diff --git a/scopes-core.asd b/scopes-core.asd
index 39a0e65..eb66653 100644
--- a/scopes-core.asd
+++ b/scopes-core.asd
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@
   :description "Core packages of the scopes project."
   :depends-on (:alexandria :cl-dotenv :com.inuoe.jzon 
                :flexi-streams :ironclad :local-time :log4cl 
-               :lparallel :qbase64 :str :trivial-signal)
+               :lparallel :qbase64 :serapeum :str :trivial-signal)
   :components ((:file "config" :depends-on ("util/util"))
                (:file "core/core" 
                       :depends-on ("core/message" "config" 
-                                   "forge/forge" "logging" "util/util"))
+                                   "forge/forge" "logging" 
+                                   "util/async" "util/util"))
                (:file "core/message" :depends-on ("shape/shape"))
                (:file "forge/forge" :depends-on ("util/iter" "util/util"))
                (:file "logging" :depends-on ("config" "util/util"))
diff --git a/test/test-core.lisp b/test/test-core.lisp
index c94172e..55f1929 100644
--- a/test/test-core.lisp
+++ b/test/test-core.lisp
@@ -86,7 +86,12 @@
 
 (deftest test-util-async ()
   (let ((tsk (async:make-task)))
-    (format t "~%~a~%" (async::taskid tsk))))
+    (== (async:status tsk) :new)
+    (async:start tsk) 
+    (== (async:status tsk) :running)
+    (sleep 0.1)
+    (== (async:status tsk) :finished)
+    ))
 
 (deftest test-util-crypt ()
   (util:lgi (crypt:create-secret))
diff --git a/util/async.lisp b/util/async.lisp
index ca617b1..e89f33e 100644
--- a/util/async.lisp
+++ b/util/async.lisp
@@ -5,38 +5,51 @@
   (:local-nicknames (:util :scopes/util)
                     (:lp :lparallel)
                     (:lpq :lparallel.queue))
-  (:export #:startup #:shutdown
-           #:task #:make-task #:start #:restart #:stop #:kill #:status #:logdata
+  (:export #:task #:make-task #:start #:restart #:stop #:kill #:status #:logdata
            #:mailbox #:send #:receive))
 
 (in-package :scopes/util/async)
 
-(when (not (boundp '+quit-message+)) 
-  (defconstant +quit-message+ (gensym "QUIT")))
+;;;; general definitions
 
-(when (null lp:*kernel*)
-  (setf lp:*kernel* (lp:make-kernel 2)))
+(eval-when (:compile-toplevel :load-toplevel :execute)
+  (progn
+    (when (not (boundp '+quit-message+)) 
+      (defconstant +quit-message+ (gensym "QUIT")))
+    (when (null lp:*kernel*)
+      (setf lp:*kernel* (lp:make-kernel (serapeum:count-cpus))))))
 
-(defclass task ()
-  ((job :accessor job :initform nil)
-   (taskid :reader taskid :initform (gensym "TSK"))
-   (channel :reader channel :initform (lp:make-channel))
-   (mailbox :reader mailbox :initarg :mailbox)
-   (status :accessor status :initform :new)
-   (logdata :accessor logdata :initform nil)))
-
-(defun make-task ()
-  (make-instance 'task))
+(defun noop (&rest params))
 
 (defun standard-job (tsk &key (startup #'noop) (teardown #'noop) handle-message)
   (let ((mb (mailbox tsk)))
-    (startup tsk)
+    (funcall 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)))
+      (loop for msg = (lpq:pop-queue mb)
+            until (eq msg +quit-message+)
+            do (funcall handle-message tsk msg)))
+    (funcall teardown tsk)
+    (setf (status tsk) :finished)))
 
-(defun noop (&rest params))
+;;;; task class and related functions / methods
+
+(defclass task ()
+  ((job :accessor job)
+   (taskid :reader taskid :initform (gensym "TSK"))
+   (channel :reader channel :initform (lp:make-channel))
+   (mailbox :accessor mailbox :initform nil)
+   (status :accessor status :initform :new)
+   (logdata :accessor logdata :initform nil)))
+
+(defun make-task (&key (startup #'noop) (teardown #'noop) handle-message)
+  (let ((tsk (make-instance 'task)))
+    (setf (job tsk) 
+          (lambda () (standard-job tsk :startup startup :teardown teardown
+                                       :handle-message handle-message)))
+    (if handle-message
+      (setf (mailbox tsk) (lpq:make-queue)))
+    tsk))
+
+(defun start (tsk)
+  (lp:submit-task (channel tsk) (job tsk))
+  (setf (status tsk) :running))