diff --git a/newbrt/brt-flusher.c b/newbrt/brt-flusher.c
index d9a8c33d569..13da2c18e07 100644
--- a/newbrt/brt-flusher.c
+++ b/newbrt/brt-flusher.c
@@ -403,10 +403,11 @@ ct_maybe_merge_child(struct flusher_advice *fa,
             toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(h);
 
             u_int32_t fullhash;
-            CACHEKEY *rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(h, &fullhash);
+            CACHEKEY root;
+            toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(h, &root, &fullhash);
             struct brtnode_fetch_extra bfe;
             fill_bfe_for_full_read(&bfe, h);
-            toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(h, *rootp, fullhash, &bfe, TRUE, 0, NULL, &root_node);
+            toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(h, root, fullhash, &bfe, TRUE, 0, NULL, &root_node);
             toku_assert_entire_node_in_memory(root_node);
 
             toku_brtheader_release_treelock(h);
diff --git a/newbrt/brt-hot-flusher.c b/newbrt/brt-hot-flusher.c
index 177f6e4c8ef..9e768224e1b 100644
--- a/newbrt/brt-hot-flusher.c
+++ b/newbrt/brt-hot-flusher.c
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ toku_brt_hot_optimize(BRT brt,
     // the hot optimize contract.
     do {
         BRTNODE root;
-        CACHEKEY *rootp;
+        CACHEKEY root_key;
         u_int32_t fullhash;
 
         {
@@ -272,11 +272,11 @@ toku_brt_hot_optimize(BRT brt,
 
             // Get root node (the first parent of each successive HOT
             // call.)
-            rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
+            toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_key, &fullhash);
             struct brtnode_fetch_extra bfe;
             fill_bfe_for_full_read(&bfe, brt->h);
             toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(brt->h,
-                                               (BLOCKNUM) *rootp,
+                                               (BLOCKNUM) root_key,
                                                fullhash,
                                                &bfe,
                                                TRUE, 
diff --git a/newbrt/brt-verify.c b/newbrt/brt-verify.c
index 93e6f849cbe..ba41b7ed98a 100644
--- a/newbrt/brt-verify.c
+++ b/newbrt/brt-verify.c
@@ -407,8 +407,9 @@ toku_verify_brt_with_progress (BRT brt, int (*progress_callback)(void *extra, fl
         toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(brt->h);
 
         u_int32_t root_hash;
-        CACHEKEY *rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_hash);
-        toku_get_node_for_verify(*rootp, brt, &root_node);
+        CACHEKEY root_key;
+        toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_key, &root_hash);
+        toku_get_node_for_verify(root_key, brt, &root_node);
 
         toku_brtheader_release_treelock(brt->h);
     }
diff --git a/newbrt/brt.c b/newbrt/brt.c
index 10136531e7f..b709baada51 100644
--- a/newbrt/brt.c
+++ b/newbrt/brt.c
@@ -2146,14 +2146,15 @@ brt_nonleaf_put_cmd (brt_compare_func compare_fun, DESCRIPTOR desc, BRTNODE node
 }
 
 
-static void
+// return TRUE if root changed, FALSE otherwise
+static BOOL
 brt_handle_maybe_reactive_root (struct brt_header *h, CACHEKEY *rootp, BRTNODE *nodep) {
     BRTNODE node = *nodep;
     toku_assert_entire_node_in_memory(node);
     enum reactivity re = get_node_reactivity(node);
     switch (re) {
     case RE_STABLE:
-	return;
+	return FALSE;
     case RE_FISSIBLE:
 	// The root node should split, so make a new root.
 	{
@@ -2171,10 +2172,10 @@ brt_handle_maybe_reactive_root (struct brt_header *h, CACHEKEY *rootp, BRTNODE *
 		brt_nonleaf_split(h, node, &nodea, &nodeb, &splitk, 0, NULL);
 	    }
 	    brt_init_new_root(h, nodea, nodeb, splitk, rootp, nodep);
-	    return;
+	    return TRUE;
 	}
     case RE_FUSIBLE:
-	return; // Cannot merge anything at the root, so return happy.
+	return FALSE; // Cannot merge anything at the root, so return happy.
     }
     abort(); // cannot happen
 }
@@ -2575,7 +2576,7 @@ toku_brt_root_put_cmd (struct brt_header *h, BRT_MSG_S * cmd)
 //  - cmd will set new msn in tree
 {
     BRTNODE node;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
+    CACHEKEY root_key;
     //assert(0==toku_cachetable_assert_all_unpinned(brt->cachetable));
     assert(h);
     //
@@ -2610,14 +2611,14 @@ toku_brt_root_put_cmd (struct brt_header *h, BRT_MSG_S * cmd)
         toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(h);
 
         u_int32_t fullhash;
-        rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(h, &fullhash);
+        toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(h, &root_key, &fullhash);
 
         // get the root node
         struct brtnode_fetch_extra bfe;
         fill_bfe_for_full_read(&bfe, h);
         toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(
             h, 
-            *rootp, 
+            root_key, 
             fullhash,
             &bfe, 
             TRUE, // may_modify_node
@@ -2638,7 +2639,11 @@ toku_brt_root_put_cmd (struct brt_header *h, BRT_MSG_S * cmd)
         brt_verify_flags(h, node);
 
         // first handle a reactive root, then put in the message
-        brt_handle_maybe_reactive_root(h, rootp, &node);
+        CACHEKEY new_root_key;
+        BOOL root_changed = brt_handle_maybe_reactive_root(h, &new_root_key, &node);
+        if (root_changed) {
+            toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(h, new_root_key);
+        }
 
         toku_brtheader_release_treelock(h);
     }
@@ -4867,10 +4872,11 @@ try_again:
     {
         toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(brt->h);
         u_int32_t fullhash;
-        CACHEKEY *rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
+        CACHEKEY root_key;
+        toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_key, &fullhash);
         toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(
             brt->h, 
-            *rootp, 
+            root_key, 
             fullhash,
             &bfe, 
             FALSE, // may_modify_node set to FALSE, because root cannot change during search
@@ -5427,10 +5433,11 @@ toku_brt_keyrange (BRT brt, DBT *key, u_int64_t *less_p, u_int64_t *equal_p, u_i
             toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(brt->h);
 
             u_int32_t fullhash;
-            CACHEKEY *rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
+            CACHEKEY root_key;
+            toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_key, &fullhash);
             toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(
                 brt->h, 
-                *rootp, 
+                root_key, 
                 fullhash,
                 &bfe, 
                 FALSE, // may_modify_node, cannot change root during keyrange
@@ -5589,8 +5596,9 @@ int toku_dump_brt (FILE *f, BRT brt) {
         toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(brt->h);
 
         u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-        CACHEKEY *rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-        r = toku_dump_brtnode(f, brt, *rootp, 0, 0, 0);
+        CACHEKEY root_key;
+        toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_key, &fullhash);
+        r = toku_dump_brtnode(f, brt, root_key, 0, 0, 0);
 
         toku_brtheader_release_treelock(brt->h);
     }
@@ -5793,12 +5801,13 @@ BOOL toku_brt_is_empty_fast (BRT brt)
     {
         toku_brtheader_grab_treelock(brt->h);
 
-        CACHEKEY *rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
+        CACHEKEY root_key;
+        toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &root_key, &fullhash);
         struct brtnode_fetch_extra bfe;
         fill_bfe_for_full_read(&bfe, brt->h);
         toku_pin_brtnode_off_client_thread(
             brt->h,
-            *rootp,
+            root_key,
             fullhash,
             &bfe,
             FALSE, // may_modify_node set to FALSE, node does not change
diff --git a/newbrt/brt_header.c b/newbrt/brt_header.c
index 1c56efd9dd1..2c48b54b7b5 100644
--- a/newbrt/brt_header.c
+++ b/newbrt/brt_header.c
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ brtheader_note_unpin_by_checkpoint (CACHEFILE UU(cachefile), void *header_v)
 }
 
 //
-// End of Functions that are callbacks to the cachefule
+// End of Functions that are callbacks to the cachefile
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 static int setup_initial_brtheader_root_node (struct brt_header* h, BLOCKNUM blocknum) {
@@ -873,9 +873,21 @@ toku_brtheader_remove_txn_ref(struct brt_header* h, TOKUTXN txn) {
     }
 }
 
-CACHEKEY* toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer (struct brt_header* h, u_int32_t *roothash) {
+void toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer (
+    struct brt_header* h, 
+    CACHEKEY* root_key, 
+    u_int32_t *roothash
+    ) 
+{
     *roothash = toku_cachetable_hash(h->cf, h->root_blocknum);
-    return &h->root_blocknum;
+    *root_key = h->root_blocknum;
 }
 
+void toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(
+    struct brt_header* h, 
+    CACHEKEY new_root_key
+    ) 
+{
+    h->root_blocknum = new_root_key;
+}
 
diff --git a/newbrt/brt_header.h b/newbrt/brt_header.h
index b9c1fdd92ae..d046b035e43 100644
--- a/newbrt/brt_header.h
+++ b/newbrt/brt_header.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ toku_brtheader_maybe_add_txn_ref(struct brt_header* h, TOKUTXN txn);
 void
 toku_brtheader_remove_txn_ref(struct brt_header* h, TOKUTXN txn);
 
-CACHEKEY* toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer (struct brt_header* h, u_int32_t *root_hash);
+void toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer ( struct brt_header* h, CACHEKEY* root_key, u_int32_t *roothash);
+void toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(struct brt_header* h, CACHEKEY new_root_key); 
 
 #endif
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/make-tree.c b/newbrt/tests/make-tree.c
index 3a6a05c9672..05644cc22ef 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/make-tree.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/make-tree.c
@@ -132,13 +132,8 @@ test_make_tree(int height, int fanout, int nperleaf, int do_verify) {
     int seq = 0, minkey, maxkey;
     BRTNODE newroot = make_tree(brt, height, fanout, nperleaf, &seq, &minkey, &maxkey);
 
-    // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     newroot->max_msn_applied_to_node_on_disk = last_dummymsn(); // capture msn of last message injected into tree
 
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/msnfilter.c b/newbrt/tests/msnfilter.c
index b513ccf4655..ece54a12e72 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/msnfilter.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/msnfilter.c
@@ -121,15 +121,10 @@ test_msnfilter(int do_verify) {
     r = toku_open_brt(fname, 1, &brt, 1024, 256, ct, null_txn, toku_builtin_compare_fun);
     assert(r == 0);
 
-    // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
     BRTNODE newroot = make_node(brt, 0);
 
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // KLUDGE: Unpin the new root so toku_brt_lookup() can pin it.  (Pin lock is no longer a recursive
     //         mutex.)  Just leaving it unpinned for this test program works  because it is the only 
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-msn.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-msn.c
index 3e7fd5a638a..85a58935c81 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-msn.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-msn.c
@@ -138,13 +138,8 @@ test_make_tree(int height, int fanout, int nperleaf, int do_verify) {
     int seq = 0, minkey, maxkey;
     BRTNODE newroot = make_tree(brt, height, fanout, nperleaf, &seq, &minkey, &maxkey);
 
-    // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // Create bad tree (don't do following):
     // newroot->max_msn_applied_to_node = last_dummymsn(); // capture msn of last message injected into tree
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-pivots.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-pivots.c
index f4035bc66ef..a44801b181c 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-pivots.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-bad-pivots.c
@@ -109,12 +109,7 @@ test_make_tree(int height, int fanout, int nperleaf, int do_verify) {
     BRTNODE newroot = make_tree(brt, height, fanout, nperleaf, &seq, &minkey, &maxkey);
 
     // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
-    // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // unpin the new root
     toku_unpin_brtnode(brt->h, newroot);
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-in-leaf.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-in-leaf.c
index c68c75d89c4..38a9b0592a6 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-in-leaf.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-in-leaf.c
@@ -63,16 +63,13 @@ test_dup_in_leaf(int do_verify) {
     assert(r == 0);
 
     // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
 
     BRTNODE newroot = make_node(brt, 0);
     populate_leaf(newroot, htonl(2), 1);
     populate_leaf(newroot, htonl(2), 2);
 
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // unpin the new root
     toku_unpin_brtnode(brt->h, newroot);
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-pivots.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-pivots.c
index 70d2c18fa58..d71e8d4739c 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-pivots.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-dup-pivots.c
@@ -109,12 +109,8 @@ test_make_tree(int height, int fanout, int nperleaf, int do_verify) {
     BRTNODE newroot = make_tree(brt, height, fanout, nperleaf, &seq, &minkey, &maxkey);
 
     // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // unpin the new root
     toku_unpin_brtnode(brt->h, newroot);
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-misrouted-msgs.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-misrouted-msgs.c
index 3921ad95234..fa89e8b122d 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-misrouted-msgs.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-misrouted-msgs.c
@@ -124,12 +124,8 @@ test_make_tree(int height, int fanout, int nperleaf, int do_verify) {
     BRTNODE newroot = make_tree(brt, height, fanout, nperleaf, &seq, &minkey, &maxkey);
 
     // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // unpin the new root
     toku_unpin_brtnode(brt->h, newroot);
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-leaf.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-leaf.c
index f6050bca257..4c9bc0f3248 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-leaf.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-leaf.c
@@ -63,16 +63,12 @@ test_dup_in_leaf(int do_verify) {
     assert(r == 0);
 
     // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
     BRTNODE newroot = make_node(brt, 0);
     populate_leaf(newroot, htonl(2), 1);
     populate_leaf(newroot, htonl(1), 2);
 
     // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // unpin the new root
     toku_unpin_brtnode(brt->h, newroot);
diff --git a/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-pivots.c b/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-pivots.c
index 0de5d7d06e4..3eb5539115f 100644
--- a/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-pivots.c
+++ b/newbrt/tests/verify-unsorted-pivots.c
@@ -109,12 +109,7 @@ test_make_tree(int height, int fanout, int nperleaf, int do_verify) {
     BRTNODE newroot = make_tree(brt, height, fanout, nperleaf, &seq, &minkey, &maxkey);
 
     // discard the old root block
-    u_int32_t fullhash = 0;
-    CACHEKEY *rootp;
-    rootp = toku_calculate_root_offset_pointer(brt->h, &fullhash);
-
-    // set the new root to point to the new tree
-    *rootp = newroot->thisnodename;
+    toku_brtheader_set_new_root_blocknum(brt->h, newroot->thisnodename);
 
     // unpin the new root
     toku_unpin_brtnode(brt->h, newroot);