diff --git a/doc/man3/trpc.c b/doc/man3/trpc.c
index c0a089146a04..6062d53f065c 100644
--- a/doc/man3/trpc.c
+++ b/doc/man3/trpc.c
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
     if (!(h = flux_open (NULL, 0)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_open");
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "attr.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-		        "{s:s}", "name", "rank")))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "attr.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+		             "{s:s}", "name", "rank")))
         log_err_exit ("flux_rpcf");
 
     if (flux_rpc_getf (f, "{s:s}", "value", &rankstr) < 0)
diff --git a/doc/man3/trpc_then.c b/doc/man3/trpc_then.c
index 59b57680d246..977a50e48351 100644
--- a/doc/man3/trpc_then.c
+++ b/doc/man3/trpc_then.c
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
     if (!(h = flux_open (NULL, 0)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_open");
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "attr.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-		        "{s:s}", "name", "rank")))
-        log_err_exit ("flux_rpcf");
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "attr.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+		             "{s:s}", "name", "rank")))
+        log_err_exit ("flux_rpc_pack");
 
     if (flux_future_then (f, -1., continuation, NULL) < 0)
         log_err_exit ("flux_future_then");
diff --git a/src/broker/hello.c b/src/broker/hello.c
index 906a6397367b..76710ed1a31b 100644
--- a/src/broker/hello.c
+++ b/src/broker/hello.c
@@ -281,11 +281,11 @@ static void r_forward (flux_reduce_t *r, int batch, void *arg)
     assert (batch == 0);
     assert (count > 0);
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (hello->h, "hello.join", FLUX_NODEID_UPSTREAM,
-                           FLUX_RPC_NORESPONSE, "{ s:i s:i }",
-                           "count", count,
-                           "batch", batch)))
-        log_err_exit ("hello: flux_rpcf");
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (hello->h, "hello.join", FLUX_NODEID_UPSTREAM,
+                             FLUX_RPC_NORESPONSE, "{ s:i s:i }",
+                             "count", count,
+                             "batch", batch)))
+        log_err_exit ("hello: flux_rpc_pack");
     flux_future_destroy (f);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/builtin/heaptrace.c b/src/cmd/builtin/heaptrace.c
index d58507577229..9b50f489872d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/builtin/heaptrace.c
+++ b/src/cmd/builtin/heaptrace.c
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ static int internal_heaptrace_start (optparse_t *p, int ac, char *av[])
     }
     if (!(h = builtin_get_flux_handle (p)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_open");
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "heaptrace.start", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:s }", "filename", av[ac - 1]))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "heaptrace.start", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:s }", "filename", av[ac - 1]))
             || flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         log_err_exit ("heaptrace.start");
     flux_future_destroy (f);
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ static int internal_heaptrace_dump (optparse_t *p, int ac, char *av[])
     }
     if (!(h = builtin_get_flux_handle (p)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_open");
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "heaptrace.dump", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:s }", "reason", av[ac - 1]))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "heaptrace.dump", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:s }", "reason", av[ac - 1]))
             || flux_rpc_get (f , NULL) < 0)
         log_err_exit ("heaptrace.dump");
     flux_future_destroy (f);
diff --git a/src/cmd/builtin/user.c b/src/cmd/builtin/user.c
index d3deeaa8c240..1a09b7a0c7fa 100644
--- a/src/cmd/builtin/user.c
+++ b/src/cmd/builtin/user.c
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ static void delrole (flux_t *h, uint32_t userid, uint32_t rolemask)
     uint32_t final;
     char s[256];
 
-    f = flux_rpcf (h, "userdb.delrole", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                   "{s:i s:i}", "userid", userid,
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "userdb.delrole", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                       "{s:i s:i}", "userid", userid,
                                 "rolemask", rolemask);
     if (!f)
         log_err_exit ("userdb.delrole");
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ static void addrole (flux_t *h, uint32_t userid, uint32_t rolemask)
     uint32_t final;
     char s[256];
 
-    f = flux_rpcf (h, "userdb.addrole", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                   "{s:i s:i}", "userid", userid,
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "userdb.addrole", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                       "{s:i s:i}", "userid", userid,
                                     "rolemask", rolemask);
     if (!f)
         log_err_exit ("userdb.addrole");
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ static int internal_user_lookup (optparse_t *p, int ac, char *av[])
         log_msg_exit ("%s: invalid userid", av[n]);
     if (!(h = builtin_get_flux_handle (p)))
         log_err_exit ("flux_open");
-    f = flux_rpcf (h, "userdb.lookup", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                   "{s:i}", "userid", userid);
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "userdb.lookup", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                       "{s:i}", "userid", userid);
     if (!f)
         log_err_exit ("userdb.lookup");
     if (flux_rpc_getf (f, "{s:i s:i}", "userid", &userid,
diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-module.c b/src/cmd/flux-module.c
index eda9c6b746bc..7ecd3d6b9062 100644
--- a/src/cmd/flux-module.c
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-module.c
@@ -708,8 +708,8 @@ int cmd_debug (optparse_t *p, int argc, char **argv)
         op = "setbit";
         flags = strtoul (optparse_get_str (p, "setbit", NULL), NULL, 0);
     }
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, topic, FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{s:s s:i}",
-                           "op", op, "flags", flags)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, topic, FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{s:s s:i}",
+                             "op", op, "flags", flags)))
         log_err_exit ("%s", topic);
     if (flux_rpc_getf (f, "{s:i}", "flags", &flags) < 0)
         log_err_exit ("%s", topic);
diff --git a/src/common/libflux/attr.c b/src/common/libflux/attr.c
index 1d885bea2677..6660738cfe66 100644
--- a/src/common/libflux/attr.c
+++ b/src/common/libflux/attr.c
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ static int attr_get_rpc (attr_ctx_t *ctx, const char *name, attr_t **attrp)
     attr_t *attr;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (ctx->h, "attr.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                         "{s:s}", "name", name)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (ctx->h, "attr.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{s:s}", "name", name)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_rpc_getf (f, "{s:s, s:i}", "value", &val, "flags", &flags) < 0)
         goto done;
@@ -125,12 +125,12 @@ static int attr_set_rpc (attr_ctx_t *ctx, const char *name, const char *val)
 
 #if JANSSON_VERSION_HEX >= 0x020800
     /* $? format specifier was introduced in jansson 2.8 */
-    f = flux_rpcf (ctx->h, "attr.set", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                   "{s:s, s:s?}", "name", name, "value", val);
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (ctx->h, "attr.set", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                       "{s:s, s:s?}", "name", name, "value", val);
 #else
-    f = flux_rpcf (ctx->h, "attr.set", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                   val ? "{s:s, s:s}" : "{s:s, s:n}",
-                   "name", name, "value", val);
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (ctx->h, "attr.set", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                       val ? "{s:s, s:s}" : "{s:s, s:n}",
+                       "name", name, "value", val);
 #endif
     if (!f)
         goto done;
diff --git a/src/common/libflux/barrier.c b/src/common/libflux/barrier.c
index d4c57f740393..52b2040d17a3 100644
--- a/src/common/libflux/barrier.c
+++ b/src/common/libflux/barrier.c
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ flux_future_t *flux_barrier (flux_t *h, const char *name, int nprocs)
     if (!name && !(name = generate_unique_name (h)))
         return NULL;
 
-    return flux_rpcf (h, "barrier.enter", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{s:s s:i s:i s:b}",
+    return flux_rpc_pack (h, "barrier.enter", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                          "{s:s s:i s:i s:b}",
                            "name", name,
                            "count", 1,
                            "nprocs", nprocs,
diff --git a/src/common/libflux/flog.c b/src/common/libflux/flog.c
index e180b1e3ae33..c9195e13e893 100644
--- a/src/common/libflux/flog.c
+++ b/src/common/libflux/flog.c
@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ static int dmesg_clear (flux_t *h, int seq)
     flux_future_t *f;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "log.clear", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{s:i}", "seq", seq)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "log.clear", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{s:i}", "seq", seq)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ static int dmesg_clear (flux_t *h, int seq)
 
 static flux_future_t *dmesg_rpc (flux_t *h, int seq, bool follow)
 {
-    return flux_rpcf (h, "log.dmesg", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                      "{s:i s:b}", "seq", seq, "follow", follow);
+    return flux_rpc_pack (h, "log.dmesg", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                          "{s:i s:b}", "seq", seq, "follow", follow);
 }
 
 static int dmesg_rpc_get (flux_future_t *f, int *seq, flux_log_f fun, void *arg)
diff --git a/src/common/libflux/panic.c b/src/common/libflux/panic.c
index 5d109b0bc59e..b896c473567d 100644
--- a/src/common/libflux/panic.c
+++ b/src/common/libflux/panic.c
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ int flux_panic (flux_t *h, int rank, const char *msg)
     flux_future_t *f = NULL;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    f = flux_rpcf (h, "cmb.panic", nodeid, FLUX_RPC_NORESPONSE,
-                   "{s:s}", "msg", msg ? msg : "");
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "cmb.panic", nodeid, FLUX_RPC_NORESPONSE,
+                       "{s:s}", "msg", msg ? msg : "");
     if (!f)
         goto done;
     /* No reply */
diff --git a/src/common/libflux/rpc.c b/src/common/libflux/rpc.c
index 8329cdece4b0..8e8857f20503 100644
--- a/src/common/libflux/rpc.c
+++ b/src/common/libflux/rpc.c
@@ -284,11 +284,11 @@ flux_future_t *flux_rpc_raw (flux_t *h,
     return f;
 }
 
-static flux_future_t *flux_vrpcf (flux_t *h,
-                                  const char *topic,
-                                  uint32_t nodeid,
-                                  int flags,
-                                  const char *fmt, va_list ap)
+static flux_future_t *flux_rpc_vpack (flux_t *h,
+                                      const char *topic,
+                                      uint32_t nodeid,
+                                      int flags,
+                                      const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 {
     flux_msg_t *msg;
     flux_future_t *f = NULL;
@@ -303,14 +303,14 @@ static flux_future_t *flux_vrpcf (flux_t *h,
     return f;
 }
 
-flux_future_t *flux_rpcf (flux_t *h, const char *topic, uint32_t nodeid,
-                          int flags, const char *fmt, ...)
+flux_future_t *flux_rpc_pack (flux_t *h, const char *topic, uint32_t nodeid,
+                              int flags, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
     va_list ap;
     flux_future_t *f;
 
     va_start (ap, fmt);
-    f = flux_vrpcf (h, topic, nodeid, flags, fmt, ap);
+    f = flux_rpc_vpack (h, topic, nodeid, flags, fmt, ap);
     va_end (ap);
     return f;
 }
diff --git a/src/common/libflux/rpc.h b/src/common/libflux/rpc.h
index 57de458fc7e1..3d04531908d8 100644
--- a/src/common/libflux/rpc.h
+++ b/src/common/libflux/rpc.h
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ enum {
 flux_future_t *flux_rpc (flux_t *h, const char *topic, const char *json_str,
                          uint32_t nodeid, int flags);
 
-flux_future_t *flux_rpcf (flux_t *h, const char *topic, uint32_t nodeid,
-                          int flags, const char *fmt, ...);
+flux_future_t *flux_rpc_pack (flux_t *h, const char *topic, uint32_t nodeid,
+                              int flags, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 flux_future_t *flux_rpc_raw (flux_t *h, const char *topic,
                              const void *data, int len,
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs.c b/src/common/libkvs/kvs.c
index ffbc1ab8824c..0be8f9019a16 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs.c
@@ -397,8 +397,8 @@ int kvs_wait_version (flux_t *h, int version)
     flux_future_t *f;
     int ret = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "kvs.sync", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{ s:i }",
-                           "rootseq", version)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "kvs.sync", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{ s:i }",
+                             "rootseq", version)))
         goto done;
     /* N.B. response contains (rootseq, rootdir) but we don't need it.
      */
diff --git a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c
index 803be6a24482..a61ecf01c582 100644
--- a/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c
+++ b/src/common/libkvs/kvs_lookup.c
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@
 
 flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookup (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key)
 {
-    return flux_rpcf (h, "kvs.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{s:s s:i}",
-                                                        "key", key,
-                                                        "flags", flags);
+    return flux_rpc_pack (h, "kvs.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{s:s s:i}",
+                                                            "key", key,
+                                                            "flags", flags);
 }
 
 flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookupat (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key,
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ flux_future_t *flux_kvs_lookupat (flux_t *h, int flags, const char *key,
             errno = EINVAL;
             return NULL;
         }
-        f = flux_rpcf (h, "kvs.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{s:s s:i s:O}",
-                                                         "key", key,
-                                                         "flags", flags,
-                                                         "rootdir", obj);
+        f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "kvs.get", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{s:s s:i s:O}",
+                                                             "key", key,
+                                                             "flags", flags,
+                                                             "rootdir", obj);
     }
     json_decref (obj);
     return f;
diff --git a/src/connectors/local/local.c b/src/connectors/local/local.c
index 9ba5456108b8..a4f47d24b503 100644
--- a/src/connectors/local/local.c
+++ b/src/connectors/local/local.c
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ static int op_event (void *impl, const char *topic, const char *msg_topic)
 
     assert (c->magic == CTX_MAGIC);
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (c->h, msg_topic, FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{s:s}", "topic", topic)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (c->h, msg_topic, FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{s:s}", "topic", topic)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
diff --git a/src/connectors/shmem/shmem.c b/src/connectors/shmem/shmem.c
index be0651497d48..6563116a8f35 100644
--- a/src/connectors/shmem/shmem.c
+++ b/src/connectors/shmem/shmem.c
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ static int op_event_subscribe (void *impl, const char *topic)
     flux_future_t *f;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (ctx->h, "cmb.sub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (ctx->h, "cmb.sub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ static int op_event_unsubscribe (void *impl, const char *topic)
     flux_future_t *f = NULL;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (ctx->h, "cmb.unsub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (ctx->h, "cmb.unsub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
diff --git a/src/connectors/ssh/ssh.c b/src/connectors/ssh/ssh.c
index bae1a480c7f0..ac34493e85da 100644
--- a/src/connectors/ssh/ssh.c
+++ b/src/connectors/ssh/ssh.c
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ static int op_event_subscribe (void *impl, const char *topic)
     flux_future_t *f;
     int rc = 0;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (c->h, "local.sub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (c->h, "local.sub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ static int op_event_unsubscribe (void *impl, const char *topic)
     flux_future_t *f;
     int rc = 0;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (c->h, "local.unsub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (c->h, "local.unsub", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:s }", "topic", topic)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
diff --git a/src/modules/barrier/barrier.c b/src/modules/barrier/barrier.c
index d964e81d9bf3..53becaf4e972 100644
--- a/src/modules/barrier/barrier.c
+++ b/src/modules/barrier/barrier.c
@@ -168,12 +168,12 @@ static void send_enter_request (barrier_ctx_t *ctx, barrier_t *b)
 {
     flux_future_t *f;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (ctx->h, "barrier.enter", FLUX_NODEID_UPSTREAM,
-                           FLUX_RPC_NORESPONSE, "{s:s s:i s:i s:b}",
-                           "name", b->name,
-                           "count", b->count,
-                           "nprocs", b->nprocs,
-                           "internal", true))) {
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (ctx->h, "barrier.enter", FLUX_NODEID_UPSTREAM,
+                             FLUX_RPC_NORESPONSE, "{s:s s:i s:i s:b}",
+                             "name", b->name,
+                             "count", b->count,
+                             "nprocs", b->nprocs,
+                             "internal", true))) {
         flux_log_error (ctx->h, "sending barrier.enter request");
         goto done;
     }
diff --git a/src/modules/connector-local/local.c b/src/modules/connector-local/local.c
index 4ecb17c45cb0..09c19a5cd83a 100644
--- a/src/modules/connector-local/local.c
+++ b/src/modules/connector-local/local.c
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ static int lookup_userdb (flux_t *h, uint32_t userid, uint32_t *rolemask)
     flux_future_t *f;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "userdb.lookup", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{s:i}", "userid", userid)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "userdb.lookup", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{s:i}", "userid", userid)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_rpc_getf (f, "{s:i}", "rolemask", rolemask) < 0)
         goto done;
diff --git a/src/modules/content-sqlite/content-sqlite.c b/src/modules/content-sqlite/content-sqlite.c
index 8812baaed770..f87221aa0ee2 100644
--- a/src/modules/content-sqlite/content-sqlite.c
+++ b/src/modules/content-sqlite/content-sqlite.c
@@ -393,10 +393,10 @@ int register_backing_store (flux_t *h, bool value, const char *name)
     int saved_errno = 0;
     int rc = -1;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "content.backing", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                           "{ s:b s:s }",
-                           "backing", value,
-                           "name", name)))
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "content.backing", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                             "{ s:b s:s }",
+                             "backing", value,
+                             "name", name)))
         goto done;
     if (flux_future_get (f, NULL) < 0)
         goto done;
diff --git a/src/modules/cron/cron.c b/src/modules/cron/cron.c
index 311c58cd61fc..57c68e6f114b 100644
--- a/src/modules/cron/cron.c
+++ b/src/modules/cron/cron.c
@@ -343,13 +343,13 @@ static int64_t next_cronid (flux_t *h)
     int64_t ret = (int64_t) -1;
     flux_future_t *f;
 
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "seq.fetch", 0, 0,
-                           "{ s:s s:i s:i s:b }",
-                           "name", "cron",
-                           "preincrement", 1,
-                           "postincrement", 0,
-                           "create", true))) {
-        flux_log_error (h, "flux_rpcf");
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "seq.fetch", 0, 0,
+                             "{ s:s s:i s:i s:b }",
+                             "name", "cron",
+                             "preincrement", 1,
+                             "postincrement", 0,
+                             "create", true))) {
+        flux_log_error (h, "flux_rpc_pack");
         goto out;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/wreck/job.c b/src/modules/wreck/job.c
index 4b3ad06b47f7..424661e8a11d 100644
--- a/src/modules/wreck/job.c
+++ b/src/modules/wreck/job.c
@@ -157,11 +157,11 @@ static int64_t next_jobid (flux_t *h)
     int64_t ret = (int64_t) -1;
     flux_future_t *f;
 
-    f = flux_rpcf (h, "seq.fetch", 0, 0, "{s:s,s:i,s:i,s:b}",
-                        "name", "lwj",
-                        "preincrement", 1,
-                        "postincrement", 0,
-                        "create", true);
+    f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "seq.fetch", 0, 0, "{s:s,s:i,s:i,s:b}",
+                       "name", "lwj",
+                       "preincrement", 1,
+                       "postincrement", 0,
+                       "create", true);
     if (f == NULL) {
         flux_log_error (h, "next_jobid: flux_rpc");
         goto out;
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ static bool ping_sched (flux_t *h)
 {
     bool retval = false;
     flux_future_t *f;
-    if (!(f = flux_rpcf (h, "sched.ping", 0, 0, "{s:i}", "seq", 0))) {
+    if (!(f = flux_rpc_pack (h, "sched.ping", 0, 0, "{s:i}", "seq", 0))) {
         flux_log_error (h, "ping_sched");
         goto out;
     }
diff --git a/t/rpc/rpc.c b/t/rpc/rpc.c
index 20c9227c9727..0b02b75e6f1d 100644
--- a/t/rpc/rpc.c
+++ b/t/rpc/rpc.c
@@ -275,9 +275,9 @@ void test_encoding (flux_t *h)
 
     /* use newish pack/unpack payload interfaces */
     int i = 0;
-    ok ((r = flux_rpcf (h, "rpctest.incr", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                        "{s:i}", "n", 107)) != NULL,
-        "flux_rpcf works");
+    ok ((r = flux_rpc_pack (h, "rpctest.incr", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                            "{s:i}", "n", 107)) != NULL,
+        "flux_rpc_pack works");
     ok (flux_rpc_getf (r, NULL) < 0
         && errno == EINVAL,
         "flux_rpc_getf fails with EINVAL");
@@ -288,9 +288,9 @@ void test_encoding (flux_t *h)
     flux_future_destroy (r);
 
     /* cause remote EPROTO (unexpected payload) - will be picked up in _getf() */
-    ok ((r = flux_rpcf (h, "rpcftest.hello", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
-                        "{ s:i }", "foo", 42)) != NULL,
-        "flux_rpcf with payload when none is expected works, at first");
+    ok ((r = flux_rpc_pack (h, "rpcftest.hello", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0,
+                            "{ s:i }", "foo", 42)) != NULL,
+        "flux_rpc_pack with payload when none is expected works, at first");
     errno = 0;
     ok (flux_rpc_getf (r, "{}") < 0
         && errno == EPROTO,
@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ void test_encoding (flux_t *h)
     flux_future_destroy (r);
 
     /* cause local EPROTO (user incorrectly expects payload) */
-    ok ((r = flux_rpcf (h, "rpcftest.hello", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{}")) != NULL,
-        "flux_rpcf with empty payload works");
+    ok ((r = flux_rpc_pack (h, "rpcftest.hello", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{}")) != NULL,
+        "flux_rpc_pack with empty payload works");
     errno = 0;
     ok (flux_rpc_getf (r, "{ s:i }", "foo", &i) < 0
         && errno == EPROTO,
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ void test_encoding (flux_t *h)
 
     /* cause local EPROTO (user incorrectly expects empty payload) */
     errno = 0;
-    ok ((r = flux_rpcf (h, "rpctest.echo", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{ s:i }", "foo", 42)) != NULL,
-        "flux_rpcf with payload works");
+    ok ((r = flux_rpc_pack (h, "rpctest.echo", FLUX_NODEID_ANY, 0, "{ s:i }", "foo", 42)) != NULL,
+        "flux_rpc_pack with payload works");
     errno = 0;
     ok (flux_rpc_getf (r, "{ ! }") < 0
         && errno == EPROTO,