diff --git a/lib/dns/message.c b/lib/dns/message.c
index 6565cbf09d..a2f766ed15 100644
--- a/lib/dns/message.c
+++ b/lib/dns/message.c
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+#include <isc/async.h>
 #include <isc/buffer.h>
 #include <isc/hash.h>
 #include <isc/hashmap.h>
+#include <isc/helper.h>
 #include <isc/log.h>
 #include <isc/mem.h>
 #include <isc/result.h>
@@ -186,6 +188,7 @@ msgblock_allocate(isc_mem_t *, unsigned int, unsigned int);
  * asynchronously.
  */
 typedef struct checksig_ctx {
+	isc_loop_t *loop;
 	dns_message_t *msg;
 	dns_view_t *view;
 	dns_message_cb_t cb;
@@ -3218,21 +3221,27 @@ dns_message_dumpsig(dns_message_t *msg, char *txt1) {
 }
 #endif /* ifdef SKAN_MSG_DEBUG */
 
+static void
+checksig_done(void *arg);
+
 static void
 checksig_run(void *arg) {
 	checksig_ctx_t *chsigctx = arg;
 
 	chsigctx->result = dns_message_checksig(chsigctx->msg, chsigctx->view);
+
+	isc_async_run(chsigctx->loop, checksig_done, chsigctx);
 }
 
 static void
-checksig_cb(void *arg) {
+checksig_done(void *arg) {
 	checksig_ctx_t *chsigctx = arg;
 	dns_message_t *msg = chsigctx->msg;
 
 	chsigctx->cb(chsigctx->cbarg, chsigctx->result);
 
 	dns_view_detach(&chsigctx->view);
+	isc_loop_detach(&chsigctx->loop);
 	isc_mem_put(msg->mctx, chsigctx, sizeof(*chsigctx));
 	dns_message_detach(&msg);
 }
@@ -3250,12 +3259,13 @@ dns_message_checksig_async(dns_message_t *msg, dns_view_t *view,
 		.cb = cb,
 		.cbarg = cbarg,
 		.result = ISC_R_UNSET,
+		.loop = isc_loop_ref(loop),
 	};
 	dns_message_attach(msg, &chsigctx->msg);
 	dns_view_attach(view, &chsigctx->view);
 
 	dns_message_clonebuffer(msg);
-	isc_work_enqueue(loop, checksig_run, checksig_cb, chsigctx);
+	isc_helper_run(loop, checksig_run, chsigctx);
 
 	return (DNS_R_WAIT);
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/validator.c b/lib/dns/validator.c
index 62f60c7c42..ce5d04205d 100644
--- a/lib/dns/validator.c
+++ b/lib/dns/validator.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <isc/async.h>
 #include <isc/base32.h>
 #include <isc/counter.h>
+#include <isc/helper.h>
 #include <isc/job.h>
 #include <isc/log.h>
 #include <isc/md.h>
@@ -127,6 +128,8 @@ static void
 validate_async_done(dns_validator_t *val, isc_result_t result);
 static isc_result_t
 validate_async_run(dns_validator_t *val, isc_job_cb cb);
+static isc_result_t
+validate_helper_run(dns_validator_t *val, isc_job_cb cb);
 
 static void
 validate_dnskey(void *arg);
@@ -355,6 +358,9 @@ trynsec3:
 	return (found);
 }
 
+static void
+resume_answer_with_key_done(void *arg);
+
 static void
 resume_answer_with_key(void *arg) {
 	dns_validator_t *val = arg;
@@ -364,6 +370,8 @@ resume_answer_with_key(void *arg) {
 	if (result == ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 		val->keyset = &val->frdataset;
 	}
+
+	(void)validate_async_run(val, resume_answer_with_key_done);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -422,9 +430,8 @@ fetch_callback_dnskey(void *arg) {
 		if (eresult == ISC_R_SUCCESS &&
 		    rdataset->trust >= dns_trust_secure)
 		{
-			isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, resume_answer_with_key,
-					 resume_answer, val);
-			result = DNS_R_WAIT;
+			result = validate_helper_run(val,
+						     resume_answer_with_key);
 		} else {
 			result = validate_async_run(val, resume_answer);
 		}
@@ -598,9 +605,8 @@ validator_callback_dnskey(void *arg) {
 		 * Only extract the dst key if the keyset is secure.
 		 */
 		if (val->frdataset.trust >= dns_trust_secure) {
-			isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, resume_answer_with_key,
-					 resume_answer_with_key_done, val);
-			result = DNS_R_WAIT;
+			result = validate_helper_run(val,
+						     resume_answer_with_key);
 		} else {
 			result = validate_async_run(val, resume_answer);
 		}
@@ -1184,9 +1190,8 @@ seek_dnskey(dns_validator_t *val) {
 				dns_rdataset_disassociate(&val->fsigrdataset);
 			}
 
-			isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, resume_answer_with_key,
-					 resume_answer_with_key_done, val);
-			return (DNS_R_WAIT);
+			return (validate_helper_run(val,
+						    resume_answer_with_key));
 		}
 		break;
 
@@ -1565,6 +1570,9 @@ cleanup:
 static void
 validate_answer_finish(void *arg);
 
+static void
+validate_answer_signing_key_done(void *arg);
+
 static void
 validate_answer_signing_key(void *arg) {
 	dns_validator_t *val = arg;
@@ -1599,6 +1607,8 @@ validate_answer_signing_key(void *arg) {
 	} else {
 		INSIST(val->key == NULL);
 	}
+
+	(void)validate_async_run(val, validate_answer_signing_key_done);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -1609,8 +1619,7 @@ validate_answer_signing_key_done(void *arg) {
 		val->result = ISC_R_CANCELED;
 	} else if (val->key != NULL) {
 		/* Process with next key if we selected one */
-		isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, validate_answer_signing_key,
-				 validate_answer_signing_key_done, val);
+		(void)validate_helper_run(val, validate_answer_signing_key);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -1672,8 +1681,7 @@ validate_answer_process(void *arg) {
 		goto next_key;
 	}
 
-	isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, validate_answer_signing_key,
-			 validate_answer_signing_key_done, val);
+	(void)validate_helper_run(val, validate_answer_signing_key);
 	return;
 
 next_key:
@@ -1794,6 +1802,12 @@ validate_async_run(dns_validator_t *val, isc_job_cb cb) {
 	return (DNS_R_WAIT);
 }
 
+static isc_result_t
+validate_helper_run(dns_validator_t *val, isc_job_cb cb) {
+	isc_helper_run(val->loop, cb, val);
+	return (DNS_R_WAIT);
+}
+
 static void
 validate_async_done(dns_validator_t *val, isc_result_t result) {
 	if (result == DNS_R_NOVALIDSIG &&
@@ -2028,6 +2042,9 @@ validate_dnskey_dsset(dns_validator_t *val) {
 	return (ISC_R_SUCCESS);
 }
 
+static void
+validate_dnskey_dsset_next_done(void *arg);
+
 static void
 validate_dnskey_dsset_next(void *arg) {
 	dns_validator_t *val = arg;
@@ -2042,6 +2059,8 @@ validate_dnskey_dsset_next(void *arg) {
 		/* continue async run */
 		val->result = validate_dnskey_dsset(val);
 	}
+
+	validate_async_run(val, validate_dnskey_dsset_next_done);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -2064,8 +2083,7 @@ validate_dnskey_dsset_next_done(void *arg) {
 		break;
 	default:
 		/* Continue validation until we have success or no more data */
-		isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, validate_dnskey_dsset_next,
-				 validate_dnskey_dsset_next_done, val);
+		(void)validate_helper_run(val, validate_dnskey_dsset_next);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -2087,8 +2105,8 @@ validate_dnskey_dsset_first(dns_validator_t *val) {
 		/* continue async run */
 		result = validate_dnskey_dsset(val);
 		if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-			isc_work_enqueue(val->loop, validate_dnskey_dsset_next,
-					 validate_dnskey_dsset_next_done, val);
+			(void)validate_helper_run(val,
+						  validate_dnskey_dsset_next);
 			return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -3384,7 +3402,7 @@ dns_validator_create(dns_view_t *view, dns_name_t *name, dns_rdatatype_t type,
 		.options = options,
 		.keytable = kt,
 		.link = ISC_LINK_INITIALIZER,
-		.loop = loop,
+		.loop = isc_loop_ref(loop),
 		.cb = cb,
 		.arg = arg,
 		.rdata = DNS_RDATA_INIT,
@@ -3481,6 +3499,7 @@ destroy_validator(dns_validator_t *val) {
 		isc_counter_detach(&val->qc);
 	}
 	dns_view_detach(&val->view);
+	isc_loop_detach(&val->loop);
 	isc_mem_put(mctx, val, sizeof(*val));
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/isc/Makefile.am b/lib/isc/Makefile.am
index 8428ee771b..77eda51858 100644
--- a/lib/isc/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/isc/Makefile.am
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ libisc_la_HEADERS =			\
 	include/isc/hash.h		\
 	include/isc/hashmap.h		\
 	include/isc/heap.h		\
+	include/isc/helper.h		\
 	include/isc/hex.h		\
 	include/isc/histo.h		\
 	include/isc/hmac.h		\
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ libisc_la_SOURCES =		\
 	hash.c			\
 	hashmap.c		\
 	heap.c			\
+	helper.c		\
 	hex.c			\
 	histo.c			\
 	hmac.c			\
diff --git a/lib/isc/helper.c b/lib/isc/helper.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f5a83cc833
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/isc/helper.c
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+ *
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, you can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ *
+ * See the COPYRIGHT file distributed with this work for additional
+ * information regarding copyright ownership.
+ */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include <isc/atomic.h>
+#include <isc/barrier.h>
+#include <isc/condition.h>
+#include <isc/helper.h>
+#include <isc/job.h>
+#include <isc/loop.h>
+#include <isc/magic.h>
+#include <isc/mem.h>
+#include <isc/mutex.h>
+#include <isc/refcount.h>
+#include <isc/result.h>
+#include <isc/signal.h>
+#include <isc/strerr.h>
+#include <isc/thread.h>
+#include <isc/util.h>
+#include <isc/uv.h>
+#include <isc/work.h>
+
+#include "async_p.h"
+#include "job_p.h"
+#include "loop_p.h"
+
+void
+isc_helper_run(isc_loop_t *loop, isc_job_cb cb, void *cbarg) {
+	REQUIRE(VALID_LOOP(loop));
+	REQUIRE(cb != NULL);
+
+	isc_loop_t *helper = &loop->loopmgr->helpers[loop->tid];
+
+	isc_job_t *job = isc_mem_get(helper->mctx, sizeof(*job));
+	*job = (isc_job_t){
+		.cb = cb,
+		.cbarg = cbarg,
+	};
+
+	cds_wfcq_node_init(&job->wfcq_node);
+
+	/*
+	 * cds_wfcq_enqueue() is non-blocking and enqueues the job to async
+	 * queue.
+	 *
+	 * The function returns 'false' in case the queue was empty - in such
+	 * case we need to trigger the async callback.
+	 */
+	if (!cds_wfcq_enqueue(&helper->async_jobs.head,
+			      &helper->async_jobs.tail, &job->wfcq_node))
+	{
+		int r = uv_async_send(&helper->async_trigger);
+		UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_async_send, r);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/helper.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/helper.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fa13f0baf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/helper.h
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+ *
+ * This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, you can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+ *
+ * See the COPYRIGHT file distributed with this work for additional
+ * information regarding copyright ownership.
+ */
+
+/*! \file isc/helper.h */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <inttypes.h>
+
+#include <isc/job.h>
+#include <isc/lang.h>
+#include <isc/loop.h>
+#include <isc/mem.h>
+#include <isc/types.h>
+
+ISC_LANG_BEGINDECLS
+
+void
+isc_helper_run(isc_loop_t *loop, isc_job_cb cb, void *cbarg);
+/*%<
+ * Schedule the job callback 'cb' to be run on the 'loop' event loop.
+ *
+ * Requires:
+ *
+ *\li	'loop' is a valid isc event loop
+ *\li	'cb' is a callback function, must be non-NULL
+ *\li	'cbarg' is passed to the 'cb' as the only argument, may be NULL
+ */
+
+#define isc_helper_current(cb, cbarg) isc_async_run(isc_loop(), cb, cbarg)
+/*%<
+ * Helper macro to run the job on the current loop
+ */
+
+ISC_LANG_ENDDECLS
diff --git a/lib/isc/loop.c b/lib/isc/loop.c
index 8f2fcdf8e8..fb18356973 100644
--- a/lib/isc/loop.c
+++ b/lib/isc/loop.c
@@ -186,7 +186,8 @@ shutdown_cb(uv_async_t *handle) {
 }
 
 static void
-loop_init(isc_loop_t *loop, isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr, uint32_t tid) {
+loop_init(isc_loop_t *loop, isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr, uint32_t tid,
+	  const char *kind) {
 	*loop = (isc_loop_t){
 		.tid = tid,
 		.loopmgr = loopmgr,
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ loop_init(isc_loop_t *loop, isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr, uint32_t tid) {
 	uv_handle_set_data(&loop->quiescent, loop);
 
 	char name[16];
-	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "loop-%08" PRIx32, tid);
+	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%s-%08" PRIx32, kind, tid);
 	isc_mem_create(&loop->mctx);
 	isc_mem_setname(loop->mctx, name);
 
@@ -249,6 +250,16 @@ quiescent_cb(uv_prepare_t *handle) {
 #endif
 }
 
+static void
+helper_close(isc_loop_t *loop) {
+	int r = uv_loop_close(&loop->loop);
+	UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_loop_close, r);
+
+	INSIST(cds_wfcq_empty(&loop->async_jobs.head, &loop->async_jobs.tail));
+
+	isc_mem_detach(&loop->mctx);
+}
+
 static void
 loop_close(isc_loop_t *loop) {
 	int r = uv_loop_close(&loop->loop);
@@ -262,9 +273,32 @@ loop_close(isc_loop_t *loop) {
 	isc_mem_detach(&loop->mctx);
 }
 
+static void *
+helper_thread(void *arg) {
+	isc_loop_t *helper = (isc_loop_t *)arg;
+
+	int r = uv_prepare_start(&helper->quiescent, quiescent_cb);
+	UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_prepare_start, r);
+
+	isc_barrier_wait(&helper->loopmgr->starting);
+
+	r = uv_run(&helper->loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
+	UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_run, r);
+
+	/* Invalidate the helper early */
+	helper->magic = 0;
+
+	isc_barrier_wait(&helper->loopmgr->stopping);
+
+	return (NULL);
+}
+
 static void *
 loop_thread(void *arg) {
 	isc_loop_t *loop = (isc_loop_t *)arg;
+	isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr = loop->loopmgr;
+	isc_loop_t *helper = &loopmgr->helpers[loop->tid];
+	char name[32];
 	/* Initialize the thread_local variables*/
 
 	REQUIRE(isc__loop_local == NULL || isc__loop_local == loop);
@@ -272,10 +306,15 @@ loop_thread(void *arg) {
 
 	isc__tid_init(loop->tid);
 
+	/* Start the helper thread */
+	isc_thread_create(helper_thread, helper, &helper->thread);
+	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "isc-helper-%04" PRIu32, loop->tid);
+	isc_thread_setname(helper->thread, name);
+
 	int r = uv_prepare_start(&loop->quiescent, quiescent_cb);
 	UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_prepare_start, r);
 
-	isc_barrier_wait(&loop->loopmgr->starting);
+	isc_barrier_wait(&loopmgr->starting);
 
 	enum cds_wfcq_ret ret = __cds_wfcq_splice_blocking(
 		&loop->async_jobs.head, &loop->async_jobs.tail,
@@ -293,7 +332,11 @@ loop_thread(void *arg) {
 	/* Invalidate the loop early */
 	loop->magic = 0;
 
-	isc_barrier_wait(&loop->loopmgr->stopping);
+	/* Shutdown the helper thread */
+	r = uv_async_send(&helper->shutdown_trigger);
+	UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_async_send, r);
+
+	isc_barrier_wait(&loopmgr->stopping);
 
 	return (NULL);
 }
@@ -342,16 +385,24 @@ isc_loopmgr_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, uint32_t nloops, isc_loopmgr_t **loopmgrp) {
 
 	isc_mem_attach(mctx, &loopmgr->mctx);
 
-	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->pausing, loopmgr->nloops);
-	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->resuming, loopmgr->nloops);
-	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->starting, loopmgr->nloops);
-	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->stopping, loopmgr->nloops);
+	/* We need to double the number for loops and helpers */
+	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->pausing, loopmgr->nloops * 2);
+	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->resuming, loopmgr->nloops * 2);
+	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->starting, loopmgr->nloops * 2);
+	isc_barrier_init(&loopmgr->stopping, loopmgr->nloops * 2);
 
 	loopmgr->loops = isc_mem_cget(loopmgr->mctx, loopmgr->nloops,
 				      sizeof(loopmgr->loops[0]));
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
 		isc_loop_t *loop = &loopmgr->loops[i];
-		loop_init(loop, loopmgr, i);
+		loop_init(loop, loopmgr, i, "loop");
+	}
+
+	loopmgr->helpers = isc_mem_cget(loopmgr->mctx, loopmgr->nloops,
+					sizeof(loopmgr->helpers[0]));
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
+		isc_loop_t *loop = &loopmgr->helpers[i];
+		loop_init(loop, loopmgr, i, "helper");
 	}
 
 	loopmgr->sigint = isc_signal_new(loopmgr, isc__loopmgr_signal, loopmgr,
@@ -465,6 +516,7 @@ isc_loopmgr_run(isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr) {
 void
 isc_loopmgr_pause(isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr) {
 	REQUIRE(VALID_LOOPMGR(loopmgr));
+	REQUIRE(isc_tid() != ISC_TID_UNKNOWN);
 
 	if (isc_log_wouldlog(ISC_LOG_DEBUG(1))) {
 		isc_log_write(ISC_LOGCATEGORY_GENERAL, ISC_LOGMODULE_OTHER,
@@ -472,6 +524,13 @@ isc_loopmgr_pause(isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr) {
 			      "loop exclusive mode: starting");
 	}
 
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
+		isc_loop_t *helper = &loopmgr->helpers[i];
+
+		int r = uv_async_send(&helper->pause_trigger);
+		UV_RUNTIME_CHECK(uv_async_send, r);
+	}
+
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
 		isc_loop_t *loop = &loopmgr->loops[i];
 
@@ -526,6 +585,12 @@ isc_loopmgr_destroy(isc_loopmgr_t **loopmgrp) {
 	RUNTIME_CHECK(atomic_compare_exchange_strong(&loopmgr->running,
 						     &(bool){ true }, false));
 
+	/* Wait for all helpers to finish */
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
+		isc_loop_t *helper = &loopmgr->helpers[i];
+		isc_thread_join(helper->thread, NULL);
+	}
+
 	/* First wait for all loops to finish */
 	for (size_t i = 1; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
 		isc_loop_t *loop = &loopmgr->loops[i];
@@ -534,6 +599,13 @@ isc_loopmgr_destroy(isc_loopmgr_t **loopmgrp) {
 
 	loopmgr->magic = 0;
 
+	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
+		isc_loop_t *helper = &loopmgr->helpers[i];
+		helper_close(helper);
+	}
+	isc_mem_cput(loopmgr->mctx, loopmgr->helpers, loopmgr->nloops,
+		     sizeof(loopmgr->helpers[0]));
+
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < loopmgr->nloops; i++) {
 		isc_loop_t *loop = &loopmgr->loops[i];
 		loop_close(loop);
diff --git a/lib/isc/loop_p.h b/lib/isc/loop_p.h
index 185406d0d7..a822004e88 100644
--- a/lib/isc/loop_p.h
+++ b/lib/isc/loop_p.h
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ struct isc_loopmgr {
 
 	/* per-thread objects */
 	isc_loop_t *loops;
+	isc_loop_t *helpers;
 };
 
 /*