diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/limited_size.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/limited_size.rs
index dbb82bec..22a4a93b 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/limited_size.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/limited_size.rs
@@ -93,13 +93,14 @@ impl<T: PrimInt + Unsigned + fmt::Display + fmt::Debug> LimitedSize<T> {
                 }
             }
             log_stor!(debug "Commit ({}): {} => {}", self.description, self.value, uncommitted_value);
+            self.uncommitted_value = None;
             self.value = uncommitted_value;
         }
         Ok(self.value)
     }
 
     pub fn rollback(&mut self) -> T {
-        if let Some(uv) = self.uncommitted_value {
+        if let Some(uv) = self.uncommitted_value.take() {
             log_stor!(debug "Rollback ({}): {} (drop {})", self.description, self.value, uv);
         }
         return self.value;
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs
index 1de083f2..8a52d93a 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/record_store.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@
 use super::*;
 use hashlink::LruCache;
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+/// A dead record that is yet to be purged from disk and statistics
+struct DeadRecord<D>
+where
+    D: fmt::Debug + Clone + Serialize + for<'d> Deserialize<'d>,
+{
+    // The key used in the record_index
+    key: RecordTableKey,
+    // The actual record
+    record: Record<D>,
+    // True if this record is accounted for in the total storage
+    // and needs to have the statistics updated or not when purged
+    in_total_storage: bool,
+}
+
 pub struct RecordStore<D>
 where
     D: fmt::Debug + Clone + Serialize + for<'d> Deserialize<'d>,
@@ -15,16 +30,24 @@ where
     name: String,
     limits: RecordStoreLimits,
 
+    /// The tabledb used for record data
     record_table: Option<TableDB>,
+    /// The tabledb used for subkey data
     subkey_table: Option<TableDB>,
+    /// The in-memory index that keeps track of what records are in the tabledb
     record_index: LruCache<RecordTableKey, Record<D>>,
+    /// The in-memory cache of commonly accessed subkey data so we don't have to keep hitting the db
     subkey_cache: LruCache<SubkeyTableKey, RecordData>,
+    /// Total storage space or subkey data inclusive of structures in memory
     subkey_cache_total_size: LimitedSize<usize>,
+    /// Total storage space of records in the tabledb inclusive of subkey data and structures
     total_storage_space: LimitedSize<u64>,
-
-    dead_records: Vec<(RecordTableKey, Record<D>)>,
+    /// Records to be removed from the tabledb upon next purge
+    dead_records: Vec<DeadRecord<D>>,
+    /// The list of records that have changed since last flush to disk (optimization for batched writes)
     changed_records: HashSet<RecordTableKey>,
 
+    /// A mutex to ensure we handle this concurrently
     purge_dead_records_mutex: Arc<AsyncMutex<()>>,
 }
 
@@ -97,33 +120,45 @@ where
 
         // Sort the record index by last touched time and insert in sorted order
         record_index_saved.sort_by(|a, b| a.1.last_touched().cmp(&b.1.last_touched()));
-        let mut dead_records = Vec::new();
+        let mut dead_records = Vec::<DeadRecord<D>>::new();
         for ri in record_index_saved {
             // total the storage space
             self.total_storage_space
-                .add(mem::size_of::<RecordTableKey>() as u64)
-                .unwrap();
-            self.total_storage_space
-                .add(ri.1.total_size() as u64)
+                .add((mem::size_of::<RecordTableKey>() + ri.1.total_size()) as u64)
                 .unwrap();
             if let Err(_) = self.total_storage_space.commit() {
-                // If we overflow the limit, kill off the record
-                dead_records.push((ri.0, ri.1));
+                // Revert the total storage space because the commit failed
+                self.total_storage_space.rollback();
+
+                // If we overflow the limit, kill off the record, noting that it has not yet been added to the total storage space
+                dead_records.push(DeadRecord {
+                    key: ri.0,
+                    record: ri.1,
+                    in_total_storage: false,
+                });
                 continue;
             }
 
             // add to index and ensure we deduplicate in the case of an error
             if let Some(v) = self.record_index.insert_with_callback(ri.0, ri.1, |k, v| {
                 // If the configuration change, we only want to keep the 'limits.max_records' records
-                dead_records.push((k, v));
+                dead_records.push(DeadRecord {
+                    key: k,
+                    record: v,
+                    in_total_storage: true,
+                });
             }) {
                 // This shouldn't happen, but deduplicate anyway
                 log_stor!(warn "duplicate record in table: {:?}", ri.0);
-                dead_records.push((ri.0, v));
+                dead_records.push(DeadRecord {
+                    key: ri.0,
+                    record: v,
+                    in_total_storage: true,
+                });
             }
         }
-        for (k, v) in dead_records {
-            self.add_dead_record(k, v);
+        for dr in dead_records {
+            self.dead_records.push(dr);
         }
 
         self.record_table = Some(record_table);
@@ -132,7 +167,11 @@ where
     }
 
     fn add_dead_record(&mut self, key: RecordTableKey, record: Record<D>) {
-        self.dead_records.push((key, record));
+        self.dead_records.push(DeadRecord {
+            key,
+            record,
+            in_total_storage: true,
+        });
     }
 
     fn mark_record_changed(&mut self, key: RecordTableKey) {
@@ -208,23 +247,23 @@ where
         let rt_xact = record_table.transact();
         let st_xact = subkey_table.transact();
         let dead_records = mem::take(&mut self.dead_records);
-        for (k, v) in dead_records {
+        for dr in dead_records {
             // Record should already be gone from index
-            if self.record_index.contains_key(&k) {
-                log_stor!(error "dead record found in index: {:?}", k);
+            if self.record_index.contains_key(&dr.key) {
+                log_stor!(error "dead record found in index: {:?}", dr.key);
             }
 
             // Delete record
-            if let Err(e) = rt_xact.delete(0, &k.bytes()) {
+            if let Err(e) = rt_xact.delete(0, &dr.key.bytes()) {
                 log_stor!(error "record could not be deleted: {}", e);
             }
 
             // Delete subkeys
-            let stored_subkeys = v.stored_subkeys();
+            let stored_subkeys = dr.record.stored_subkeys();
             for sk in stored_subkeys.iter() {
                 // From table
                 let stk = SubkeyTableKey {
-                    key: k.key,
+                    key: dr.key.key,
                     subkey: sk,
                 };
                 let stkb = stk.bytes();
@@ -237,11 +276,12 @@ where
             }
 
             // Remove from total size
-            self.total_storage_space
-                .saturating_sub(mem::size_of::<RecordTableKey>() as u64);
-            self.total_storage_space
-                .saturating_sub(v.total_size() as u64);
-            self.total_storage_space.commit().unwrap();
+            if dr.in_total_storage {
+                self.total_storage_space.saturating_sub(
+                    (mem::size_of::<RecordTableKey>() + dr.record.total_size()) as u64,
+                );
+                self.total_storage_space.commit().unwrap();
+            }
         }
         if let Err(e) = rt_xact.commit().await {
             log_stor!(error "failed to commit record table transaction: {}", e);
@@ -306,6 +346,9 @@ where
             .await
             .map_err(VeilidAPIError::internal)?;
 
+        // Update storage space (won't fail due to check_limit above)
+        self.total_storage_space.commit().unwrap();
+
         // Save to record index
         let mut dead_records = Vec::new();
         if let Some(v) = self.record_index.insert_with_callback(rtk, record, |k, v| {
@@ -319,9 +362,6 @@ where
             self.add_dead_record(dr.0, dr.1);
         }
 
-        // Update storage space
-        self.total_storage_space.commit().unwrap();
-
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -407,7 +447,7 @@ where
         subkey: ValueSubkey,
         want_descriptor: bool,
     ) -> VeilidAPIResult<Option<SubkeyResult>> {
-        // record from index
+        // Get record from index
         let Some((subkey_count, has_subkey, opt_descriptor)) = self.with_record(key, |record| {
             (record.subkey_count(), record.stored_subkeys().contains(subkey), if want_descriptor {
                 Some(record.descriptor().clone())
@@ -545,9 +585,9 @@ where
             );
         }
 
-        // Get record from index
-        let Some((subkey_count, total_size)) = self.with_record(key, |record| {
-            (record.subkey_count(), record.total_size())
+        // Get record subkey count and total size of all record subkey data exclusive of structures
+        let Some((subkey_count, prior_record_data_size)) = self.with_record(key, |record| {
+            (record.subkey_count(), record.record_data_size())
         }) else {
             apibail_invalid_argument!("no record at this key", "key", key);
         };
@@ -563,14 +603,14 @@ where
         };
 
         // Get the previous subkey and ensure we aren't going over the record size limit
-        let mut prior_record_data_size = 0usize;
+        let mut prior_subkey_size = 0usize;
 
         // If subkey exists in subkey cache, use that
         let stk = SubkeyTableKey { key, subkey };
         let stk_bytes = stk.bytes();
 
         if let Some(record_data) = self.subkey_cache.peek(&stk) {
-            prior_record_data_size = record_data.total_size();
+            prior_subkey_size = record_data.data_size();
         } else {
             // If not in cache, try to pull from table store
             if let Some(record_data) = subkey_table
@@ -578,26 +618,26 @@ where
                 .await
                 .map_err(VeilidAPIError::internal)?
             {
-                prior_record_data_size = record_data.total_size();
+                prior_subkey_size = record_data.data_size();
             }
         }
 
         // Make new record data
-        let record_data = RecordData::new(signed_value_data);
+        let subkey_record_data = RecordData::new(signed_value_data);
 
         // Check new total record size
-        let new_record_data_size = record_data.total_size();
-        let new_total_size = total_size + new_record_data_size - prior_record_data_size;
-        if new_total_size > self.limits.max_record_total_size {
+        let new_subkey_size = subkey_record_data.data_size();
+        let new_record_data_size = prior_record_data_size - prior_subkey_size + new_subkey_size;
+        if new_record_data_size > self.limits.max_record_total_size {
             apibail_generic!("dht record too large");
         }
 
         // Check new total storage space
         self.total_storage_space
-            .sub(prior_record_data_size as u64)
+            .sub(prior_subkey_size as u64)
             .unwrap();
         self.total_storage_space
-            .add(new_record_data_size as u64)
+            .add(new_subkey_size as u64)
             .unwrap();
         if !self.total_storage_space.check_limit() {
             apibail_try_again!();
@@ -605,17 +645,17 @@ where
 
         // Write subkey
         subkey_table
-            .store_json(0, &stk_bytes, &record_data)
+            .store_json(0, &stk_bytes, &subkey_record_data)
             .await
             .map_err(VeilidAPIError::internal)?;
 
         // Write to subkey cache
-        self.add_to_subkey_cache(stk, record_data);
+        self.add_to_subkey_cache(stk, subkey_record_data);
 
         // Update record
         self.with_record_mut(key, |record| {
             record.store_subkey(subkey);
-            record.set_record_data_size(new_total_size);
+            record.set_record_data_size(new_record_data_size);
         })
         .expect("record should still be here");
 
@@ -666,7 +706,7 @@ where
         out += &format!("Total Storage Space: {}\n", self.total_storage_space.get());
         out += &format!("Dead Records: {}\n", self.dead_records.len());
         for dr in &self.dead_records {
-            out += &format!("  {}\n", dr.0.key.to_string());
+            out += &format!("  {}\n", dr.key.key.to_string());
         }
         out += &format!("Changed Records: {}\n", self.changed_records.len());
         for cr in &self.changed_records {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record.rs
index 76f61bc0..d8ca49ee 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ where
     }
 
     pub fn total_size(&self) -> usize {
-        mem::size_of::<Record<D>>() + self.descriptor.total_size() + self.record_data_size
+        (mem::size_of::<Self>() - mem::size_of::<SignedValueDescriptor>())
+            + self.descriptor.total_size()
+            + self.record_data_size
     }
 
     // pub fn detail(&self) -> &D {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record_data.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record_data.rs
index 532f4e0b..8b646c7a 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record_data.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/record_data.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ impl RecordData {
     pub fn signed_value_data(&self) -> &SignedValueData {
         &self.signed_value_data
     }
+    pub fn data_size(&self) -> usize {
+        self.signed_value_data.data_size()
+    }
     pub fn total_size(&self) -> usize {
-        mem::size_of::<RecordData>() + self.signed_value_data.value_data().data().len()
+        (mem::size_of::<Self>() - mem::size_of::<SignedValueData>())
+            + self.signed_value_data.total_size()
     }
 }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/signed_value_data.rs b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/signed_value_data.rs
index 1a2a3cf8..5724f0c3 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/signed_value_data.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/storage_manager/types/signed_value_data.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ impl SignedValueData {
         &self.signature
     }
 
+    pub fn data_size(&self) -> usize {
+        self.value_data.data_size()
+    }
+
     pub fn total_size(&self) -> usize {
         (mem::size_of::<Self>() - mem::size_of::<ValueData>()) + self.value_data.total_size()
     }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/value_data.rs b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/value_data.rs
index 34d6d8ac..98f73910 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/value_data.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/value_data.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ impl ValueData {
         &self.data
     }
 
+    pub fn data_size(&self) -> usize {
+        self.data.len()
+    }
+
     pub fn total_size(&self) -> usize {
         mem::size_of::<Self>() + self.data.len()
     }