diff --git a/util/async.lisp b/util/async.lisp
index a531cb1..c5c711d 100644
--- a/util/async.lisp
+++ b/util/async.lisp
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
   (:local-nicknames (:lp :lparallel)
                     (:lpq :lparallel.queue)
                     (:util :scopes/util))
-  (:export #:+quit-message+ #:init #:finish #:make-mb #:make-task #:rcv #:try-rcv #:snd 
+  (:export #:thread
+           #:+quit-message+ #:init #:finish #:make-mb #:make-task #:rcv #:try-rcv #:snd 
            #:mailbox #:task #:restartable-task #:behavior #:get-status #:set-status
            #:submit-task #:receive-result #:try-receive-result))
 
@@ -13,6 +14,11 @@
 
 (defconstant +quit-message+ :quit)
 
+;;;; simple anonymous thread with callback
+
+(defun thread (fn cb &rest args)
+  (bt:make-thread (lambda () (funcall cb (apply fn args)))))
+
 ;;;; general definitions (lparallel wrappers)
 
 (defun init ()