transmission order, builds slots in that order, and emits them in creation order. Wire reorder
+// inside a flush batch is repaired here, before it can fragment a lane's coalesce chains, so the
+// lanes carry no reorder-repair machinery.
 //
-// The ordering contract is per-tunnel transmission order within each lane:
-// a sender's packets are emitted in the order it encrypted them. Two
-// qualifications:
-//   - a pure TCP ACK may be overtaken by later same-flow data, because it
-//     does not close the flow's open coalesce chain (a late ACK is just a
-//     stale ACK; see TCPCoalescer.commitParsed);
-//   - an unparseable shape (fragment, IP options) seals every open chain in
-//     its lane — its flow is unknowable, so this is the only way to keep
-//     later data from extending a chain that would emit ahead of it. The
-//     packet then rides its lane as an in-lane passthrough, still in
-//     transmission order.
+// The contract is per-tunnel transmission order within each lane, with two exceptions: a pure TCP
+// ACK may be overtaken by later same-flow data (it does not close the flow's open chain; a late
+// ACK is just a stale ACK), and an unparseable shape seals every open chain in its lane (its flow
+// is unknown) and rides the lane as an in-lane verbatim, still in transmission order. Routing
+// follows the flow: a flow's non-coalesceable shapes ride its protocol lane rather than falling
+// to the later-flushed pt lane.
 //
-// Routing follows the flow, not the coalesceability: IPv4 fragments keep
-// their L4 proto visible and IPv6 extension chains are walked to the
-// terminal proto, so a flow's non-coalesceable shapes ride its lane rather
-// than falling to the later-flushed pt lane.
-//
-// Cross-lane order is intentionally NOT preserved across the TCP/UDP/verbatim split.
+// Cross-lane order (TCP vs UDP vs everything else) is not preserved.
 type MultiCoalescer struct {
 	tcp *TCPCoalescer
 	udp *UDPCoalescer
 	pt  *Passthrough
 
-	// staged holds this batch's packets and sort keys until Flush. Borrowed:
-	// the caller keeps each pkt alive until Flush returns.
+	// staged holds this batch's packets and sort keys until Flush. Borrowed: the caller keeps
+	// each pkt alive until Flush returns.
 	staged []stagedPacket
 }
 
-// stagedPacket also carries the scalars dispatch needs from the firewall's
-// ParsedPacket: pp itself is reused by the caller per packet and must not be
-// retained past Commit, so the relevant fields are copied by value here.
+// stagedPacket carries the scalars dispatch needs from the firewall's ParsedPacket, copied by
+// value: pp is reused by the caller per packet and must not be retained past Commit.
 type stagedPacket struct {
 	pkt      []byte
 	key      SortKey
@@ -58,10 +46,10 @@ type stagedPacket struct {
 	ipHdrLen uint16
 }
 
-// NewMultiCoalescer builds a multi-lane batcher over w, based on available
-// protocol support. The staging sort applies even when no GSO lane is
-// available: passthrough-only platforms still get transmission-order repair.
-func NewMultiCoalescer(w io.Writer, l *slog.Logger) RxBatcher {
+// NewMultiCoalescer builds a multi-lane batcher over w, based on available protocol support. The
+// staging sort applies even when no GSO lane is available: passthrough-only platforms still get
+// transmission-order repair.
+func NewMultiCoalescer(w io.Writer, l *slog.Logger) *MultiCoalescer {
 	m := &MultiCoalescer{
 		pt:     NewPassthrough(w),
 		staged: make([]stagedPacket, 0, initialSlots),
@@ -71,10 +59,10 @@ func NewMultiCoalescer(w io.Writer, l *slog.Logger) RxBatcher {
 	return m
 }
 
-// Commit stages pkt for the next Flush. All lane dispatch is deferred to
-// Flush so it runs on packets already in transmission order. pp is the
-// firewall's parse of pkt — the single source of truth for the packet's
-// protocol and L4 offset — and is only borrowed for this call.
+// Commit stages pkt for the next Flush; dispatch is deferred so it runs on packets already in
+// transmission order. key carries the packet's tunnel epoch and message counter. pkt is borrowed:
+// the caller must keep it valid until the next Flush and not re-use it. pp is the firewall's
+// parse of pkt and is borrowed only for this call, so the fields dispatch needs are copied here.
 func (m *MultiCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte, key SortKey, pp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
 	m.staged = append(m.staged, stagedPacket{
 		pkt:      pkt,
@@ -86,24 +74,12 @@ func (m *MultiCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte, key SortKey, pp *firewall.ParsedPack
 	return nil
 }
 
-// compareStaged orders staged packets by (epoch, counter): sender
-// transmission order within a tunnel, tunnel-creation order across a
-// re-handshake cutover. Keys are unique (see SortKey), so this is a total
-// order and sort stability doesn't matter.
+// compareStaged orders staged packets by (epoch, counter)
 func compareStaged(a, b stagedPacket) int {
-	if a.key.Epoch != b.key.Epoch {
-		if a.key.Epoch < b.key.Epoch {
-			return -1
-		}
-		return 1
+	if c := cmp.Compare(a.key.Epoch, b.key.Epoch); c != 0 {
+		return c
 	}
-	if a.key.Counter == b.key.Counter {
-		return 0
-	}
-	if a.key.Counter < b.key.Counter {
-		return -1
-	}
-	return 1
+	return cmp.Compare(a.key.Counter, b.key.Counter)
 }
 
 // dispatch routes one staged packet to its lane.
@@ -145,11 +121,12 @@ func (m *MultiCoalescer) dispatch(sp stagedPacket) error {
 	return m.pt.enqueue(sp.pkt)
 }
 
-// Flush sorts the staged batch into transmission order, replays it into the
-// lanes, then flushes each lane.
+// Flush sorts the staged batch into transmission order, replays it into the lanes, then flushes each lane.
+// Drains everything and returns the joined errors; one bad packet does not hold up the rest.
+// After Flush returns, committed payload slices may be recycled.
 func (m *MultiCoalescer) Flush() error {
-	// Arrival order is already almost sorted (reorder is the exception, not
-	// the rule), which pdqsort detects and handles in near-linear time.
+	// Arrival order is already almost sorted (reorder is the exception), which pdqsort detects
+	// and handles in near-linear time.
 	slices.SortFunc(m.staged, compareStaged)
 
 	var errs []error
diff --git a/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce_test.go b/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce_test.go
index 416c24a0..c40b739a 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce_test.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/multi_coalesce_test.go
@@ -21,16 +21,10 @@ func (k *keySeq) next() SortKey {
 	return SortKey{Epoch: k.epoch, Counter: k.counter}
 }
 
-// newTestMultiCoalescer builds a batcher over w and asserts the concrete
-// type so tests can reach into the lanes.
+// newTestMultiCoalescer builds a batcher over w.
 func newTestMultiCoalescer(tb testing.TB, w io.Writer) *MultiCoalescer {
 	tb.Helper()
-	b := NewMultiCoalescer(w, test.NewLogger())
-	m, ok := b.(*MultiCoalescer)
-	if !ok {
-		tb.Fatalf("want a *MultiCoalescer, got %T", b)
-	}
-	return m
+	return NewMultiCoalescer(w, test.NewLogger())
 }
 
 // TestMultiCoalescerRoutesByProto confirms TCP/UDP/other land in the right
diff --git a/overlay/batch/passthrough.go b/overlay/batch/passthrough.go
index 7bf8d5c0..3d3fc4de 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/passthrough.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/passthrough.go
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@ package batch
 
 import (
 	"io"
-
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 )
 
-// Passthrough is a RxBatcher that doesn't batch anything, it just accumulates and then sends packets.
+// Passthrough is MultiCoalescer's verbatim lane: no batching, packets are written at Flush in the
+// order enqueued.
 type Passthrough struct {
 	out   io.Writer
 	slots [][]byte
@@ -19,12 +18,7 @@ func NewPassthrough(w io.Writer) *Passthrough {
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *Passthrough) Commit(pkt []byte, _ SortKey, _ *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
-	return p.enqueue(pkt)
-}
-
-// enqueue is the lane-facing half of Commit: MultiCoalescer.dispatch hands
-// packets here already sorted into transmission order.
+// enqueue accepts one packet, already sorted into transmission order by dispatch.
 func (p *Passthrough) enqueue(pkt []byte) error {
 	p.slots = append(p.slots, pkt)
 	return nil
diff --git a/overlay/batch/tcp_coalesce.go b/overlay/batch/tcp_coalesce.go
index d0fc756b..845b8096 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/tcp_coalesce.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/tcp_coalesce.go
@@ -26,24 +26,21 @@ const tcpCoalesceMaxSegs = 64
 // into. IPv6 (40) + TCP with full options (60) = 100 bytes.
 const tcpCoalesceHdrCap = 100
 
-// coalesceSlot is one entry in the coalescer's ordered event queue.
-// When verbatim is true the slot holds a single borrowed packet that is
-// emitted as-is (pure ACK, non-admissible TCP, unparseable, or oversize seed).
-// When verbatim is false the slot is an in-progress coalesced superpacket.
-// hdrBuf is a mutable copy of the seed's IP+TCP header, populated on the
-// first append (we patch total length and pseudo-header partial at flush;
-// a slot that never grows flushes from rawPkt and never touches hdrBuf)
-// payIovs are *borrowed* slices from the caller's plaintext buffers.
-// The caller (listenOut) must keep those buffers alive until Flush.
+// coalesceSlot is one entry in the coalescer's ordered event queue. A verbatim slot holds a single
+// borrowed packet emitted as-is (pure ACK, non-admissible TCP, unparseable, or oversize seed); a
+// non-verbatim slot is an in-progress coalesced superpacket. payIovs are borrowed slices of the
+// caller's plaintext buffers; the caller must keep them alive until Flush.
 type coalesceSlot struct {
 	verbatim bool
-	// rawPkt is borrowed: the whole packet for verbatim slots, the seed
-	// packet for coalesce slots. A coalesce slot that never grows past one
-	// segment is emitted from rawPkt so its original (already valid) L4
-	// checksum ships DATA_VALID instead of making the kernel recompute it.
+	// rawPkt is borrowed: the whole packet for verbatim slots, the seed packet for coalesce
+	// slots. A slot that never grows past one segment is emitted from rawPkt so its original
+	// (already valid) L4 checksum ships DATA_VALID instead of making the kernel recompute it.
 	rawPkt []byte
 
-	fk       flowKey
+	fk flowKey
+	// hdrBuf is a mutable copy of the seed's IP+TCP header, populated on the first append. Total
+	// length and the pseudo-header checksum partial are patched at flush. A slot that never grows
+	// flushes from rawPkt and never touches hdrBuf.
 	hdrBuf   [tcpCoalesceHdrCap]byte
 	hdrLen   int
 	ipHdrLen int
@@ -55,24 +52,20 @@ type coalesceSlot struct {
 	payIovs  [][]byte
 }
 
-// TCPCoalescer accumulates adjacent in-flow TCP data segments across multiple concurrent flows
-// and emits each flow's run as a single TSO superpacket via tio.GSOWriter.
-// It expects its input in sender-transmission order (MultiCoalescer sorts the
-// staged batch by (epoch, counter) before dispatching here) and emits slots in
-// creation order, which therefore reproduces transmission order — modulo the
-// pure-ACK allowance in commitParsed.
-// Owns no locks; one coalescer per TUN write queue.
+// TCPCoalescer accumulates adjacent in-flow TCP data segments across multiple concurrent flows and
+// emits each flow's run as a single TSO superpacket via tio.GSOWriter. Input must be in sender
+// transmission order (MultiCoalescer sorts by (epoch, counter) before dispatch); slots are emitted
+// in creation order, so emission reproduces transmission order except for the pure-ACK case in
+// commitParsed. Owns no locks; one coalescer per TUN write queue.
 type TCPCoalescer struct {
 	w tio.GSOWriter
 
 	// slots is the ordered event queue. Flush walks it once and emits each
 	// entry as either a WriteGSO (coalesced) or a w.Write (verbatim).
 	slots []*coalesceSlot
-	// openSlots maps a flow key to its still-open slot, so new segments can
-	// extend an in-progress superpacket in O(1). Membership here is what
-	// keeps a chain extendable: slots are removed when they close (PSH or
-	// short-last-segment), when a non-admissible packet for that flow
-	// arrives, or in Flush.
+	// openSlots maps a flow key to its open slot so new segments can extend an in-progress
+	// superpacket in O(1). Removal is what closes a chain: on PSH or a short last segment, on a
+	// non-admissible packet for the flow, or in Flush.
 	openSlots map[flowKey]*coalesceSlot
 	// lastSlot caches the most recently touched open slot. Bulk traffic
 	// arrives in same-flow runs (single-flow steady state, or GRO bursts
@@ -104,28 +97,17 @@ func NewTCPCoalescer(w io.Writer, l *slog.Logger) *TCPCoalescer {
 // parsedTCP holds the fields extracted from a single parse so later steps
 // (admission, slot lookup, canAppend) don't re-walk the header.
 type parsedTCP struct {
-	fk        flowKey
-	ipHdrLen  int
-	tcpHdrLen int
-	hdrLen    int
-	payLen    int
-	seq       uint32
-	flags     byte
+	fk       flowKey
+	ipHdrLen int
+	hdrLen   int
+	payLen   int
+	seq      uint32
+	flags    byte
 }
 
-// parseTCPBase extracts the flow key and IP/TCP offsets for any TCP packet,
-// regardless of whether it's admissible for coalescing. Returns ok=false for non-TCP or malformed input.
-// Accepts IPv4 (no options or fragmentation) and IPv6 (no extension headers).
-func parseTCPBase(pkt []byte) (parsedTCP, bool) {
-	ip, ok := parseIPPrologue(pkt, ipProtoTCP)
-	if !ok {
-		return parsedTCP{}, false
-	}
-	return parseTCPTail(ip)
-}
-
-// parseTCPAt is parseTCPBase for the dispatcher path: the packet is already
-// known to be TCP and ipHdrLen is the upstream-resolved L4 offset (see parseIPAt).
+// parseTCPAt extracts the flow key and IP/TCP offsets for a packet the dispatcher already knows is
+// TCP; ipHdrLen is the upstream-resolved L4 offset (see parseIPAt). Returns ok=false for malformed
+// input or any shape that must not coalesce (IPv4 options/fragmentation, IPv6 extension headers).
 func parseTCPAt(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) (parsedTCP, bool) {
 	ip, ok := parseIPAt(pkt, ipHdrLen)
 	if !ok {
@@ -151,7 +133,6 @@ func parseTCPTail(ip parsedIP) (parsedTCP, bool) {
 	if len(pkt) < p.ipHdrLen+tcpOff {
 		return p, false
 	}
-	p.tcpHdrLen = tcpOff
 	p.hdrLen = p.ipHdrLen + tcpOff
 	p.payLen = len(pkt) - p.hdrLen
 	p.fk.sport = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[p.ipHdrLen : p.ipHdrLen+2])
@@ -161,85 +142,31 @@ func parseTCPTail(ip parsedIP) (parsedTCP, bool) {
 	return p, true
 }
 
-// TCP flag bits (byte 13 of the TCP header). Only the bits actually consulted
-// by the coalescer are named; FIN/SYN/RST/URG/CWR are rejected via the
-// negative mask in coalesceable, not by name.
+// TCP flag bits (byte 13 of the TCP header). Only the bits the coalescer consults are named;
+// FIN/SYN/RST/URG/CWR are rejected by the negative mask in commitParsed.
 const (
 	tcpFlagPsh = 0x08
 	tcpFlagAck = 0x10
 	tcpFlagEce = 0x40
 )
 
-// coalesceable reports whether a parsed TCP segment is eligible for
-// coalescing. Accepts ACK, ACK|PSH, ACK|ECE, ACK|PSH|ECE with a
-// non-empty payload. CWR is excluded because it marks a one-shot
-// congestion-window-reduced transition the receiver must observe at a
-// segment boundary.
-func (p parsedTCP) coalesceable() bool {
-	if p.flags&tcpFlagAck == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-	if p.flags&^(tcpFlagAck|tcpFlagPsh|tcpFlagEce) != 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-	return p.payLen > 0
-}
-
-// pureAck reports whether a parsed segment is a bare acknowledgment: no
-// payload and nothing beyond ACK|PSH|ECE in the flags. These are the only
-// non-coalesceable shape that may safely pass through WITHOUT sealing the
-// flow's open slot — a late-delivered stale ACK is ignored by the receiver,
-// whereas SYN/FIN/RST/CWR mark transitions the flow must observe in order.
-func (p parsedTCP) pureAck() bool {
-	return p.payLen == 0 &&
-		p.flags&tcpFlagAck != 0 &&
-		p.flags&^(tcpFlagAck|tcpFlagPsh|tcpFlagEce) == 0
-}
-
-func (c *TCPCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte) error {
-	info, ok := parseTCPBase(pkt)
-	if !ok {
-		// Unparseable shape: flow key unknowable, so seal every open chain to
-		// keep later data from extending a chain that would emit ahead of it.
-		c.sealAllOpen()
-		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return c.commitParsed(pkt, info)
-}
-
-// sealAllOpen closes every open coalesce chain: nothing committed after this
-// call can extend a slot created before it. Called when an unparseable packet
-// arrives — its flow is unknown, so any open chain might be the one whose
-// later data would otherwise leapfrog it.
+// sealAllOpen closes every open coalesce chain. Called for unparseable packets: the flow key is
+// unknown, so any open chain could otherwise absorb later data and emit it ahead of this packet.
 func (c *TCPCoalescer) sealAllOpen() {
 	clear(c.openSlots)
 	c.lastSlot = nil
 }
 
-// commitParsed is the post-parse half of Commit. The caller must have
-// already verified parseTCPBase succeeded (info is a valid TCP parse).
-// Used by MultiCoalescer.Commit to avoid re-walking the IP/TCP header
-// after the dispatcher has already done so.
+// commitParsed commits one parsed TCP packet. The caller (dispatch, via parseTCPAt) supplies a
+// valid parse so the header is not re-walked here.
 func (c *TCPCoalescer) commitParsed(pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) error {
-	if !info.coalesceable() {
-		if info.pureAck() {
-			// A bare window/ack update carries no ordering obligation toward
-			// the flow's data: delivering it after later-transmitted data only
-			// makes it a stale ACK, which receivers ignore. Skipping the
-			// evict keeps a bidirectional flow's inbound data run coalescing
-			// across the peer ACKs interleaved into it — kernel GRO likewise
-			// doesn't flush held data on a pure ACK. This is the one place
-			// emission can deviate from transmission order.
-			c.addVerbatim(pkt)
-			return nil
-		}
-		// TCP but not admissible (SYN/FIN/RST/URG/CWR or a shape the flow
-		// must observe in sequence). Seal this flow's open slot so later
-		// in-flow packets don't extend it and emit ahead of this verbatim;
-		// with input in transmission order that pins the verbatim's exact
-		// in-flow position. The len guard skips hashing the 38-byte key on
-		// ack-dominant queues, where the map is almost always empty.
+	// Admission: only ACK, ACK|PSH, ACK|ECE, ACK|PSH|ECE may ride a coalesce chain. CWR marks a
+	// one-shot congestion transition the receiver must observe at a segment boundary. NB: AccECN
+	// reuses CWR as ACE counter bits; revisit this check if inner hosts adopt AccECN.
+	if info.flags&tcpFlagAck == 0 || info.flags&^(tcpFlagAck|tcpFlagPsh|tcpFlagEce) != 0 {
+		// SYN/FIN/RST/URG/CWR must be observed in sequence. Seal the flow's open slot so later
+		// in-flow packets cannot extend it and emit ahead of this verbatim. The len guard skips
+		// hashing the 38-byte key on ack-dominant queues, where the map is almost always empty.
 		if len(c.openSlots) != 0 {
 			if last := c.lastSlot; last != nil && last.fk == info.fk {
 				c.lastSlot = nil
@@ -249,6 +176,14 @@ func (c *TCPCoalescer) commitParsed(pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) error {
 		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
 		return nil
 	}
+	if info.payLen == 0 {
+		// Pure ACK: no ordering obligation toward the flow's data. Delivering it after
+		// later-transmitted data only makes it a stale ACK, which receivers ignore. Not sealing
+		// keeps a bidirectional flow's data run coalescing across interleaved peer ACKs, matching
+		// kernel GRO. This is the only place emission deviates from transmission order.
+		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
 
 	// Cached-slot fast path. Arrival isn't per-packet interleaved even with
 	// many flows: wire-side GRO delivers runs of same-flow packets
@@ -291,11 +226,9 @@ func (c *TCPCoalescer) Flush() error {
 	for _, s := range c.slots {
 		var err error
 		if s.verbatim || s.numSeg == 1 {
-			// A slot that never grew (nor absorbed a merge) is byte-identical
-			// to the packet it was seeded from; ship the original so its valid
-			// checksum rides the DATA_VALID path instead of paying a kernel
-			// software csum. appendPayload only touches hdrBuf once
-			// numSeg >= 2, so rawPkt is still pristine here.
+			// A slot that never grew is byte-identical to its seed packet; ship the original so
+			// its valid checksum rides the DATA_VALID path instead of a kernel software csum.
+			// appendPayload only touches hdrBuf once numSeg >= 2, so rawPkt is pristine here.
 			_, err = c.w.Write(s.rawPkt)
 		} else {
 			err = c.flushSlot(s)
@@ -328,8 +261,8 @@ func (c *TCPCoalescer) seed(pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) {
 	}
 	s := c.take()
 	s.verbatim = false
-	// rawPkt serves the numSeg==1 fast path in Flush and is the header
-	// source for canAppend until the first append copies it into hdrBuf.
+	// rawPkt serves the numSeg==1 fast path in Flush and is the header source for canAppend until
+	// the first append copies it into hdrBuf.
 	s.rawPkt = pkt
 	s.hdrLen = info.hdrLen
 	s.ipHdrLen = info.ipHdrLen
@@ -345,21 +278,16 @@ func (c *TCPCoalescer) seed(pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) {
 		c.openSlots[info.fk] = s
 		c.lastSlot = s
 	} else if last := c.lastSlot; last != nil && last.fk == info.fk {
-		// PSH-on-seed closes the chain immediately: never registered as
-		// open. Any prior cached open slot for this flow has just been
-		// closed-and-replaced by this seed, so drop the cache too.
+		// PSH on the seed closes the chain immediately; it is never registered as open. Drop any
+		// stale cache entry for this flow too.
 		c.lastSlot = nil
 	}
 }
 
-// canAppend reports whether info's packet extends the slot's seed: same
-// header shape and stable contents, adjacent seq, not oversized. A closed
-// chain never reaches here — closing removes the slot from openSlots, and
-// openSlots/lastSlot are the only paths in.
-// Header reads go through rawPkt, not hdrBuf: hdrBuf is populated lazily on
-// the first append, and every field consulted here is one the pre-flush
-// patches never touch (headersMatch skips the flags byte, and PSH is the
-// only bit patched before flush).
+// canAppend reports whether info's packet extends the slot's seed: same header shape and stable
+// contents, adjacent seq, not oversized. A closed chain never reaches here; closing removes the
+// slot from openSlots, the only path in. Header reads use rawPkt because hdrBuf is populated
+// lazily on the first append; every field consulted here is one the pre-flush patches never touch.
 func (c *TCPCoalescer) canAppend(s *coalesceSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) bool {
 	if info.hdrLen != s.hdrLen {
 		return false
@@ -391,14 +319,13 @@ func (c *TCPCoalescer) canAppend(s *coalesceSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) bo
 	return true
 }
 
-// appendPayload folds info's packet into s and reports whether the chain is
-// now closed: the segment was sub-gsoSize (kernel TSO allows only the final
-// segment to be short) or carried PSH (a semantic delimiter). The caller
-// must deregister a closed slot from openSlots.
+// appendPayload folds info's packet into s and reports whether the chain is now closed: the
+// segment was sub-gsoSize (kernel TSO allows only the final segment to be short) or carried PSH.
+// The caller must deregister a closed slot from openSlots.
 func (c *TCPCoalescer) appendPayload(s *coalesceSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedTCP) bool {
 	if s.numSeg == 1 {
-		// First append: populate hdrBuf from the seed packet. Deferred out
-		// of seed so solo slots, which flush from rawPkt, never pay the copy.
+		// First append: populate hdrBuf from the seed. Deferred out of seed so solo slots, which
+		// flush from rawPkt, never pay the copy.
 		copy(s.hdrBuf[:s.hdrLen], s.rawPkt[:s.hdrLen])
 	}
 	s.payIovs = append(s.payIovs, pkt[info.hdrLen:info.hdrLen+info.payLen])
@@ -406,8 +333,7 @@ func (c *TCPCoalescer) appendPayload(s *coalesceSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedTCP
 	s.totalPay += info.payLen
 	s.nextSeq = info.seq + uint32(info.payLen)
 	if info.flags&tcpFlagPsh != 0 {
-		// Propagate PSH into the seed header so kernel TSO sets it on the
-		// last segment. Without this the sender's push signal is dropped.
+		// Propagate PSH into the seed header so kernel TSO sets it on the last segment.
 		s.hdrBuf[s.ipHdrLen+13] |= tcpFlagPsh
 	}
 	return info.payLen < s.gsoSize || info.flags&tcpFlagPsh != 0
@@ -497,13 +423,10 @@ func headersMatch(a, b []byte, isV6 bool, ipHdrLen int) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-// logSeqGaps reports same-flow seq discontinuities between consecutively
-// created data slots. Input arrives in transmission order (MultiCoalescer
-// sorts by (epoch, counter) before dispatch), so a gap here is traffic this
-// batch never contained: loss upstream of nebula, a reorder spanning a flush
-// boundary (which no intra-batch mechanism can repair), or a retransmit
-// (negative gap). Logged so the operator can quantify how often that happens.
-// The caller gates on debug level, so the map only allocates when asked for.
+// logSeqGaps reports same-flow seq discontinuities between consecutively created data slots. Input
+// is in transmission order, so a gap is traffic this batch never contained: loss upstream of
+// nebula, reorder across a flush boundary, or a retransmit (negative gap). The caller gates on
+// debug level, so the map only allocates when enabled.
 func (c *TCPCoalescer) logSeqGaps() {
 	prevByFlow := make(map[flowKey]*coalesceSlot, len(c.slots))
 	for _, s := range c.slots {
diff --git a/overlay/batch/udp_coalesce.go b/overlay/batch/udp_coalesce.go
index 1e23cc74..bf0723bb 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/udp_coalesce.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/udp_coalesce.go
@@ -83,19 +83,9 @@ type parsedUDP struct {
 	payLen   int
 }
 
-// parseUDP extracts the flow key and IP/UDP offsets for a UDP packet.
-// Returns ok=false for non-UDP, malformed, or unsupported header shapes
-// (IPv4 with options/fragmentation, IPv6 with extension headers).
-func parseUDP(pkt []byte) (parsedUDP, bool) {
-	ip, ok := parseIPPrologue(pkt, ipProtoUDP)
-	if !ok {
-		return parsedUDP{}, false
-	}
-	return parseUDPTail(ip)
-}
-
-// parseUDPAt is parseUDP for the dispatcher path: the packet is already
-// known to be UDP and ipHdrLen is the upstream-resolved L4 offset (see parseIPAt).
+// parseUDPAt extracts the flow key and IP/UDP offsets for a packet the dispatcher already knows is
+// UDP; ipHdrLen is the upstream-resolved L4 offset (see parseIPAt). Returns ok=false for malformed
+// input or any shape that must not coalesce (IPv4 options/fragmentation, IPv6 extension headers).
 func parseUDPAt(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) (parsedUDP, bool) {
 	ip, ok := parseIPAt(pkt, ipHdrLen)
 	if !ok {
@@ -126,23 +116,11 @@ func parseUDPTail(ip parsedIP) (parsedUDP, bool) {
 	return p, true
 }
 
-// Commit borrows pkt. The caller must keep pkt valid until the next Flush.
-func (c *UDPCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte) error {
-	info, ok := parseUDP(pkt)
-	if !ok {
-		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return c.commitParsed(pkt, info)
-}
-
-// commitParsed is the post-parse half of Commit. The caller must have
-// already verified parseUDP succeeded. Used by MultiCoalescer.Commit to
-// avoid re-walking the IP/UDP header.
+// commitParsed commits one parsed UDP packet. The caller (dispatch, via parseUDPAt) supplies a
+// valid parse so the header is not re-walked here.
 func (c *UDPCoalescer) commitParsed(pkt []byte, info parsedUDP) error {
-	// A zero-length UDP datagram (UDP `length` == 8) is legal and must still
-	// reach the TUN, but it can't be coalesced. The len guard skips hashing
-	// the key when no flow is open.
+	// A zero-length UDP datagram (length == 8) is legal and must reach the TUN, but cannot be
+	// coalesced. The len guard skips hashing the key when no flow is open.
 	if info.payLen == 0 {
 		if len(c.openSlots) != 0 {
 			if last := c.lastSlot; last != nil && last.fk == info.fk {
@@ -206,10 +184,8 @@ func (c *UDPCoalescer) Flush() error {
 	return first
 }
 
-// sealAllOpen closes every open coalesce chain: nothing committed after this
-// call can extend a slot created before it. Called when an unparseable packet
-// arrives — its flow is unknown, so any open chain might be the one whose
-// later data would otherwise leapfrog it.
+// sealAllOpen closes every open coalesce chain. Called for unparseable packets: the flow key is
+// unknown, so any open chain could otherwise absorb later data and emit it ahead of this packet.
 func (c *UDPCoalescer) sealAllOpen() {
 	clear(c.openSlots)
 	c.lastSlot = nil
@@ -229,8 +205,8 @@ func (c *UDPCoalescer) seed(pkt []byte, info parsedUDP) {
 	}
 	s := c.take()
 	s.verbatim = false
-	// rawPkt serves the numSeg==1 fast path in Flush and is the header
-	// source for canAppend until the first append copies it into hdrBuf.
+	// rawPkt serves the numSeg==1 fast path in Flush and is the header source for canAppend until
+	// the first append copies it into hdrBuf.
 	s.rawPkt = pkt
 	s.hdrLen = info.hdrLen
 	s.ipHdrLen = info.ipHdrLen
@@ -261,10 +237,9 @@ func (c *UDPCoalescer) canAppend(s *udpSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedUDP) bool {
 	if s.hdrLen+s.totalPay+info.payLen > udpCoalesceBufSize {
 		return false
 	}
-	// Header reads go through rawPkt: hdrBuf is populated lazily on the
-	// first append, and the fields consulted here are never patched before
-	// flush. A closed chain never reaches here — closing removes the slot
-	// from openSlots, the only path in.
+	// Header reads use rawPkt because hdrBuf is populated lazily on the first append; the fields
+	// consulted here are never patched before flush. A closed chain never reaches here; closing
+	// removes the slot from openSlots, the only path in.
 	if !s.isV6 && !ipv4CanCoalesceID(s.rawPkt, pkt, s.numSeg) {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -274,14 +249,13 @@ func (c *UDPCoalescer) canAppend(s *udpSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedUDP) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-// appendPayload folds info's packet into s and reports whether the chain is
-// now closed: kernel UDP-GSO requires every segment but the last to be
-// exactly gsoSize, so a short segment must be the final one. The caller
-// must deregister a closed slot from openSlots.
+// appendPayload folds info's packet into s and reports whether the chain is now closed: kernel
+// UDP-GSO requires every segment but the last to be exactly gsoSize, so a short segment must be
+// the final one. The caller must deregister a closed slot from openSlots.
 func (c *UDPCoalescer) appendPayload(s *udpSlot, pkt []byte, info parsedUDP) bool {
 	if s.numSeg == 1 {
-		// First append: populate hdrBuf from the seed packet. Deferred out
-		// of seed so solo slots, which flush from rawPkt, never pay the copy.
+		// First append: populate hdrBuf from the seed. Deferred out of seed so solo slots, which
+		// flush from rawPkt, never pay the copy.
 		copy(s.hdrBuf[:s.hdrLen], s.rawPkt[:s.hdrLen])
 	}
 	s.payIovs = append(s.payIovs, pkt[info.hdrLen:info.hdrLen+info.payLen])