diff --git a/test/test_linearizer.py b/test/test_linearizer.py
index f6c3c446bc..312fdba932 100644
--- a/test/test_linearizer.py
+++ b/test/test_linearizer.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from tinygrad.shape.view import View
 from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor, _to_np_dtype
 from tinygrad.engine.realize import run_schedule, lower_schedule, CompiledRunner, get_program
 from tinygrad.codegen.opt.heuristic import hand_coded_optimizations
-from tinygrad.helpers import prod, Context, getenv, CI, flatten, dedup, AMX, AMD_LLVM
+from tinygrad.helpers import prod, Context, getenv, CI, flatten, dedup, AMX, AMD_LLVM, TC_SELECT, TC_OPT
 from tinygrad.dtype import DType, dtypes, PtrDType, AddrSpace
 from tinygrad.codegen import apply_rewrites, rewrites_for_views
 
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ class TestLinearizer(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_tensor_cores_multi_reduce(self):
     for tc in Device[Device.DEFAULT].renderer.tensor_cores:
       if not is_dtype_supported(tc.dtype_in) or not is_dtype_supported(tc.dtype_out): continue
+      if tc.dtype_in is dtypes.bfloat16: continue # <-- broken with numpy
       # this will be a M=G16, N=G32, M=G16, M=G16, K=R16, K=R16, K=R16 with 9 choices of TC MNK axes
       golden_result = None
       for axis in range(9):
@@ -1054,10 +1055,8 @@ def _helper_linearizer_opt_ast(realized_ast:UOp, real_bufs:list[Buffer], opts=[]
   def check_opt(opts, create_k, expected_color_size):
     k = create_k()
     lins.append(k)
-    if apply_tc:
-      assert k.apply_tensor_cores(1, extra_opts=opts), "no tensor core triggered"
-    else:
-      k.apply_opts(opts)
+    if apply_tc: k.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.TC, 0, (TC_SELECT.value, TC_OPT.value, 1)))
+    k.apply_opts(opts)
     if expected_color_size is not None:
       cs = list(zip(k.colors(), k.full_shape))
       assert cs == expected_color_size, f"expected={expected_color_size} got={cs}"
@@ -1193,24 +1192,6 @@ class TestKernelOpts(unittest.TestCase):
        Opt(OptOps.UPCAST, 0, 2)], # No globals
     ])
 
-  @unittest.skipUnless(Device[Device.DEFAULT].renderer.tensor_cores, "test requires tensor cores")
-  @unittest.skipUnless(Device[Device.DEFAULT].renderer.has_local, "test requires locals")
-  def test_invalid_tensor_core_extra_opts(self):
-    N = 128
-    Tensor.manual_seed(1552)
-    a = Tensor.rand(N, N)
-    b = Tensor.rand(N, N)
-    realized_ast, _ = helper_realized_ast(a@b)
-    invalid_opts = [
-      [Opt(OptOps.LOCAL, 2, 2)],
-      [Opt(OptOps.UPCAST, 2, 2)],
-      [Opt(OptOps.LOCAL, 0, 2), Opt(OptOps.LOCAL, 2, 2)],
-    ]
-    for x in invalid_opts:
-      k = Kernel(realized_ast)
-      with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
-        assert k.apply_tensor_cores(use_tensor_cores=1, extra_opts=x), "no valid tensor core" # for METAL in runners
-
   @unittest.skipUnless(Device[Device.DEFAULT].renderer.tensor_cores, "test requires tensor cores")
   @unittest.skipUnless(any(tc.dtype_in == tc.dtype_out == dtypes.half for tc in Device[Device.DEFAULT].renderer.tensor_cores),
                       "test requires tensor cores with accumulation in half") # testing with half suffices.
diff --git a/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py b/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py
index 2d3af8d3d1..7efe47e28a 100644
--- a/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py
+++ b/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ class Kernel:
         return True
     return False
 
-  def apply_tensor_cores(self, use_tensor_cores=1, extra_opts:list[Opt]|None=None, axis:int=0, tc_select:int|None=None, tc_opt:int|None=None) -> bool:
+  def apply_tensor_cores(self, use_tensor_cores=1) -> bool: # , extra_opts:list[Opt]|None=None) -> bool:
     """ Attempts to apply a tensor core optimization to the kernel. If one exists and applies properly, return true, otherwise return false.
     Tensor cores are optimized instructions that matrix multiply-accumulate across a wave of threads: D(M, N) = A(M, K) * B(K, N) + C(M, N).
 
@@ -417,23 +417,19 @@ class Kernel:
       1: allows kernels with multiple reduce axes and also multiplication of Ops.CAST'd buffers
       2: allows kernels with M, N, K axes that are not multiples of the tensor core dimensions by applying padding those axes as needed
     """
-    if tc_select is None: tc_select = TC_SELECT.value
-    if tc_opt is None: tc_opt = TC_OPT.value
     if not self.opts.tensor_cores: return False
     try: # check TC first and apply hand-coded opts if successful
-      self.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.TC, axis, (tc_select, tc_opt, use_tensor_cores)))
+      self.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.TC, 0, (TC_SELECT.value, TC_OPT.value, use_tensor_cores)))
 
       if (tc_opts:=self.tensor_core_opts) is not None:
-        if extra_opts is not None: self.apply_opts(extra_opts)
-        else:
-          if AMX: return True # skip hand-coded TC opts if AMX, upcasting will make kernel slower
-          # hand-coded TC opts
-          for tc_dim in [tc_dim for tc_dim in [1,0] if tc_opts.axes_exist[tc_dim]]: # attempt to upcast M and N
-            szs = [sz for sz in [5,4,3,2] if self.full_shape[tc_opts.axes[tc_dim]] % sz == 0]
-            if szs: self.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.UPCAST, tc_opts.axes[tc_dim], szs[0]))
+        if AMX: return True # skip hand-coded TC opts if AMX, upcasting will make kernel slower
+        # hand-coded TC opts
+        for tc_dim in [tc_dim for tc_dim in [1,0] if tc_opts.axes_exist[tc_dim]]: # attempt to upcast M and N
+          szs = [sz for sz in [5,4,3,2] if self.full_shape[tc_opts.axes[tc_dim]] % sz == 0]
+          if szs: self.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.UPCAST, tc_opts.axes[tc_dim], szs[0]))
 
-          if tc_opts.axes_exist[0] and (szs := [sz for sz in [4,2] if self.full_shape[tc_opts.axes[0]] % sz == 0]): # attempt to local N
-            self.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.LOCAL, tc_opts.axes[0], szs[0]))
+        if tc_opts.axes_exist[0] and (szs := [sz for sz in [4,2] if self.full_shape[tc_opts.axes[0]] % sz == 0]): # attempt to local N
+          self.apply_opt(Opt(OptOps.LOCAL, tc_opts.axes[0], szs[0]))
       return True
     except KernelOptError:
       return False