diff --git a/blockchain/v2/demuxer.go b/blockchain/v2/demuxer.go
index 32165735e..9ae4c3f38 100644
--- a/blockchain/v2/demuxer.go
+++ b/blockchain/v2/demuxer.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ type demuxer struct {
 	input     chan Event
 	scheduler *Routine
 	processor *Routine
-	finished  chan error
+	fin       chan error
 	stopped   chan struct{}
 	running   *uint32
 }
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ func newDemuxer(scheduler *Routine, processor *Routine) *demuxer {
 		scheduler: scheduler,
 		processor: processor,
 		stopped:   make(chan struct{}, 1),
-		finished:  make(chan error, 1),
+		fin:       make(chan error, 1),
 		running:   new(uint32),
 	}
 }
 
-func (dm *demuxer) run() {
+func (dm *demuxer) start() {
 	starting := atomic.CompareAndSwapUint32(dm.running, uint32(0), uint32(1))
 	if !starting {
 		panic("Routine has already started")
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func (dm *demuxer) run() {
 			for _, event := range oEvents {
 				dm.input <- event
 			}
-		case event, ok := <-dm.scheduler.output():
+		case event, ok := <-dm.scheduler.next():
 			if !ok {
 				fmt.Printf("demuxer: scheduler output closed\n")
 				continue
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (dm *demuxer) run() {
 			for _, event := range oEvents {
 				dm.input <- event
 			}
-		case event, ok := <-dm.processor.output():
+		case event, ok := <-dm.processor.next():
 			if !ok {
 				fmt.Printf("demuxer: processor output closed\n")
 				continue
@@ -88,12 +88,12 @@ func (dm *demuxer) run() {
 }
 
 func (dm *demuxer) handle(event Event) (Events, error) {
-	received := dm.scheduler.send(event)
+	received := dm.scheduler.trySend(event)
 	if !received {
 		return Events{scFull{}}, nil // backpressure
 	}
 
-	received = dm.processor.send(event)
+	received = dm.processor.trySend(event)
 	if !received {
 		return Events{pcFull{}}, nil // backpressure
 	}
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (dm *demuxer) handle(event Event) (Events, error) {
 	return Events{}, nil
 }
 
-func (dm *demuxer) send(event Event) bool {
+func (dm *demuxer) trySend(event Event) bool {
 	if !dm.isRunning() {
 		fmt.Println("dummuxer isn't running")
 		return false
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ func (dm *demuxer) terminate(reason error) {
 	if !stopped {
 		panic("called terminate but already terminated")
 	}
-	dm.finished <- reason
+	dm.fin <- reason
 }
 
-func (dm *demuxer) wait() error {
-	return <-dm.finished
+func (dm *demuxer) final() chan error {
+	return dm.fin
 }
diff --git a/blockchain/v2/reactor.go b/blockchain/v2/reactor.go
index e8e10ae2d..85f669739 100644
--- a/blockchain/v2/reactor.go
+++ b/blockchain/v2/reactor.go
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ func (r *Reactor) Start() {
 	r.demuxer = newDemuxer(r.scheduler, r.processor)
 	r.tickerStopped = make(chan struct{})
 
-	go r.scheduler.run()
-	go r.processor.run()
-	go r.demuxer.run()
+	go r.scheduler.start()
+	go r.processor.start()
+	go r.demuxer.start()
 
 	for {
 		if r.scheduler.isRunning() && r.processor.isRunning() && r.demuxer.isRunning() {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func (r *Reactor) Start() {
 			break
 		}
 		fmt.Println("waiting")
-		time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
 	}
 
 	go func() {
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func (r *Reactor) Start() {
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-ticker.C:
-				r.demuxer.send(timeCheck{})
+				r.demuxer.trySend(timeCheck{})
 			case <-r.tickerStopped:
 				fmt.Println("ticker stopped")
 				return
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (r *Reactor) Stop() {
 
 func (r *Reactor) Receive(event Event) {
 	fmt.Println("receive event")
-	sent := r.demuxer.send(event)
+	sent := r.demuxer.trySend(event)
 	if !sent {
 		fmt.Println("demuxer is full")
 	}
diff --git a/blockchain/v2/routine.go b/blockchain/v2/routine.go
index e70c76679..1addff468 100644
--- a/blockchain/v2/routine.go
+++ b/blockchain/v2/routine.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 // * revisit panic conditions
 // * audit log levels
 // * Convert routine to an interface with concrete implmentation
-// * determine the public interface
 
 type handleFunc = func(event Event) (Events, error)
 
@@ -21,7 +20,8 @@ type Routine struct {
 	errors   chan error
 	out      chan Event
 	stopped  chan struct{}
-	finished chan error
+	rdy      chan struct{}
+	fin      chan error
 	running  *uint32
 	handle   handleFunc
 	logger   log.Logger
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ func newRoutine(name string, handleFunc handleFunc) *Routine {
 		errors:   make(chan error, 1),
 		out:      make(chan Event, 1),
 		stopped:  make(chan struct{}, 1),
-		finished: make(chan error, 1),
+		rdy:      make(chan struct{}, 1),
+		fin:      make(chan error, 1),
 		running:  new(uint32),
 		stopping: new(uint32),
 		logger:   log.NewNopLogger(),
@@ -53,12 +54,13 @@ func (rt *Routine) setMetrics(metrics *Metrics) {
 	rt.metrics = metrics
 }
 
-func (rt *Routine) run() {
+func (rt *Routine) start() {
 	rt.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("%s: run\n", rt.name))
 	starting := atomic.CompareAndSwapUint32(rt.running, uint32(0), uint32(1))
 	if !starting {
 		panic("Routine has already started")
 	}
+	rt.rdy <- struct{}{}
 	errorsDrained := false
 	for {
 		if !rt.isRunning() {
@@ -113,11 +115,11 @@ func (rt *Routine) run() {
 }
 func (rt *Routine) feedback() {
 	for event := range rt.out {
-		rt.send(event)
+		rt.trySend(event)
 	}
 }
 
-func (rt *Routine) send(event Event) bool {
+func (rt *Routine) trySend(event Event) bool {
 	if !rt.isRunning() || rt.isStopping() {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -154,7 +156,11 @@ func (rt *Routine) isStopping() bool {
 	return atomic.LoadUint32(rt.stopping) == 1
 }
 
-func (rt *Routine) output() chan Event {
+func (rt *Routine) ready() chan struct{} {
+	return rt.rdy
+}
+
+func (rt *Routine) next() chan Event {
 	return rt.out
 }
 
@@ -174,21 +180,14 @@ func (rt *Routine) stop() {
 	<-rt.stopped
 }
 
+func (rt *Routine) final() chan error {
+	return rt.fin
+}
+
 func (rt *Routine) terminate(reason error) {
 	stopped := atomic.CompareAndSwapUint32(rt.running, uint32(1), uint32(0))
 	if !stopped {
 		panic("called stop but already stopped")
 	}
-	rt.finished <- reason
+	rt.fin <- reason
 }
-
-// XXX: this should probably produced the finished
-// channel and let the caller deicde how long to wait
-func (rt *Routine) wait() error {
-	return <-rt.finished
-}
-
-/*
-	Problem:
-		We can't write to channels from one thread and close channels from another thread
-*/
diff --git a/blockchain/v2/routine_test.go b/blockchain/v2/routine_test.go
index 7ef8da4d7..cbf4768a8 100644
--- a/blockchain/v2/routine_test.go
+++ b/blockchain/v2/routine_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func simpleHandler(event Event) (Events, error) {
 	case eventA:
 		return Events{eventB{}}, nil
 	case eventB:
-		return Events{routineFinished{}}, done
+		return Events{}, done
 	}
 	return Events{}, nil
 }
@@ -29,53 +29,54 @@ func TestRoutine(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.False(t, routine.isRunning(),
 		"expected an initialized routine to not be running")
-	go routine.run()
+	go routine.start()
 	go routine.feedback()
-	for {
-		if routine.isRunning() {
-			break
-		}
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-	}
+	<-routine.ready()
 
-	routine.send(eventA{})
+	assert.True(t, routine.trySend(eventA{}),
+		"expected sending to a ready routine to succeed")
 
-	routine.stop()
+	assert.Equal(t, done, <-routine.final(),
+		"expected the final event to be done")
 }
 
 func TesRoutineSend(t *testing.T) {
 	routine := newRoutine("simpleRoutine", simpleHandler)
 
-	assert.False(t, routine.send(eventA{}),
+	assert.False(t, routine.trySend(eventA{}),
 		"expected sending to an unstarted routine to fail")
 
-	go routine.run()
+	go routine.start()
 
 	go routine.feedback()
-	for {
-		if routine.isRunning() {
-			break
-		}
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-	}
+	<-routine.ready()
 
-	assert.True(t, routine.send(eventA{}),
+	assert.True(t, routine.trySend(eventA{}),
 		"expected sending to a running routine to succeed")
 
 	routine.stop()
 
-	assert.False(t, routine.send(eventA{}),
+	assert.False(t, routine.trySend(eventA{}),
 		"expected sending to a stopped routine to fail")
 }
 
+type finalCount struct {
+	count int
+}
+
+func (f finalCount) Error() string {
+	return "end"
+}
+
 func genStatefulHandler(maxCount int) handleFunc {
 	counter := 0
 	return func(event Event) (Events, error) {
+		// golint fixme
 		switch event.(type) {
 		case eventA:
 			counter += 1
 			if counter >= maxCount {
-				return Events{}, done
+				return Events{}, finalCount{counter}
 			}
 
 			return Events{eventA{}}, nil
@@ -85,23 +86,27 @@ func genStatefulHandler(maxCount int) handleFunc {
 }
 
 func TestStatefulRoutine(t *testing.T) {
-	handler := genStatefulHandler(10)
+	count := 10
+	handler := genStatefulHandler(count)
 	routine := newRoutine("statefulRoutine", handler)
 	routine.setLogger(log.TestingLogger())
 
-	go routine.run()
+	go routine.start()
 	go routine.feedback()
 
-	for {
-		if routine.isRunning() {
-			break
-		}
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	<-routine.ready()
+
+	assert.True(t, routine.trySend(eventA{}),
+		"expected sending to a started routine to succeed")
+
+	final := <-routine.final()
+	fnl, ok := final.(finalCount)
+	if ok {
+		assert.Equal(t, count, fnl.count,
+			"expected the routine to count to 10")
+	} else {
+		t.Fail()
 	}
-
-	routine.send(eventA{})
-
-	routine.stop()
 }
 
 func handleWithErrors(event Event) (Events, error) {
@@ -116,22 +121,17 @@ func handleWithErrors(event Event) (Events, error) {
 
 func TestErrorSaturation(t *testing.T) {
 	routine := newRoutine("errorRoutine", handleWithErrors)
-	go routine.run()
+	go routine.start()
+	<-routine.ready()
 	go func() {
 		for {
-			routine.send(eventA{})
+			routine.trySend(eventA{})
 			time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
 		}
 	}()
 
-	for {
-		if routine.isRunning() {
-			break
-		}
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-	}
-	assert.True(t, routine.send(errEvent{}),
+	assert.True(t, routine.trySend(errEvent{}),
 		"expected send to succeed even when saturated")
 
-	routine.wait()
+	assert.Equal(t, done, <-routine.final())
 }