diff --git a/crates/federate/src/lib.rs b/crates/federate/src/lib.rs
index c72e51015..c5a29e813 100644
--- a/crates/federate/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/federate/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
-  util::{retry_sleep_duration, spawn_cancellable},
+  util::{retry_sleep_duration, CancellableTask},
   worker::instance_worker,
 };
 use activitypub_federation::config::FederationConfig;
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ async fn start_stop_federation_workers<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(
         let stats_sender = stats_sender.clone();
         workers.insert(
           instance.id,
-          spawn_cancellable(WORKER_EXIT_TIMEOUT, |stop| {
+          CancellableTask::spawn(WORKER_EXIT_TIMEOUT, |stop| {
             instance_worker(
               pool.clone(),
               instance,
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ async fn start_stop_federation_workers<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(
         );
       } else if !should_federate {
         if let Some(worker) = workers.remove(&instance.id) {
-          if let Err(e) = worker.await {
+          if let Err(e) = worker.cancel().await {
             tracing::error!("error stopping worker: {e}");
           }
         }
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ async fn start_stop_federation_workers<T: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>(
     workers.len(),
     WORKER_EXIT_TIMEOUT
   );
-  futures::future::join_all(workers.into_values()).await;
+  // the cancel futures need to be awaited concurrently for the shutdown processes to be triggered concurrently
+  futures::future::join_all(workers.into_values().map(|e| e.cancel())).await;
   exit_print.await?;
   Ok(())
 }
@@ -113,8 +114,8 @@ pub fn start_stop_federation_workers_cancellable(
   opts: Opts,
   pool: ActualDbPool,
   config: FederationConfig<impl Clone + Send + Sync + 'static>,
-) -> impl Future<Output = anyhow::Result<()>> {
-  spawn_cancellable(WORKER_EXIT_TIMEOUT, move |c| {
+) -> CancellableTask<(), impl Future<Output = anyhow::Result<()>>> {
+  CancellableTask::spawn(WORKER_EXIT_TIMEOUT, move |c| {
     start_stop_federation_workers(opts, pool, config, c)
   })
 }
diff --git a/crates/federate/src/main.rs b/crates/federate/src/main.rs
index e17b23688..15b5dbe6f 100644
--- a/crates/federate/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/federate/src/main.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
   let mut interrupt = tokio::signal::unix::signal(SignalKind::interrupt())?;
   let mut terminate = tokio::signal::unix::signal(SignalKind::terminate())?;
 
-  let cancel =
+  let task =
     lemmy_federate::start_stop_federation_workers_cancellable(opts, pool, federation_config);
   tokio::select! {
     _ = tokio::signal::ctrl_c() => {
@@ -53,6 +53,6 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
       tracing::warn!("Received terminate, shutting down gracefully...");
     }
   }
-  cancel.await?;
+  task.cancel().await?;
   Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/federate/src/util.rs b/crates/federate/src/util.rs
index b138b1667..1fe6f9404 100644
--- a/crates/federate/src/util.rs
+++ b/crates/federate/src/util.rs
@@ -29,42 +29,59 @@ use std::{
 use tokio::{task::JoinHandle, time::sleep};
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 
-/// spawn a task but with graceful shutdown
-///
-/// only await the returned future when you want to cancel the task
-pub fn spawn_cancellable<R: Send + 'static, F>(
-  timeout: Duration,
-  task: impl FnOnce(CancellationToken) -> F,
-) -> impl Future<Output = Result<R>>
+pub struct CancellableTask<R: Send + 'static, F>
 where
-  F: Future<Output = Result<R>> + Send + 'static,
+  F: Future<Output = Result<R>>,
 {
-  let stop = CancellationToken::new();
-  let task = task(stop.clone());
-  let task: JoinHandle<Result<R>> = tokio::spawn(async move {
-    match task.await {
-      Ok(o) => Ok(o),
-      Err(e) => {
-        tracing::error!("worker errored out: {e}");
-        // todo: if this error happens, requeue worker creation in main
-        Err(e)
-      }
-    }
-  });
-  let abort = task.abort_handle();
-  async move {
-    stop.cancel();
-    tokio::select! {
-        r = task => {
-            Ok(r.context("could not join")??)
-        },
-        _ = sleep(timeout) => {
-            abort.abort();
-            tracing::warn!("Graceful shutdown timed out, aborting task");
-            Err(anyhow!("task aborted due to timeout"))
+  f: F,
+}
+
+impl<R: Send + 'static, F> CancellableTask<R, F>
+where
+  F: Future<Output = Result<R>>,
+{
+  /// spawn a task but with graceful shutdown
+  pub fn spawn(
+    timeout: Duration,
+    task: impl FnOnce(CancellationToken) -> F,
+  ) -> CancellableTask<R, impl Future<Output = Result<R>>>
+  where
+    F: Future<Output = Result<R>> + Send + 'static,
+  {
+    let stop = CancellationToken::new();
+    let task = task(stop.clone());
+    let task: JoinHandle<Result<R>> = tokio::spawn(async move {
+      match task.await {
+        Ok(o) => Ok(o),
+        Err(e) => {
+          tracing::error!("worker errored out: {e}");
+          // todo: if this error happens, requeue worker creation in main
+          Err(e)
         }
+      }
+    });
+    let abort = task.abort_handle();
+    CancellableTask {
+      f: async move {
+        stop.cancel();
+        tokio::select! {
+            r = task => {
+                Ok(r.context("could not join")??)
+            },
+            _ = sleep(timeout) => {
+                abort.abort();
+                tracing::warn!("Graceful shutdown timed out, aborting task");
+                Err(anyhow!("task aborted due to timeout"))
+            }
+        }
+      },
     }
   }
+
+  /// cancel the cancel signal, wait for timeout for the task to stop gracefully, otherwise abort it
+  pub async fn cancel(self) -> Result<R, anyhow::Error> {
+    self.f.await
+  }
 }
 
 /// assuming apub priv key and ids are immutable, then we don't need to have TTL