diff --git a/stack.sh b/stack.sh
index 036afd7..dcfef6d 100755
--- a/stack.sh
+++ b/stack.sh
@@ -330,6 +330,9 @@
     safe_chmod 0755 $DATA_DIR
 fi
 
+# Create and/or clean the async state directory
+async_init
+
 # Configure proper hostname
 # Certain services such as rabbitmq require that the local hostname resolves
 # correctly.  Make sure it exists in /etc/hosts so that is always true.
@@ -1082,19 +1085,19 @@
 
     create_keystone_accounts
     if is_service_enabled nova; then
-        create_nova_accounts
+        async_runfunc create_nova_accounts
     fi
     if is_service_enabled glance; then
-        create_glance_accounts
+        async_runfunc create_glance_accounts
     fi
     if is_service_enabled cinder; then
-        create_cinder_accounts
+        async_runfunc create_cinder_accounts
     fi
     if is_service_enabled neutron; then
-        create_neutron_accounts
+        async_runfunc create_neutron_accounts
     fi
     if is_service_enabled swift; then
-        create_swift_accounts
+        async_runfunc create_swift_accounts
     fi
 
 fi
@@ -1107,9 +1110,11 @@
 
 if is_service_enabled horizon; then
     echo_summary "Configuring Horizon"
-    configure_horizon
+    async_runfunc configure_horizon
 fi
 
+async_wait create_nova_accounts create_glance_accounts create_cinder_accounts
+async_wait create_neutron_accounts create_swift_accounts configure_horizon
 
 # Glance
 # ------
@@ -1117,7 +1122,7 @@
 # NOTE(yoctozepto): limited to node hosting the database which is the controller
 if is_service_enabled $DATABASE_BACKENDS && is_service_enabled glance; then
     echo_summary "Configuring Glance"
-    init_glance
+    async_runfunc init_glance
 fi
 
 
@@ -1131,7 +1136,7 @@
 
     # Run init_neutron only on the node hosting the Neutron API server
     if is_service_enabled $DATABASE_BACKENDS && is_service_enabled neutron; then
-        init_neutron
+        async_runfunc init_neutron
     fi
 fi
 
@@ -1161,7 +1166,7 @@
 
 if is_service_enabled swift; then
     echo_summary "Configuring Swift"
-    init_swift
+    async_runfunc init_swift
 fi
 
 
@@ -1170,7 +1175,7 @@
 
 if is_service_enabled cinder; then
     echo_summary "Configuring Cinder"
-    init_cinder
+    async_runfunc init_cinder
 fi
 
 # Placement Service
@@ -1178,9 +1183,16 @@
 
 if is_service_enabled placement; then
     echo_summary "Configuring placement"
-    init_placement
+    async_runfunc init_placement
 fi
 
+# Wait for neutron and placement before starting nova
+async_wait init_neutron
+async_wait init_placement
+async_wait init_glance
+async_wait init_swift
+async_wait init_cinder
+
 # Compute Service
 # ---------------
 
@@ -1192,7 +1204,7 @@
     # TODO(stephenfin): Is it possible for neutron to *not* be enabled now? If
     # not, remove the if here
     if is_service_enabled neutron; then
-        configure_neutron_nova
+        async_runfunc configure_neutron_nova
     fi
 fi
 
@@ -1236,6 +1248,8 @@
     iniset $CINDER_CONF key_manager fixed_key "$FIXED_KEY"
 fi
 
+async_wait configure_neutron_nova
+
 # Launch the nova-api and wait for it to answer before continuing
 if is_service_enabled n-api; then
     echo_summary "Starting Nova API"
@@ -1282,7 +1296,7 @@
 if is_service_enabled nova; then
     echo_summary "Starting Nova"
     start_nova
-    create_flavors
+    async_runfunc create_flavors
 fi
 if is_service_enabled cinder; then
     echo_summary "Starting Cinder"
@@ -1331,6 +1345,8 @@
     start_horizon
 fi
 
+async_wait create_flavors
+
 
 # Create account rc files
 # =======================
@@ -1467,8 +1483,12 @@
     exec 1>&3
 fi
 
+# Make sure we didn't leak any background tasks
+async_cleanup
+
 # Dump out the time totals
 time_totals
+async_print_timing
 
 # Using the cloud
 # ===============