diff --git a/datastore/threads/asyncsemaphore.nim b/datastore/threads/asyncsemaphore.nim
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+++ b/datastore/threads/asyncsemaphore.nim
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+# Nim-datastore
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed under either of
+#  * Apache License, version 2.0, ([LICENSE-APACHE](LICENSE-APACHE))
+#  * MIT license ([LICENSE-MIT](LICENSE-MIT))
+# at your option.
+# This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to
+# those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import sequtils
+import chronos, chronicles
+
+# TODO: this should probably go in chronos
+
+logScope:
+  topics = "datastore semaphore"
+
+type
+  AsyncSemaphore* = ref object of RootObj
+    size*: int
+    count: int
+    queue: seq[Future[void]]
+
+proc new*(_: type AsyncSemaphore, size: int): AsyncSemaphore =
+  AsyncSemaphore(size: size, count: size)
+
+proc `count`*(s: AsyncSemaphore): int = s.count
+
+proc tryAcquire*(s: AsyncSemaphore): bool =
+  ## Attempts to acquire a resource, if successful
+  ## returns true, otherwise false
+  ##
+
+  if s.count > 0 and s.queue.len == 0:
+    s.count.dec
+    trace "Acquired slot", available = s.count, queue = s.queue.len
+    return true
+
+proc acquire*(s: AsyncSemaphore): Future[void] =
+  ## Acquire a resource and decrement the resource
+  ## counter. If no more resources are available,
+  ## the returned future will not complete until
+  ## the resource count goes above 0.
+  ##
+
+  let fut = newFuture[void]("AsyncSemaphore.acquire")
+  if s.tryAcquire():
+    fut.complete()
+    return fut
+
+  proc cancellation(udata: pointer) {.gcsafe.} =
+    fut.cancelCallback = nil
+    if not fut.finished:
+      s.queue.keepItIf( it != fut )
+
+  fut.cancelCallback = cancellation
+
+  s.queue.add(fut)
+
+  trace "Queued slot", available = s.count, queue = s.queue.len
+  return fut
+
+proc forceAcquire*(s: AsyncSemaphore) =
+  ## ForceAcquire will always succeed,
+  ## creating a temporary slot if required.
+  ## This temporary slot will stay usable until
+  ## there is less `acquire`s than `release`s
+  s.count.dec
+
+proc release*(s: AsyncSemaphore) =
+  ## Release a resource from the semaphore,
+  ## by picking the first future from the queue
+  ## and completing it and incrementing the
+  ## internal resource count
+  ##
+
+  doAssert(s.count <= s.size)
+
+  if s.count < s.size:
+    trace "Releasing slot", available = s.count,
+                            queue = s.queue.len
+
+    s.count.inc
+    while s.queue.len > 0:
+      var fut = s.queue[0]
+      s.queue.delete(0)
+      if not fut.finished():
+        s.count.dec
+        fut.complete()
+        break
+
+    trace "Released slot", available = s.count,
+                           queue = s.queue.len
+    return