diff --git a/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim b/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim
index 8d1d26ae..205a7348 100644
--- a/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim
+++ b/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim
@@ -64,10 +64,6 @@ proc prove*[H](
     let res: ?!CircomProof = failure(err)
     return res
 
-  let sigRes = signal.close()
-  if sigRes.isErr:
-    return failure(sigRes.error())
-
   let pf: CircomProof = proof
   success(pf)
 
diff --git a/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim b/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim
index 28fc1f63..68f9bad5 100644
--- a/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim
+++ b/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim
@@ -12,15 +12,22 @@ const
 proc awaitThreadResult*[T](signal: ThreadSignalPtr, handle: Flowvar[T]): Future[?!T] {.async.} =
   await wait(signal)
 
+  proc closeSig() =
+    let sigRes = signal.close()
+    if sigRes.isErr:
+      return failure(sigRes.error())
+
   var
     res: T
     awaitTotal: Duration
 
   while awaitTotal < CompletionTimeout:
-    if handle.tryComplete(res):
+    if handle.tryComplete(res): ## TODO: pretty sure this leaks currently
+      closeSig()
       return success(res)
     else:
       awaitTotal += CompletionRetryDelay
       await sleepAsync(CompletionRetryDelay)
 
+  closeSig()
   return failure("Task signaled finish but didn't return any result within " & $CompletionRetryDelay)