diff --git a/helix-event/src/cancel.rs b/helix-event/src/cancel.rs
index f027be80e..f80ca3d9b 100644
--- a/helix-event/src/cancel.rs
+++ b/helix-event/src/cancel.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
+use std::borrow::Borrow;
 use std::future::Future;
+use std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64;
+use std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
-pub use oneshot::channel as cancelation;
-use tokio::sync::oneshot;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 
-pub type CancelTx = oneshot::Sender<()>;
-pub type CancelRx = oneshot::Receiver<()>;
-
-pub async fn cancelable_future<T>(future: impl Future<Output = T>, cancel: CancelRx) -> Option<T> {
+pub async fn cancelable_future<T>(
+    future: impl Future<Output = T>,
+    cancel: impl Borrow<TaskHandle>,
+) -> Option<T> {
     tokio::select! {
         biased;
-        _ = cancel => {
+        _ = cancel.borrow().canceled() => {
             None
         }
         res = future => {
@@ -17,3 +20,266 @@ pub async fn cancelable_future<T>(future: impl Future<Output = T>, cancel: Cance
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[derive(Default, Debug)]
+struct Shared {
+    state: AtomicU64,
+    // notify has some features that we don't really need here because it
+    // supports waking single tasks (notify_one) and does it's own (more
+    // complicated) state tracking, we could reimplement the waiter linked list
+    // with modest effort and reduce memory consumption by one word/8 bytes and
+    // reduce code complexity/number of atomic operations.
+    //
+    // I don't think that's worth the complexity (unsafe code).
+    //
+    // if we only cared about async code then we could also only use a notify
+    // (without the generation count), this would be equivalent (or maybe more
+    // correct if we want to allow cloning the TX) but it would be extremly slow
+    // to frequently check for cancelation from sync code
+    notify: Notify,
+}
+
+impl Shared {
+    fn generation(&self) -> u32 {
+        self.state.load(Relaxed) as u32
+    }
+
+    fn num_running(&self) -> u32 {
+        (self.state.load(Relaxed) >> 32) as u32
+    }
+
+    /// increments the generation count and sets num_running
+    /// to the provided value, this operation is not with
+    /// regard to the generation counter (doesn't use fetch_add)
+    /// so the calling code must ensure it cannot execute concurrently
+    /// to maintain correctness (but not safety)
+    fn inc_generation(&self, num_running: u32) -> (u32, u32) {
+        let state = self.state.load(Relaxed);
+        let generation = state as u32;
+        let prev_running = (state >> 32) as u32;
+        // no need to create a new generation if the refcount is zero (fastaph)
+        if prev_running == 0 && num_running == 0 {
+            return (generation, 0);
+        }
+        let new_generation = generation.saturating_add(1);
+        self.state.store(
+            new_generation as u64 | ((num_running as u64) << 32),
+            Relaxed,
+        );
+        self.notify.notify_waiters();
+        (new_generation, prev_running)
+    }
+
+    fn inc_running(&self, generation: u32) {
+        let mut state = self.state.load(Relaxed);
+        loop {
+            let current_generation = state as u32;
+            if current_generation != generation {
+                break;
+            }
+            let off = 1 << 32;
+            let res = self.state.compare_exchange_weak(
+                state,
+                state.saturating_add(off),
+                Relaxed,
+                Relaxed,
+            );
+            match res {
+                Ok(_) => break,
+                Err(new_state) => state = new_state,
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn dec_running(&self, generation: u32) {
+        let mut state = self.state.load(Relaxed);
+        loop {
+            let current_generation = state as u32;
+            if current_generation != generation {
+                break;
+            }
+            let num_running = (state >> 32) as u32;
+            // running can't be zero here, that would mean we misscounted somewhere
+            assert_ne!(num_running, 0);
+            let off = 1 << 32;
+            let res = self
+                .state
+                .compare_exchange_weak(state, state - off, Relaxed, Relaxed);
+            match res {
+                Ok(_) => break,
+                Err(new_state) => state = new_state,
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// this intentionally doesn't implement clone and requires amutable reference
+// for cancelation to avoid races (in inc_generation)
+
+/// A task controller allows managing a single subtask enabling the contorller
+/// to cancel the subtask and to check wether it is still running. For efficency
+/// reasons the controller can be reused/restarted, in that case the previous
+/// task is automatically cancelled.
+///
+/// If the controller is dropped the subtasks are automatically canceled.
+#[derive(Default, Debug)]
+pub struct TaskController {
+    shared: Arc<Shared>,
+}
+
+impl TaskController {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        TaskController::default()
+    }
+    /// Cancels the active task (handle)
+    ///
+    /// returns wether any tasks were still running before the canellation
+    pub fn cancel(&mut self) -> bool {
+        self.shared.inc_generation(0).1 != 0
+    }
+
+    /// checks wether there are any task handles
+    /// that haven't been dropped (or canceled) yet
+    pub fn is_running(&self) -> bool {
+        self.shared.num_running() != 0
+    }
+
+    /// Starts a new task and cancels the previous task (handles)
+    pub fn restart(&mut self) -> TaskHandle {
+        TaskHandle {
+            generation: self.shared.inc_generation(1).0,
+            shared: self.shared.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for TaskController {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.cancel();
+    }
+}
+
+/// A handle that is used to link a task with a task controller, it can be
+/// used to cancel async futures very efficently but can also be checked for
+/// cancaellation very quickly (single atomic read) in blocking code. The
+/// handle can be cheaply cloned (referenced counted).
+///
+/// The TaskController can check wether a task is "running" by inspecting the
+/// refcount of the (current) tasks handeles. Therefore, if that information
+/// is important ensure that the handle is not dropped until the task fully
+/// completes
+pub struct TaskHandle {
+    shared: Arc<Shared>,
+    generation: u32,
+}
+
+impl Clone for TaskHandle {
+    fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+        self.shared.inc_running(self.generation);
+        TaskHandle {
+            shared: self.shared.clone(),
+            generation: self.generation,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for TaskHandle {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.shared.dec_running(self.generation);
+    }
+}
+
+impl TaskHandle {
+    /// waits until [`TaskController::cancel`] is called for the corresponding
+    /// [`TaskController`]. Immidietly returns if `cancel` was already called since
+    pub async fn canceled(&self) {
+        let notified = self.shared.notify.notified();
+        if !self.is_canceled() {
+            notified.await
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_canceled(&self) -> bool {
+        self.generation != self.shared.generation()
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::future::poll_fn;
+
+    use futures_executor::block_on;
+    use tokio::task::yield_now;
+
+    use crate::{cancelable_future, TaskController};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn immidiate_cancel() {
+        let mut controller = TaskController::new();
+        let handle = controller.restart();
+        controller.cancel();
+        assert!(handle.is_canceled());
+        controller.restart();
+        assert!(handle.is_canceled());
+
+        let res = block_on(cancelable_future(
+            poll_fn(|_cx| std::task::Poll::Ready(())),
+            handle,
+        ));
+        assert!(res.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn running_count() {
+        let mut controller = TaskController::new();
+        let handle = controller.restart();
+        assert!(controller.is_running());
+        assert!(!handle.is_canceled());
+        drop(handle);
+        assert!(!controller.is_running());
+        assert!(!controller.cancel());
+        let handle = controller.restart();
+        assert!(!handle.is_canceled());
+        assert!(controller.is_running());
+        let handle2 = handle.clone();
+        assert!(!handle.is_canceled());
+        assert!(controller.is_running());
+        drop(handle2);
+        assert!(!handle.is_canceled());
+        assert!(controller.is_running());
+        assert!(controller.cancel());
+        assert!(handle.is_canceled());
+        assert!(!controller.is_running());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn no_cancel() {
+        let mut controller = TaskController::new();
+        let handle = controller.restart();
+        assert!(!handle.is_canceled());
+
+        let res = block_on(cancelable_future(
+            poll_fn(|_cx| std::task::Poll::Ready(())),
+            handle,
+        ));
+        assert!(res.is_some());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn delayed_cancel() {
+        let mut controller = TaskController::new();
+        let handle = controller.restart();
+
+        let mut hit = false;
+        let res = block_on(cancelable_future(
+            async {
+                controller.cancel();
+                hit = true;
+                yield_now().await;
+            },
+            handle,
+        ));
+        assert!(res.is_none());
+        assert!(hit);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/helix-event/src/lib.rs b/helix-event/src/lib.rs
index de018a79d..8aa6b52fa 100644
--- a/helix-event/src/lib.rs
+++ b/helix-event/src/lib.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 //! to helix-view in the future if we manage to detach the compositor from its rendering backend.
 
 use anyhow::Result;
-pub use cancel::{cancelable_future, cancelation, CancelRx, CancelTx};
+pub use cancel::{cancelable_future, TaskController, TaskHandle};
 pub use debounce::{send_blocking, AsyncHook};
 pub use redraw::{
     lock_frame, redraw_requested, request_redraw, start_frame, RenderLockGuard, RequestRedrawOnDrop,
diff --git a/helix-term/src/handlers/completion.rs b/helix-term/src/handlers/completion.rs
index edd54c5e3..f3223487c 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/handlers/completion.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/handlers/completion.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use std::collections::HashSet;
-use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
@@ -8,9 +7,7 @@
 use futures_util::FutureExt;
 use helix_core::chars::char_is_word;
 use helix_core::syntax::LanguageServerFeature;
-use helix_event::{
-    cancelable_future, cancelation, register_hook, send_blocking, CancelRx, CancelTx,
-};
+use helix_event::{cancelable_future, register_hook, send_blocking, TaskController, TaskHandle};
 use helix_lsp::lsp;
 use helix_lsp::util::pos_to_lsp_pos;
 use helix_stdx::rope::RopeSliceExt;
@@ -59,12 +56,8 @@ pub(super) struct CompletionHandler {
     /// currently active trigger which will cause a
     /// completion request after the timeout
     trigger: Option<Trigger>,
-    /// A handle for currently active completion request.
-    /// This can be used to determine whether the current
-    /// request is still active (and new triggers should be
-    /// ignored) and can also be used to abort the current
-    /// request (by dropping the handle)
-    request: Option<CancelTx>,
+    in_flight: Option<Trigger>,
+    task_controller: TaskController,
     config: Arc<ArcSwap<Config>>,
 }
 
@@ -72,8 +65,9 @@ impl CompletionHandler {
     pub fn new(config: Arc<ArcSwap<Config>>) -> CompletionHandler {
         Self {
             config,
-            request: None,
+            task_controller: TaskController::new(),
             trigger: None,
+            in_flight: None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -86,6 +80,9 @@ fn handle_event(
         event: Self::Event,
         _old_timeout: Option<Instant>,
     ) -> Option<Instant> {
+        if self.in_flight.is_some() && !self.task_controller.is_running() {
+            self.in_flight = None;
+        }
         match event {
             CompletionEvent::AutoTrigger {
                 cursor: trigger_pos,
@@ -96,7 +93,7 @@ fn handle_event(
                 // but people may create weird keymaps/use the mouse so lets be extra careful
                 if self
                     .trigger
-                    .as_ref()
+                    .or(self.in_flight)
                     .map_or(true, |trigger| trigger.doc != doc || trigger.view != view)
                 {
                     self.trigger = Some(Trigger {
@@ -109,7 +106,7 @@ fn handle_event(
             }
             CompletionEvent::TriggerChar { cursor, doc, view } => {
                 // immediately request completions and drop all auto completion requests
-                self.request = None;
+                self.task_controller.cancel();
                 self.trigger = Some(Trigger {
                     pos: cursor,
                     view,
@@ -119,7 +116,6 @@ fn handle_event(
             }
             CompletionEvent::ManualTrigger { cursor, doc, view } => {
                 // immediately request completions and drop all auto completion requests
-                self.request = None;
                 self.trigger = Some(Trigger {
                     pos: cursor,
                     view,
@@ -132,21 +128,21 @@ fn handle_event(
             }
             CompletionEvent::Cancel => {
                 self.trigger = None;
-                self.request = None;
+                self.task_controller.cancel();
             }
             CompletionEvent::DeleteText { cursor } => {
                 // if we deleted the original trigger, abort the completion
-                if matches!(self.trigger, Some(Trigger{ pos, .. }) if cursor < pos) {
+                if matches!(self.trigger.or(self.in_flight), Some(Trigger{ pos, .. }) if cursor < pos)
+                {
                     self.trigger = None;
-                    self.request = None;
+                    self.task_controller.cancel();
                 }
             }
         }
         self.trigger.map(|trigger| {
             // if the current request was closed forget about it
             // otherwise immediately restart the completion request
-            let cancel = self.request.take().map_or(false, |req| !req.is_closed());
-            let timeout = if trigger.kind == TriggerKind::Auto && !cancel {
+            let timeout = if trigger.kind == TriggerKind::Auto {
                 self.config.load().editor.completion_timeout
             } else {
                 // we want almost instant completions for trigger chars
@@ -161,17 +157,17 @@ fn handle_event(
 
     fn finish_debounce(&mut self) {
         let trigger = self.trigger.take().expect("debounce always has a trigger");
-        let (tx, rx) = cancelation();
-        self.request = Some(tx);
+        self.in_flight = Some(trigger);
+        let handle = self.task_controller.restart();
         dispatch_blocking(move |editor, compositor| {
-            request_completion(trigger, rx, editor, compositor)
+            request_completion(trigger, handle, editor, compositor)
         });
     }
 }
 
 fn request_completion(
     mut trigger: Trigger,
-    cancel: CancelRx,
+    handle: TaskHandle,
     editor: &mut Editor,
     compositor: &mut Compositor,
 ) {
@@ -202,7 +198,6 @@ fn request_completion(
     // necessary from our side too.
     trigger.pos = cursor;
     let trigger_text = text.slice(..cursor);
-    let cancel_completion = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
 
     let mut seen_language_servers = HashSet::new();
     let mut futures: FuturesUnordered<_> = doc
@@ -270,12 +265,7 @@ fn request_completion(
             }
             .boxed()
         })
-        .chain(path_completion(
-            cursor,
-            text.clone(),
-            doc,
-            cancel_completion.clone(),
-        ))
+        .chain(path_completion(cursor, text.clone(), doc, handle.clone()))
         .collect();
 
     let future = async move {
@@ -296,18 +286,13 @@ fn request_completion(
     let ui = compositor.find::<ui::EditorView>().unwrap();
     ui.last_insert.1.push(InsertEvent::RequestCompletion);
     tokio::spawn(async move {
-        let items = match cancelable_future(future, cancel).await {
-            Some(v) => v,
-            None => {
-                cancel_completion.store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
-                Vec::new()
-            }
-        };
-        if items.is_empty() {
+        let items = cancelable_future(future, &handle).await;
+        let Some(items) = items.filter(|items| !items.is_empty()) else {
             return;
-        }
+        };
         dispatch(move |editor, compositor| {
-            show_completion(editor, compositor, items, trigger, savepoint)
+            show_completion(editor, compositor, items, trigger, savepoint);
+            drop(handle)
         })
         .await
     });
diff --git a/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/path.rs b/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/path.rs
index 2bd04c65f..b7b605073 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/path.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/path.rs
@@ -3,15 +3,12 @@
     fs,
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
     str::FromStr as _,
-    sync::{
-        atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering},
-        Arc,
-    },
 };
 
 use futures_util::{future::BoxFuture, FutureExt as _};
 use helix_core as core;
 use helix_core::Transaction;
+use helix_event::TaskHandle;
 use helix_stdx::path::{self, canonicalize, fold_home_dir, get_path_suffix};
 use helix_view::Document;
 use url::Url;
@@ -22,7 +19,7 @@ pub(crate) fn path_completion(
     cursor: usize,
     text: core::Rope,
     doc: &Document,
-    cancel: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    handle: TaskHandle,
 ) -> Option<BoxFuture<'static, anyhow::Result<Vec<CompletionItem>>>> {
     if !doc.path_completion_enabled() {
         return None;
@@ -66,7 +63,7 @@ pub(crate) fn path_completion(
             }
         })?;
 
-    if cancel.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+    if handle.is_canceled() {
         return None;
     }
 
@@ -75,10 +72,6 @@ pub(crate) fn path_completion(
             return Vec::new();
         };
 
-        if cancel.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
-            return Vec::new();
-        }
-
         read_dir
             .filter_map(Result::ok)
             .filter_map(|dir_entry| {
@@ -88,7 +81,7 @@ pub(crate) fn path_completion(
                     .and_then(|md| Some((dir_entry.file_name().into_string().ok()?, md)))
             })
             .map_while(|(file_name, md)| {
-                if cancel.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+                if handle.is_canceled() {
                     return None;
                 }
 
diff --git a/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/resolve.rs b/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/resolve.rs
index cc3156017..802d6f51d 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/resolve.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/handlers/completion/resolve.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 use tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender;
 use tokio::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
-use helix_event::{send_blocking, AsyncHook, CancelRx};
+use helix_event::{send_blocking, AsyncHook, TaskController, TaskHandle};
 use helix_view::Editor;
 
 use super::LspCompletionItem;
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@ impl ResolveHandler {
     pub fn new() -> ResolveHandler {
         ResolveHandler {
             last_request: None,
-            resolver: ResolveTimeout {
-                next_request: None,
-                in_flight: None,
-            }
-            .spawn(),
+            resolver: ResolveTimeout::default().spawn(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -101,7 +97,8 @@ struct ResolveRequest {
 #[derive(Default)]
 struct ResolveTimeout {
     next_request: Option<ResolveRequest>,
-    in_flight: Option<(helix_event::CancelTx, Arc<LspCompletionItem>)>,
+    in_flight: Option<Arc<LspCompletionItem>>,
+    task_controller: TaskController,
 }
 
 impl AsyncHook for ResolveTimeout {
@@ -121,7 +118,7 @@ fn handle_event(
         } else if self
             .in_flight
             .as_ref()
-            .is_some_and(|(_, old_request)| old_request.item == request.item.item)
+            .is_some_and(|old_request| old_request.item == request.item.item)
         {
             self.next_request = None;
             None
@@ -135,14 +132,14 @@ fn finish_debounce(&mut self) {
         let Some(request) = self.next_request.take() else {
             return;
         };
-        let (tx, rx) = helix_event::cancelation();
-        self.in_flight = Some((tx, request.item.clone()));
-        tokio::spawn(request.execute(rx));
+        let token = self.task_controller.restart();
+        self.in_flight = Some(request.item.clone());
+        tokio::spawn(request.execute(token));
     }
 }
 
 impl ResolveRequest {
-    async fn execute(self, cancel: CancelRx) {
+    async fn execute(self, cancel: TaskHandle) {
         let future = self.ls.resolve_completion_item(&self.item.item);
         let Some(resolved_item) = helix_event::cancelable_future(future, cancel).await else {
             return;
diff --git a/helix-term/src/handlers/signature_help.rs b/helix-term/src/handlers/signature_help.rs
index aaa97b9a0..e4f7e935a 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/handlers/signature_help.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/handlers/signature_help.rs
@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use helix_core::syntax::LanguageServerFeature;
-use helix_event::{
-    cancelable_future, cancelation, register_hook, send_blocking, CancelRx, CancelTx,
-};
+use helix_event::{cancelable_future, register_hook, send_blocking, TaskController, TaskHandle};
 use helix_lsp::lsp::{self, SignatureInformation};
 use helix_stdx::rope::RopeSliceExt;
 use helix_view::document::Mode;
@@ -22,11 +20,11 @@
 use crate::ui::Popup;
 use crate::{job, ui};
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 enum State {
     Open,
     Closed,
-    Pending { request: CancelTx },
+    Pending,
 }
 
 /// debounce timeout in ms, value taken from VSCode
@@ -37,6 +35,7 @@ enum State {
 pub(super) struct SignatureHelpHandler {
     trigger: Option<SignatureHelpInvoked>,
     state: State,
+    task_controller: TaskController,
 }
 
 impl SignatureHelpHandler {
@@ -44,6 +43,7 @@ pub fn new() -> SignatureHelpHandler {
         SignatureHelpHandler {
             trigger: None,
             state: State::Closed,
+            task_controller: TaskController::new(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -76,12 +76,11 @@ fn handle_event(
             }
             SignatureHelpEvent::RequestComplete { open } => {
                 // don't cancel rerequest that was already triggered
-                if let State::Pending { request } = &self.state {
-                    if !request.is_closed() {
-                        return timeout;
-                    }
+                if self.state == State::Pending && self.task_controller.is_running() {
+                    return timeout;
                 }
                 self.state = if open { State::Open } else { State::Closed };
+                self.task_controller.cancel();
 
                 return timeout;
             }
@@ -94,16 +93,16 @@ fn handle_event(
 
     fn finish_debounce(&mut self) {
         let invocation = self.trigger.take().unwrap();
-        let (tx, rx) = cancelation();
-        self.state = State::Pending { request: tx };
-        job::dispatch_blocking(move |editor, _| request_signature_help(editor, invocation, rx))
+        self.state = State::Pending;
+        let handle = self.task_controller.restart();
+        job::dispatch_blocking(move |editor, _| request_signature_help(editor, invocation, handle))
     }
 }
 
 pub fn request_signature_help(
     editor: &mut Editor,
     invoked: SignatureHelpInvoked,
-    cancel: CancelRx,
+    cancel: TaskHandle,
 ) {
     let (view, doc) = current!(editor);