diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 8ac385f518..80594cbd90 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog-async",
  "slog-term",
  "tempdir",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
  "validator_client",
  "validator_dir",
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "state_processing",
  "store",
  "tempfile",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
  "websocket_server",
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog-async",
  "slog-term",
  "store",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "toml",
  "types",
  "version",
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slot_clock",
  "store",
  "timer",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "toml",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
@@ -1012,7 +1012,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "rlp",
  "sha2",
  "smallvec 1.4.0",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "uint",
  "zeroize",
 ]
@@ -1127,7 +1127,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog-json",
  "slog-term",
  "sloggers",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
 ]
 
@@ -1163,7 +1163,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog",
  "sloggers",
  "state_processing",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "toml",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
@@ -1177,7 +1177,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "deposit_contract",
  "futures 0.3.5",
  "serde_json",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
  "web3",
 ]
@@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "snap",
  "tempdir",
  "tiny-keccak 2.0.2",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tokio-io-timeout",
  "tokio-util",
  "types",
@@ -1687,7 +1687,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_derive",
  "slog",
  "state_processing",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
 ]
@@ -1758,7 +1758,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "indexmap",
  "log 0.4.8",
  "slab 0.4.2",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tokio-util",
 ]
 
@@ -1777,7 +1777,7 @@ name = "hashset_delay"
 version = "0.2.0"
 dependencies = [
  "futures 0.3.5",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1968,7 +1968,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "net2",
  "pin-project",
  "time",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tower-service",
  "want 0.3.0",
 ]
@@ -1995,7 +1995,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "bytes 0.5.4",
  "hyper 0.13.5",
  "native-tls",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tokio-tls 0.3.1",
 ]
 
@@ -2194,7 +2194,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_yaml",
  "simple_logger",
  "state_processing",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
  "validator_dir",
@@ -2469,7 +2469,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "ipnet",
  "libp2p-core",
  "log 0.4.8",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2563,7 +2563,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog-term",
  "sloggers",
  "tempfile",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
  "validator_client",
  "validator_dir",
@@ -2868,6 +2868,7 @@ name = "network"
 version = "0.1.2"
 dependencies = [
  "beacon_chain",
+ "environment",
  "error-chain",
  "eth2-libp2p",
  "eth2_ssz",
@@ -2889,7 +2890,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "smallvec 1.4.0",
  "store",
  "tempfile",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
 ]
@@ -3679,7 +3680,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_json",
  "serde_urlencoded",
  "time",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tokio-tls 0.3.1",
  "url 2.1.1",
  "wasm-bindgen",
@@ -3694,6 +3695,7 @@ version = "0.1.2"
 dependencies = [
  "beacon_chain",
  "bls",
+ "environment",
  "eth2-libp2p",
  "eth2_config",
  "eth2_ssz",
@@ -3720,7 +3722,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slot_clock",
  "state_processing",
  "store",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
  "url 2.1.1",
@@ -4154,7 +4156,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "node_test_rig",
  "parking_lot 0.10.2",
  "rayon",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
  "validator_client",
 ]
@@ -4622,11 +4624,12 @@ name = "timer"
 version = "0.1.2"
 dependencies = [
  "beacon_chain",
+ "environment",
  "futures 0.3.5",
  "parking_lot 0.10.2",
  "slog",
  "slot_clock",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
 ]
 
@@ -4700,9 +4703,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "tokio"
-version = "0.2.20"
+version = "0.2.21"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "05c1d570eb1a36f0345a5ce9c6c6e665b70b73d11236912c0b477616aeec47b1"
+checksum = "d099fa27b9702bed751524694adbe393e18b36b204da91eb1cbbbbb4a5ee2d58"
 dependencies = [
  "bytes 0.5.4",
  "fnv",
@@ -4812,7 +4815,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9390a43272c8a6ac912ed1d1e2b6abeafd5047e05530a2fa304deee041a06215"
 dependencies = [
  "bytes 0.5.4",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -4926,7 +4929,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9a70f4fcd7b3b24fb194f837560168208f669ca8cb70d0c4b862944452396343"
 dependencies = [
  "native-tls",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -4991,7 +4994,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "futures-sink",
  "log 0.4.8",
  "pin-project-lite",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -5283,7 +5286,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog-term",
  "slot_clock",
  "tempdir",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "tree_hash",
  "types",
  "validator_dir",
@@ -5584,12 +5587,13 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "websocket_server"
 version = "0.1.2"
 dependencies = [
+ "environment",
  "futures 0.3.5",
  "serde",
  "serde_derive",
  "serde_json",
  "slog",
- "tokio 0.2.20",
+ "tokio 0.2.21",
  "types",
  "ws",
 ]
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/Cargo.toml
index b13b2f95a3..9b6d80194f 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/Cargo.toml
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ tempfile = "3.1.0"
 bitvec = "0.17.4"
 bls = { path = "../../crypto/bls" }
 safe_arith = { path = "../../consensus/safe_arith" }
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 lazy_static = "1.4.0"
-environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
+
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs
index 7f8d1a6715..b1d31aafc7 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::metrics;
+use environment::TaskExecutor;
 use eth1::{Config as Eth1Config, Eth1Block, Service as HttpService};
 use eth2_hashing::hash;
 use slog::{debug, error, trace, Logger};
@@ -285,8 +286,8 @@ impl<T: EthSpec, S: Store<T>> CachingEth1Backend<T, S> {
     }
 
     /// Starts the routine which connects to the external eth1 node and updates the caches.
-    pub fn start(&self, handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle, exit: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>) {
-        HttpService::auto_update(self.core.clone(), handle, exit);
+    pub fn start(&self, handle: TaskExecutor) {
+        HttpService::auto_update(self.core.clone(), handle);
     }
 
     /// Instantiates `self` from an existing service.
diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
index 9bb8bf12ce..81b667994f 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ pub struct ClientBuilder<T: BeaconChainTypes> {
     beacon_chain_builder: Option<BeaconChainBuilder<T>>,
     beacon_chain: Option<Arc<BeaconChain<T>>>,
     eth1_service: Option<Eth1Service>,
-    exit_channels: Vec<tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>>,
     event_handler: Option<T::EventHandler>,
     network_globals: Option<Arc<NetworkGlobals<T::EthSpec>>>,
     network_send: Option<UnboundedSender<NetworkMessage<T::EthSpec>>>,
@@ -84,7 +83,6 @@ where
             beacon_chain_builder: None,
             beacon_chain: None,
             eth1_service: None,
-            exit_channels: vec![],
             event_handler: None,
             network_globals: None,
             network_send: None,
@@ -223,13 +221,12 @@ where
             .ok_or_else(|| "network requires a runtime_context")?
             .clone();
 
-        let (network_globals, network_send, network_exit) =
-            NetworkService::start(beacon_chain, config, &context.runtime_handle, context.log)
+        let (network_globals, network_send) =
+            NetworkService::start(beacon_chain, config, context.runtime_handle, context.log)
                 .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start network: {:?}", e))?;
 
         self.network_globals = Some(network_globals);
         self.network_send = Some(network_send);
-        self.exit_channels.push(network_exit);
 
         Ok(self)
     }
@@ -251,16 +248,14 @@ where
             .ok_or_else(|| "node timer requires a chain spec".to_string())?
             .milliseconds_per_slot;
 
-        let timer_exit = timer::spawn(
-            &context.runtime_handle,
+        let _ = timer::spawn(
+            context.runtime_handle,
             beacon_chain,
             milliseconds_per_slot,
             context.log.clone(),
         )
         .map_err(|e| format!("Unable to start node timer: {}", e))?;
 
-        self.exit_channels.push(timer_exit);
-
         Ok(self)
     }
 
@@ -294,8 +289,8 @@ where
         };
 
         let log = context.log.clone();
-        let (exit_channel, listening_addr) = rest_api::start_server(
-            &context.runtime_handle,
+        let listening_addr = rest_api::start_server(
+            context.runtime_handle,
             &client_config.rest_api,
             beacon_chain,
             network_info,
@@ -310,7 +305,6 @@ where
         )
         .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start HTTP API: {:?}", e))?;
 
-        self.exit_channels.push(exit_channel);
         self.http_listen_addr = Some(listening_addr);
 
         Ok(self)
@@ -337,8 +331,8 @@ where
             .ok_or_else(|| "slot_notifier requires a chain spec".to_string())?
             .milliseconds_per_slot;
 
-        let exit_channel = spawn_notifier(
-            &context.runtime_handle,
+        let _ = spawn_notifier(
+            context.runtime_handle,
             beacon_chain,
             network_globals,
             milliseconds_per_slot,
@@ -346,8 +340,6 @@ where
         )
         .map_err(|e| format!("Unable to start slot notifier: {}", e))?;
 
-        self.exit_channels.push(exit_channel);
-
         Ok(self)
     }
 
@@ -364,7 +356,6 @@ where
             network_globals: self.network_globals,
             http_listen_addr: self.http_listen_addr,
             websocket_listen_addr: self.websocket_listen_addr,
-            _exit_channels: self.exit_channels,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -435,21 +426,14 @@ where
             .ok_or_else(|| "websocket_event_handler requires a runtime_context")?
             .service_context("ws".into());
 
-        let (sender, exit_channel, listening_addr): (
-            WebSocketSender<TEthSpec>,
-            Option<_>,
-            Option<_>,
-        ) = if config.enabled {
-            let (sender, exit, listening_addr) =
-                websocket_server::start_server(&context.runtime_handle, &config, &context.log)?;
-            (sender, Some(exit), Some(listening_addr))
+        let (sender, listening_addr): (WebSocketSender<TEthSpec>, Option<_>) = if config.enabled {
+            let (sender, listening_addr) =
+                websocket_server::start_server(context.runtime_handle, &config, &context.log)?;
+            (sender, Some(listening_addr))
         } else {
-            (WebSocketSender::dummy(), None, None)
+            (WebSocketSender::dummy(), None)
         };
 
-        if let Some(channel) = exit_channel {
-            self.exit_channels.push(channel);
-        }
         self.event_handler = Some(sender);
         self.websocket_listen_addr = listening_addr;
 
@@ -653,14 +637,8 @@ where
 
         self.eth1_service = None;
 
-        let exit = {
-            let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
-            self.exit_channels.push(tx);
-            rx
-        };
-
         // Starts the service that connects to an eth1 node and periodically updates caches.
-        backend.start(&context.runtime_handle, exit);
+        backend.start(context.runtime_handle);
 
         self.beacon_chain_builder = Some(beacon_chain_builder.eth1_backend(Some(backend)));
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs
index 7f665b9cb1..da670ff134 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ pub struct Client<T: BeaconChainTypes> {
     network_globals: Option<Arc<NetworkGlobals<T::EthSpec>>>,
     http_listen_addr: Option<SocketAddr>,
     websocket_listen_addr: Option<SocketAddr>,
-    /// Exit channels will complete/error when dropped, causing each service to exit gracefully.
-    _exit_channels: Vec<tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>>,
 }
 
 impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Client<T> {
diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs
index 271feabacf..adab849d59 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ const SPEEDO_OBSERVATIONS: usize = 4;
 
 /// Spawns a notifier service which periodically logs information about the node.
 pub fn spawn_notifier<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
-    handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle,
+    handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
     beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
     network: Arc<NetworkGlobals<T::EthSpec>>,
     milliseconds_per_slot: u64,
     log: slog::Logger,
-) -> Result<tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>, String> {
+) -> Result<(), String> {
     let log_1 = log.clone();
     let slot_duration = Duration::from_millis(milliseconds_per_slot);
     let duration_to_next_slot = beacon_chain
@@ -148,20 +148,10 @@ pub fn spawn_notifier<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         Ok::<(), ()>(())
     };
 
-    let (exit_signal, exit) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
-
-    let exit_future = async move {
-        let _ = exit.await.ok();
-        info!(log_1, "Notifier service shutdown");
-    };
-
     // run the notifier on the current executor
-    handle.spawn(futures::future::select(
-        Box::pin(interval_future),
-        Box::pin(exit_future),
-    ));
+    handle.spawn(interval_future.unwrap_or_else(|_| ()), "beacon_notifier");
 
-    Ok(exit_signal)
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 /// Returns the peer count, returning something helpful if it's `usize::max_value` (effectively a
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth1/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/eth1/Cargo.toml
index 1777e7ed92..f7938242cf 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth1/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/eth1/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ edition = "2018"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 eth1_test_rig = { path = "../../testing/eth1_test_rig" }
-environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
 toml = "0.5.6"
 web3 = "0.10.0"
 sloggers = "1.0.0"
@@ -30,3 +29,4 @@ state_processing = { path = "../../consensus/state_processing" }
 libflate = "1.0.0"
 lighthouse_metrics = { path = "../../common/lighthouse_metrics"}
 lazy_static = "1.4.0"
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs
index 68fe357258..46dd9619a6 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs
@@ -283,13 +283,8 @@ impl Service {
     /// - Err(_) if there is an error.
     ///
     /// Emits logs for debugging and errors.
-    pub fn auto_update(
-        service: Self,
-        handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle,
-        exit: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>,
-    ) {
+    pub fn auto_update(service: Self, handle: environment::TaskExecutor) {
         let update_interval = Duration::from_millis(service.config().auto_update_interval_millis);
-        let log = service.log.clone();
 
         let mut interval = interval_at(Instant::now(), update_interval);
 
@@ -301,14 +296,7 @@ impl Service {
             }
         };
 
-        let exit_future = async move {
-            let _ = exit.await.ok();
-            info!(log, "Eth1 service shutdown");
-        };
-
-        let future = futures::future::select(Box::pin(update_future), Box::pin(exit_future));
-
-        handle.spawn(future);
+        handle.spawn(update_future, "eth1_service");
     }
 
     async fn do_update(service: Self, update_interval: Duration) -> Result<(), ()> {
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth2-libp2p/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/eth2-libp2p/src/service.rs
index 5bc3d02c53..97556dd55d 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth2-libp2p/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth2-libp2p/src/service.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ pub struct Service<TSpec: EthSpec> {
 
 impl<TSpec: EthSpec> Service<TSpec> {
     pub fn new(
-        handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle,
+        handle: tokio::runtime::Handle,
         config: &NetworkConfig,
         enr_fork_id: EnrForkId,
         log: &slog::Logger,
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ impl<TSpec: EthSpec> Service<TSpec> {
             }
             SwarmBuilder::new(transport, behaviour, local_peer_id.clone())
                 .peer_connection_limit(MAX_CONNECTIONS_PER_PEER)
-                .executor(Box::new(Executor(handle.clone())))
+                .executor(Box::new(Executor(handle)))
                 .build()
         };
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
index 8ac89de6b3..2636a507b9 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
@@ -34,3 +34,4 @@ fnv = "1.0.6"
 rlp = "0.4.5"
 lazy_static = "1.4.0"
 lighthouse_metrics = { path = "../../common/lighthouse_metrics" }
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/router/mod.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/router/mod.rs
index 78e1b8b2a1..eb3f6d4bd1 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/router/mod.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/router/mod.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Router<T> {
         beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
         network_globals: Arc<NetworkGlobals<T::EthSpec>>,
         network_send: mpsc::UnboundedSender<NetworkMessage<T::EthSpec>>,
-        runtime_handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle,
+        runtime_handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
         log: slog::Logger,
     ) -> error::Result<mpsc::UnboundedSender<RouterMessage<T::EthSpec>>> {
         let message_handler_log = log.new(o!("service"=> "router"));
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Router<T> {
 
         // Initialise a message instance, which itself spawns the syncing thread.
         let processor = Processor::new(
-            runtime_handle,
+            // TODO: spawn_blocking here
+            &runtime_handle.runtime_handle(),
             beacon_chain,
             network_globals.clone(),
             network_send.clone(),
@@ -84,12 +85,15 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Router<T> {
         };
 
         // spawn handler task and move the message handler instance into the spawned thread
-        runtime_handle.spawn(async move {
-            handler_recv
-                .for_each(move |msg| future::ready(handler.handle_message(msg)))
-                .await;
-            debug!(log, "Network message handler terminated.");
-        });
+        runtime_handle.spawn(
+            async move {
+                handler_recv
+                    .for_each(move |msg| future::ready(handler.handle_message(msg)))
+                    .await;
+                debug!(log, "Network message handler terminated.");
+            },
+            "router_service",
+        );
 
         Ok(handler_send)
     }
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
index 9afc0541eb..8a88c84d32 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
@@ -53,12 +53,11 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkService<T> {
     pub fn start(
         beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
         config: &NetworkConfig,
-        runtime_handle: &Handle,
+        handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
         network_log: slog::Logger,
     ) -> error::Result<(
         Arc<NetworkGlobals<T::EthSpec>>,
         mpsc::UnboundedSender<NetworkMessage<T::EthSpec>>,
-        oneshot::Sender<()>,
     )> {
         // build the network channel
         let (network_send, network_recv) = mpsc::unbounded_channel::<NetworkMessage<T::EthSpec>>();
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkService<T> {
 
         // launch libp2p service
         let (network_globals, mut libp2p) =
-            LibP2PService::new(runtime_handle, config, enr_fork_id, &network_log)?;
+            LibP2PService::new(handle.runtime_handle(), config, enr_fork_id, &network_log)?;
 
         for enr in load_dht::<T::Store, T::EthSpec>(store.clone()) {
             libp2p.swarm.add_enr(enr);
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkService<T> {
             beacon_chain.clone(),
             network_globals.clone(),
             network_send.clone(),
-            runtime_handle,
+            handle.clone(),
             network_log.clone(),
         )?;
 
@@ -111,17 +110,18 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkService<T> {
             propagation_percentage,
         };
 
-        let network_exit = spawn_service(runtime_handle, network_service)?;
+        let _ = spawn_service(handle, network_service)?;
 
-        Ok((network_globals, network_send, network_exit))
+        Ok((network_globals, network_send))
     }
 }
 
 fn spawn_service<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
-    handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle,
+    handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
     mut service: NetworkService<T>,
-) -> error::Result<tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>> {
-    let (network_exit, mut exit_rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
+) -> error::Result<()> {
+    let mut exit_rx = handle.exit();
+    let handle = handle.runtime_handle();
 
     // spawn on the current executor
     handle.spawn(async move {
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ fn spawn_service<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         }
     });
 
-    Ok(network_exit)
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 /// Returns a `Delay` that triggers shortly after the next change in the beacon chain fork version.
diff --git a/beacon_node/rest_api/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/rest_api/Cargo.toml
index d2c8a8660f..d458eaa1bf 100644
--- a/beacon_node/rest_api/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/rest_api/Cargo.toml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ parking_lot = "0.10.2"
 futures = "0.3.5"
 operation_pool = { path = "../operation_pool" }
 rayon = "1.3.0"
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 remote_beacon_node = { path = "../../common/remote_beacon_node" }
diff --git a/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs
index 669ea05e4d..e405997559 100644
--- a/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub struct NetworkInfo<T: BeaconChainTypes> {
 // Allowing more than 7 arguments.
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 pub fn start_server<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
-    handle: &Handle,
+    handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
     config: &Config,
     beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
     network_info: NetworkInfo<T>,
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pub fn start_server<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
     freezer_db_path: PathBuf,
     eth2_config: Eth2Config,
     log: slog::Logger,
-) -> Result<(oneshot::Sender<()>, SocketAddr), hyper::Error> {
+) -> Result<SocketAddr, hyper::Error> {
     let inner_log = log.clone();
     let eth2_config = Arc::new(eth2_config);
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pub fn start_server<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
     let actual_listen_addr = server.local_addr();
 
     // Build a channel to kill the HTTP server.
-    let (exit_signal, exit) = oneshot::channel::<()>();
+    let exit = handle.exit();
     let inner_log = log.clone();
     let server_exit = async move {
         let _ = exit.await;
@@ -127,9 +127,9 @@ pub fn start_server<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         "port" => actual_listen_addr.port(),
     );
 
-    handle.spawn(server_future);
+    handle.runtime_handle().spawn(server_future);
 
-    Ok((exit_signal, actual_listen_addr))
+    Ok(actual_listen_addr)
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
diff --git a/beacon_node/timer/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/timer/Cargo.toml
index d1d37e181a..4ac22ad2e1 100644
--- a/beacon_node/timer/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/timer/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ tokio = { version = "0.2.21", features = ["full"] }
 slog = "2.5.2"
 parking_lot = "0.10.2"
 futures = "0.3.5"
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
diff --git a/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs
index fa79736761..513d70b6cf 100644
--- a/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use tokio::time::{interval_at, Instant};
 
 /// Spawns a timer service which periodically executes tasks for the beacon chain
 pub fn spawn<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
-    handle: &Handle,
+    handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
     beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
     milliseconds_per_slot: u64,
     log: slog::Logger,
@@ -34,14 +34,7 @@ pub fn spawn<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         }
     };
 
-    let log_1 = log.clone();
-    let exit_future = async move {
-        let _ = exit.await.ok();
-        info!(log_1, "Timer service shutdown");
-    };
-
-    let future = futures::future::select(Box::pin(timer_future), Box::pin(exit_future));
-    handle.spawn(future);
+    handle.spawn(timer_future, "timer_service");
     info!(log, "Timer service started");
 
     Ok(exit_signal)
diff --git a/beacon_node/websocket_server/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/websocket_server/Cargo.toml
index 808a2f7421..8e22fa7d44 100644
--- a/beacon_node/websocket_server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/websocket_server/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@ slog = "2.5.2"
 tokio = { version = "0.2.21", features = ["full"] }
 types = { path = "../../consensus/types" }
 ws = "0.9.1"
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
diff --git a/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs
index f3f378bc82..325c5d4c28 100644
--- a/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,17 +34,10 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> WebSocketSender<T> {
 }
 
 pub fn start_server<T: EthSpec>(
-    handle: &tokio::runtime::Handle,
+    handle: environment::TaskExecutor,
     config: &Config,
     log: &Logger,
-) -> Result<
-    (
-        WebSocketSender<T>,
-        tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>,
-        SocketAddr,
-    ),
-    String,
-> {
+) -> Result<(WebSocketSender<T>, SocketAddr), String> {
     let server_string = format!("{}:{}", config.listen_address, config.port);
 
     // Create a server that simply ignores any incoming messages.
@@ -68,31 +61,26 @@ pub fn start_server<T: EthSpec>(
     let broadcaster = server.broadcaster();
 
     // Produce a signal/channel that can gracefully shutdown the websocket server.
-    let exit_channel = {
-        let (exit_channel, exit) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
-
-        let log_inner = log.clone();
-        let broadcaster_inner = server.broadcaster();
-        let exit_future = async move {
-            let _ = exit.await;
-            if let Err(e) = broadcaster_inner.shutdown() {
-                warn!(
-                    log_inner,
-                    "Websocket server errored on shutdown";
-                    "error" => format!("{:?}", e)
-                );
-            } else {
-                info!(log_inner, "Websocket server shutdown");
-            }
-        };
-
-        // Place a future on the handle that will shutdown the websocket server when the
-        // application exits.
-        handle.spawn(exit_future);
-
-        exit_channel
+    let exit = handle.exit();
+    let log_inner = log.clone();
+    let broadcaster_inner = server.broadcaster();
+    let exit_future = async move {
+        let _ = exit.await;
+        if let Err(e) = broadcaster_inner.shutdown() {
+            warn!(
+                log_inner,
+                "Websocket server errored on shutdown";
+                "error" => format!("{:?}", e)
+            );
+        } else {
+            info!(log_inner, "Websocket server shutdown");
+        }
     };
 
+    // Place a future on the handle that will shutdown the websocket server when the
+    // application exits.
+    handle.runtime_handle().spawn(exit_future);
+
     let log_inner = log.clone();
 
     let _ = std::thread::spawn(move || match server.run() {
@@ -123,7 +111,6 @@ pub fn start_server<T: EthSpec>(
             sender: Some(broadcaster),
             _phantom: PhantomData,
         },
-        exit_channel,
         actual_listen_addr,
     ))
 }
diff --git a/lighthouse/src/main.rs b/lighthouse/src/main.rs
index b037f6d786..d2a7c94a7f 100644
--- a/lighthouse/src/main.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/src/main.rs
@@ -216,11 +216,15 @@ fn run<E: EthSpec>(
             ))
             .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to init validator client: {}", e))?;
 
-        environment.core_context().runtime_handle.enter(|| {
-            validator
-                .start_service()
-                .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start validator client service: {}", e))
-        })?;
+        environment
+            .core_context()
+            .runtime_handle
+            .runtime_handle()
+            .enter(|| {
+                validator
+                    .start_service()
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start validator client service: {}", e))
+            })?;
 
         Some(validator)
     } else {
@@ -234,9 +238,9 @@ fn run<E: EthSpec>(
 
     // Block this thread until Crtl+C is pressed.
     environment.block_until_ctrl_c()?;
-
     info!(log, "Shutting down..");
 
+    environment.fire_signal();
     drop(beacon_node);
     drop(validator_client);