diff --git a/src/iothread.cpp b/src/iothread.cpp
index 62e760e8b..6ce2fec9a 100644
--- a/src/iothread.cpp
+++ b/src/iothread.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <atomic>
 #include <condition_variable>
 #include <functional>
+#include <future>
 #include <queue>
 #include <thread>
 
@@ -57,14 +58,18 @@ struct work_request_t {
 };
 
 struct main_thread_request_t {
-    relaxed_atomic_bool_t done{false};
+    // The function to execute.
     void_function_t func;
 
+    // Set by the main thread when the work is done.
+    std::promise<void> done{};
+
     explicit main_thread_request_t(void_function_t &&f) : func(f) {}
 
     // No moving OR copying
     // main_thread_requests are always stack allocated, and we deal in pointers to them
     void operator=(const main_thread_request_t &) = delete;
+    void operator=(main_thread_request_t &&) = delete;
     main_thread_request_t(const main_thread_request_t &) = delete;
     main_thread_request_t(main_thread_request_t &&) = delete;
 };
@@ -138,11 +143,8 @@ static thread_pool_t &s_io_thread_pool = *(new thread_pool_t(1, IO_MAX_THREADS))
 static owning_lock<std::queue<void_function_t>> s_result_queue;
 
 // "Do on main thread" support.
-static std::mutex s_main_thread_performer_lock;               // protects the main thread requests
-static std::condition_variable s_main_thread_performer_cond;  // protects the main thread requests
-
-/// The queue of main thread requests. This queue contains pointers to structs that are
-/// stack-allocated on the requesting thread.
+// The queue of main thread requests. This queue contains pointers to structs that are
+// stack-allocated on the requesting thread.
 static owning_lock<std::queue<main_thread_request_t *>> s_main_thread_request_queue;
 
 // Pipes used for notifying.
@@ -370,28 +372,13 @@ static void iothread_service_main_thread_requests() {
     std::queue<main_thread_request_t *> request_queue;
     s_main_thread_request_queue.acquire()->swap(request_queue);
 
-    if (!request_queue.empty()) {
-        // Perform each of the functions. Note we are NOT responsible for deleting these. They are
-        // stack allocated in their respective threads!
-        while (!request_queue.empty()) {
-            main_thread_request_t *req = request_queue.front();
-            request_queue.pop();
-            req->func();
-            req->done = true;
-        }
-
-        // Ok, we've handled everybody. Announce the good news, and allow ourselves to be unlocked.
-        // Note we must do this while holding the lock. Otherwise we race with the waiting threads:
-        //
-        // 1. waiting thread checks for done, sees false
-        // 2. main thread performs request, sets done to true, posts to condition
-        // 3. waiting thread unlocks lock, waits on condition (forever)
-        //
-        // Because the waiting thread performs step 1 under the lock, if we take the lock, we avoid
-        // posting before the waiting thread is waiting.
-        // TODO: revisit this logic, this feels sketchy.
-        scoped_lock broadcast_lock(s_main_thread_performer_lock);
-        s_main_thread_performer_cond.notify_all();
+    // Perform each of the functions. Note we are NOT responsible for deleting these. They are
+    // stack allocated in their respective threads!
+    while (!request_queue.empty()) {
+        main_thread_request_t *req = request_queue.front();
+        request_queue.pop();
+        req->func();
+        req->done.set_value();
     }
 }
 
@@ -424,21 +411,11 @@ void iothread_perform_on_main(void_function_t &&func) {
     // Append it. Ensure we don't hold the lock after.
     s_main_thread_request_queue.acquire()->push(&req);
 
-    // Tell the pipe.
+    // Tell the pipe and then wait until our future is set.
     const char wakeup_byte = IO_SERVICE_MAIN_THREAD_REQUEST_QUEUE;
     int notify_fd = get_notify_pipes().write;
     assert_with_errno(write_loop(notify_fd, &wakeup_byte, sizeof wakeup_byte) != -1);
-
-    // Wait on the condition, until we're done.
-    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> perform_lock(s_main_thread_performer_lock);
-    while (!req.done) {
-        // It would be nice to support checking for cancellation here, but the clients need a
-        // deterministic way to clean up to avoid leaks
-        s_main_thread_performer_cond.wait(perform_lock);
-    }
-
-    // Ok, the request must now be done.
-    assert(req.done);
+    req.done.get_future().wait();
 }
 
 bool make_detached_pthread(void *(*func)(void *), void *param) {