diff --git a/dbus/run.go b/dbus/run.go
index fc3943a..ae2d9e0 100644
--- a/dbus/run.go
+++ b/dbus/run.go
@@ -39,9 +39,14 @@ func (p *Proxy) Start(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, sandbox bool) error
 
 	c, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(ctx)
 	if !sandbox {
-		h = helper.New(c, p.seal, p.name, argF)
-		// xdg-dbus-proxy does not need to inherit the environment
-		h.SetEnv(make([]string, 0))
+		h = helper.NewDirect(c, p.seal, p.name, argF, func(cmd *exec.Cmd) {
+			if output != nil {
+				cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = output, output
+			}
+
+			// xdg-dbus-proxy does not need to inherit the environment
+			cmd.Env = make([]string, 0)
+		}, true)
 	} else {
 		// look up absolute path if name is just a file name
 		toolPath := p.name
@@ -111,14 +116,15 @@ func (p *Proxy) Start(ctx context.Context, output io.Writer, sandbox bool) error
 			bc.Bind(k, k)
 		}
 
-		h = helper.MustNewBwrap(c, bc, toolPath, true, p.seal, argF, nil, nil)
+		h = helper.MustNewBwrap(c, bc, toolPath, true, p.seal, argF, func(cmd *exec.Cmd) {
+			if output != nil {
+				cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = output, output
+			}
+		}, nil, nil, true)
 		p.bwrap = bc
 	}
 
-	if output != nil {
-		h.SetStdout(output).SetStderr(output)
-	}
-	if err := h.Start(true); err != nil {
+	if err := h.Start(); err != nil {
 		cancel(err)
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/helper/bwrap.go b/helper/bwrap.go
index a1f6e42..7ced938 100644
--- a/helper/bwrap.go
+++ b/helper/bwrap.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
@@ -24,14 +25,11 @@ type bubblewrap struct {
 	// name of the command to run in bwrap
 	name string
 
-	// whether to set process group id
-	setpgid bool
-
 	lock sync.RWMutex
 	*helperCmd
 }
 
-func (b *bubblewrap) Start(stat bool) error {
+func (b *bubblewrap) Start() error {
 	b.lock.Lock()
 	defer b.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -41,7 +39,7 @@ func (b *bubblewrap) Start(stat bool) error {
 		return errors.New("exec: already started")
 	}
 
-	args := b.finalise(stat)
+	args := b.finalise()
 	b.Cmd.Args = slices.Grow(b.Cmd.Args, 4+len(args))
 	b.Cmd.Args = append(b.Cmd.Args, "--args", strconv.Itoa(int(b.argsFd)), "--", b.name)
 	b.Cmd.Args = append(b.Cmd.Args, args...)
@@ -53,12 +51,17 @@ func (b *bubblewrap) Start(stat bool) error {
 // Function argF returns an array of arguments passed directly to the child process.
 func MustNewBwrap(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	conf *bwrap.Config, name string, setpgid bool,
-	wt io.WriterTo, argF func(argsFD, statFD int) []string,
+	conf *bwrap.Config,
+	name string,
+	setpgid bool,
+	wt io.WriterTo,
+	argF func(argsFD, statFD int) []string,
+	cmdF func(cmd *exec.Cmd),
 	extraFiles []*os.File,
 	syncFd *os.File,
+	stat bool,
 ) Helper {
-	b, err := NewBwrap(ctx, conf, name, setpgid, wt, argF, extraFiles, syncFd)
+	b, err := NewBwrap(ctx, conf, name, setpgid, wt, argF, cmdF, extraFiles, syncFd, stat)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err.Error())
 	} else {
@@ -71,19 +74,26 @@ func MustNewBwrap(
 // Function argF returns an array of arguments passed directly to the child process.
 func NewBwrap(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	conf *bwrap.Config, name string, setpgid bool,
-	wt io.WriterTo, argF func(argsFd, statFd int) []string,
+	conf *bwrap.Config,
+	name string,
+	setpgid bool,
+	wt io.WriterTo,
+	argF func(argsFd, statFd int) []string,
+	cmdF func(cmd *exec.Cmd),
 	extraFiles []*os.File,
 	syncFd *os.File,
+	stat bool,
 ) (Helper, error) {
 	b := new(bubblewrap)
 
 	b.name = name
-	b.setpgid = setpgid
-	b.helperCmd = newHelperCmd(b, ctx, BubblewrapName, wt, argF, extraFiles)
-	if b.setpgid {
+	b.helperCmd = newHelperCmd(ctx, BubblewrapName, wt, argF, extraFiles, stat)
+	if setpgid {
 		b.Cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{Setpgid: true}
 	}
+	if cmdF != nil {
+		cmdF(b.helperCmd.Cmd)
+	}
 
 	if v, err := NewCheckedArgs(conf.Args(syncFd, b.extraFiles, &b.files)); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/helper/bwrap_test.go b/helper/bwrap_test.go
index a14a417..4b42356 100644
--- a/helper/bwrap_test.go
+++ b/helper/bwrap_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -33,11 +34,11 @@ func TestBwrap(t *testing.T) {
 		h := helper.MustNewBwrap(
 			context.Background(),
 			sc, "fortify", false,
-			argsWt, argF,
-			nil, nil,
+			argsWt, argF, nil,
+			nil, nil, false,
 		)
 
-		if err := h.Start(false); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		if err := h.Start(); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
 			t.Errorf("Start: error = %v, wantErr %v",
 				err, os.ErrNotExist)
 		}
@@ -47,8 +48,8 @@ func TestBwrap(t *testing.T) {
 		if got := helper.MustNewBwrap(
 			context.TODO(),
 			sc, "fortify", false,
-			argsWt, argF,
-			nil, nil,
+			argsWt, argF, nil,
+			nil, nil, false,
 		); got == nil {
 			t.Errorf("MustNewBwrap(%#v, %#v, %#v) got nil",
 				sc, argsWt, "fortify")
@@ -68,8 +69,8 @@ func TestBwrap(t *testing.T) {
 		helper.MustNewBwrap(
 			context.TODO(),
 			&bwrap.Config{Hostname: "\x00"}, "fortify", false,
-			nil, argF,
-			nil, nil,
+			nil, argF, nil,
+			nil, nil, false,
 		)
 	})
 
@@ -78,17 +79,14 @@ func TestBwrap(t *testing.T) {
 
 		c, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
 		defer cancel()
+		stdout, stderr := new(strings.Builder), new(strings.Builder)
 		h := helper.MustNewBwrap(
-			c,
-			sc, "crash-test-dummy", false,
-			nil, argFChecked,
-			nil, nil,
+			c, sc, "crash-test-dummy", false,
+			nil, argFChecked, func(cmd *exec.Cmd) { cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = stdout, stderr },
+			nil, nil, false,
 		)
 
-		stdout, stderr := new(strings.Builder), new(strings.Builder)
-		h.SetStdout(stdout).SetStderr(stderr)
-
-		if err := h.Start(false); err != nil {
+		if err := h.Start(); err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Start: error = %v",
 				err)
 			return
@@ -101,11 +99,10 @@ func TestBwrap(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("implementation compliance", func(t *testing.T) {
-		testHelper(t, func(ctx context.Context) helper.Helper {
+		testHelper(t, func(ctx context.Context, cmdF func(cmd *exec.Cmd), stat bool) helper.Helper {
 			return helper.MustNewBwrap(
-				ctx,
-				sc, "crash-test-dummy", false,
-				argsWt, argF, nil, nil,
+				ctx, sc, "crash-test-dummy", false,
+				argsWt, argF, cmdF, nil, nil, stat,
 			)
 		})
 	})
diff --git a/helper/direct.go b/helper/direct.go
index 9e27913..93eae22 100644
--- a/helper/direct.go
+++ b/helper/direct.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
+	"os/exec"
 	"sync"
 
 	"git.gensokyo.uk/security/fortify/helper/proc"
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ type direct struct {
 	*helperCmd
 }
 
-func (h *direct) Start(stat bool) error {
+func (h *direct) Start() error {
 	h.lock.Lock()
 	defer h.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -25,15 +26,25 @@ func (h *direct) Start(stat bool) error {
 		return errors.New("exec: already started")
 	}
 
-	args := h.finalise(stat)
+	args := h.finalise()
 	h.Cmd.Args = append(h.Cmd.Args, args...)
 	return proc.Fulfill(h.ctx, &h.ExtraFiles, h.Cmd.Start, h.files, h.extraFiles)
 }
 
-// New initialises a new direct Helper instance with wt as the null-terminated argument writer.
+// NewDirect initialises a new direct Helper instance with wt as the null-terminated argument writer.
 // Function argF returns an array of arguments passed directly to the child process.
-func New(ctx context.Context, wt io.WriterTo, name string, argF func(argsFd, statFd int) []string) Helper {
+func NewDirect(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	wt io.WriterTo,
+	name string,
+	argF func(argsFd, statFd int) []string,
+	cmdF func(cmd *exec.Cmd),
+	stat bool,
+) Helper {
 	d := new(direct)
-	d.helperCmd = newHelperCmd(d, ctx, name, wt, argF, nil)
+	d.helperCmd = newHelperCmd(ctx, name, wt, argF, nil, stat)
+	if cmdF != nil {
+		cmdF(d.helperCmd.Cmd)
+	}
 	return d
 }
diff --git a/helper/direct_test.go b/helper/direct_test.go
index e7bda79..7af0e3a 100644
--- a/helper/direct_test.go
+++ b/helper/direct_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"testing"
 
 	"git.gensokyo.uk/security/fortify/helper"
@@ -11,16 +12,16 @@ import (
 
 func TestDirect(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("start non-existent helper path", func(t *testing.T) {
-		h := helper.New(context.Background(), argsWt, "/nonexistent", argF)
+		h := helper.NewDirect(context.Background(), argsWt, "/nonexistent", argF, nil, false)
 
-		if err := h.Start(false); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		if err := h.Start(); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
 			t.Errorf("Start: error = %v, wantErr %v",
 				err, os.ErrNotExist)
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("valid new helper nil check", func(t *testing.T) {
-		if got := helper.New(context.TODO(), argsWt, "fortify", argF); got == nil {
+		if got := helper.NewDirect(context.TODO(), argsWt, "fortify", argF, nil, false); got == nil {
 			t.Errorf("New(%q, %q) got nil",
 				argsWt, "fortify")
 			return
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@ func TestDirect(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("implementation compliance", func(t *testing.T) {
-		testHelper(t, func(ctx context.Context) helper.Helper { return helper.New(ctx, argsWt, "crash-test-dummy", argF) })
+		testHelper(t, func(ctx context.Context, cmdF func(cmd *exec.Cmd), stat bool) helper.Helper {
+			return helper.NewDirect(ctx, argsWt, "crash-test-dummy", argF, cmdF, stat)
+		})
 	})
 }
diff --git a/helper/helper.go b/helper/helper.go
index f065d0e..c500c63 100644
--- a/helper/helper.go
+++ b/helper/helper.go
@@ -26,32 +26,22 @@ const (
 )
 
 type Helper interface {
-	// SetStdin sets the standard input of Helper.
-	SetStdin(r io.Reader) Helper
-	// SetStdout sets the standard output of Helper.
-	SetStdout(w io.Writer) Helper
-	// SetStderr sets the standard error of Helper.
-	SetStderr(w io.Writer) Helper
-	// SetEnv sets the environment of Helper.
-	SetEnv(env []string) Helper
-
 	// Start starts the helper process.
-	// A status pipe is passed to the helper if stat is true.
-	Start(stat bool) error
-	// Wait blocks until Helper exits and releases all its resources.
+	Start() error
+	// Wait blocks until Helper exits.
 	Wait() error
 
 	fmt.Stringer
 }
 
 func newHelperCmd(
-	h Helper, ctx context.Context, name string,
+	ctx context.Context, name string,
 	wt io.WriterTo, argF func(argsFd, statFd int) []string,
-	extraFiles []*os.File,
+	extraFiles []*os.File, stat bool,
 ) (cmd *helperCmd) {
 	cmd = new(helperCmd)
-	cmd.r = h
 	cmd.ctx = ctx
+	cmd.hasStatFd = stat
 
 	cmd.Cmd = commandContext(ctx, name)
 	cmd.Cmd.Cancel = func() error { return cmd.Process.Signal(syscall.SIGTERM) }
@@ -77,14 +67,13 @@ func newHelperCmd(
 
 // helperCmd wraps Cmd and implements methods shared across all Helper implementations.
 type helperCmd struct {
-	// ref to parent
-	r Helper
-
 	// returns an array of arguments passed directly
 	// to the helper process
 	argF func(statFd int) []string
 	// whether argsFd is present
 	hasArgsFd bool
+	// whether statFd is present
+	hasStatFd bool
 
 	// closes statFd
 	stat io.Closer
@@ -97,13 +86,8 @@ type helperCmd struct {
 	*exec.Cmd
 }
 
-func (h *helperCmd) SetStdin(r io.Reader) Helper  { h.Stdin = r; return h.r }
-func (h *helperCmd) SetStdout(w io.Writer) Helper { h.Stdout = w; return h.r }
-func (h *helperCmd) SetStderr(w io.Writer) Helper { h.Stderr = w; return h.r }
-func (h *helperCmd) SetEnv(env []string) Helper   { h.Env = env; return h.r }
-
 // finalise sets up the underlying [exec.Cmd] object.
-func (h *helperCmd) finalise(stat bool) (args []string) {
+func (h *helperCmd) finalise() (args []string) {
 	h.Env = slices.Grow(h.Env, 2)
 	if h.hasArgsFd {
 		h.Cmd.Env = append(h.Env, FortifyHelper+"=1")
@@ -112,7 +96,7 @@ func (h *helperCmd) finalise(stat bool) (args []string) {
 	}
 
 	statFd := -1
-	if stat {
+	if h.hasStatFd {
 		f := proc.NewStat(&h.stat)
 		statFd = int(proc.InitFile(f, h.extraFiles))
 		h.files = append(h.files, f)
diff --git a/helper/helper_test.go b/helper/helper_test.go
index 363cc04..3274fe5 100644
--- a/helper/helper_test.go
+++ b/helper/helper_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"os/exec"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -46,15 +47,13 @@ func argFChecked(argsFd, statFd int) (args []string) {
 }
 
 // this function tests an implementation of the helper.Helper interface
-func testHelper(t *testing.T, createHelper func(ctx context.Context) helper.Helper) {
+func testHelper(t *testing.T, createHelper func(ctx context.Context, cmdF func(cmd *exec.Cmd), stat bool) helper.Helper) {
 	helper.InternalReplaceExecCommand(t)
 
 	t.Run("start helper with status channel and wait", func(t *testing.T) {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
-		h := createHelper(ctx)
-
 		stdout, stderr := new(strings.Builder), new(strings.Builder)
-		h.SetStdout(stdout).SetStderr(stderr)
+		h := createHelper(ctx, func(cmd *exec.Cmd) { cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = stdout, stderr }, true)
 
 		t.Run("wait not yet started helper", func(t *testing.T) {
 			defer func() {
@@ -67,7 +66,7 @@ func testHelper(t *testing.T, createHelper func(ctx context.Context) helper.Help
 		})
 
 		t.Log("starting helper stub")
-		if err := h.Start(true); err != nil {
+		if err := h.Start(); err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Start: error = %v", err)
 			cancel()
 			return
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ func testHelper(t *testing.T, createHelper func(ctx context.Context) helper.Help
 
 		t.Run("start already started helper", func(t *testing.T) {
 			wantErr := "exec: already started"
-			if err := h.Start(true); err != nil && err.Error() != wantErr {
+			if err := h.Start(); err != nil && err.Error() != wantErr {
 				t.Errorf("Start: error = %v, wantErr %v",
 					err, wantErr)
 				return
@@ -108,12 +107,10 @@ func testHelper(t *testing.T, createHelper func(ctx context.Context) helper.Help
 	t.Run("start helper and wait", func(t *testing.T) {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
 		defer cancel()
-		h := createHelper(ctx)
-
 		stdout, stderr := new(strings.Builder), new(strings.Builder)
-		h.SetStdout(stdout).SetStderr(stderr)
+		h := createHelper(ctx, func(cmd *exec.Cmd) { cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = stdout, stderr }, false)
 
-		if err := h.Start(false); err != nil {
+		if err := h.Start(); err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Start() error = %v",
 				err)
 			return
diff --git a/internal/app/shim/main.go b/internal/app/shim/main.go
index 9855535..5690f8f 100644
--- a/internal/app/shim/main.go
+++ b/internal/app/shim/main.go
@@ -131,15 +131,15 @@ func Main() {
 		ctx,
 		conf, path.Join(fst.Tmp, "sbin/init0"), false,
 		nil, func(int, int) []string { return make([]string, 0) },
+		func(cmd *exec.Cmd) { cmd.Stdin, cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr },
 		extraFiles,
 		syncFd,
+		false,
 	); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("malformed sandbox config: %v", err)
 	} else {
-		b.SetStdin(os.Stdin).SetStdout(os.Stdout).SetStderr(os.Stderr)
-
 		// run and pass through exit code
-		if err = b.Start(false); err != nil {
+		if err = b.Start(); err != nil {
 			log.Fatalf("cannot start target process: %v", err)
 		} else if err = b.Wait(); err != nil {
 			var exitError *exec.ExitError