diff --git a/src/ra_aux.erl b/src/ra_aux.erl
index 080b9523..023ab5c5 100644
--- a/src/ra_aux.erl
+++ b/src/ra_aux.erl
@@ -49,13 +49,14 @@ log_last_index_term(#{log := Log}) ->
 log_fetch(Idx, #{log := Log0} = State)
   when is_integer(Idx) ->
      case ra_log:fetch(Idx, Log0) of
-         {undefined, Log} ->
-             {undefined, State#{log => Log}};
-         {{Idx, Term, {_Tag, Meta, Cmd, _ReplyMode}}, Log} ->
-             {{Term, Meta, Cmd}, State#{log => Log}}
+         {{Idx, Term, {'$usr', Meta, Cmd, _ReplyMode}}, Log} ->
+             {{Term, Meta, Cmd}, State#{log => Log}};
+         {_, Log} ->
+             %% we only allow usr commands to be read
+             {undefined, State#{log => Log}}
      end.
 
-%% TODO: refine this? also included in overview
+-spec log_stats(ra_aux:state()) -> ra_log:overview().
 log_stats(#{log := Log}) ->
     ra_log:overview(Log).
 
diff --git a/src/ra_log.erl b/src/ra_log.erl
index db7f6350..cc20a23a 100644
--- a/src/ra_log.erl
+++ b/src/ra_log.erl
@@ -127,13 +127,25 @@
                               counter => counters:counters_ref(),
                               initial_access_pattern => sequential | random}.
 
+
+-type overview() ::
+    #{type := ra_log,
+      last_index := ra_index(),
+      first_index := ra_index(),
+      last_written_index_term := ra_idxterm(),
+      num_segments := non_neg_integer(),
+      open_segments => non_neg_integer(),
+      snapshot_index => undefined | ra_index(),
+      cache_size => non_neg_integer()}.
+
 -export_type([state/0,
               ra_log_init_args/0,
               ra_meta_key/0,
               segment_ref/0,
               event/0,
               event_body/0,
-              effect/0
+              effect/0,
+              overview/0
              ]).
 
 pre_init(#{uid := UId,
@@ -785,7 +797,7 @@ exists({Idx, Term}, Log0) ->
             {false, Log}
     end.
 
--spec overview(state()) -> map().
+-spec overview(state()) -> overview().
 overview(#?MODULE{last_index = LastIndex,
                   first_index = FirstIndex,
                   last_written_index_term = LWIT,
diff --git a/test/ra_machine_int_SUITE.erl b/test/ra_machine_int_SUITE.erl
index 526c2c5a..1094f8de 100644
--- a/test/ra_machine_int_SUITE.erl
+++ b/test/ra_machine_int_SUITE.erl
@@ -712,13 +712,16 @@ aux_command_v1_and_v2(Config) ->
                     (_RaftState, cast, eval, AuxState, Opaque) ->
                         %% replaces aux state
                         {no_reply, AuxState, Opaque};
-                    (_RaftState, cast, NewState, _AuxState, Opaque) ->
+                    (_RaftState, cast, NewState, _AuxState, Opaque0) ->
+                        {Idx, _} = ra_aux:log_last_index_term(Opaque0),
+                        {{_Term, _Meta, apple}, Opaque} = ra_aux:log_fetch(Idx, Opaque0),
                         %% replaces aux state
                         {no_reply, NewState, Opaque}
 
                 end),
     ok = start_cluster(ClusterName, {module, Mod, #{}}, Cluster),
     {ok, _, Leader} = ra:members(ServerId1),
+    {ok, _, _} = ra:process_command(Leader, apple),
     ok = ra:cast_aux_command(Leader, banana),
     {leader, banana} = ra:aux_command(Leader, emit),
     [ServerId2, ServerId3] = Cluster -- [Leader],