diff --git a/tests/test_clustering.py b/tests/test_clustering.py
index 1e85d04cc..ba8052fa3 100644
--- a/tests/test_clustering.py
+++ b/tests/test_clustering.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import trio
 import tractor
 from tractor import open_actor_cluster
-from tractor.trionics import async_enter_all
+from tractor.trionics import gather_contexts
 
 from conftest import tractor_test
 
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ async def worker(ctx: tractor.Context) -> None:
 async def test_streaming_to_actor_cluster() -> None:
     async with (
         open_actor_cluster(modules=[__name__]) as portals,
-        async_enter_all(
+        gather_contexts(
             mngrs=[p.open_context(worker) for p in portals.values()],
         ) as contexts,
-        async_enter_all(
+        gather_contexts(
             mngrs=[ctx[0].open_stream() for ctx in contexts],
         ) as streams,
     ):
diff --git a/tractor/trionics/__init__.py b/tractor/trionics/__init__.py
index f7e90c6ea..3d1b9bdc3 100644
--- a/tractor/trionics/__init__.py
+++ b/tractor/trionics/__init__.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 Sugary patterns for trio + tractor designs.
 
 '''
-from ._mngrs import async_enter_all
+from ._mngrs import gather_contexts
 from ._broadcast import broadcast_receiver, BroadcastReceiver, Lagged
 
 
 __all__ = [
-    'async_enter_all',
+    'gather_contexts',
     'broadcast_receiver',
     'BroadcastReceiver',
     'Lagged',
diff --git a/tractor/trionics/_mngrs.py b/tractor/trionics/_mngrs.py
index ca75c5569..d31f1e015 100644
--- a/tractor/trionics/_mngrs.py
+++ b/tractor/trionics/_mngrs.py
@@ -14,11 +14,15 @@
 
 
 async def _enter_and_wait(
+
     mngr: AsyncContextManager[T],
     unwrapped: dict[int, T],
     all_entered: trio.Event,
+    parent_exit: trio.Event,
+
 ) -> None:
-    '''Open the async context manager deliver it's value
+    '''
+    Open the async context manager deliver it's value
     to this task's spawner and sleep until cancelled.
 
     '''
@@ -28,16 +32,31 @@ async def _enter_and_wait(
         if all(unwrapped.values()):
             all_entered.set()
 
-        await trio.sleep_forever()
+        await parent_exit.wait()
 
 
 @acm
-async def async_enter_all(
+async def gather_contexts(
+
     mngrs: Sequence[AsyncContextManager[T]],
+
 ) -> AsyncGenerator[tuple[T, ...], None]:
+    '''
+    Concurrently enter a sequence of async context managers, each in
+    a separate ``trio`` task and deliver the unwrapped values in the
+    same order once all managers have entered. On exit all contexts are
+    subsequently and concurrently exited.
+
+    This function is somewhat similar to common usage of
+    ``contextlib.AsyncExitStack.enter_async_context()`` (in a loop) in
+    combo with ``asyncio.gather()`` except the managers are concurrently
+    entered and exited cancellation just works.
+
+    '''
     unwrapped = {}.fromkeys(id(mngr) for mngr in mngrs)
 
     all_entered = trio.Event()
+    parent_exit = trio.Event()
 
     async with trio.open_nursery() as n:
         for mngr in mngrs:
@@ -46,6 +65,7 @@ async def async_enter_all(
                 mngr,
                 unwrapped,
                 all_entered,
+                parent_exit,
             )
 
         # deliver control once all managers have started up
@@ -53,4 +73,6 @@ async def async_enter_all(
 
         yield tuple(unwrapped.values())
 
-        n.cancel_scope.cancel()
\ No newline at end of file
+        # we don't need a try/finally since cancellation will be triggered
+        # by the surrounding nursery on error.
+        parent_exit.set()