diff --git a/clients/python/src/taskbroker_client/worker/workerchild.py b/clients/python/src/taskbroker_client/worker/workerchild.py
index 52b1941c..e8d7a8a3 100644
--- a/clients/python/src/taskbroker_client/worker/workerchild.py
+++ b/clients/python/src/taskbroker_client/worker/workerchild.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import time
 from collections.abc import Callable, Generator, Sequence
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from functools import partial
 from multiprocessing.synchronize import Event
 from types import FrameType
 from typing import Any
@@ -294,43 +295,57 @@ def get_oldest_pending_activation() -> ActivationWithPendingFutures | None:
                     oldest = task
             return oldest
 
-        def check_task_future_completion() -> None:
-            if len(pending_task_futures) > 0:
-                # Records how many activations with pending producer futures
-                # the worker child has. Only records when there are pending activations.
-                metrics.gauge(
-                    "taskworker.worker.activations_with_pending_futures",
-                    len(pending_task_futures),
-                    tags={
-                        "processing_pool": processing_pool_name,
-                    },
-                )
-                for task in pending_task_futures.copy():
-                    future_status = [f.done() for fut in task.pending_futures.values() for f in fut]
-                    if all(future_status):
-                        await_task_futures(task)
-                    else:
-                        # How many futures are still pending in this task
+        def check_task_future_completion(
+            shutdown_event: Event, local_shutdown: threading.Event
+        ) -> None:
+            while not shutdown_event.is_set() and not local_shutdown.is_set():
+                if len(pending_task_futures) > 0:
+                    # Records how many activations with pending producer futures
+                    # the worker child has. Only records when there are pending activations.
+                    metrics.gauge(
+                        "taskworker.worker.activations_with_pending_futures",
+                        len(pending_task_futures),
+                        tags={
+                            "processing_pool": processing_pool_name,
+                        },
+                    )
+                    for task in pending_task_futures.copy():
+                        future_status = [
+                            f.done() for fut in task.pending_futures.values() for f in fut
+                        ]
+                        if all(future_status):
+                            await_task_futures(task)
+                        else:
+                            # How many futures are still pending in this task
+                            metrics.distribution(
+                                "taskworker.task.incomplete_futures",
+                                len([f for f in future_status if not f]),
+                                tags={
+                                    "processing_pool": processing_pool_name,
+                                    "namespace": task.inflight.activation.namespace,
+                                    "taskname": task.inflight.activation.taskname,
+                                },
+                            )
+                    # How long has the oldest pending task been sitting in the queue
+                    if oldest := get_oldest_pending_activation():
                         metrics.distribution(
-                            "taskworker.task.incomplete_futures",
-                            len([f for f in future_status if not f]),
+                            "taskworker.worker.oldest_pending_activation_age",
+                            time.time() - oldest.futures_start_time,
                             tags={
                                 "processing_pool": processing_pool_name,
-                                "namespace": task.inflight.activation.namespace,
-                                "taskname": task.inflight.activation.taskname,
+                                "namespace": oldest.inflight.activation.namespace,
+                                "taskname": oldest.inflight.activation.taskname,
                             },
                         )
-                # How long has the oldest pending task been sitting in the queue
-                if oldest := get_oldest_pending_activation():
-                    metrics.distribution(
-                        "taskworker.worker.oldest_pending_activation_age",
-                        time.time() - oldest.futures_start_time,
-                        tags={
-                            "processing_pool": processing_pool_name,
-                            "namespace": oldest.inflight.activation.namespace,
-                            "taskname": oldest.inflight.activation.taskname,
-                        },
-                    )
+                else:
+                    time.sleep(0.1)
+
+        _future_completion_thread = threading.Thread(
+            name="check-future-completion",
+            target=partial(check_task_future_completion, shutdown_event, local_shutdown),
+            daemon=True,
+        )
+        _future_completion_thread.start()
 
         while not shutdown_event.is_set() and not local_shutdown.is_set():
             if max_task_count and processed_task_count >= max_task_count:
@@ -341,10 +356,11 @@ def check_task_future_completion() -> None:
                 logger.info(
                     "taskworker.max_task_count_reached", extra={"count": processed_task_count}
                 )
+                # Still set the shutdown signal to trigger shutdown of the future checker thread
+                local_shutdown.set()
                 break
 
             try:
-                check_task_future_completion()
                 inflight = child_tasks.get(timeout=1.0)
             except queue.Empty:
                 metrics.incr(
@@ -530,6 +546,7 @@ def check_task_future_completion() -> None:
                 pending_task_futures.append(pending_task)
 
         # Once we get the shutdown signal, drain any pending futures
+        _future_completion_thread.join()
         for task in pending_task_futures.copy():
             await_task_futures(task)