diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 3f8b4c7..0a9f46c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ cmake_policy(SET CMP0058 NEW)
 
 set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_CURRENT_DIR ON)
 
-add_definitions("-std=c++11 -Wall -Wextra -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-sign-compare")
+add_definitions("-std=c++14 -Wall -Wextra -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-sign-compare")
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG} -Werror -DDEBUG")
 
 # This macro takes a list of files, gzips them and converts the output into
diff --git a/docker-build-centos.sh b/docker-build-centos.sh
index ee71fab..ea09c2e 100755
--- a/docker-build-centos.sh
+++ b/docker-build-centos.sh
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@ VERSION=$(cd "$SOURCE_DIR" && git describe --tags --abbrev=8 --dirty | tr - .)
 
 DOCKER_TAG=$(docker build -q - <<EOS
 FROM centos:7
-RUN yum -y install epel-release && yum -y install rpm-build cmake3 make gcc gcc-c++ wget sqlite-devel boost-devel zlib-devel
+RUN yum -y install epel-release centos-release-scl && yum-config-manager --enable rhel-server-rhscl-7-rpms && yum -y install rpm-build cmake3 make devtoolset-7-gcc-c++ wget sqlite-devel boost-devel zlib-devel
 EOS
 )
 
 docker run --rm -i -v $SOURCE_DIR:/root/rpmbuild/SOURCES/laminar-$VERSION:ro -v $OUTPUT_DIR:/output $DOCKER_TAG bash -xe <<EOS
+# for new gcc
+export PATH=/opt/rh/devtoolset-7/root/usr/bin:\$PATH
 
 mkdir /build
 cd /build
diff --git a/src/laminar.cpp b/src/laminar.cpp
index db1972a..02a0925 100644
--- a/src/laminar.cpp
+++ b/src/laminar.cpp
@@ -501,50 +501,16 @@ std::shared_ptr<Run> Laminar::queueJob(std::string name, ParamMap params) {
     return run;
 }
 
-bool Laminar::stepRun(std::shared_ptr<Run> run) {
-    bool complete = run->step();
-    if(!complete) {
-        srv->addDescriptor(run->fd, [this, run](const char* b,size_t n){
-            handleRunLog(run, std::string(b,n));
-        });
-    }
-    return complete;
-}
-
-void Laminar::handleRunLog(std::shared_ptr<Run> run, std::string s) {
-    run->log += s;
-    for(LaminarClient* c : clients) {
-        if(c->scope.wantsLog(run->name, run->build))
-            c->sendMessage(s);
-    }
-}
-
 // Reaps a zombie and steps the corresponding Run to its next state.
 // Should be called on SIGCHLD
 void Laminar::reapChildren() {
     int ret = 0;
     pid_t pid;
-    constexpr int bufsz = 1024;
-    static thread_local char buf[bufsz];
     while((pid = waitpid(-1, &ret, WNOHANG)) > 0) {
         LLOG(INFO, "Reaping", pid);
-        auto it = activeJobs.byPid().find(pid);
-        std::shared_ptr<Run> run = *it;
-        // The main event loop might schedule this SIGCHLD handler before the final
-        // output handler (from addDescriptor). In that case, because it keeps a
-        // shared_ptr to the run it would successfully add to the log output buffer,
-        // but by then reapAdvance would have stored the log and ensured no-one cares.
-        // Preempt this case by forcing a final (non-blocking) read here.
-        for(ssize_t n = read(run->fd, buf, bufsz); n > 0; n = read(run->fd, buf, bufsz)) {
-            handleRunLog(run, std::string(buf, static_cast<size_t>(n)));
-        }
-        bool completed = true;
-        activeJobs.byPid().modify(it, [&](std::shared_ptr<Run> run){
-            run->reaped(ret);
-            completed = stepRun(run);
-        });
-        if(completed)
-            run->complete();
+        auto it = pids.find(pid);
+        it->second->fulfill(kj::mv(ret));
+        pids.erase(it);
     }
 
     assignNewJobs();
@@ -586,169 +552,193 @@ bool Laminar::nodeCanQueue(const Node& node, const Run& run) const {
     return false;
 }
 
+bool Laminar::tryStartRun(std::shared_ptr<Run> run, int queueIndex) {
+    for(auto& sn : nodes) {
+        std::shared_ptr<Node> node = sn.second;
+        if(nodeCanQueue(*node.get(), *run)) {
+            fs::path cfgDir = fs::path(homeDir)/"cfg";
+            boost::system::error_code err;
+
+            // create a workspace for this job if it doesn't exist
+            fs::path ws = fs::path(homeDir)/"run"/run->name/"workspace";
+            if(!fs::exists(ws)) {
+                if(!fs::create_directories(ws, err)) {
+                    LLOG(ERROR, "Could not create job workspace", run->name);
+                    break;
+                }
+                // prepend the workspace init script
+                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".init"))
+                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".init").string(), ws.string());
+            }
+
+            uint buildNum = buildNums[run->name] + 1;
+            // create the run directory
+            fs::path rd = fs::path(homeDir)/"run"/run->name/std::to_string(buildNum);
+            bool createWorkdir = true;
+            if(fs::is_directory(rd)) {
+                LLOG(WARNING, "Working directory already exists, removing", rd.string());
+                fs::remove_all(rd, err);
+                if(err) {
+                    LLOG(WARNING, "Failed to remove working directory", err.message());
+                    createWorkdir = false;
+                }
+            }
+            if(createWorkdir && !fs::create_directory(rd, err)) {
+                LLOG(ERROR, "Could not create working directory", rd.string());
+                break;
+            }
+            run->runDir = rd.string();
+
+            // create an archive directory
+            fs::path archive = fs::path(homeDir)/"archive"/run->name/std::to_string(buildNum);
+            if(fs::is_directory(archive)) {
+                LLOG(WARNING, "Archive directory already exists", archive.string());
+            } else if(!fs::create_directories(archive)) {
+                LLOG(ERROR, "Could not create archive directory", archive.string());
+                break;
+            }
+
+            // add scripts
+            // global before-run script
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"before"))
+                run->addScript((cfgDir/"before").string());
+            // per-node before-run script
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".before"))
+                run->addScript((cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".before").string());
+            // job before-run script
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".before"))
+                run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".before").string());
+            // main run script. must exist.
+            run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".run").string());
+            // job after-run script
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".after"))
+                run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".after").string());
+            // per-node after-run script
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".after"))
+                run->addScript((cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".after").string());
+            // global after-run script
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"after"))
+                run->addScript((cfgDir/"after").string());
+
+            // add environment files
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"env"))
+                run->addEnv((cfgDir/"env").string());
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".env"))
+                run->addEnv((cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".env").string());
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".env"))
+                run->addEnv((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".env").string());
+
+            // add job timeout if specified
+            if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".conf")) {
+                int timeout = parseConfFile(fs::path(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".conf").string().c_str()).get<int>("TIMEOUT", 0);
+                if(timeout > 0) {
+                    // A raw pointer to run is used here so as not to have a circular reference.
+                    // The captured raw pointer is safe because if the Run is destroyed the Promise
+                    // will be cancelled and the callback never called.
+                    Run* r = run.get();
+                    r->timeout = srv->addTimeout(timeout, [r](){
+                        r->abort();
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+
+            // start the job
+            node->busyExecutors++;
+            run->node = node;
+            run->startedAt = time(nullptr);
+            run->laminarHome = homeDir;
+            run->build = buildNum;
+            // set the last known result if exists
+            db->stmt("SELECT result FROM builds WHERE name = ? ORDER BY completedAt DESC LIMIT 1")
+             .bind(run->name)
+             .fetch<int>([=](int result){
+                run->lastResult = RunState(result);
+            });
+            // update next build number
+            buildNums[run->name] = buildNum;
+
+            LLOG(INFO, "Queued job to node", run->name, run->build, node->name);
+
+            // notify clients
+            Json j;
+            j.set("type", "job_started")
+             .startObject("data")
+             .set("queueIndex", queueIndex)
+             .set("name", run->name)
+             .set("queued", run->startedAt - run->queuedAt)
+             .set("started", run->startedAt)
+             .set("number", run->build)
+             .set("reason", run->reason());
+            db->stmt("SELECT completedAt - startedAt FROM builds WHERE name = ? ORDER BY completedAt DESC LIMIT 1")
+             .bind(run->name)
+             .fetch<uint>([&](uint etc){
+                j.set("etc", time(nullptr) + etc);
+            });
+            j.EndObject();
+            const char* msg = j.str();
+            for(LaminarClient* c : clients) {
+                if(c->scope.wantsStatus(run->name, run->build)
+                    // The run page also should know that another job has started
+                    // (so maybe it can show a previously hidden "next" button).
+                    // Hence this small hack:
+                        || (c->scope.type == MonitorScope::Type::RUN && c->scope.job == run->name))
+                    c->sendMessage(msg);
+            }
+
+            // notify the rpc client if the start command was used
+            run->started.fulfiller->fulfill();
+
+            srv->addTask(handleRunStep(run.get()).then([this,run]{
+                runFinished(run.get());
+            }));
+
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 void Laminar::assignNewJobs() {
     auto it = queuedJobs.begin();
     while(it != queuedJobs.end()) {
-        bool assigned = false;
-        for(auto& sn : nodes) {
-            std::shared_ptr<Node> node = sn.second;
-            std::shared_ptr<Run> run = *it;
-            if(nodeCanQueue(*node.get(), *run)) {
-                fs::path cfgDir = fs::path(homeDir)/"cfg";
-                boost::system::error_code err;
-
-                // create a workspace for this job if it doesn't exist
-                fs::path ws = fs::path(homeDir)/"run"/run->name/"workspace";
-                if(!fs::exists(ws)) {
-                    if(!fs::create_directories(ws, err)) {
-                        LLOG(ERROR, "Could not create job workspace", run->name);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                    // prepend the workspace init script
-                    if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".init"))
-                        run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".init").string(), ws.string());
-                }
-
-                uint buildNum = buildNums[run->name] + 1;
-                // create the run directory
-                fs::path rd = fs::path(homeDir)/"run"/run->name/std::to_string(buildNum);
-                bool createWorkdir = true;
-                if(fs::is_directory(rd)) {
-                    LLOG(WARNING, "Working directory already exists, removing", rd.string());
-                    fs::remove_all(rd, err);
-                    if(err) {
-                        LLOG(WARNING, "Failed to remove working directory", err.message());
-                        createWorkdir = false;
-                    }
-                }
-                if(createWorkdir && !fs::create_directory(rd, err)) {
-                    LLOG(ERROR, "Could not create working directory", rd.string());
-                    break;
-                }
-                run->runDir = rd.string();
-
-                // create an archive directory
-                fs::path archive = fs::path(homeDir)/"archive"/run->name/std::to_string(buildNum);
-                if(fs::is_directory(archive)) {
-                    LLOG(WARNING, "Archive directory already exists", archive.string());
-                } else if(!fs::create_directories(archive)) {
-                    LLOG(ERROR, "Could not create archive directory", archive.string());
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                // add scripts
-                // global before-run script
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"before"))
-                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"before").string());
-                // per-node before-run script
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".before"))
-                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".before").string());
-                // job before-run script
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".before"))
-                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".before").string());
-                // main run script. must exist.
-                run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".run").string());
-                // job after-run script
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".after"))
-                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".after").string());
-                // per-node after-run script
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".after"))
-                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".after").string());
-                // global after-run script
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"after"))
-                    run->addScript((cfgDir/"after").string());
-
-                // add environment files
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"env"))
-                    run->addEnv((cfgDir/"env").string());
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".env"))
-                    run->addEnv((cfgDir/"nodes"/node->name+".env").string());
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".env"))
-                    run->addEnv((cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".env").string());
-
-                // add job timeout if specified
-                if(fs::exists(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".conf")) {
-                    int timeout = parseConfFile(fs::path(cfgDir/"jobs"/run->name+".conf").string().c_str()).get<int>("TIMEOUT", 0);
-                    if(timeout > 0) {
-                        // A raw pointer to run is used here so as not to have a circular reference.
-                        // The captured raw pointer is safe because if the Run is destroyed the Promise
-                        // will be cancelled and the callback never called.
-                        Run* r = run.get();
-                        r->timeout = srv->addTimeout(timeout, [r](){
-                            r->abort();
-                        });
-                    }
-                }
-
-                // start the job
-                node->busyExecutors++;
-                run->node = node;
-                run->startedAt = time(nullptr);
-                run->laminarHome = homeDir;
-                run->build = buildNum;
-                // set the last known result if exists
-                db->stmt("SELECT result FROM builds WHERE name = ? ORDER BY completedAt DESC LIMIT 1")
-                 .bind(run->name)
-                 .fetch<int>([=](int result){
-                    run->lastResult = RunState(result);
-                });
-                // update next build number
-                buildNums[run->name] = buildNum;
-
-                LLOG(INFO, "Queued job to node", run->name, run->build, node->name);
-
-                // notify clients
-                Json j;
-                j.set("type", "job_started")
-                 .startObject("data")
-                 .set("queueIndex", std::distance(it,queuedJobs.begin()))
-                 .set("name", run->name)
-                 .set("queued", run->startedAt - run->queuedAt)
-                 .set("started", run->startedAt)
-                 .set("number", run->build)
-                 .set("reason", run->reason());
-                db->stmt("SELECT completedAt - startedAt FROM builds WHERE name = ? ORDER BY completedAt DESC LIMIT 1")
-                 .bind(run->name)
-                 .fetch<uint>([&](uint etc){
-                    j.set("etc", time(nullptr) + etc);
-                });
-                j.EndObject();
-                const char* msg = j.str();
-                for(LaminarClient* c : clients) {
-                    if(c->scope.wantsStatus(run->name, run->build)
-                        // The run page also should know that another job has started
-                        // (so maybe it can show a previously hidden "next" button).
-                        // Hence this small hack:
-                            || (c->scope.type == MonitorScope::Type::RUN && c->scope.job == run->name))
-                        c->sendMessage(msg);
-                }
-
-                // notify the rpc client if the start command was used
-                run->started.fulfiller->fulfill();
-
-                // setup run completion handler
-                run->notifyCompletion = [this](Run* r) { runFinished(r); };
-
-                // trigger the first step of the run
-                if(stepRun(run)) {
-                    // should never happen
-                    LLOG(INFO, "No steps for run");
-                    run->complete();
-                }
-
-                assigned = true;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-        if(assigned) {
+        if(tryStartRun(*it, std::distance(it, queuedJobs.begin()))) {
             activeJobs.insert(*it);
             it = queuedJobs.erase(it);
-        } else
+        } else {
             ++it;
-
+        }
     }
 }
 
+kj::Promise<void> Laminar::handleRunStep(Run* run) {
+    if(run->step()) {
+        // no more steps
+        return kj::READY_NOW;
+    }
+
+    // promise is fulfilled when the process is reaped. But first we wait for all
+    // output from the pipe (Run::output_fd) to be consumed.
+    auto paf = kj::newPromiseAndFulfiller<int>();
+    pids.emplace(run->current_pid, kj::mv(paf.fulfiller));
+
+    return srv->readDescriptor(run->output_fd, [this,run](const char*b,size_t n){
+        // handle log output
+        std::string s(b, n);
+        run->log += s;
+        for(LaminarClient* c : clients) {
+            if(c->scope.wantsLog(run->name, run->build))
+                c->sendMessage(s);
+        }
+    }).then([p = std::move(paf.promise)]() mutable {
+        // wait until the process is reaped
+        return kj::mv(p);
+    }).then([this, run](int status){
+        run->reaped(status);
+        // next step in Run
+        return handleRunStep(run);
+    });
+}
+
 void Laminar::runFinished(Run * r) {
     std::shared_ptr<Node> node = r->node;
 
diff --git a/src/laminar.h b/src/laminar.h
index 1f8efd3..ce00895 100644
--- a/src/laminar.h
+++ b/src/laminar.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ///
-/// Copyright 2015-2017 Oliver Giles
+/// Copyright 2015-2018 Oliver Giles
 ///
 /// This file is part of Laminar
 ///
@@ -64,16 +64,16 @@ public:
 private:
     bool loadConfiguration();
     void assignNewJobs();
-    bool stepRun(std::shared_ptr<Run> run);
-    void handleRunLog(std::shared_ptr<Run> run, std::string log);
+    bool tryStartRun(std::shared_ptr<Run> run, int queueIndex);
+    kj::Promise<void> handleRunStep(Run *run);
     void runFinished(Run*);
     bool nodeCanQueue(const Node&, const Run&) const;
     // expects that Json has started an array
     void populateArtifacts(Json& out, std::string job, uint num) const;
 
-    Run* activeRun(std::string name, uint num) {
-        auto it = activeJobs.byRun().find(boost::make_tuple(name, num));
-        return it == activeJobs.byRun().end() ? nullptr : it->get();
+    Run* activeRun(const std::string name, uint num) {
+        auto it = activeJobs.byNameNumber().find(boost::make_tuple(name, num));
+        return it == activeJobs.byNameNumber().end() ? nullptr : it->get();
     }
 
     std::list<std::shared_ptr<Run>> queuedJobs;
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ private:
     std::unordered_map<std::string, std::set<std::string>> jobTags;
 
     RunSet activeJobs;
+    std::map<pid_t, kj::Own<kj::PromiseFulfiller<int>>> pids;
     Database* db;
     Server* srv;
     NodeMap nodes;
diff --git a/src/run.cpp b/src/run.cpp
index ec96151..2fc8169 100644
--- a/src/run.cpp
+++ b/src/run.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ///
-/// Copyright 2015-2017 Oliver Giles
+/// Copyright 2015-2018 Oliver Giles
 ///
 /// This file is part of Laminar
 ///
@@ -41,9 +41,10 @@ std::string to_string(const RunState& rs) {
 }
 
 
-Run::Run() {
-    result = RunState::SUCCESS;
-    lastResult = RunState::UNKNOWN;
+Run::Run() :
+    result(RunState::SUCCESS),
+    lastResult(RunState::UNKNOWN)
+{
 }
 
 Run::~Run() {
@@ -58,74 +59,73 @@ std::string Run::reason() const {
 }
 
 bool Run::step() {
-    if(scripts.size()) {
-        currentScript = scripts.front();
-        scripts.pop();
+    if(!scripts.size())
+        return true;
 
-        int pfd[2];
-        pipe(pfd);
-        pid_t pid = fork();
-        if(pid == 0) { // child
-            // reset signal mask (SIGCHLD blocked in Laminar::start)
-            sigset_t mask;
-            sigemptyset(&mask);
-            sigaddset(&mask, SIGCHLD);
-            sigprocmask(SIG_UNBLOCK, &mask, nullptr);
+    currentScript = scripts.front();
+    scripts.pop();
 
-            // set pgid == pid for easy killing on abort
-            setpgid(0, 0);
+    int pfd[2];
+    pipe(pfd);
+    pid_t pid = fork();
+    if(pid == 0) { // child
+        // reset signal mask (SIGCHLD blocked in Laminar::start)
+        sigset_t mask;
+        sigemptyset(&mask);
+        sigaddset(&mask, SIGCHLD);
+        sigprocmask(SIG_UNBLOCK, &mask, nullptr);
 
-            close(pfd[0]);
-            dup2(pfd[1], 1);
-            dup2(pfd[1], 2);
-            close(pfd[1]);
-            std::string buildNum = std::to_string(build);
+        // set pgid == pid for easy killing on abort
+        setpgid(0, 0);
 
-            std::string PATH = (fs::path(laminarHome)/"cfg"/"scripts").string() + ":";
-            if(const char* p = getenv("PATH")) {
-                PATH.append(p);
-            }
+        close(pfd[0]);
+        dup2(pfd[1], 1);
+        dup2(pfd[1], 2);
+        close(pfd[1]);
+        std::string buildNum = std::to_string(build);
 
-            chdir(currentScript.cwd.c_str());
-
-            // conf file env vars
-            for(std::string file : env) {
-                StringMap vars = parseConfFile(file.c_str());
-                for(auto& it : vars) {
-                    setenv(it.first.c_str(), it.second.c_str(), true);
-                }
-            }
-            // parameterized vars
-            for(auto& pair : params) {
-                setenv(pair.first.c_str(), pair.second.c_str(), false);
-            }
-
-            setenv("PATH", PATH.c_str(), true);
-            setenv("RUN", buildNum.c_str(), true);
-            setenv("JOB", name.c_str(), true);
-            if(!node->name.empty())
-                setenv("NODE", node->name.c_str(), true);
-            setenv("RESULT", to_string(result).c_str(), true);
-            setenv("LAST_RESULT", to_string(lastResult).c_str(), true);
-            setenv("WORKSPACE", (fs::path(laminarHome)/"run"/name/"workspace").string().c_str(), true);
-            setenv("ARCHIVE", (fs::path(laminarHome)/"archive"/name/buildNum.c_str()).string().c_str(), true);
-
-            fprintf(stderr, "[laminar] Executing %s\n", currentScript.path.c_str());
-            execl(currentScript.path.c_str(), currentScript.path.c_str(), NULL);
-            // cannot use LLOG because stdout/stderr are captured
-            fprintf(stderr, "[laminar] Failed to execute %s\n", currentScript.path.c_str());
-            _exit(1);
+        std::string PATH = (fs::path(laminarHome)/"cfg"/"scripts").string() + ":";
+        if(const char* p = getenv("PATH")) {
+            PATH.append(p);
         }
 
-        LLOG(INFO, "Forked", currentScript.path, currentScript.cwd, pid);
-        close(pfd[1]);
-        fd = pfd[0];
-        this->pid = pid;
+        chdir(currentScript.cwd.c_str());
 
-        return false;
-    } else {
-        return true;
+        // conf file env vars
+        for(std::string file : env) {
+            StringMap vars = parseConfFile(file.c_str());
+            for(auto& it : vars) {
+                setenv(it.first.c_str(), it.second.c_str(), true);
+            }
+        }
+        // parameterized vars
+        for(auto& pair : params) {
+            setenv(pair.first.c_str(), pair.second.c_str(), false);
+        }
+
+        setenv("PATH", PATH.c_str(), true);
+        setenv("RUN", buildNum.c_str(), true);
+        setenv("JOB", name.c_str(), true);
+        if(!node->name.empty())
+            setenv("NODE", node->name.c_str(), true);
+        setenv("RESULT", to_string(result).c_str(), true);
+        setenv("LAST_RESULT", to_string(lastResult).c_str(), true);
+        setenv("WORKSPACE", (fs::path(laminarHome)/"run"/name/"workspace").string().c_str(), true);
+        setenv("ARCHIVE", (fs::path(laminarHome)/"archive"/name/buildNum.c_str()).string().c_str(), true);
+
+        fprintf(stderr, "[laminar] Executing %s\n", currentScript.path.c_str());
+        execl(currentScript.path.c_str(), currentScript.path.c_str(), NULL);
+        // cannot use LLOG because stdout/stderr are captured
+        fprintf(stderr, "[laminar] Failed to execute %s\n", currentScript.path.c_str());
+        _exit(1);
     }
+
+    LLOG(INFO, "Forked", currentScript.path, currentScript.cwd, pid);
+    close(pfd[1]);
+
+    current_pid = pid;
+    output_fd = pfd[0];
+    return false;
 }
 
 void Run::addScript(std::string scriptPath, std::string scriptWorkingDir) {
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void Run::addEnv(std::string path) {
 void Run::abort() {
     // clear all pending scripts
     std::queue<Script>().swap(scripts);
-    kill(-pid, SIGTERM);
+    kill(-current_pid, SIGTERM);
 }
 
 void Run::reaped(int status) {
@@ -153,7 +153,3 @@ void Run::reaped(int status) {
         result = RunState::FAILED;
     // otherwise preserve earlier status
 }
-
-void Run::complete() {
-    notifyCompletion(this);
-}
diff --git a/src/run.h b/src/run.h
index d8e7e3e..e4f0a76 100644
--- a/src/run.h
+++ b/src/run.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ///
-/// Copyright 2015-2017 Oliver Giles
+/// Copyright 2015-2018 Oliver Giles
 ///
 /// This file is part of Laminar
 ///
@@ -52,12 +52,9 @@ public:
     Run& operator=(const Run&) = delete;
 
     // executes the next script (if any), returning true if there is nothing
-    // more to be done - in this case the caller should call complete()
+    // more to be done.
     bool step();
 
-    // call this when all scripts are done to get the notifyCompletion callback
-    void complete();
-
     // adds a script to the queue of scripts to be executed by this run
     void addScript(std::string scriptPath, std::string scriptWorkingDir);
 
@@ -76,7 +73,6 @@ public:
 
     std::string reason() const;
 
-    std::function<void(Run*)> notifyCompletion;
     std::shared_ptr<Node> node;
     RunState result;
     RunState lastResult;
@@ -88,8 +84,8 @@ public:
     std::string reasonMsg;
     uint build = 0;
     std::string log;
-    pid_t pid;
-    int fd;
+    pid_t current_pid;
+    int output_fd;
     std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> params;
     kj::Promise<void> timeout = kj::NEVER_DONE;
     kj::PromiseFulfillerPair<void> started = kj::newPromiseAndFulfiller<void>();
@@ -97,7 +93,6 @@ public:
     time_t queuedAt;
     time_t startedAt;
 private:
-
     struct Script {
         std::string path;
         std::string cwd;
@@ -132,8 +127,6 @@ struct _run_same {
 
 // A single Run can be fetched by...
 struct _run_index : bmi::indexed_by<
-        // their current running pid
-        bmi::hashed_unique<bmi::member<Run, pid_t, &Run::pid>>,
         bmi::hashed_unique<bmi::composite_key<
             std::shared_ptr<Run>,
         // a combination of their job name and build number
@@ -153,20 +146,17 @@ struct RunSet: public boost::multi_index_container<
     std::shared_ptr<Run>,
     _run_index
 > {
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 0>::type& byPid() { return get<0>(); }
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 0>::type const& byPid() const { return get<0>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 0>::type& byNameNumber() { return get<0>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 0>::type const& byNameNumber() const { return get<0>(); }
 
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 1>::type& byRun() { return get<1>(); }
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 1>::type const& byRun() const { return get<1>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 1>::type& byRunPtr() { return get<1>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 1>::type const& byRunPtr() const { return get<1>(); }
 
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 2>::type& byRunPtr() { return get<2>(); }
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 2>::type const& byRunPtr() const { return get<2>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 2>::type& byStartedAt() { return get<2>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 2>::type const& byStartedAt() const { return get<2>(); }
 
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 3>::type& byStartedAt() { return get<3>(); }
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 3>::type const& byStartedAt() const { return get<3>(); }
-
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 4>::type& byJobName() { return get<4>(); }
-    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 4>::type const& byJobName() const { return get<4>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 3>::type& byJobName() { return get<3>(); }
+    typename bmi::nth_index<RunSet, 3>::type const& byJobName() const { return get<3>(); }
 };
 
 #endif // LAMINAR_RUN_H_
diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index 55fa849..c8103da 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -447,10 +447,15 @@ void Server::stop() {
     eventfd_write(efd_quit, 1);
 }
 
-void Server::addDescriptor(int fd, std::function<void(const char*,size_t)> cb) {
+kj::Promise<void> Server::readDescriptor(int fd, std::function<void(const char*,size_t)> cb) {
     auto event = this->ioContext.lowLevelProvider->wrapInputFd(fd, kj::LowLevelAsyncIoProvider::TAKE_OWNERSHIP);
     auto buffer = kj::heapArrayBuilder<char>(PROC_IO_BUFSIZE);
-    childTasks.add(handleFdRead(event, buffer.asPtr().begin(), cb).attach(std::move(event)).attach(std::move(buffer)));
+    return handleFdRead(event, buffer.asPtr().begin(), cb).attach(std::move(event)).attach(std::move(buffer));
+}
+
+void Server::addTask(kj::Promise<void>&& task)
+{
+    childTasks.add(kj::mv(task));
 }
 
 kj::Promise<void> Server::addTimeout(int seconds, std::function<void ()> cb) {
diff --git a/src/server.h b/src/server.h
index 6d647ae..26906a6 100644
--- a/src/server.h
+++ b/src/server.h
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ public:
 
     // add a file descriptor to be monitored for output. The callback will be
     // invoked with the read data
-    void addDescriptor(int fd, std::function<void(const char*,size_t)> cb);
+    kj::Promise<void> readDescriptor(int fd, std::function<void(const char*,size_t)> cb);
 
+    void addTask(kj::Promise<void> &&task);
     // add a one-shot timer callback
     kj::Promise<void> addTimeout(int seconds, std::function<void()> cb);
 
diff --git a/test/test-run.cpp b/test/test-run.cpp
index 89829c2..a847afe 100644
--- a/test/test-run.cpp
+++ b/test/test-run.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ protected:
     }
     void wait() {
         int state = -1;
-        waitpid(run.pid, &state, 0);
+        waitpid(run.current_pid, &state, 0);
         run.reaped(state);
     }
     void runAll() {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ protected:
     std::string readAllOutput() {
         std::string res;
         char tmp[64];
-        for(ssize_t n = read(run.fd, tmp, 64); n > 0; n = read(run.fd, tmp, 64))
+        for(ssize_t n = read(run.output_fd, tmp, 64); n > 0; n = read(run.output_fd, tmp, 64))
             res += std::string(tmp, n);
         // strip the first "[laminar] executing.. line
         return strchr(res.c_str(), '\n') + 1;