diff --git a/c/containers/mixutil.c b/c/containers/mixutil.c
index 14e717bf2..230b41efc 100644
--- a/c/containers/mixutil.c
+++ b/c/containers/mixutil.c
@@ -92,3 +92,22 @@ int lrec_slls_compare_lexically(
 {
 	return -slls_lrec_compare_lexically(plist, prec, pkeys);
 }
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------
+int lrec_keys_equal_list(
+	lrec_t* prec,
+	slls_t* plist)
+{
+	lrece_t* pe = prec->phead;
+	sllse_t* pf = plist->phead;
+	while (TRUE) {
+		if (pe == NULL && pf == NULL)
+			return TRUE;
+		if (pe == NULL || pf == NULL)
+			return FALSE;
+		if (!streq(pe->value, pf->value))
+			return FALSE;
+		pe = pe->pnext;
+		pf = pf->pnext;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/c/containers/mixutil.h b/c/containers/mixutil.h
index c3d78becb..2f5f21c5e 100644
--- a/c/containers/mixutil.h
+++ b/c/containers/mixutil.h
@@ -25,4 +25,9 @@ int lrec_slls_compare_lexically(
 	slls_t* pkeys,
 	slls_t* plist);
 
+// xxx cmt for output writers
+int lrec_keys_equal_list(
+	lrec_t* prec,
+	slls_t* plist);
+
 #endif // MIXUTIL_H
diff --git a/c/todo.txt b/c/todo.txt
index 2bab14f47..5b8d168d8 100644
--- a/c/todo.txt
+++ b/c/todo.txt
@@ -9,18 +9,6 @@ TOP OF LIST
 ----------------------------------------------------------------
 !! get rid of some unnecessary calls to slls_copy:
 
-  ./containers/join_bucket_keeper.c:
-        slls_t* pnext_field_values = mlr_selected_values_from_record(pkeeper->prec_peek,
-            pkeeper->pleft_field_names);
-        int cmp = slls_compare_lexically(pkeeper->pbucket->pleft_field_values, pnext_field_values);
-
-      int slls_lrec_compare_lexically(
-        slls_t* plist,
-        lrec_t* prec,
-        slls_t* pkeys)
-      {
-      }
-
   ./output/lrec_writer_pprint.c:
         // xxx make a fcn which does the cmp of lrec & slls w/o the copy
         pcurr_keys = mlr_keys_from_record(prec);
@@ -45,8 +33,7 @@ TOP OF LIST
   of one format??
 
 !! join
-  -> cmp w/o slls method; & propagate throughout miller
-  -> xxx cleanup
+  -> cleanup of xxx cmts
   -> left/right-prefix UTs
   -> het UTs
   -> mixed-format/separator UT cases