diff --git a/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim b/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim
index eaafb1b7..a82bc450 100644
--- a/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim
+++ b/codex/slots/proofs/backends/asynccircoms.nim
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ proc prove*[H](
 
   without signal =? ThreadSignalPtr.new().mapFailure, err:
     return failure(err)
+  defer:
+    let sigRes = signal.close()
+    if sigRes.isErr:
+      raise (ref Defect)(msg: sigRes.error())
 
   let args = ProveTaskArgs(signal: signal, params: self.params)
   proc spawnTask(): Flowvar[Result[CircomProof, string]] =
@@ -59,8 +63,7 @@ proc prove*[H](
   let flowvar = spawnTask()
 
   without taskRes =? await awaitThreadResult(signal, flowvar),  err:
-    let res: ?!CircomProof = failure(err)
-    return res
+    return failure(err)
 
   without proof =? taskRes.mapFailure, err:
     let res: ?!CircomProof = failure(err)
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ proc prove*[H](
   let pf: CircomProof = proof
   success(pf)
 
+
 proc verify*[H](
     self: AsyncCircomCompat, proof: CircomProof, inputs: ProofInputs[H]
 ): Future[?!bool] {.async.} =
diff --git a/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim b/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim
index 3a3db170..341f57f1 100644
--- a/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim
+++ b/codex/utils/asyncthreads.nim
@@ -12,22 +12,15 @@ const
 proc awaitThreadResult*[T](signal: ThreadSignalPtr, handle: Flowvar[T]): Future[?!T] {.async.} =
   await wait(signal)
 
-  template closeSig() =
-    let sigRes = signal.close()
-    if sigRes.isErr:
-      raise (ref Defect)(msg: sigRes.error())
-
   var
     res: T
     awaitTotal: Duration
 
   while awaitTotal < CompletionTimeout:
     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)