diff --git a/test/test-core.lisp b/test/test-core.lisp
index ff3bfa0..c94172e 100644
--- a/test/test-core.lisp
+++ b/test/test-core.lisp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
     (== pl '(:b 1 :a 0))))
 
 (deftest test-util-async ()
-  (let ((tsk (async:task)))
+  (let ((tsk (async:make-task)))
     (format t "~%~a~%" (async::taskid tsk))))
 
 (deftest test-util-crypt ()
diff --git a/util/async.lisp b/util/async.lisp
index 891c64d..ca617b1 100644
--- a/util/async.lisp
+++ b/util/async.lisp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-;;;; cl-scopes/util/async - utilities for asynchronous (concurrent or parallel) operations
+;;;; cl-scopes/util/async - utilities for asynchronous (concurrent / parallel) operations
 
 (defpackage :scopes/util/async
   (:use :common-lisp)
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
                     (:lp :lparallel)
                     (:lpq :lparallel.queue))
   (:export #:startup #:shutdown
-           #:task #:start #:restart #:stop #:kill #:status
+           #:task #:make-task #:start #:restart #:stop #:kill #:status #:logdata
            #:mailbox #:send #:receive))
 
 (in-package :scopes/util/async)
@@ -18,12 +18,25 @@
   (setf lp:*kernel* (lp:make-kernel 2)))
 
 (defclass task ()
-  ((job :reader job :initarg :job)
+  ((job :accessor job :initform nil)
    (taskid :reader taskid :initform (gensym "TSK"))
    (channel :reader channel :initform (lp:make-channel))
-   (mailbox :reader mailbox :initarg :mailbox :initform nil)
+   (mailbox :reader mailbox :initarg :mailbox)
    (status :accessor status :initform :new)
    (logdata :accessor logdata :initform nil)))
 
-(defun task ()
+(defun make-task ()
   (make-instance 'task))
+
+(defun standard-job (tsk &key (startup #'noop) (teardown #'noop) handle-message)
+  (let ((mb (mailbox tsk)))
+    (startup tsk)
+    (if mb
+      (loop 
+        (let ((msg (lpq:pop-queue mb)))
+          (if (eq msg +quit-message+)
+            (return-from nil)
+            (handle-message tsk msg)))))
+    (teardown tsk)))
+
+(defun noop (&rest params))