diff --git a/synapse/crypto/keyring.py b/synapse/crypto/keyring.py
index 694aed3a7d..ceb03ce6c2 100644
--- a/synapse/crypto/keyring.py
+++ b/synapse/crypto/keyring.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class Keyring(object):
 
         time_now_ms = self.clock.time_msec()
 
-        self.store.store_server_certificate(
+        yield self.store.store_server_certificate(
             server_name,
             server_name,
             time_now_ms,
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ class Keyring(object):
         )
 
         for key_id, key in verify_keys.items():
-            self.store.store_server_verify_key(
+            yield self.store.store_server_verify_key(
                 server_name, server_name, time_now_ms, key
             )
 
diff --git a/synapse/federation/replication.py b/synapse/federation/replication.py
index 65a53ae17c..996b8ea5bf 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/replication.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/replication.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from .units import Transaction, Edu
 from .persistence import TransactionActions
 
 from synapse.util.logutils import log_function
+from synapse.util.logcontext import PreserveLoggingContext
 
 import logging
 
@@ -319,19 +320,20 @@ class ReplicationLayer(object):
 
         logger.debug("[%s] Transacition is new", transaction.transaction_id)
 
-        dl = []
-        for pdu in pdu_list:
-            dl.append(self._handle_new_pdu(transaction.origin, pdu))
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            dl = []
+            for pdu in pdu_list:
+                dl.append(self._handle_new_pdu(transaction.origin, pdu))
 
-        if hasattr(transaction, "edus"):
-            for edu in [Edu(**x) for x in transaction.edus]:
-                self.received_edu(
-                    transaction.origin,
-                    edu.edu_type,
-                    edu.content
-                )
+            if hasattr(transaction, "edus"):
+                for edu in [Edu(**x) for x in transaction.edus]:
+                    self.received_edu(
+                        transaction.origin,
+                        edu.edu_type,
+                        edu.content
+                    )
 
-        results = yield defer.DeferredList(dl)
+            results = yield defer.DeferredList(dl)
 
         ret = []
         for r in results:
@@ -649,7 +651,8 @@ class _TransactionQueue(object):
                 (pdu, deferred, order)
             )
 
-            self._attempt_new_transaction(destination)
+            with PreserveLoggingContext():
+                self._attempt_new_transaction(destination)
 
             deferreds.append(deferred)
 
@@ -669,7 +672,9 @@ class _TransactionQueue(object):
                 deferred.errback(failure)
             else:
                 logger.exception("Failed to send edu", failure)
-        self._attempt_new_transaction(destination).addErrback(eb)
+
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            self._attempt_new_transaction(destination).addErrback(eb)
 
         return deferred
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/_base.py b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
index 30c6733063..d53cd3df3e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class BaseHandler(object):
 
         event.destinations = list(destinations)
 
-        self.notifier.on_new_room_event(event, extra_users=extra_users)
+        yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(event, extra_users=extra_users)
 
         federation_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().federation_handler
         yield federation_handler.handle_new_event(event, snapshot)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/events.py b/synapse/handlers/events.py
index 4993c92b74..d59221a4fb 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/events.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/events.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class EventStreamHandler(BaseHandler):
                     self.clock.cancel_call_later(
                         self._stop_timer_per_user.pop(auth_user))
                 else:
-                    self.distributor.fire(
+                    yield self.distributor.fire(
                         "started_user_eventstream", auth_user
                     )
             self._streams_per_user[auth_user] += 1
@@ -65,8 +65,10 @@ class EventStreamHandler(BaseHandler):
                 pagin_config.from_token = None
 
             rm_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+            logger.debug("BETA")
             room_ids = yield rm_handler.get_rooms_for_user(auth_user)
 
+            logger.debug("ALPHA")
             with PreserveLoggingContext():
                 events, tokens = yield self.notifier.get_events_for(
                     auth_user, room_ids, pagin_config, timeout
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ class EventStreamHandler(BaseHandler):
                     logger.debug(
                         "_later stopped_user_eventstream %s", auth_user
                     )
-                    self.distributor.fire(
+                    yield self.distributor.fire(
                         "stopped_user_eventstream", auth_user
                     )
                     del self._stop_timer_per_user[auth_user]
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 492005a170..e8fb7eae58 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         if event.type == RoomMemberEvent.TYPE:
             if event.membership == Membership.JOIN:
                 user = self.hs.parse_userid(event.state_key)
-                self.distributor.fire(
+                yield self.distributor.fire(
                     "user_joined_room", user=user, room_id=event.room_id
                 )
 
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         if event.type == RoomMemberEvent.TYPE:
             if event.membership == Membership.JOIN:
                 user = self.hs.parse_userid(event.state_key)
-                self.distributor.fire(
+                yield self.distributor.fire(
                     "user_joined_room", user=user, room_id=event.room_id
                 )
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index de70486b29..f460657f31 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 from synapse.api.constants import Membership
 from synapse.api.errors import RoomError
 from synapse.streams.config import PaginationConfig
+from synapse.util.logcontext import PreserveLoggingContext
 from ._base import BaseHandler
 
 import logging
@@ -86,9 +87,10 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
             event, snapshot, suppress_auth=suppress_auth
         )
 
-        self.hs.get_handlers().presence_handler.bump_presence_active_time(
-            user
-        )
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            self.hs.get_handlers().presence_handler.bump_presence_active_time(
+                user
+            )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_messages(self, user_id=None, room_id=None, pagin_config=None,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/presence.py b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
index fcc92a8e32..b55d589daf 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError, AuthError
 from synapse.api.constants import PresenceState
 
 from synapse.util.logutils import log_function
+from synapse.util.logcontext import PreserveLoggingContext
 
 from ._base import BaseHandler
 
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
             return UserPresenceCache()
 
     def registered_user(self, user):
-        self.store.create_presence(user.localpart)
+        return self.store.create_presence(user.localpart)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def is_presence_visible(self, observer_user, observed_user):
@@ -241,14 +242,12 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
         was_level = self.STATE_LEVELS[statuscache.get_state()["presence"]]
         now_level = self.STATE_LEVELS[state["presence"]]
 
-        yield defer.DeferredList([
-            self.store.set_presence_state(
-                target_user.localpart, state_to_store
-            ),
-            self.distributor.fire(
-                "collect_presencelike_data", target_user, state
-            ),
-        ])
+        yield self.store.set_presence_state(
+            target_user.localpart, state_to_store
+        )
+        yield self.distributor.fire(
+            "collect_presencelike_data", target_user, state
+        )
 
         if now_level > was_level:
             state["last_active"] = self.clock.time_msec()
@@ -256,14 +255,15 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
         now_online = state["presence"] != PresenceState.OFFLINE
         was_polling = target_user in self._user_cachemap
 
-        if now_online and not was_polling:
-            self.start_polling_presence(target_user, state=state)
-        elif not now_online and was_polling:
-            self.stop_polling_presence(target_user)
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            if now_online and not was_polling:
+                self.start_polling_presence(target_user, state=state)
+            elif not now_online and was_polling:
+                self.stop_polling_presence(target_user)
 
-        # TODO(paul): perform a presence push as part of start/stop poll so
-        #   we don't have to do this all the time
-        self.changed_presencelike_data(target_user, state)
+            # TODO(paul): perform a presence push as part of start/stop poll so
+            #   we don't have to do this all the time
+            self.changed_presencelike_data(target_user, state)
 
     def bump_presence_active_time(self, user, now=None):
         if now is None:
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
         self._user_cachemap_latest_serial += 1
         statuscache.update(state, serial=self._user_cachemap_latest_serial)
 
-        self.push_presence(user, statuscache=statuscache)
+        return self.push_presence(user, statuscache=statuscache)
 
     @log_function
     def started_user_eventstream(self, user):
@@ -381,8 +381,10 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
         yield self.store.set_presence_list_accepted(
             observer_user.localpart, observed_user.to_string()
         )
-
-        self.start_polling_presence(observer_user, target_user=observed_user)
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            self.start_polling_presence(
+                observer_user, target_user=observed_user
+            )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def deny_presence(self, observed_user, observer_user):
@@ -401,7 +403,10 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
             observer_user.localpart, observed_user.to_string()
         )
 
-        self.stop_polling_presence(observer_user, target_user=observed_user)
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            self.stop_polling_presence(
+                observer_user, target_user=observed_user
+            )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_presence_list(self, observer_user, accepted=None):
@@ -710,7 +715,8 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
                 if not self._remote_sendmap[user]:
                     del self._remote_sendmap[user]
 
-        yield defer.DeferredList(deferreds)
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            yield defer.DeferredList(deferreds)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def push_update_to_local_and_remote(self, observed_user, statuscache,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/profile.py b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
index 7853bf5098..814b3b68fe 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError, AuthError, CodeMessageException
 from synapse.api.constants import Membership
+from synapse.util.logcontext import PreserveLoggingContext
 
 from ._base import BaseHandler
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
 
     def registered_user(self, user):
-        self.store.create_profile(user.localpart)
+        return self.store.create_profile(user.localpart)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_displayname(self, target_user):
@@ -152,13 +153,14 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
         if not user.is_mine:
             defer.returnValue(None)
 
-        (displayname, avatar_url) = yield defer.gatherResults(
-            [
-                self.store.get_profile_displayname(user.localpart),
-                self.store.get_profile_avatar_url(user.localpart),
-            ],
-            consumeErrors=True
-        )
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            (displayname, avatar_url) = yield defer.gatherResults(
+                [
+                    self.store.get_profile_displayname(user.localpart),
+                    self.store.get_profile_avatar_url(user.localpart),
+                ],
+                consumeErrors=True
+            )
 
         state["displayname"] = displayname
         state["avatar_url"] = avatar_url
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index 7df9d9b82d..c59ac1a3c8 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 password_hash=password_hash
             )
 
-            self.distributor.fire("registered_user", user)
+            yield self.distributor.fire("registered_user", user)
         else:
             # autogen a random user ID
             attempts = 0
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room.py b/synapse/handlers/room.py
index 7d9458e1d0..7252051744 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         if room_alias:
             result["room_alias"] = room_alias.to_string()
-            directory_handler.send_room_alias_update_event(user_id, room_id)
+            yield directory_handler.send_room_alias_update_event(user_id, room_id)
 
         defer.returnValue(result)
 
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             )
 
         user = self.hs.parse_userid(event.user_id)
-        self.distributor.fire(
+        yield self.distributor.fire(
             "user_joined_room", user=user, room_id=room_id
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/notifier.py b/synapse/notifier.py
index c310a9fed6..0c8ca6ec66 100644
--- a/synapse/notifier.py
+++ b/synapse/notifier.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.util.logutils import log_function
 from synapse.util.logcontext import PreserveLoggingContext
+from synapse.util.async import run_on_reactor
 
 import logging
 
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ class Notifier(object):
         listening to the room, and any listeners for the users in the
         `extra_users` param.
         """
+        yield run_on_reactor()
         room_id = event.room_id
 
         room_source = self.event_sources.sources["room"]
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@ class Notifier(object):
 
         Will wake up all listeners for the given users and rooms.
         """
+        yield run_on_reactor()
         presence_source = self.event_sources.sources["presence"]
 
         listeners = set()
diff --git a/synapse/rest/presence.py b/synapse/rest/presence.py
index 138cc88a05..502ed0d4ca 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/presence.py
@@ -117,8 +117,6 @@ class PresenceListRestServlet(RestServlet):
             logger.exception("JSON parse error")
             raise SynapseError(400, "Unable to parse content")
 
-        deferreds = []
-
         if "invite" in content:
             for u in content["invite"]:
                 if not isinstance(u, basestring):
@@ -126,8 +124,9 @@ class PresenceListRestServlet(RestServlet):
                 if len(u) == 0:
                     continue
                 invited_user = self.hs.parse_userid(u)
-                deferreds.append(self.handlers.presence_handler.send_invite(
-                    observer_user=user, observed_user=invited_user))
+                yield self.handlers.presence_handler.send_invite(
+                    observer_user=user, observed_user=invited_user
+                )
 
         if "drop" in content:
             for u in content["drop"]:
@@ -136,10 +135,9 @@ class PresenceListRestServlet(RestServlet):
                 if len(u) == 0:
                     continue
                 dropped_user = self.hs.parse_userid(u)
-                deferreds.append(self.handlers.presence_handler.drop(
-                    observer_user=user, observed_user=dropped_user))
-
-        yield defer.DeferredList(deferreds)
+                yield self.handlers.presence_handler.drop(
+                    observer_user=user, observed_user=dropped_user
+                )
 
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/_base.py b/synapse/storage/_base.py
index 5d4be09a82..2c04a1c5be 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/_base.py
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
                         "[TXN END] {%s} %f",
                         name, end - start
                     )
-
         with PreserveLoggingContext():
             result = yield self._db_pool.runInteraction(
                 inner_func, *args, **kwargs
diff --git a/synapse/storage/roommember.py b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
index 93329703a2..c37df59d45 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/roommember.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ class RoomMemberStore(SQLBaseStore):
         return self._get_members_query(clause, vals)
 
     def _get_members_query(self, where_clause, where_values):
-        return self._db_pool.runInteraction(
-            self._get_members_query_txn,
+        return self.runInteraction(
+            "get_members_query", self._get_members_query_txn,
             where_clause, where_values
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/util/distributor.py b/synapse/util/distributor.py
index eddbe5837f..701ccdb781 100644
--- a/synapse/util/distributor.py
+++ b/synapse/util/distributor.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from synapse.util.logcontext import PreserveLoggingContext
+
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 import logging
@@ -91,6 +93,7 @@ class Signal(object):
         Each observer callable may return a Deferred."""
         self.observers.append(observer)
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def fire(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """Invokes every callable in the observer list, passing in the args and
         kwargs. Exceptions thrown by observers are logged but ignored. It is
@@ -98,22 +101,24 @@ class Signal(object):
 
         Returns a Deferred that will complete when all the observers have
         completed."""
-        deferreds = []
-        for observer in self.observers:
-            d = defer.maybeDeferred(observer, *args, **kwargs)
+        with PreserveLoggingContext():
+            deferreds = []
+            for observer in self.observers:
+                d = defer.maybeDeferred(observer, *args, **kwargs)
 
-            def eb(failure):
-                logger.warning(
-                    "%s signal observer %s failed: %r",
-                    self.name, observer, failure,
-                    exc_info=(
-                        failure.type,
-                        failure.value,
-                        failure.getTracebackObject()))
-                if not self.suppress_failures:
-                    raise failure
-            deferreds.append(d.addErrback(eb))
+                def eb(failure):
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "%s signal observer %s failed: %r",
+                        self.name, observer, failure,
+                        exc_info=(
+                            failure.type,
+                            failure.value,
+                            failure.getTracebackObject()))
+                    if not self.suppress_failures:
+                        raise failure
+                deferreds.append(d.addErrback(eb))
 
-        return defer.DeferredList(
-            deferreds, fireOnOneErrback=not self.suppress_failures
-        )
+            result = yield defer.DeferredList(
+                deferreds, fireOnOneErrback=not self.suppress_failures
+            )
+        defer.returnValue(result)