diff --git a/codex/clock.nim b/codex/clock.nim
index cd9603f9..f680ddec 100644
--- a/codex/clock.nim
+++ b/codex/clock.nim
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pkg/chronos
 import pkg/stew/endians2
+import pkg/upraises
 import pkg/stint
 
 type
@@ -7,7 +8,7 @@ type
   SecondsSince1970* = int64
   Timeout* = object of CatchableError
 
-method now*(clock: Clock): Future[SecondsSince1970] {.base, async.} =
+method now*(clock: Clock): SecondsSince1970 {.base, upraises: [].} =
   raiseAssert "not implemented"
 
 method waitUntil*(clock: Clock, time: SecondsSince1970) {.base, async.} =
diff --git a/codex/contracts/clock.nim b/codex/contracts/clock.nim
index fb329e6b..9102e5c2 100644
--- a/codex/contracts/clock.nim
+++ b/codex/contracts/clock.nim
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ method stop*(clock: OnChainClock) {.async.} =
   await clock.subscription.unsubscribe()
   clock.started = false
 
-method now*(clock: OnChainClock): Future[SecondsSince1970] {.async.} =
+method now*(clock: OnChainClock): SecondsSince1970 =
   when codex_use_hardhat:
     # hardhat's latest block.timestamp is usually 1s behind the block timestamp
     # in the newHeads event. When testing, always return the latest block.
     try:
-      if queriedBlock =? (await clock.provider.getBlock(BlockTag.latest)):
+      if queriedBlock =? (waitFor clock.provider.getBlock(BlockTag.latest)):
         trace "using last block timestamp for clock.now",
           lastBlockTimestamp = queriedBlock.timestamp.truncate(int64),
           cachedBlockTimestamp = clock.lastBlockTime.truncate(int64)
@@ -65,6 +65,6 @@ method now*(clock: OnChainClock): Future[SecondsSince1970] {.async.} =
     return toUnix(getTime() + clock.offset)
 
 method waitUntil*(clock: OnChainClock, time: SecondsSince1970) {.async.} =
-  while (let difference = time - (await clock.now()); difference > 0):
+  while (let difference = time - clock.now(); difference > 0):
     clock.newBlock.clear()
     discard await clock.newBlock.wait().withTimeout(chronos.seconds(difference))
diff --git a/codex/purchasing.nim b/codex/purchasing.nim
index 4ef575b3..a53a5150 100644
--- a/codex/purchasing.nim
+++ b/codex/purchasing.nim
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ proc populate*(purchasing: Purchasing,
   if result.ask.proofProbability == 0.u256:
     result.ask.proofProbability = purchasing.proofProbability
   if result.expiry == 0.u256:
-    result.expiry = (await purchasing.clock.now()).u256 + purchasing.requestExpiryInterval
+    result.expiry = (purchasing.clock.now().u256 + purchasing.requestExpiryInterval)
   if result.nonce == Nonce.default:
     var id = result.nonce.toArray
     doAssert randomBytes(id) == 32
diff --git a/codex/rest/api.nim b/codex/rest/api.nim
index 58430704..ccb213ab 100644
--- a/codex/rest/api.nim
+++ b/codex/rest/api.nim
@@ -328,12 +328,10 @@ proc initPurchasingApi(node: CodexNodeRef, router: var RestRouter) =
         if node.clock.isNil:
           return RestApiResponse.error(Http500)
 
-        let now = (await node.clock.now).u256
-
-        if expiry <= now:
+        if expiry <= node.clock.now.u256:
           return RestApiResponse.error(Http400, "Expiry needs to be in future")
 
-        if expiry > now + params.duration:
+        if expiry > node.clock.now.u256 + params.duration:
           return RestApiResponse.error(Http400, "Expiry has to be before the request's end (now + duration)")
 
         without purchaseId =? await node.requestStorage(
diff --git a/codex/sales/salesagent.nim b/codex/sales/salesagent.nim
index fb64245e..21475426 100644
--- a/codex/sales/salesagent.nim
+++ b/codex/sales/salesagent.nim
@@ -73,9 +73,8 @@ proc subscribeCancellation(agent: SalesAgent) {.async.} =
       return
 
     while true:
-      let now = await clock.now
-      let deadline = max(now, request.expiry.truncate(int64)) + 1
-      trace "Waiting for request to be cancelled", now=now, expiry=deadline
+      let deadline = max(clock.now, request.expiry.truncate(int64)) + 1
+      trace "Waiting for request to be cancelled", now=clock.now, expiry=deadline
       await clock.waitUntil(deadline)
 
       without state =? await agent.retrieveRequestState():
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ proc subscribeCancellation(agent: SalesAgent) {.async.} =
         agent.schedule(cancelledEvent(request))
         break
 
-      debug "The request is not yet canceled, even though it should be. Waiting for some more time.", currentState = state, now=now
+      debug "The request is not yet canceled, even though it should be. Waiting for some more time.", currentState = state, now=clock.now
 
   data.cancelled = onCancelled()
 
diff --git a/codex/sales/states/proving.nim b/codex/sales/states/proving.nim
index e3d80f1a..a56242bd 100644
--- a/codex/sales/states/proving.nim
+++ b/codex/sales/states/proving.nim
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ proc proveLoop(
 
   proc getCurrentPeriod(): Future[Period] {.async.} =
     let periodicity = await market.periodicity()
-    return periodicity.periodOf((await clock.now()).u256)
+    return periodicity.periodOf(clock.now().u256)
 
   proc waitUntilPeriod(period: Period) {.async.} =
     let periodicity = await market.periodicity()
diff --git a/codex/stores/maintenance.nim b/codex/stores/maintenance.nim
index 0e953b3a..343fed8f 100644
--- a/codex/stores/maintenance.nim
+++ b/codex/stores/maintenance.nim
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ proc deleteExpiredBlock(self: BlockMaintainer, cid: Cid): Future[void] {.async.}
     trace "Unable to delete block from repoStore"
 
 proc processBlockExpiration(self: BlockMaintainer, be: BlockExpiration): Future[void] {.async} =
-  if be.expiration < (await self.clock.now):
+  if be.expiration < self.clock.now:
     await self.deleteExpiredBlock(be.cid)
   else:
     inc self.offset
diff --git a/codex/stores/repostore.nim b/codex/stores/repostore.nim
index ef9d322c..dc63f4cd 100644
--- a/codex/stores/repostore.nim
+++ b/codex/stores/repostore.nim
@@ -229,12 +229,12 @@ proc getBlockExpirationEntry(
 proc getBlockExpirationEntry(
   self: RepoStore,
   cid: Cid,
-  ttl: ?Duration): Future[?!BatchEntry] {.async.} =
+  ttl: ?Duration): ?!BatchEntry =
   ## Get an expiration entry for a batch for duration since "now"
   ##
 
   let duration = ttl |? self.blockTtl
-  self.getBlockExpirationEntry(cid, (await self.clock.now()) + duration.seconds)
+  self.getBlockExpirationEntry(cid, self.clock.now() + duration.seconds)
 
 method ensureExpiry*(
     self: RepoStore,
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ method putBlock*(
   trace "Updating quota", used
   batch.add((QuotaUsedKey, @(used.uint64.toBytesBE)))
 
-  without blockExpEntry =? (await self.getBlockExpirationEntry(blk.cid, ttl)), err:
+  without blockExpEntry =? self.getBlockExpirationEntry(blk.cid, ttl), err:
     trace "Unable to create block expiration metadata key", err = err.msg
     return failure(err)
   batch.add(blockExpEntry)
diff --git a/codex/systemclock.nim b/codex/systemclock.nim
index b43c5189..25ac4216 100644
--- a/codex/systemclock.nim
+++ b/codex/systemclock.nim
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import std/times
-import pkg/chronos
+import pkg/upraises
 import ./clock
 
 type
   SystemClock* = ref object of Clock
 
-method now*(clock: SystemClock): Future[SecondsSince1970] {.async.} =
+method now*(clock: SystemClock): SecondsSince1970 {.upraises: [].} =
   let now = times.now().utc
   now.toTime().toUnix()
diff --git a/codex/validation.nim b/codex/validation.nim
index a64d9318..b549997e 100644
--- a/codex/validation.nim
+++ b/codex/validation.nim
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ proc new*(
 proc slots*(validation: Validation): seq[SlotId] =
   validation.slots.toSeq
 
-proc getCurrentPeriod(validation: Validation): Future[UInt256] {.async.} =
-  return validation.periodicity.periodOf((await validation.clock.now()).u256)
+proc getCurrentPeriod(validation: Validation): UInt256 =
+  return validation.periodicity.periodOf(validation.clock.now().u256)
 
 proc waitUntilNextPeriod(validation: Validation) {.async.} =
-  let period = await validation.getCurrentPeriod()
+  let period = validation.getCurrentPeriod()
   let periodEnd = validation.periodicity.periodEnd(period)
   trace "Waiting until next period", currentPeriod = period
   await validation.clock.waitUntil(periodEnd.truncate(int64) + 1)
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ proc markProofAsMissing(validation: Validation,
                         slotId: SlotId,
                         period: Period) {.async.} =
   logScope:
-    currentPeriod = (await validation.getCurrentPeriod())
+    currentPeriod = validation.getCurrentPeriod()
 
   try:
     if await validation.market.canProofBeMarkedAsMissing(slotId, period):
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ proc markProofAsMissing(validation: Validation,
 
 proc markProofsAsMissing(validation: Validation) {.async.} =
   for slotId in validation.slots:
-    let previousPeriod = (await validation.getCurrentPeriod()) - 1
+    let previousPeriod = validation.getCurrentPeriod() - 1
     await validation.markProofAsMissing(slotId, previousPeriod)
 
 proc run(validation: Validation) {.async.} =
diff --git a/tests/codex/helpers/mockclock.nim b/tests/codex/helpers/mockclock.nim
index 22ba8298..ada449f9 100644
--- a/tests/codex/helpers/mockclock.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/helpers/mockclock.nim
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ proc set*(clock: MockClock, time: SecondsSince1970) =
 proc advance*(clock: MockClock, seconds: int64) =
   clock.set(clock.time + seconds)
 
-method now*(clock: MockClock): Future[SecondsSince1970] {.async.} =
+method now*(clock: MockClock): SecondsSince1970 =
   clock.time
 
 method waitUntil*(clock: MockClock, time: SecondsSince1970) {.async.} =
-  if time > (await clock.now()):
+  if time > clock.now():
     let future = newFuture[void]()
     clock.waiting.add(Waiting(until: time, future: future))
     await future
diff --git a/tests/codex/node/testcontracts.nim b/tests/codex/node/testcontracts.nim
index 373a4a24..f7997560 100644
--- a/tests/codex/node/testcontracts.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/node/testcontracts.nim
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ asyncchecksuite "Test Node - Host contracts":
   test "onExpiryUpdate callback":
     let
       # The blocks have set default TTL, so in order to update it we have to have larger TTL
-      expectedExpiry: SecondsSince1970 = (await clock.now) + DefaultBlockTtl.seconds + 11123
+      expectedExpiry: SecondsSince1970 = clock.now + DefaultBlockTtl.seconds + 11123
       expiryUpdateCallback = !sales.onExpiryUpdate
 
     (await expiryUpdateCallback(manifestCidStr, expectedExpiry)).tryGet()
diff --git a/tests/codex/sales/testsales.nim b/tests/codex/sales/testsales.nim
index 5f98e853..921ece83 100644
--- a/tests/codex/sales/testsales.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/sales/testsales.nim
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ asyncchecksuite "Sales - start":
     sales.onProve = proc(slot: Slot, challenge: ProofChallenge): Future[?!Groth16Proof] {.async.} =
       return success(proof)
     itemsProcessed = @[]
-    request.expiry = ((await clock.now()) + 42).u256
+    request.expiry = (clock.now() + 42).u256
 
   teardown:
     await sales.stop()
diff --git a/tests/codex/testpurchasing.nim b/tests/codex/testpurchasing.nim
index 0e6a2615..1660cb6a 100644
--- a/tests/codex/testpurchasing.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/testpurchasing.nim
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ checksuite "Purchasing state machine":
     market.requestState[request5.id] = RequestState.Failed
 
     # ensure the started state doesn't error, giving a false positive test result
-    market.requestEnds[request2.id] = (await clock.now()) - 1
+    market.requestEnds[request2.id] = clock.now() - 1
 
     await purchasing.load()
     check eventually purchasing.getPurchase(PurchaseId(request1.id)).?finished == false.some
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ checksuite "Purchasing state machine":
   test "moves to PurchaseStarted when request state is Started":
     let request = StorageRequest.example
     let purchase = Purchase.new(request, market, clock)
-    market.requestEnds[request.id] = (await clock.now()) + request.ask.duration.truncate(int64)
+    market.requestEnds[request.id] = clock.now() + request.ask.duration.truncate(int64)
     market.requested = @[request]
     market.requestState[request.id] = RequestState.Started
     let next = await PurchaseUnknown().run(purchase)
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ checksuite "Purchasing state machine":
   test "moves to PurchaseFailed state once RequestFailed emitted":
     let request = StorageRequest.example
     let purchase = Purchase.new(request, market, clock)
-    market.requestEnds[request.id] =  (await clock.now()) + request.ask.duration.truncate(int64)
+    market.requestEnds[request.id] = clock.now() + request.ask.duration.truncate(int64)
     let future = PurchaseStarted().run(purchase)
 
     market.emitRequestFailed(request.id)
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ checksuite "Purchasing state machine":
   test "moves to PurchaseFinished state once request finishes":
     let request = StorageRequest.example
     let purchase = Purchase.new(request, market, clock)
-    market.requestEnds[request.id] = (await clock.now()) + request.ask.duration.truncate(int64)
+    market.requestEnds[request.id] = clock.now() + request.ask.duration.truncate(int64)
     let future = PurchaseStarted().run(purchase)
 
     clock.advance(request.ask.duration.truncate(int64))
diff --git a/tests/codex/testsystemclock.nim b/tests/codex/testsystemclock.nim
index b4e74d0d..6f743283 100644
--- a/tests/codex/testsystemclock.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/testsystemclock.nim
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 import std/times
+import std/unittest
 
 import codex/systemclock
-
-import ../asynctest
 import ./helpers
 
-asyncchecksuite "SystemClock":
+checksuite "SystemClock":
   test "Should get now":
     let clock = SystemClock.new()
 
     let expectedNow = times.now().utc
-    let now = (await clock.now())
+    let now = clock.now()
 
     check now == expectedNow.toTime().toUnix()
diff --git a/tests/codex/testvalidation.nim b/tests/codex/testvalidation.nim
index df12f4cf..b84c56c3 100644
--- a/tests/codex/testvalidation.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/testvalidation.nim
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ asyncchecksuite "validation":
   teardown:
     await validation.stop()
 
-  proc advanceToNextPeriod {.async.} =
+  proc advanceToNextPeriod =
     let periodicity = Periodicity(seconds: period.u256)
-    let period = periodicity.periodOf((await clock.now()).u256)
+    let period = periodicity.periodOf(clock.now().u256)
     let periodEnd = periodicity.periodEnd(period)
     clock.set((periodEnd + 1).truncate(int))
 
diff --git a/tests/contracts/testClock.nim b/tests/contracts/testClock.nim
index 4a309a9e..d7b6ad34 100644
--- a/tests/contracts/testClock.nim
+++ b/tests/contracts/testClock.nim
@@ -17,23 +17,23 @@ ethersuite "On-Chain Clock":
   test "returns the current time of the EVM":
     let latestBlock = (!await ethProvider.getBlock(BlockTag.latest))
     let timestamp = latestBlock.timestamp.truncate(int64)
-    check (await clock.now()) == timestamp
+    check clock.now() == timestamp
 
   test "updates time with timestamp of new blocks":
     let future = (getTime() + 42.years).toUnix
     discard await ethProvider.send("evm_setNextBlockTimestamp", @[%future])
     discard await ethProvider.send("evm_mine")
-    check (await clock.now()) == future
+    check clock.now() == future
 
   test "can wait until a certain time is reached by the chain":
-    let future = (await clock.now()) + 42 # seconds
+    let future = clock.now() + 42 # seconds
     let waiting = clock.waitUntil(future)
     discard await ethProvider.send("evm_setNextBlockTimestamp", @[%future])
     discard await ethProvider.send("evm_mine")
     check await waiting.withTimeout(chronos.milliseconds(100))
 
   test "can wait until a certain time is reached by the wall-clock":
-    let future = (await clock.now()) + 1 # seconds
+    let future = clock.now() + 1 # seconds
     let waiting = clock.waitUntil(future)
     check await waiting.withTimeout(chronos.seconds(2))