diff --git a/src/core/utils/two_phase_counter.rs b/src/core/utils/two_phase_counter.rs
index 3573d377..51888000 100644
--- a/src/core/utils/two_phase_counter.rs
+++ b/src/core/utils/two_phase_counter.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ pub struct State<F: Fn(u64) -> Result + Sync> {
 	/// this list is the "retirement" sequence number where all writes have
 	/// completed and all reads are globally visible.
 	pending: VecDeque<u64>,
+
+	/// Callback to notify updates of the retirement value. This is likely
+	/// called from the destructor of a permit/guard; try not to panic.
+	release: F,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -63,8 +67,10 @@ impl<F: Fn(u64) -> Result + Sync> Counter<F> {
 	/// Construct a new Two-Phase counter state. The value of `init` is
 	/// considered retired, and the next sequence number dispatched will be one
 	/// greater.
-	pub fn new(init: u64, commit: F) -> Arc<Self> {
-		Arc::new(Self { inner: State::new(init, commit).into() })
+	pub fn new(init: u64, commit: F, release: F) -> Arc<Self> {
+		Arc::new(Self {
+			inner: State::new(init, commit, release).into(),
+		})
 	}
 
 	/// Obtain a sequence number to conduct write operations for the scope.
@@ -83,16 +89,27 @@ impl<F: Fn(u64) -> Result + Sync> Counter<F> {
 			.expect("locked for reading")
 			.retired()
 	}
+
+	/// Load the highest sequence number (dispatched); may still be pending or
+	/// may be retired.
+	#[inline]
+	pub fn dispatched(&self) -> u64 {
+		self.inner
+			.read()
+			.expect("locked for reading")
+			.dispatched
+	}
 }
 
 impl<F: Fn(u64) -> Result + Sync> State<F> {
 	/// Create new state, starting from `init`. The next sequence number
 	/// dispatched will be one greater than `init`.
-	fn new(dispatched: u64, commit: F) -> Self {
+	fn new(dispatched: u64, commit: F, release: F) -> Self {
 		Self {
 			dispatched,
 			commit,
 			pending: VecDeque::new(),
+			release,
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -127,6 +144,10 @@ impl<F: Fn(u64) -> Result + Sync> State<F> {
 			.expect("sequence number at index must be removed");
 
 		debug_assert!(removed == id, "sequence number removed must match id");
+
+		if index == 0 {
+			(self.release)(id).expect("release callback should not error");
+		}
 	}
 
 	/// Calculate the retired sequence number, one less than the lowest pending
diff --git a/src/service/globals/data.rs b/src/service/globals/data.rs
index ea64fa03..c32bc50f 100644
--- a/src/service/globals/data.rs
+++ b/src/service/globals/data.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
+use tokio::sync::{watch, watch::Sender};
 use tuwunel_core::{
-	Result, utils,
+	Result, err, utils,
 	utils::two_phase_counter::{Counter as TwoPhaseCounter, Permit as TwoPhasePermit},
 };
 use tuwunel_database::{Database, Deserialized, Map};
 
 pub struct Data {
 	global: Arc<Map>,
+	retires: Sender<u64>,
 	counter: Arc<Counter>,
 	pub(super) db: Arc<Database>,
 }
@@ -21,16 +23,39 @@ const COUNTER: &[u8] = b"c";
 impl Data {
 	pub(super) fn new(args: &crate::Args<'_>) -> Self {
 		let db = args.db.clone();
+		let count = Self::stored_count(&args.db["global"]).expect("initialize global counter");
+		let retires = watch::channel(count).0;
 		Self {
 			db: args.db.clone(),
 			global: args.db["global"].clone(),
+			retires: retires.clone(),
 			counter: Counter::new(
-				Self::stored_count(&args.db["global"]).expect("initialized global counter"),
+				count,
 				Box::new(move |count| Self::store_count(&db, &db["global"], count)),
+				Box::new(move |count| Self::handle_retire(&retires, count)),
 			),
 		}
 	}
 
+	pub async fn wait_pending(&self) -> Result<u64> {
+		let count = self.counter.dispatched();
+		self.wait_count(&count).await.inspect(|retired| {
+			debug_assert!(
+				*retired >= count,
+				"Expecting retired sequence number >= snapshotted dispatch number"
+			);
+		})
+	}
+
+	pub async fn wait_count(&self, count: &u64) -> Result<u64> {
+		self.retires
+			.subscribe()
+			.wait_for(|retired| retired.ge(count))
+			.await
+			.map(|retired| *retired)
+			.map_err(|e| err!("counter channel error {e:?}"))
+	}
+
 	#[inline]
 	pub fn next_count(&self) -> Permit {
 		self.counter
@@ -41,6 +66,12 @@ impl Data {
 	#[inline]
 	pub fn current_count(&self) -> u64 { self.counter.current() }
 
+	fn handle_retire(sender: &Sender<u64>, count: u64) -> Result {
+		let _prev = sender.send_replace(count);
+
+		Ok(())
+	}
+
 	fn store_count(db: &Arc<Database>, global: &Arc<Map>, count: u64) -> Result {
 		let _cork = db.cork();
 		global.insert(COUNTER, count.to_be_bytes());
diff --git a/src/service/globals/mod.rs b/src/service/globals/mod.rs
index 29ecc0ab..5d96325b 100644
--- a/src/service/globals/mod.rs
+++ b/src/service/globals/mod.rs
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ impl crate::Service for Service {
 }
 
 impl Service {
+	#[inline]
+	pub async fn wait_pending(&self) -> Result<u64> { self.db.wait_pending().await }
+
+	#[inline]
+	pub async fn wait_count(&self, count: &u64) -> Result<u64> { self.db.wait_count(count).await }
+
 	#[inline]
 	#[must_use]
 	pub fn next_count(&self) -> data::Permit { self.db.next_count() }