diff --git a/broker/src/connections/mod.rs b/broker/src/connections/mod.rs
index 865cd49..4bccf5d 100644
--- a/broker/src/connections/mod.rs
+++ b/broker/src/connections/mod.rs
@@ -63,19 +63,19 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
 
     /// Get the full versioned vector map of user -> broker.
     /// We send this to other brokers so they can merge it.
-    pub async fn get_full_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> DirectMap {
+    pub fn get_full_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> DirectMap {
         self.direct_map.read().get_full()
     }
 
     /// Get the differences in the versioned vector map of user -> broker
     /// We send this to other brokers so they can merge it.
-    pub async fn get_partial_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> DirectMap {
+    pub fn get_partial_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> DirectMap {
         self.direct_map.write().diff()
     }
 
     /// Apply a received user sync map. Overwrites our values if they are old.
     /// Kicks off users that are now connected elsewhere.
-    pub async fn apply_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>, map: DirectMap) {
+    pub fn apply_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>, map: DirectMap) {
         // Merge the maps, returning the difference
         let users_to_remove = self.direct_map.write().merge(map);
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
 
     /// Insert a user into our map. Updates the versioned vector that
     /// keeps track of which users are connected where.
-    pub async fn add_user(
+    pub fn add_user(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         user_public_key: Bytes,
         connection: <UserProtocol as Protocol>::Sender,
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
     }
 
     /// Locally subscribe a broker to some topics.
-    pub async fn subscribe_broker_to(
+    pub fn subscribe_broker_to(
         &self,
         broker_identifier: &BrokerIdentifier,
         topics: Vec<Topic>,
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
     }
 
     /// Locally subscribe a user to some topics.
-    pub async fn subscribe_user_to(&self, user_public_key: &Bytes, topics: Vec<Topic>) {
+    pub fn subscribe_user_to(&self, user_public_key: &Bytes, topics: Vec<Topic>) {
         self.broadcast_map
             .users
             .write()
@@ -203,10 +203,10 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
     }
 
     /// Locally unsubscribe a broker from some topics.
-    pub async fn unsubscribe_broker_from(
+    pub fn unsubscribe_broker_from(
         &self,
         broker_identifier: &BrokerIdentifier,
-        topics: Vec<Topic>,
+        topics: &[Topic],
     ) {
         self.broadcast_map
             .brokers
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
     }
 
     /// Locally unsubscribe a broker from some topics.
-    pub async fn unsubscribe_user_from(&self, user_public_key: &Bytes, topics: Vec<Topic>) {
+    pub fn unsubscribe_user_from(&self, user_public_key: &Bytes, topics: Vec<Topic>) {
         self.broadcast_map
             .users
             .write()
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
     /// Send a direct message to either a user or a broker. First figures out where the message
     /// is supposed to go, and then sends it. We have `to_user_only` bounds so we can stop thrashing;
     /// if we receive a message from a broker we should only be forwarding it to applicable users.
-    pub async fn send_direct(
+    pub fn send_direct(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         user_public_key: UserPublicKey,
         message: Bytes,
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ impl<BrokerProtocol: Protocol, UserProtocol: Protocol> Connections<BrokerProtoco
     /// Send a broadcast message to both users and brokers. First figures out where the message
     /// is supposed to go, and then sends it. We have `to_user_only` bounds so we can stop thrashing;
     /// if we receive a message from a broker we should only be forwarding it to applicable users.
-    pub async fn send_broadcast(
+    pub fn send_broadcast(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         mut topics: Vec<Topic>,
         message: Bytes,
diff --git a/broker/src/handlers/broker.rs b/broker/src/handlers/broker.rs
index ab0c9d6..6067cd9 100644
--- a/broker/src/handlers/broker.rs
+++ b/broker/src/handlers/broker.rs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl<
             .add_broker(broker_identifier.clone(), sender);
 
         // Send a full user sync
-        if let Err(err) = self.full_user_sync(&broker_identifier).await {
+        if let Err(err) = self.full_user_sync(&broker_identifier) {
             error!("failed to perform full user sync: {err}");
             self.connections.remove_broker(&broker_identifier);
             return;
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl<
 
         // Send a full topic sync
         // TODO: macro removals or something
-        if let Err(err) = self.full_topic_sync(&broker_identifier).await {
+        if let Err(err) = self.full_topic_sync(&broker_identifier) {
             error!("failed to perform full topic sync: {err}");
             self.connections.remove_broker(&broker_identifier);
             return;
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ impl<
 
         // If we have `strong_consistency` enabled, send partials
         #[cfg(feature = "strong_consistency")]
-        if let Err(err) = self.partial_topic_sync().await {
+        if let Err(err) = self.partial_topic_sync() {
             error!("failed to perform partial topic sync: {err}");
         }
 
         #[cfg(feature = "strong_consistency")]
-        if let Err(err) = self.partial_user_sync().await {
+        if let Err(err) = self.partial_user_sync() {
             error!("failed to perform partial user sync: {err}");
         }
 
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ impl<
                     let user_public_key = Bytes::from(direct.recipient.clone());
 
                     self.connections
-                        .send_direct(user_public_key, message, true)
-                        .await;
+                        .send_direct(user_public_key, message, true);
                 }
 
                 // If we receive a broadcast message from a broker, we want to send it to all interested users
@@ -120,21 +119,19 @@ impl<
                     let message = Bytes::from(message.serialize().expect("serialization failed"));
                     let topics = broadcast.topics.clone();
 
-                    self.connections.send_broadcast(topics, message, true).await;
+                    self.connections.send_broadcast(topics, message, true);
                 }
 
                 // If we receive a subscribe message from a broker, we add them as "interested" locally.
                 Message::Subscribe(subscribe) => {
                     self.connections
-                        .subscribe_broker_to(broker_identifier, subscribe)
-                        .await;
+                        .subscribe_broker_to(broker_identifier, subscribe);
                 }
 
                 // If we receive a subscribe message from a broker, we remove them as "interested" locally.
                 Message::Unsubscribe(unsubscribe) => {
                     self.connections
-                        .unsubscribe_broker_from(broker_identifier, unsubscribe)
-                        .await;
+                        .unsubscribe_broker_from(broker_identifier, &unsubscribe);
                 }
 
                 // If we receive a `UserSync` message, we want to sync with our map
@@ -146,7 +143,7 @@ impl<
                         "failed to deserialize user sync message"
                     );
 
-                    self.connections.apply_user_sync(user_sync).await;
+                    self.connections.apply_user_sync(user_sync);
                 }
 
                 // Do nothing if we receive an unexpected message
diff --git a/broker/src/handlers/user.rs b/broker/src/handlers/user.rs
index 9c5989b..98a348e 100644
--- a/broker/src/handlers/user.rs
+++ b/broker/src/handlers/user.rs
@@ -50,21 +50,19 @@ impl<
         let (sender, receiver) = connection;
 
         // Add our user
-        self.connections.add_user(public_key.clone(), sender).await;
+        self.connections.add_user(public_key.clone(), sender);
 
         // Subscribe our user to their connections
-        self.connections
-            .subscribe_user_to(&public_key, topics)
-            .await;
+        self.connections.subscribe_user_to(&public_key, topics);
 
         // If we have `strong_consistency` enabled, send partials
         #[cfg(feature = "strong_consistency")]
-        if let Err(err) = self.partial_topic_sync().await {
+        if let Err(err) = self.partial_topic_sync() {
             error!("failed to perform partial topic sync: {err}");
         }
 
         #[cfg(feature = "strong_consistency")]
-        if let Err(err) = self.partial_user_sync().await {
+        if let Err(err) = self.partial_user_sync() {
             error!("failed to perform partial user sync: {err}");
         }
 
@@ -107,8 +105,7 @@ impl<
                     let user_public_key = Bytes::from(direct.recipient.clone());
 
                     self.connections
-                        .send_direct(user_public_key, message, false)
-                        .await;
+                        .send_direct(user_public_key, message, false);
                 }
 
                 // If we get a broadcast message from a user, send it to both brokers and users.
@@ -116,23 +113,18 @@ impl<
                     let message = Bytes::from(message.serialize().expect("serialization failed"));
                     let topics = broadcast.topics.clone();
 
-                    self.connections
-                        .send_broadcast(topics, message, false)
-                        .await;
+                    self.connections.send_broadcast(topics, message, false);
                 }
 
                 // Subscribe messages from users will just update the state locally
                 Message::Subscribe(subscribe) => {
-                    self.connections
-                        .subscribe_user_to(public_key, subscribe)
-                        .await;
+                    self.connections.subscribe_user_to(public_key, subscribe);
                 }
 
                 // Unsubscribe messages from users will just update the state locally
                 Message::Unsubscribe(unsubscribe) => {
                     self.connections
-                        .unsubscribe_user_from(public_key, unsubscribe)
-                        .await;
+                        .unsubscribe_user_from(public_key, unsubscribe);
                 }
 
                 _ => return,
diff --git a/broker/src/tasks/sync.rs b/broker/src/tasks/sync.rs
index 4fb33dc..c5f8e7d 100644
--- a/broker/src/tasks/sync.rs
+++ b/broker/src/tasks/sync.rs
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ impl<
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// - If we fail to serialize the message
-    pub async fn full_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>, broker: &BrokerIdentifier) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn full_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>, broker: &BrokerIdentifier) -> Result<()> {
         // Get full user sync map
-        let full_sync_map = self.connections.get_full_user_sync().await;
+        let full_sync_map = self.connections.get_full_user_sync();
 
         // Serialize the message
         let raw_message = prepare_sync_message!(full_sync_map);
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ impl<
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// - If we fail to serialize the message
-    pub async fn partial_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn partial_user_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> Result<()> {
         // Get full user sync map
-        let partial_sync_map = self.connections.get_partial_user_sync().await;
+        let partial_sync_map = self.connections.get_partial_user_sync();
 
         // Return if we haven't had any changes
         if partial_sync_map.underlying_map.is_empty() {
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ impl<
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// - if we fail to serialize the message
-    pub async fn full_topic_sync(self: &Arc<Self>, broker: &BrokerIdentifier) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn full_topic_sync(self: &Arc<Self>, broker: &BrokerIdentifier) -> Result<()> {
         // Get full list of topics
         let topics = self.connections.get_full_topic_sync();
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl<
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// - If we fail to serialize the message
-    pub async fn partial_topic_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn partial_topic_sync(self: &Arc<Self>) -> Result<()> {
         // Get partial list of topics
         let (additions, removals) = self.connections.get_partial_topic_sync();
 
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ impl<
     pub async fn run_sync_task(self: Arc<Self>) {
         loop {
             // Perform user sync
-            if let Err(err) = self.partial_user_sync().await {
+            if let Err(err) = self.partial_user_sync() {
                 error!("failed to perform partial user sync: {err}");
             }
 
             // Perform topic sync
-            if let Err(err) = self.partial_topic_sync().await {
+            if let Err(err) = self.partial_topic_sync() {
                 error!("failed to perform partial user sync: {err}");
             };
 
diff --git a/broker/src/test.rs b/broker/src/test.rs
index 3ebb8ce..254e93c 100644
--- a/broker/src/test.rs
+++ b/broker/src/test.rs
@@ -118,8 +118,7 @@ impl RunDefinition {
             broker_under_test
                 .inner
                 .connections
-                .add_user(identifier.clone(), to_tester)
-                .await;
+                .add_user(identifier.clone(), to_tester);
 
             // Spawn our user receiver in the broker under test
             let inner = broker_under_test.inner.clone();