diff --git a/pollen/cache.rkt b/pollen/cache.rkt
index 46f7ee4..1bacd69 100644
--- a/pollen/cache.rkt
+++ b/pollen/cache.rkt
@@ -47,11 +47,10 @@
          (define ram-cache-record (hash-ref! ram-cache key get-cache-record))
          (hash-ref ram-cache-record subkey)]
         [else
-         (define outer-ns (namespace-anchor->namespace cache-module-ns))
-         (define new-ns (make-base-namespace))
-         (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'pollen/setup new-ns) 
-         (parameterize ([current-namespace new-ns])
+         (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
            ;; brings in currently instantiated params (unlike namespace-require)
+           (define outer-ns (namespace-anchor->namespace cache-module-ns))
+           (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'pollen/setup) 
            (dynamic-require path subkey))]))))
 
 (define+provide (cached-require path-string subkey)
diff --git a/pollen/private/cache-utils.rkt b/pollen/private/cache-utils.rkt
index 3118c99..19e4398 100644
--- a/pollen/private/cache-utils.rkt
+++ b/pollen/private/cache-utils.rkt
@@ -59,12 +59,11 @@
            ;; the benefit of not reloading doc when you just need metas.
            ;; new namespace forces `dynamic-require` to re-instantiate `path`
            ;; otherwise it gets cached in current namespace.
-           ;; brings in currently instantiated params (unlike namespace-require)
-           (define outer-ns (namespace-anchor->namespace cache-utils-module-ns))
-           (define new-ns (make-base-namespace))
-           (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'pollen/setup new-ns)
-           (parameterize ([current-namespace new-ns]
+           (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)]
                           [current-directory (dirname path)])
+             ;; brings in currently instantiated params (unlike namespace-require)
+             (define outer-ns (namespace-anchor->namespace cache-utils-module-ns))
+             (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'pollen/setup) 
              (define doc-missing-thunk (λ () ""))
              (define metas-missing-thunk (λ () (hasheq)))
              (list doc-key (dynamic-require path doc-key doc-missing-thunk)
diff --git a/pollen/render.rkt b/pollen/render.rkt
index 2d7f260..434f812 100644
--- a/pollen/render.rkt
+++ b/pollen/render.rkt
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
   (define template-path (or maybe-template-path (get-template-for source-path output-path)))
   
   ;; output-path and template-path may not have an extension, so check them in order with fallback
-  (message (format "rendering /~a"
+    (message (format "rendering /~a"
                    (find-relative-path (current-project-root) source-path)))
   (match-define-values ((cons render-result _) _ real _)
     (parameterize ([current-poly-target (->symbol (or (get-ext output-path)
@@ -175,12 +175,11 @@
   (local-require scribble/core scribble/manual (prefix-in scribble- scribble/render))
   (define source-dir (dirname source-path))
   ;; make fresh namespace for scribble rendering (avoids dep/zo caching)
-  (define outer-ns (namespace-anchor->namespace render-module-ns))
-  (define new-ns (make-base-namespace))
-  (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'scribble/core new-ns)
-  (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'scribble/manual new-ns)
-  (parameterize ([current-namespace new-ns]
+  (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)]
                  [current-directory (->complete-path source-dir)])
+    (define outer-ns (namespace-anchor->namespace render-module-ns))
+    (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'scribble/core)
+    (namespace-attach-module outer-ns 'scribble/manual)
     ;; scribble/lp files have their doc export in a 'doc submodule, so check both locations
     (match (cond
              [(dynamic-require source-path 'doc (λ () #false))]