diff --git a/capa/features/__init__.py b/capa/features/__init__.py
index 2f14a75e..25ad5bb4 100644
--- a/capa/features/__init__.py
+++ b/capa/features/__init__.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ class Feature(object):
 
         if arch is not None:
             if arch not in VALID_ARCH:
-                print(value, arch, description)
                 raise ValueError("arch '%s' must be one of %s" % (arch, VALID_ARCH))
             self.name = self.__class__.__name__.lower() + "/" + arch
         else:
diff --git a/capa/features/extractors/ida/insn.py b/capa/features/extractors/ida/insn.py
index e72970c7..fa0183ec 100644
--- a/capa/features/extractors/ida/insn.py
+++ b/capa/features/extractors/ida/insn.py
@@ -19,7 +19,13 @@ _file_imports_cache = None
 
 
 def get_arch():
-    # https://reverseengineering.stackexchange.com/a/11398/17194
+    """
+    fetch the ARCH_* constant for the currently open workspace.
+    we expect this routine to be pretty lightweight, so we don't cache it.
+
+    via Tamir Bahar/@tmr232
+    https://reverseengineering.stackexchange.com/a/11398/17194
+    """
     info = idaapi.get_inf_structure()
     if info.is_64bit():
         return ARCH_X64
diff --git a/capa/rules.py b/capa/rules.py
index 88520527..52b0ba39 100644
--- a/capa/rules.py
+++ b/capa/rules.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import uuid
 import codecs
 import logging
 import binascii
+import functools
 
 import six
 import ruamel.yaml
@@ -197,12 +198,18 @@ def parse_feature(key):
         return capa.features.insn.Number
     elif key.startswith("number/"):
         arch = key.partition("/")[2]
-        return lambda *args, **kwargs: capa.features.insn.Number(*args, arch=arch, **kwargs)
+        # the other handlers here return constructors for features,
+        # and we want to as well,
+        # however, we need to preconfigure one of the arguments (`arch`).
+        # so, instead we return a partially-applied function that
+        #  provides `arch` to the feature constructor.
+        # it forwards any other arguments provided to the closure along to the constructor.
+        return functools.partial(capa.features.insn.Number, arch=arch)
     elif key == "offset":
         return capa.features.insn.Offset
     elif key.startswith("offset/"):
         arch = key.partition("/")[2]
-        return lambda *args, **kwargs: capa.features.insn.Offset(*args, arch=arch, **kwargs)
+        return functools.partial(capa.features.insn.Offset, arch=arch)
     elif key == "mnemonic":
         return capa.features.insn.Mnemonic
     elif key == "basic blocks":