diff --git a/lib/include/srslte/common/task_scheduler.h b/lib/include/srslte/common/task_scheduler.h
index 12111adf3..ed564f8f7 100644
--- a/lib/include/srslte/common/task_scheduler.h
+++ b/lib/include/srslte/common/task_scheduler.h
@@ -23,26 +23,17 @@ namespace srslte {
 class task_scheduler
 {
 public:
-  explicit task_scheduler(uint32_t default_extern_tasks_size = 512,
-                          uint32_t nof_background_threads    = 0,
-                          uint32_t nof_timers_prealloc       = 100) :
-    external_tasks{default_extern_tasks_size},
-    timers{nof_timers_prealloc},
-    background_tasks{nof_background_threads}
+  explicit task_scheduler(uint32_t default_extern_tasks_size = 512, uint32_t nof_timers_prealloc = 100) :
+    external_tasks{default_extern_tasks_size}, timers{nof_timers_prealloc}
   {
     background_queue_id = external_tasks.add_queue();
-
-    // Start background thread
-    if (background_tasks.nof_workers() > 0) {
-      background_tasks.start();
-    }
   }
+  task_scheduler(const task_scheduler&) = delete;
+  task_scheduler(task_scheduler&&)      = delete;
+  task_scheduler& operator=(const task_scheduler&) = delete;
+  task_scheduler& operator=(task_scheduler&&) = delete;
 
-  void stop()
-  {
-    background_tasks.stop();
-    external_tasks.reset();
-  }
+  void stop() { external_tasks.reset(); }
 
   srslte::unique_timer get_unique_timer() { return timers.get_unique_timer(); }
 
@@ -56,17 +47,6 @@ public:
   //! Enqueues internal task to be run in next tic
   void defer_task(srslte::move_task_t func) { internal_tasks.push_back(std::move(func)); }
 
-  //! Delegates a task to a thread pool that runs in the background
-  void enqueue_background_task(std::function<void(uint32_t)> f)
-  {
-    if (background_tasks.nof_workers() > 0) {
-      background_tasks.push_task(std::move(f));
-    } else {
-      external_tasks.push(background_queue_id,
-                          std::bind([](const std::function<void(uint32_t)>& task) { task(0); }, std::move(f)));
-    }
-  }
-
   //! Defer the handling of the result of a background task to next tic
   void notify_background_task_result(srslte::move_task_t task)
   {
@@ -117,10 +97,9 @@ private:
     }
   }
 
-  srslte::task_thread_pool background_tasks;         ///< Thread pool used for long, low-priority tasks
-  int                      background_queue_id = -1; ///< Queue for handling the outcomes of tasks run in the background
-  srslte::task_multiqueue  external_tasks;
-  srslte::timer_handler    timers;
+  int                     background_queue_id = -1; ///< Queue for handling the outcomes of tasks run in the background
+  srslte::task_multiqueue external_tasks;
+  srslte::timer_handler   timers;
   std::deque<srslte::move_task_t> internal_tasks; ///< enqueues stack tasks from within main thread. Avoids locking
 };
 
@@ -131,8 +110,7 @@ public:
   task_sched_handle(task_scheduler* sched_) : sched(sched_) {}
 
   srslte::unique_timer get_unique_timer() { return sched->get_unique_timer(); }
-  void enqueue_background_task(std::function<void(uint32_t)> f) { sched->enqueue_background_task(std::move(f)); }
-  void notify_background_task_result(srslte::move_task_t task)
+  void                 notify_background_task_result(srslte::move_task_t task)
   {
     sched->notify_background_task_result(std::move(task));
   }
@@ -153,8 +131,7 @@ public:
   ext_task_sched_handle(task_scheduler* sched_) : sched(sched_) {}
 
   srslte::unique_timer get_unique_timer() { return sched->get_unique_timer(); }
-  void enqueue_background_task(std::function<void(uint32_t)> f) { sched->enqueue_background_task(std::move(f)); }
-  void notify_background_task_result(srslte::move_task_t task)
+  void                 notify_background_task_result(srslte::move_task_t task)
   {
     sched->notify_background_task_result(std::move(task));
   }
diff --git a/lib/include/srslte/common/thread_pool.h b/lib/include/srslte/common/thread_pool.h
index c79c0d9f6..af170a568 100644
--- a/lib/include/srslte/common/thread_pool.h
+++ b/lib/include/srslte/common/thread_pool.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 #ifndef SRSLTE_THREAD_POOL_H
 #define SRSLTE_THREAD_POOL_H
 
+#include "srslte/adt/move_callback.h"
+#include "srslte/srslog/srslog.h"
 #include <condition_variable>
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
@@ -86,17 +88,22 @@ private:
 
 class task_thread_pool
 {
-  using task_t = std::function<void(uint32_t worker_id)>;
+  using task_t = srslte::move_callback<void()>;
 
 public:
-  explicit task_thread_pool(uint32_t nof_workers);
+  task_thread_pool(uint32_t nof_workers = 1, bool start_deferred = false, int32_t prio_ = -1, uint32_t mask_ = 255);
+  task_thread_pool(const task_thread_pool&) = delete;
+  task_thread_pool(task_thread_pool&&)      = delete;
+  task_thread_pool& operator=(const task_thread_pool&) = delete;
+  task_thread_pool& operator=(task_thread_pool&&) = delete;
   ~task_thread_pool();
-  void start(int32_t prio = -1, uint32_t mask = 255);
-  void stop();
 
-  void     push_task(const task_t& task);
+  void stop();
+  void start(int32_t prio_ = -1, uint32_t mask_ = 255);
+  void set_nof_workers(uint32_t nof_workers);
+
   void     push_task(task_t&& task);
-  uint32_t nof_pending_tasks();
+  uint32_t nof_pending_tasks() const;
   size_t   nof_workers() const { return workers.size(); }
 
 private:
@@ -105,7 +112,6 @@ private:
   public:
     explicit worker_t(task_thread_pool* parent_, uint32_t id);
     void     stop();
-    void     setup(int32_t prio, uint32_t mask);
     bool     is_running() const { return running; }
     uint32_t id() const { return id_; }
 
@@ -119,13 +125,19 @@ private:
     bool              running = false;
   };
 
-  std::queue<task_t>      pending_tasks;
-  std::vector<worker_t>   workers;
-  std::mutex              queue_mutex;
-  std::condition_variable cv_empty;
-  bool                    running;
+  int32_t               prio = -1;
+  uint32_t              mask = 255;
+  srslog::basic_logger& logger;
+
+  std::queue<task_t>                      pending_tasks;
+  std::vector<std::unique_ptr<worker_t> > workers;
+  mutable std::mutex                      queue_mutex;
+  std::condition_variable                 cv_empty;
+  bool                                    running = false;
 };
 
+srslte::task_thread_pool& get_background_workers();
+
 } // namespace srslte
 
 #endif // SRSLTE_THREAD_POOL_H
diff --git a/lib/include/srslte/test/ue_test_interfaces.h b/lib/include/srslte/test/ue_test_interfaces.h
index ee878e860..27c7b9016 100644
--- a/lib/include/srslte/test/ue_test_interfaces.h
+++ b/lib/include/srslte/test/ue_test_interfaces.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
   // run pending tasks without updating timers
   void run_pending_tasks() { task_sched.run_pending_tasks(); }
 
-  srslte::task_scheduler task_sched{512, 0, 100};
+  srslte::task_scheduler task_sched{512, 100};
 };
 
 class rlc_dummy_interface : public rlc_interface_mac
diff --git a/lib/src/common/thread_pool.cc b/lib/src/common/thread_pool.cc
index 567f7ae35..ee47d1264 100644
--- a/lib/src/common/thread_pool.cc
+++ b/lib/src/common/thread_pool.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "srslte/common/thread_pool.h"
+#include "srslte/srslog/srslog.h"
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -244,11 +245,11 @@ uint32_t thread_pool::get_nof_workers()
  *  once a worker is available
  *************************************************************************/
 
-task_thread_pool::task_thread_pool(uint32_t nof_workers) : running(false)
+task_thread_pool::task_thread_pool(uint32_t nof_workers, bool start_deferred, int32_t prio_, uint32_t mask_) :
+  logger(srslog::fetch_basic_logger("POOL")), workers(std::max(1u, nof_workers))
 {
-  workers.reserve(nof_workers);
-  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < nof_workers; ++i) {
-    workers.emplace_back(this, i);
+  if (not start_deferred) {
+    start(prio_, mask_);
   }
 }
 
@@ -257,12 +258,34 @@ task_thread_pool::~task_thread_pool()
   stop();
 }
 
-void task_thread_pool::start(int32_t prio, uint32_t mask)
+void task_thread_pool::set_nof_workers(uint32_t nof_workers)
 {
   std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(queue_mutex);
+  if (workers.size() > nof_workers) {
+    logger.error("Reducing the number of workers dynamically not supported");
+    return;
+  }
+  uint32_t old_size = workers.size();
+  workers.resize(nof_workers);
+  if (running) {
+    for (uint32_t i = old_size; i < nof_workers; ++i) {
+      workers[i].reset(new worker_t(this, i));
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+void task_thread_pool::start(int32_t prio_, uint32_t mask_)
+{
+  std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(queue_mutex);
+  if (running) {
+    logger.error("Starting thread pool that has already started");
+    return;
+  }
+  prio    = prio_;
+  mask    = mask_;
   running = true;
-  for (worker_t& w : workers) {
-    w.setup(prio, mask);
+  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < workers.size(); ++i) {
+    workers[i].reset(new worker_t(this, i));
   }
 }
 
@@ -272,8 +295,8 @@ void task_thread_pool::stop()
   if (running) {
     running              = false;
     bool workers_running = false;
-    for (worker_t& w : workers) {
-      if (w.is_running()) {
+    for (std::unique_ptr<worker_t>& w : workers) {
+      if (w->is_running()) {
         workers_running = true;
         break;
       }
@@ -282,21 +305,12 @@ void task_thread_pool::stop()
     if (workers_running) {
       cv_empty.notify_all();
     }
-    for (worker_t& w : workers) {
-      w.stop();
+    for (std::unique_ptr<worker_t>& w : workers) {
+      w->stop();
     }
   }
 }
 
-void task_thread_pool::push_task(const task_t& task)
-{
-  {
-    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(queue_mutex);
-    pending_tasks.push(task);
-  }
-  cv_empty.notify_one();
-}
-
 void task_thread_pool::push_task(task_t&& task)
 {
   {
@@ -306,17 +320,20 @@ void task_thread_pool::push_task(task_t&& task)
   cv_empty.notify_one();
 }
 
-uint32_t task_thread_pool::nof_pending_tasks()
+uint32_t task_thread_pool::nof_pending_tasks() const
 {
   std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(queue_mutex);
   return pending_tasks.size();
 }
 
 task_thread_pool::worker_t::worker_t(srslte::task_thread_pool* parent_, uint32_t my_id) :
-  parent(parent_),
-  thread(std::string("TASKWORKER") + std::to_string(my_id)),
-  id_(my_id)
+  parent(parent_), thread(std::string("TASKWORKER") + std::to_string(my_id)), id_(my_id), running(true)
 {
+  if (parent->mask == 255) {
+    start(parent->prio);
+  } else {
+    start_cpu_mask(parent->prio, parent->mask);
+  }
 }
 
 void task_thread_pool::worker_t::stop()
@@ -324,16 +341,6 @@ void task_thread_pool::worker_t::stop()
   wait_thread_finish();
 }
 
-void task_thread_pool::worker_t::setup(int32_t prio, uint32_t mask)
-{
-  running = true;
-  if (mask == 255) {
-    start(prio);
-  } else {
-    start_cpu_mask(prio, mask);
-  }
-}
-
 bool task_thread_pool::worker_t::wait_task(task_t* task)
 {
   std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(parent->queue_mutex);
@@ -355,7 +362,7 @@ void task_thread_pool::worker_t::run_thread()
   // main loop
   task_t task;
   while (wait_task(&task)) {
-    task(id());
+    task();
   }
 
   // on exit, notify pool class
@@ -363,4 +370,11 @@ void task_thread_pool::worker_t::run_thread()
   running = false;
 }
 
+// Global thread pool for long, low-priority tasks
+task_thread_pool& get_background_workers()
+{
+  static task_thread_pool background_workers;
+  return background_workers;
+}
+
 } // namespace srslte
diff --git a/lib/test/common/queue_test.cc b/lib/test/common/queue_test.cc
index e880e3796..05a489dac 100644
--- a/lib/test/common/queue_test.cc
+++ b/lib/test/common/queue_test.cc
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "srslte/common/multiqueue.h"
 #include "srslte/common/thread_pool.h"
 #include <iostream>
+#include <map>
 #include <thread>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
@@ -234,17 +235,15 @@ int test_task_thread_pool()
   std::cout << "\n====== TEST task thread pool test 1: start ======\n";
   // Description: check whether the tasks are successfully distributed between workers
 
-  uint32_t                nof_workers = 4, nof_runs = 10000;
-  std::vector<int>        count_worker(nof_workers, 0);
-  std::vector<std::mutex> count_mutex(nof_workers);
+  uint32_t                       nof_workers = 4, nof_runs = 10000;
+  std::mutex                     count_mutex;
+  std::map<std::thread::id, int> count_worker;
 
   task_thread_pool thread_pool(nof_workers);
-  thread_pool.start();
 
-  auto task = [&count_worker, &count_mutex](uint32_t worker_id) {
-    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(count_mutex[worker_id]);
-    //    std::cout << "hello world from worker " << worker_id << std::endl;
-    count_worker[worker_id]++;
+  auto task = [&count_worker, &count_mutex]() {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(count_mutex);
+    count_worker[std::this_thread::get_id()]++;
   };
 
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < nof_runs; ++i) {
@@ -259,12 +258,12 @@ int test_task_thread_pool()
   thread_pool.stop();
 
   uint32_t total_count = 0;
-  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < nof_workers; ++i) {
-    if (count_worker[i] < 10) {
-      printf("WARNING: the number of tasks %d assigned to worker %d is too low\n", count_worker[i], i);
+  for (auto& w : count_worker) {
+    if (w.second < 10) {
+      std::cout << "WARNING: the number of tasks " << w.second << " assigned to worker " << w.first << " is too low";
     }
-    total_count += count_worker[i];
-    printf("worker %d: %d runs\n", i, count_worker[i]);
+    total_count += w.second;
+    std::cout << "worker " << w.first << ": " << w.second << " runs\n";
   }
   if (total_count != nof_runs) {
     printf("Number of task runs=%d does not match total=%d\n", total_count, nof_runs);
@@ -289,14 +288,14 @@ int test_task_thread_pool2()
   task_thread_pool thread_pool(nof_workers);
   thread_pool.start();
 
-  auto task = [&workers_started, &workers_finished, &mut](uint32_t worker_id) {
+  auto task = [&workers_started, &workers_finished, &mut]() {
     {
       std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mut);
       workers_started++;
     }
     sleep(1);
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mut);
-    std::cout << "worker " << worker_id << " has finished\n";
+    std::cout << "worker has finished\n";
     workers_finished++;
   };
 
diff --git a/lib/test/common/task_scheduler_test.cc b/lib/test/common/task_scheduler_test.cc
index c7bfe89f9..dcbb04df4 100644
--- a/lib/test/common/task_scheduler_test.cc
+++ b/lib/test/common/task_scheduler_test.cc
@@ -39,12 +39,10 @@ int test_task_scheduler_no_pool()
 
   // TEST: background task is run, despite there are no pool workers
   state = task_result::null;
-  task_sched.enqueue_background_task([&task_sched, &state](uint32_t worker_id) {
+  srslte::get_background_workers().push_task([&task_sched, &state]() {
     task_sched.notify_background_task_result([&state]() { state = task_result::external; });
   });
   TESTASSERT(state == task_result::null);
-  task_sched.run_next_task(); // runs background task
-  TESTASSERT(state == task_result::null);
   task_sched.run_next_task(); // runs notification
   TESTASSERT(state == task_result::external);
 
@@ -56,7 +54,7 @@ int test_task_scheduler_with_pool()
   srslte::task_scheduler task_sched{5, 2};
   task_result            state = task_result::null;
 
-  task_sched.enqueue_background_task([&task_sched, &state](uint32_t worker_id) {
+  srslte::get_background_workers().push_task([&task_sched, &state]() {
     task_sched.notify_background_task_result([&state]() { state = task_result::external; });
   });
   TESTASSERT(state == task_result::null);
diff --git a/srsenb/src/stack/enb_stack_lte.cc b/srsenb/src/stack/enb_stack_lte.cc
index 304b4184a..32fc1c2b5 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/stack/enb_stack_lte.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/stack/enb_stack_lte.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ enb_stack_lte::enb_stack_lte(srslte::logger* logger_, srslog::sink& log_sink) :
   s1ap_logger(srslog::fetch_basic_logger("S1AP", log_sink, false)),
   gtpu_logger(srslog::fetch_basic_logger("GTPU", log_sink, false)),
   stack_logger(srslog::fetch_basic_logger("STCK", log_sink, false)),
-  task_sched(512, 0, 128),
+  task_sched(512, 128),
   pdcp(&task_sched, pdcp_logger),
   mac(&task_sched, mac_logger),
   rlc(rlc_logger),
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ enb_stack_lte::enb_stack_lte(srslte::logger* logger_, srslog::sink& log_sink) :
   logger(logger_),
   mac_pcap(srslte_rat_t::lte)
 {
+  get_background_workers().set_nof_workers(2);
   enb_task_queue  = task_sched.make_task_queue();
   mme_task_queue  = task_sched.make_task_queue();
   gtpu_task_queue = task_sched.make_task_queue();
@@ -187,6 +188,7 @@ void enb_stack_lte::stop_impl()
   }
 
   task_sched.stop();
+  get_background_workers().stop();
 
   started = false;
 }
diff --git a/srsenb/src/stack/gnb_stack_nr.cc b/srsenb/src/stack/gnb_stack_nr.cc
index e2799524f..63d5f481b 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/stack/gnb_stack_nr.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/stack/gnb_stack_nr.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 namespace srsenb {
 
-gnb_stack_nr::gnb_stack_nr(srslte::logger* logger_) : logger(logger_), task_sched{512, 1, 128}, thread("gNB")
+gnb_stack_nr::gnb_stack_nr(srslte::logger* logger_) : logger(logger_), task_sched{512, 128}, thread("gNB")
 {
   m_mac.reset(new mac_nr());
   m_rlc.reset(new rlc_nr("RLC"));
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ void gnb_stack_nr::stop()
     m_pdcp->stop();
     m_mac->stop();
 
+    srslte::get_background_workers().stop();
     running = false;
   }
 }
diff --git a/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc b/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc
index 4bbaa1f71..23c8816fd 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/stack/mac/mac.cc
@@ -476,6 +476,8 @@ uint16_t mac::allocate_ue()
     ue_db[rnti] = std::move(ue_ptr);
   }
 
+  // Allocate one new UE object in advance
+  srslte::get_background_workers().push_task([this]() { prealloc_ue(1); });
   return rnti;
 }
 
@@ -486,11 +488,6 @@ uint16_t mac::reserve_new_crnti(const sched_interface::ue_cfg_t& ue_cfg)
     return rnti;
   }
 
-  task_sched.enqueue_background_task([this](uint32_t wid) {
-    // Allocate one new UE object in advance
-    prealloc_ue(1);
-  });
-
   // Add new user to the scheduler so that it can RX/TX SRB0
   if (scheduler.ue_cfg(rnti, ue_cfg) != SRSLTE_SUCCESS) {
     logger.error("Registering new user rnti=0x%x to SCHED", rnti);
@@ -556,9 +553,6 @@ void mac::rach_detected(uint32_t tti, uint32_t enb_cc_idx, uint32_t preamble_idx
                     time_adv,
                     rnti);
   });
-
-  // Allocate one new UE object in advance
-  prealloc_ue(1);
 }
 
 void mac::prealloc_ue(uint32_t nof_ue)
diff --git a/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc.cc b/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc.cc
index a49cc3356..dcc89857d 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc.cc
@@ -160,9 +160,6 @@ int rrc::add_user(uint16_t rnti, const sched_interface::ue_cfg_t& sched_ue_cfg)
         logger.error("Adding user rnti=0x%x - Failed to allocate user resources", rnti);
         return SRSLTE_ERROR;
       }
-      if (ue_pool.capacity() <= 4) {
-        task_sched.defer_task([]() { rrc::ue_pool.reserve(16); });
-      }
       users.insert(std::make_pair(rnti, std::move(u)));
     }
     rlc->add_user(rnti);
diff --git a/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc_ue.cc b/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc_ue.cc
index 5a3b6ac4d..92a74f427 100644
--- a/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc_ue.cc
+++ b/srsenb/src/stack/rrc/rrc_ue.cc
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ int rrc::ue::init()
 void* rrc::ue::operator new(size_t sz)
 {
   assert(sz == sizeof(ue));
-  return rrc::ue_pool.allocate_node(sz);
+  void* memchunk = rrc::ue_pool.allocate_node(sz);
+  if (ue_pool.capacity() <= 4) {
+    srslte::get_background_workers().push_task([]() { rrc::ue_pool.reserve(4); });
+  }
+  return memchunk;
 }
 void rrc::ue::operator delete(void* ptr)noexcept
 {
diff --git a/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_lte.cc b/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_lte.cc
index 56957d31f..7cf049b2b 100644
--- a/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_lte.cc
+++ b/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_lte.cc
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ ue_stack_lte::ue_stack_lte(srslog::sink& log_sink) :
   pdcp(&task_sched, "PDCP"),
   nas(&task_sched),
   thread("STACK"),
-  task_sched(512, 2, 64),
+  task_sched(512, 64),
   tti_tprof("tti_tprof", "STCK", TTI_STAT_PERIOD),
   mac_pcap(srslte_rat_t::lte)
 {
+  get_background_workers().set_nof_workers(2);
   ue_task_queue  = task_sched.make_task_queue();
   gw_queue_id    = task_sched.make_task_queue();
   cfg_task_queue = task_sched.make_task_queue();
@@ -156,16 +157,7 @@ int ue_stack_lte::init(const stack_args_t& args_, srslte::logger* logger_)
 
   mac_nr_args_t mac_nr_args = {};
   mac_nr.init(mac_nr_args, phy_nr, &rlc);
-  rrc_nr.init(phy_nr,
-              &mac_nr,
-              &rlc,
-              &pdcp,
-              gw,
-              &rrc,
-              usim.get(),
-              task_sched.get_timer_handler(),
-              nullptr,
-              args.rrc_nr);
+  rrc_nr.init(phy_nr, &mac_nr, &rlc, &pdcp, gw, &rrc, usim.get(), task_sched.get_timer_handler(), nullptr, args.rrc_nr);
   rrc.init(phy, &mac, &rlc, &pdcp, &nas, usim.get(), gw, &rrc_nr, args.rrc);
 
   running = true;
@@ -200,6 +192,9 @@ void ue_stack_lte::stop_impl()
   if (args.pcap.nas_enable) {
     nas_pcap.close();
   }
+
+  task_sched.stop();
+  get_background_workers().stop();
 }
 
 bool ue_stack_lte::switch_on()
diff --git a/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_nr.cc b/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_nr.cc
index 8d7112de4..b71e11a83 100644
--- a/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_nr.cc
+++ b/srsue/src/stack/ue_stack_nr.cc
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ using namespace srslte;
 namespace srsue {
 
 ue_stack_nr::ue_stack_nr(srslte::logger* logger_) :
-  logger(logger_), thread("STACK"), task_sched(64, 2, 64), rlc_log("RLC"), pdcp_log("PDCP")
+  logger(logger_), thread("STACK"), task_sched(64, 64), rlc_log("RLC"), pdcp_log("PDCP")
 {
+  get_background_workers().set_nof_workers(2);
   mac.reset(new mac_nr(&task_sched));
   pdcp.reset(new srslte::pdcp(&task_sched, "PDCP"));
   rlc.reset(new srslte::rlc("RLC"));
@@ -102,6 +103,8 @@ void ue_stack_nr::stop_impl()
   rlc->stop();
   pdcp->stop();
   mac->stop();
+
+  get_background_workers().stop();
 }
 
 bool ue_stack_nr::switch_on()
diff --git a/srsue/test/upper/ue_rrc_nr_test.cc b/srsue/test/upper/ue_rrc_nr_test.cc
index 4c035f766..40bbabfce 100644
--- a/srsue/test/upper/ue_rrc_nr_test.cc
+++ b/srsue/test/upper/ue_rrc_nr_test.cc
@@ -17,11 +17,10 @@ using namespace srsue;
 
 int rrc_nr_cap_request_test()
 {
-
   srslte::log_ref rrc_log("RRC");
   rrc_log->set_level(srslte::LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG);
   rrc_log->set_hex_limit(-1);
-  srslte::task_scheduler    task_sched{512, 0, 100};
+  srslte::task_scheduler    task_sched{512, 100};
   srslte::task_sched_handle task_sched_handle(&task_sched);
   rrc_nr                    rrc_nr(task_sched_handle);
   srslte::byte_buffer_t     caps;