diff --git a/examples/asynchronous_generators.py b/examples/asynchronous_generators.py
index 102b29aaa..47ee136a7 100644
--- a/examples/asynchronous_generators.py
+++ b/examples/asynchronous_generators.py
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ async def main():
 
             # this async for loop streams values from the above
             # async generator running in a separate process
-            async for letter in await portal.run(stream_forever):
-                print(letter)
+            async with portal.open_stream_from(stream_forever) as stream:
+                async for letter in stream:
+                    print(letter)
 
     # we support trio's cancellation system
     assert cancel_scope.cancelled_caught
diff --git a/examples/debugging/multi_daemon_subactors.py b/examples/debugging/multi_daemon_subactors.py
index eadb4c104..c37b87983 100644
--- a/examples/debugging/multi_daemon_subactors.py
+++ b/examples/debugging/multi_daemon_subactors.py
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ async def main():
         p1 = await n.start_actor('name_error', enable_modules=[__name__])
 
         # retreive results
-        stream = await p0.run(breakpoint_forever)
-        await p1.run(name_error)
+        async with p0.open_stream_from(breakpoint_forever) as stream:
+            await p1.run(name_error)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/examples/debugging/subactor_breakpoint.py b/examples/debugging/subactor_breakpoint.py
index cb160045d..d880404df 100644
--- a/examples/debugging/subactor_breakpoint.py
+++ b/examples/debugging/subactor_breakpoint.py
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ async def main():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    tractor.run(main, debug_mode=True)
+    tractor.run(main, debug_mode=True, loglevel='debug')
diff --git a/examples/full_fledged_streaming_service.py b/examples/full_fledged_streaming_service.py
index 0ed5f66f6..126eed919 100644
--- a/examples/full_fledged_streaming_service.py
+++ b/examples/full_fledged_streaming_service.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ async def aggregate(seed):
             # fork point
             portal = await nursery.start_actor(
                 name=f'streamer_{i}',
-                rpc_module_paths=[__name__],
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
             )
 
             portals.append(portal)
@@ -29,10 +29,13 @@ async def aggregate(seed):
         send_chan, recv_chan = trio.open_memory_channel(500)
 
         async def push_to_chan(portal, send_chan):
+
+            # TODO: https://github.com/goodboy/tractor/issues/207
             async with send_chan:
-                async for value in await portal.run(stream_data, seed=seed):
-                    # leverage trio's built-in backpressure
-                    await send_chan.send(value)
+                async with portal.open_stream_from(stream_data, seed=seed) as stream:
+                    async for value in stream:
+                        # leverage trio's built-in backpressure
+                        await send_chan.send(value)
 
             print(f"FINISHED ITERATING {portal.channel.uid}")
 
@@ -71,18 +74,24 @@ async def main():
         import time
         pre_start = time.time()
 
-        portal = await nursery.run_in_actor(
-            aggregate,
+        portal = await nursery.start_actor(
             name='aggregator',
-            seed=seed,
+            enable_modules=[__name__],
         )
 
-        start = time.time()
-        # the portal call returns exactly what you'd expect
-        # as if the remote "aggregate" function was called locally
-        result_stream = []
-        async for value in await portal.result():
-            result_stream.append(value)
+        async with portal.open_stream_from(
+            aggregate,
+            seed=seed,
+        ) as stream:
+
+            start = time.time()
+            # the portal call returns exactly what you'd expect
+            # as if the remote "aggregate" function was called locally
+            result_stream = []
+            async for value in stream:
+                result_stream.append(value)
+
+        await portal.cancel_actor()
 
         print(f"STREAM TIME = {time.time() - start}")
         print(f"STREAM + SPAWN TIME = {time.time() - pre_start}")
diff --git a/examples/multiple_streams_one_portal.py b/examples/multiple_streams_one_portal.py
index 354ec66f6..3e592a45c 100644
--- a/examples/multiple_streams_one_portal.py
+++ b/examples/multiple_streams_one_portal.py
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ async def stream_data(seed=10):
 
 async def stream_from_portal(p, consumed):
 
-    async for item in await p.run(stream_data):
-        if item in consumed:
-            consumed.remove(item)
-        else:
-            consumed.append(item)
+    async with p.open_stream_from(stream_data) as stream:
+        async for item in stream:
+            if item in consumed:
+                consumed.remove(item)
+            else:
+                consumed.append(item)
 
 
 async def main():
diff --git a/tests/test_cancellation.py b/tests/test_cancellation.py
index 42aec354d..eadcb44a2 100644
--- a/tests/test_cancellation.py
+++ b/tests/test_cancellation.py
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ def test_remote_error(arb_addr, args_err):
     async def main():
         async with tractor.open_nursery() as nursery:
 
-            portal = await nursery.run_in_actor(assert_err, name='errorer', **args)
+            portal = await nursery.run_in_actor(
+                assert_err, name='errorer', **args
+            )
 
             # get result(s) from main task
             try:
@@ -168,13 +170,14 @@ async def test_cancel_infinite_streamer(start_method):
         async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
             portal = await n.start_actor(
                 'donny',
-                rpc_module_paths=[__name__],
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
             )
 
             # this async for loop streams values from the above
             # async generator running in a separate process
-            async for letter in await portal.run(stream_forever):
-                print(letter)
+            async with portal.open_stream_from(stream_forever) as stream:
+                async for letter in stream:
+                    print(letter)
 
     # we support trio's cancellation system
     assert cancel_scope.cancelled_caught
@@ -430,7 +433,6 @@ async def main():
         tractor.run(main)
 
 
-
 async def spin_for(period=3):
     "Sync sleep."
     time.sleep(period)
@@ -438,7 +440,7 @@ async def spin_for(period=3):
 
 async def spawn():
     async with tractor.open_nursery() as tn:
-        portal = await tn.run_in_actor(
+        await tn.run_in_actor(
             spin_for,
             name='sleeper',
         )
@@ -460,7 +462,7 @@ def test_cancel_while_childs_child_in_sync_sleep(
     async def main():
         with trio.fail_after(2):
             async with tractor.open_nursery() as tn:
-                portal = await tn.run_in_actor(
+                await tn.run_in_actor(
                     spawn,
                     name='spawn',
                 )
diff --git a/tests/test_discovery.py b/tests/test_discovery.py
index eff289740..af03ce654 100644
--- a/tests/test_discovery.py
+++ b/tests/test_discovery.py
@@ -108,8 +108,9 @@ async def cancel(use_signal, delay=0):
 
 
 async def stream_from(portal):
-    async for value in await portal.result():
-        print(value)
+    async with portal.open_stream_from(stream_forever) as stream:
+        async for value in stream:
+            print(value)
 
 
 async def spawn_and_check_registry(
@@ -139,18 +140,20 @@ async def get_reg():
         registry = await get_reg()
         assert actor.uid in registry
 
-        if with_streaming:
-            to_run = stream_forever
-        else:
-            to_run = trio.sleep_forever
+        try:
+            async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
+                async with trio.open_nursery() as trion:
 
-        async with trio.open_nursery() as trion:
-            try:
-                async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
                     portals = {}
                     for i in range(3):
                         name = f'a{i}'
-                        portals[name] = await n.run_in_actor(to_run, name=name)
+                        if with_streaming:
+                            portals[name] = await n.start_actor(
+                                name=name, enable_modules=[__name__])
+
+                        else:  # no streaming
+                            portals[name] = await n.run_in_actor(
+                                trio.sleep_forever, name=name)
 
                     # wait on last actor to come up
                     async with tractor.wait_for_actor(name):
@@ -171,19 +174,19 @@ async def get_reg():
                         trion.start_soon(cancel, use_signal, 1)
 
                         last_p = pts[-1]
-                        async for value in await last_p.result():
-                            print(value)
+                        await stream_from(last_p)
+
                     else:
                         await cancel(use_signal)
 
-            finally:
-                with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
-                    await trio.sleep(0.5)
+        finally:
+            with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
+                await trio.sleep(0.5)
 
-                    # all subactors should have de-registered
-                    registry = await get_reg()
-                    assert len(registry) == extra
-                    assert actor.uid in registry
+                # all subactors should have de-registered
+                registry = await get_reg()
+                assert len(registry) == extra
+                assert actor.uid in registry
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('use_signal', [False, True])
@@ -260,36 +263,38 @@ async def close_chans_before_nursery(
             get_reg = partial(aportal.run_from_ns, 'self', 'get_registry')
 
             async with tractor.open_nursery() as tn:
-                portal1 = await tn.run_in_actor(
-                    stream_forever,
-                    name='consumer1',
-                )
-                agen1 = await portal1.result()
-
-                portal2 = await tn.start_actor('consumer2', rpc_module_paths=[__name__])
-                agen2 = await portal2.run(stream_forever)
-
-                async with trio.open_nursery() as n:
-                    n.start_soon(streamer, agen1)
-                    n.start_soon(cancel, use_signal, .5)
-                    try:
-                        await streamer(agen2)
-                    finally:
-                        # Kill the root nursery thus resulting in
-                        # normal arbiter channel ops to fail during
-                        # teardown. It doesn't seem like this is
-                        # reliably triggered by an external SIGINT.
-                        # tractor.current_actor()._root_nursery.cancel_scope.cancel()
-
-                        # XXX: THIS IS THE KEY THING that happens
-                        # **before** exiting the actor nursery block
-
-                        # also kill off channels cuz why not
-                        await agen1.aclose()
-                        await agen2.aclose()
+                portal1 = await tn.start_actor(
+                    name='consumer1', enable_modules=[__name__])
+                portal2 = await tn.start_actor(
+                    'consumer2', enable_modules=[__name__])
+
+                # TODO: compact this back as was in last commit once
+                # 3.9+, see https://github.com/goodboy/tractor/issues/207
+                async with portal1.open_stream_from(stream_forever) as agen1:
+                    async with portal2.open_stream_from(
+                        stream_forever
+                    ) as agen2:
+                        async with trio.open_nursery() as n:
+                            n.start_soon(streamer, agen1)
+                            n.start_soon(cancel, use_signal, .5)
+                            try:
+                                await streamer(agen2)
+                            finally:
+                                # Kill the root nursery thus resulting in
+                                # normal arbiter channel ops to fail during
+                                # teardown. It doesn't seem like this is
+                                # reliably triggered by an external SIGINT.
+                                # tractor.current_actor()._root_nursery.cancel_scope.cancel()
+
+                                # XXX: THIS IS THE KEY THING that happens
+                                # **before** exiting the actor nursery block
+
+                                # also kill off channels cuz why not
+                                await agen1.aclose()
+                                await agen2.aclose()
         finally:
             with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
-                await trio.sleep(.5)
+                await trio.sleep(1)
 
                 # all subactors should have de-registered
                 registry = await get_reg()
diff --git a/tests/test_pubsub.py b/tests/test_pubsub.py
index 3fcb45dcd..0d4c62d79 100644
--- a/tests/test_pubsub.py
+++ b/tests/test_pubsub.py
@@ -60,45 +60,45 @@ def pred(i):
         def pred(i):
             return isinstance(i, int)
 
+    # TODO: https://github.com/goodboy/tractor/issues/207
     async with tractor.find_actor(pub_actor_name) as portal:
-        stream = await portal.run(
+        async with portal.open_stream_from(
             pubber,
             topics=which,
             seed=seed,
-        )
-        task_status.started(stream)
-        times = 10
-        count = 0
-        await stream.__anext__()
-        async for pkt in stream:
-            for topic, value in pkt.items():
-                assert pred(value)
-            count += 1
-            if count >= times:
-                break
-
-        await stream.aclose()
-
-        stream = await portal.run(
-            pubber,
-            topics=['odd'],
-            seed=seed,
-        )
-
-        await stream.__anext__()
-        count = 0
-        # async with aclosing(stream) as stream:
-        try:
+        ) as stream:
+            task_status.started(stream)
+            times = 10
+            count = 0
+            await stream.__anext__()
             async for pkt in stream:
                 for topic, value in pkt.items():
-                    pass
-                    # assert pred(value)
+                    assert pred(value)
                 count += 1
                 if count >= times:
                     break
-        finally:
+
             await stream.aclose()
 
+        async with portal.open_stream_from(
+            pubber,
+            topics=['odd'],
+            seed=seed,
+        ) as stream:
+            await stream.__anext__()
+            count = 0
+            # async with aclosing(stream) as stream:
+            try:
+                async for pkt in stream:
+                    for topic, value in pkt.items():
+                        pass
+                        # assert pred(value)
+                    count += 1
+                    if count >= times:
+                        break
+            finally:
+                await stream.aclose()
+
 
 @tractor.msg.pub(tasks=['one', 'two'])
 async def multilock_pubber(get_topics):
@@ -128,11 +128,10 @@ async def test_required_args(callwith_expecterror):
             await func(**kwargs)
     else:
         async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
-            # await func(**kwargs)
-            portal = await n.run_in_actor(
-                multilock_pubber,
+
+            portal = await n.start_actor(
                 name='pubber',
-                **kwargs
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
             )
 
             async with tractor.wait_for_actor('pubber'):
@@ -140,8 +139,14 @@ async def test_required_args(callwith_expecterror):
 
             await trio.sleep(0.5)
 
-            async for val in await portal.result():
-                assert val == {'doggy': 10}
+            async with portal.open_stream_from(
+                multilock_pubber,
+                **kwargs
+            ) as stream:
+                async for val in stream:
+                    assert val == {'doggy': 10}
+
+            await portal.cancel_actor()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/test_streaming.py b/tests/test_streaming.py
index 45fbd5b8d..9aba327f6 100644
--- a/tests/test_streaming.py
+++ b/tests/test_streaming.py
@@ -61,37 +61,38 @@ async def stream_from_single_subactor(stream_func):
                 # no brokerd actor found
                 portal = await nursery.start_actor(
                     'streamerd',
-                    rpc_module_paths=[__name__],
+                    enable_modules=[__name__],
                 )
 
                 seq = range(10)
 
-                stream = await portal.run(
-                    stream_func,  # one of the funcs above
+                async with portal.open_stream_from(
+                    stream_func,
                     sequence=list(seq),  # has to be msgpack serializable
-                )
-                # it'd sure be nice to have an asyncitertools here...
-                iseq = iter(seq)
-                ival = next(iseq)
+                ) as stream:
 
-                async for val in stream:
-                    assert val == ival
+                    # it'd sure be nice to have an asyncitertools here...
+                    iseq = iter(seq)
+                    ival = next(iseq)
 
-                    try:
-                        ival = next(iseq)
-                    except StopIteration:
-                        # should cancel far end task which will be
-                        # caught and no error is raised
-                        await stream.aclose()
+                    async for val in stream:
+                        assert val == ival
+
+                        try:
+                            ival = next(iseq)
+                        except StopIteration:
+                            # should cancel far end task which will be
+                            # caught and no error is raised
+                            await stream.aclose()
 
-                await trio.sleep(0.3)
+                    await trio.sleep(0.3)
 
-                try:
-                    await stream.__anext__()
-                except StopAsyncIteration:
-                    # stop all spawned subactors
-                    await portal.cancel_actor()
-                # await nursery.cancel()
+                    try:
+                        await stream.__anext__()
+                    except StopAsyncIteration:
+                        # stop all spawned subactors
+                        await portal.cancel_actor()
+                    # await nursery.cancel()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ async def aggregate(seed):
             # fork point
             portal = await nursery.start_actor(
                 name=f'streamer_{i}',
-                rpc_module_paths=[__name__],
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
             )
 
             portals.append(portal)
@@ -141,11 +142,14 @@ async def aggregate(seed):
 
         async def push_to_chan(portal, send_chan):
             async with send_chan:
-                async for value in await portal.run(
-                    __name__, 'stream_data', seed=seed
-                ):
-                    # leverage trio's built-in backpressure
-                    await send_chan.send(value)
+
+                async with portal.open_stream_from(
+                    stream_data, seed=seed,
+                ) as stream:
+
+                    async for value in stream:
+                        # leverage trio's built-in backpressure
+                        await send_chan.send(value)
 
             print(f"FINISHED ITERATING {portal.channel.uid}")
 
@@ -183,22 +187,24 @@ async def a_quadruple_example():
         seed = int(1e3)
         pre_start = time.time()
 
-        portal = await nursery.run_in_actor(
-            aggregate,
-            seed=seed,
+        portal = await nursery.start_actor(
             name='aggregator',
+            enable_modules=[__name__],
         )
 
         start = time.time()
         # the portal call returns exactly what you'd expect
         # as if the remote "aggregate" function was called locally
         result_stream = []
-        async for value in await portal.result():
-            result_stream.append(value)
+
+        async with portal.open_stream_from(aggregate, seed=seed) as stream:
+            async for value in stream:
+                result_stream.append(value)
 
         print(f"STREAM TIME = {time.time() - start}")
         print(f"STREAM + SPAWN TIME = {time.time() - pre_start}")
         assert result_stream == list(range(seed))
+        await portal.cancel_actor()
         return result_stream
 
 
@@ -272,48 +278,55 @@ async def test_respawn_consumer_task(
 
     async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
 
-        stream = await(await n.run_in_actor(
+        portal = await n.start_actor(
+            name='streamer',
+            enable_modules=[__name__]
+        )
+        async with portal.open_stream_from(
             stream_data,
             seed=11,
-            name='streamer',
-        )).result()
+        ) as stream:
+
+            expect = set(range(11))
+            received = []
 
-        expect = set(range(11))
-        received = []
+            # this is the re-spawn task routine
+            async def consume(task_status=trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED):
+                print('starting consume task..')
+                nonlocal stream
 
-        # this is the re-spawn task routine
-        async def consume(task_status=trio.TASK_STATUS_IGNORED):
-            print('starting consume task..')
-            nonlocal stream
+                with trio.CancelScope() as cs:
+                    task_status.started(cs)
 
-            with trio.CancelScope() as cs:
-                task_status.started(cs)
+                    # shield stream's underlying channel from cancellation
+                    with stream.shield():
 
-                # shield stream's underlying channel from cancellation
-                with stream.shield():
+                        async for v in stream:
+                            print(f'from stream: {v}')
+                            expect.remove(v)
+                            received.append(v)
 
-                    async for v in stream:
-                        print(f'from stream: {v}')
-                        expect.remove(v)
-                        received.append(v)
+                    print('exited consume')
 
-                print('exited consume')
+            async with trio.open_nursery() as ln:
+                cs = await ln.start(consume)
 
-        async with trio.open_nursery() as ln:
-            cs = await ln.start(consume)
+                while True:
 
-            while True:
+                    await trio.sleep(0.1)
 
-                await trio.sleep(0.1)
+                    if received[-1] % 2 == 0:
 
-                if received[-1] % 2 == 0:
+                        print('cancelling consume task..')
+                        cs.cancel()
 
-                    print('cancelling consume task..')
-                    cs.cancel()
+                        # respawn
+                        cs = await ln.start(consume)
 
-                    # respawn
-                    cs = await ln.start(consume)
+                    if not expect:
+                        print("all values streamed, BREAKING")
+                        break
 
-                if not expect:
-                    print("all values streamed, BREAKING")
-                    break
+        # TODO: this is justification for a
+        # ``ActorNursery.stream_from_actor()`` helper?
+        await portal.cancel_actor()
diff --git a/tractor/_actor.py b/tractor/_actor.py
index 6333091b0..8601e8373 100644
--- a/tractor/_actor.py
+++ b/tractor/_actor.py
@@ -1093,4 +1093,4 @@ async def register_actor(
                 event.set()
 
     async def unregister_actor(self, uid: Tuple[str, str]) -> None:
-        self._registry.pop(uid, None)
+        self._registry.pop(uid)
diff --git a/tractor/_debug.py b/tractor/_debug.py
index 6040d3ff2..75e502a1a 100644
--- a/tractor/_debug.py
+++ b/tractor/_debug.py
@@ -182,24 +182,22 @@ async def wait_for_parent_stdin_hijack(
             _debugger_request_cs = cs
             try:
                 async with get_root() as portal:
-                    with trio.fail_after(.5):
-                        stream = await portal.run(
+                        async with portal.open_stream_from(
                             tractor._debug._hijack_stdin_relay_to_child,
                             subactor_uid=actor.uid,
-                        )
-                    async with aclosing(stream):
+                        ) as stream:
 
-                        # block until first yield above
-                        async for val in stream:
+                                # block until first yield above
+                                async for val in stream:
 
-                            assert val == 'Locked'
-                            task_status.started()
+                                    assert val == 'Locked'
+                                    task_status.started()
 
-                            # with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
-                            await do_unlock.wait()
+                                    # with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
+                                    await do_unlock.wait()
 
-                            # trigger cancellation of remote stream
-                            break
+                                    # trigger cancellation of remote stream
+                                    break
             finally:
                 log.debug(f"Exiting debugger for actor {actor}")
                 global _in_debug
diff --git a/tractor/_exceptions.py b/tractor/_exceptions.py
index 63e0d0948..61375904f 100644
--- a/tractor/_exceptions.py
+++ b/tractor/_exceptions.py
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ class ModuleNotExposed(ModuleNotFoundError):
     "The requested module is not exposed for RPC"
 
 
+class NoRuntime(RuntimeError):
+    "The root actor has not been initialized yet"
+
+
 def pack_error(exc: BaseException) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Create an "error message" for tranmission over
     a channel (aka the wire).
diff --git a/tractor/_ipc.py b/tractor/_ipc.py
index 32b89660e..9d34b3af0 100644
--- a/tractor/_ipc.py
+++ b/tractor/_ipc.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import typing
 from typing import Any, Tuple, Optional
 from functools import partial
-import inspect
 
 import msgpack
 import trio
diff --git a/tractor/_portal.py b/tractor/_portal.py
index 6d1c802c0..d82e040bc 100644
--- a/tractor/_portal.py
+++ b/tractor/_portal.py
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 """
 import importlib
 import inspect
-import typing
-from typing import Tuple, Any, Dict, Optional, Set, Iterator
+from typing import (
+    Tuple, Any, Dict, Optional, Set,
+    Callable, AsyncGenerator
+)
 from functools import partial
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from contextlib import contextmanager
 import warnings
 
 import trio
@@ -17,16 +18,17 @@
 from ._ipc import Channel
 from .log import get_logger
 from ._exceptions import unpack_error, NoResult, RemoteActorError
+from ._streaming import Context, ReceiveMsgStream
 
 
-log = get_logger('tractor')
+log = get_logger(__name__)
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def maybe_open_nursery(
     nursery: trio.Nursery = None,
     shield: bool = False,
-) -> typing.AsyncGenerator[trio.Nursery, Any]:
+) -> AsyncGenerator[trio.Nursery, Any]:
     """Create a new nursery if None provided.
 
     Blocks on exit as expected if no input nursery is provided.
@@ -39,113 +41,30 @@ async def maybe_open_nursery(
             yield nursery
 
 
-class ReceiveStream(trio.abc.ReceiveChannel):
-    """A wrapper around a ``trio._channel.MemoryReceiveChannel`` with
-    special behaviour for signalling stream termination across an
-    inter-actor ``Channel``. This is the type returned to a local task
-    which invoked a remote streaming function using `Portal.run()`.
-
-    Termination rules:
-    - if the local task signals stop iteration a cancel signal is
-      relayed to the remote task indicating to stop streaming
-    - if the remote task signals the end of a stream, raise a
-      ``StopAsyncIteration`` to terminate the local ``async for``
-
-    """
-    def __init__(
-        self,
-        cid: str,
-        rx_chan: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel,
-        portal: 'Portal',
-    ) -> None:
-        self._cid = cid
-        self._rx_chan = rx_chan
-        self._portal = portal
-        self._shielded = False
-
-    # delegate directly to underlying mem channel
-    def receive_nowait(self):
-        return self._rx_chan.receive_nowait()
-
-    async def receive(self):
-        try:
-            msg = await self._rx_chan.receive()
-            return msg['yield']
-        except trio.ClosedResourceError:
-            # when the send is closed we assume the stream has
-            # terminated and signal this local iterator to stop
-            await self.aclose()
-            raise StopAsyncIteration
-        except trio.Cancelled:
-            # relay cancels to the remote task
-            await self.aclose()
-            raise
-        except KeyError:
-            # internal error should never get here
-            assert msg.get('cid'), (
-                "Received internal error at portal?")
-            raise unpack_error(msg, self._portal.channel)
-
-    @contextmanager
-    def shield(
-        self
-    ) -> Iterator['ReceiveStream']:  # noqa
-        """Shield this stream's underlying channel such that a local consumer task
-        can be cancelled (and possibly restarted) using ``trio.Cancelled``.
-
-        """
-        self._shielded = True
-        yield self
-        self._shielded = False
-
-    async def aclose(self):
-        """Cancel associated remote actor task and local memory channel
-        on close.
-        """
-        if self._rx_chan._closed:
-            log.warning(f"{self} is already closed")
-            return
-
-        if self._shielded:
-            log.warning(f"{self} is shielded, portal channel being kept alive")
-            return
-
-        cid = self._cid
-        with trio.move_on_after(0.5) as cs:
-            cs.shield = True
-            log.warning(
-                f"Cancelling stream {cid} to "
-                f"{self._portal.channel.uid}")
-
-            # NOTE: we're telling the far end actor to cancel a task
-            # corresponding to *this actor*. The far end local channel
-            # instance is passed to `Actor._cancel_task()` implicitly.
-            await self._portal.run_from_ns('self', '_cancel_task', cid=cid)
-
-        if cs.cancelled_caught:
-            # XXX: there's no way to know if the remote task was indeed
-            # cancelled in the case where the connection is broken or
-            # some other network error occurred.
-            if not self._portal.channel.connected():
-                log.warning(
-                    "May have failed to cancel remote task "
-                    f"{cid} for {self._portal.channel.uid}")
-
-        with trio.CancelScope(shield=True):
-            await self._rx_chan.aclose()
-
-    def clone(self):
-        return self
+def func_deats(func: Callable) -> Tuple[str, str]:
+    return (
+        func.__module__,
+        func.__name__,
+    )
 
 
 class Portal:
     """A 'portal' to a(n) (remote) ``Actor``.
 
-    Allows for invoking remote routines and receiving results through an
-    underlying ``tractor.Channel`` as though the remote (async)
-    function / generator was invoked locally.
+    A portal is "opened" (and eventually closed) by one side of an
+    inter-actor communication context. The side which opens the portal
+    is equivalent to a "caller" in function parlance and usually is
+    either the called actor's parent (in process tree hierarchy terms)
+    or a client interested in scheduling work to be done remotely in a
+    far process.
+
+    The portal api allows the "caller" actor to invoke remote routines
+    and receive results through an underlying ``tractor.Channel`` as
+    though the remote (async) function / generator was called locally.
+    It may be thought of loosely as an RPC api where native Python
+    function calling semantics are supported transparently; hence it is
+    like having a "portal" between the seperate actor memory spaces.
 
-    Think of this like a native async IPC API.
     """
     def __init__(self, channel: Channel) -> None:
         self.channel = channel
@@ -157,7 +76,7 @@ def __init__(self, channel: Channel) -> None:
         self._expect_result: Optional[
             Tuple[str, Any, str, Dict[str, Any]]
         ] = None
-        self._streams: Set[ReceiveStream] = set()
+        self._streams: Set[ReceiveMsgStream] = set()
         self.actor = current_actor()
 
     async def _submit(
@@ -182,102 +101,37 @@ async def _submit(
         first_msg = await recv_chan.receive()
         functype = first_msg.get('functype')
 
-        if functype == 'asyncfunc':
-            resp_type = 'return'
-        elif functype == 'asyncgen':
-            resp_type = 'yield'
-        elif 'error' in first_msg:
+        if 'error' in first_msg:
             raise unpack_error(first_msg, self.channel)
-        else:
+
+        elif functype not in ('asyncfunc', 'asyncgen', 'context'):
             raise ValueError(f"{first_msg} is an invalid response packet?")
 
-        return cid, recv_chan, resp_type, first_msg
+        return cid, recv_chan, functype, first_msg
 
     async def _submit_for_result(self, ns: str, func: str, **kwargs) -> None:
+
         assert self._expect_result is None, \
                 "A pending main result has already been submitted"
-        self._expect_result = await self._submit(ns, func, kwargs)
-
-    async def run(
-        self,
-        func_or_ns: str,
-        fn_name: Optional[str] = None,
-        **kwargs
-    ) -> Any:
-        """Submit a remote function to be scheduled and run by actor, in
-        a new task, wrap and return its (stream of) result(s).
 
-        This is a blocking call and returns either a value from the
-        remote rpc task or a local async generator instance.
-        """
-        if isinstance(func_or_ns, str):
-            warnings.warn(
-                "`Portal.run(namespace: str, funcname: str)` is now"
-                "deprecated, pass a function reference directly instead\n"
-                "If you still want to run a remote function by name use"
-                "`Portal.run_from_ns()`",
-                DeprecationWarning,
-                stacklevel=2,
-            )
-            fn_mod_path = func_or_ns
-            assert isinstance(fn_name, str)
-
-        else:  # function reference was passed directly
-            fn = func_or_ns
-            fn_mod_path = fn.__module__
-            fn_name = fn.__name__
-
-        return await self._return_from_resptype(
-            *(await self._submit(fn_mod_path, fn_name, kwargs))
-        )
-
-    async def run_from_ns(
-        self,
-        namespace_path: str,
-        function_name: str,
-        **kwargs,
-    ) -> Any:
-        """Run a function from a (remote) namespace in a new task on the far-end actor.
-
-        This is a more explitcit way to run tasks in a remote-process
-        actor using explicit object-path syntax. Hint: this is how
-        `.run()` works underneath.
-
-        Note::
-
-            A special namespace `self` can be used to invoke `Actor`
-            instance methods in the remote runtime. Currently this should only
-            be used for `tractor` internals.
-        """
-        return await self._return_from_resptype(
-            *(await self._submit(namespace_path, function_name, kwargs))
-        )
+        self._expect_result = await self._submit(ns, func, kwargs)
 
-    async def _return_from_resptype(
+    async def _return_once(
         self,
         cid: str,
         recv_chan: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel,
         resptype: str,
         first_msg: dict
     ) -> Any:
-        # TODO: not this needs some serious work and thinking about how
-        # to make async-generators the fundamental IPC API over channels!
-        # (think `yield from`, `gen.send()`, and functional reactive stuff)
-        if resptype == 'yield':  # stream response
-            rchan = ReceiveStream(cid, recv_chan, self)
-            self._streams.add(rchan)
-            return rchan
-
-        elif resptype == 'return':  # single response
-            msg = await recv_chan.receive()
-            try:
-                return msg['return']
-            except KeyError:
-                # internal error should never get here
-                assert msg.get('cid'), "Received internal error at portal?"
-                raise unpack_error(msg, self.channel)
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(f"Unknown msg response type: {first_msg}")
+        assert resptype == 'asyncfunc'  # single response
+
+        msg = await recv_chan.receive()
+        try:
+            return msg['return']
+        except KeyError:
+            # internal error should never get here
+            assert msg.get('cid'), "Received internal error at portal?"
+            raise unpack_error(msg, self.channel)
 
     async def result(self) -> Any:
         """Return the result(s) from the remote actor's "main" task.
@@ -300,9 +154,7 @@ async def result(self) -> Any:
         assert self._expect_result
         if self._result is None:
             try:
-                self._result = await self._return_from_resptype(
-                    *self._expect_result
-                )
+                self._result = await self._return_once(*self._expect_result)
             except RemoteActorError as err:
                 self._result = err
 
@@ -369,6 +221,122 @@ async def cancel_actor(self):
                 f"{self.channel} for {self.channel.uid} was already closed?")
             return False
 
+    async def run_from_ns(
+        self,
+        namespace_path: str,
+        function_name: str,
+        **kwargs,
+    ) -> Any:
+        """Run a function from a (remote) namespace in a new task on the far-end actor.
+
+        This is a more explitcit way to run tasks in a remote-process
+        actor using explicit object-path syntax. Hint: this is how
+        `.run()` works underneath.
+
+        Note::
+
+            A special namespace `self` can be used to invoke `Actor`
+            instance methods in the remote runtime. Currently this should only
+            be used for `tractor` internals.
+        """
+        return await self._return_once(
+            *(await self._submit(namespace_path, function_name, kwargs))
+        )
+
+    async def run(
+        self,
+        func: str,
+        fn_name: Optional[str] = None,
+        **kwargs
+    ) -> Any:
+        """Submit a remote function to be scheduled and run by actor, in
+        a new task, wrap and return its (stream of) result(s).
+
+        This is a blocking call and returns either a value from the
+        remote rpc task or a local async generator instance.
+        """
+        if isinstance(func, str):
+            warnings.warn(
+                "`Portal.run(namespace: str, funcname: str)` is now"
+                "deprecated, pass a function reference directly instead\n"
+                "If you still want to run a remote function by name use"
+                "`Portal.run_from_ns()`",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+                stacklevel=2,
+            )
+            fn_mod_path = func
+            assert isinstance(fn_name, str)
+
+        else:  # function reference was passed directly
+            if (
+                not inspect.iscoroutinefunction(func) or
+                (
+                    inspect.iscoroutinefunction(func) and
+                    getattr(func, '_tractor_stream_function', False)
+                )
+            ):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    f'{func} must be a non-streaming async function!')
+
+            fn_mod_path, fn_name = func_deats(func)
+
+        return await self._return_once(
+            *(await self._submit(fn_mod_path, fn_name, kwargs))
+        )
+
+    @asynccontextmanager
+    async def open_stream_from(
+        self,
+        async_gen_func: Callable,  # typing: ignore
+        **kwargs,
+    ) -> AsyncGenerator[ReceiveMsgStream, None]:
+
+        if not inspect.isasyncgenfunction(async_gen_func):
+            if not (
+                inspect.iscoroutinefunction(async_gen_func) and
+                getattr(async_gen_func, '_tractor_stream_function', False)
+            ):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    f'{async_gen_func} must be an async generator function!')
+
+        fn_mod_path, fn_name = func_deats(async_gen_func)
+        (
+            cid,
+            recv_chan,
+            functype,
+            first_msg
+        ) = await self._submit(fn_mod_path, fn_name, kwargs)
+
+        # receive only stream
+        assert functype == 'asyncgen'
+
+        ctx = Context(self.channel, cid, _portal=self)
+        try:
+            async with ReceiveMsgStream(ctx, recv_chan, self) as rchan:
+                self._streams.add(rchan)
+                yield rchan
+        finally:
+            # cancel the far end task on consumer close
+            try:
+                await ctx.cancel()
+            except trio.ClosedResourceError:
+                # if the far end terminates before we send a cancel the
+                # underlying transport-channel may already be closed.
+                log.debug(f'Context {ctx} was already closed?')
+
+            self._streams.remove(rchan)
+
+    # @asynccontextmanager
+    # async def open_context(
+    #     self,
+    #     func: Callable,
+    #     **kwargs,
+    # ) -> Context:
+    #     # TODO
+    #     elif resptype == 'context':  # context manager style setup/teardown
+    #         # TODO likely not here though
+    #         raise NotImplementedError
+
 
 @dataclass
 class LocalPortal:
@@ -387,10 +355,7 @@ async def run_from_ns(self, ns: str, func_name: str, **kwargs) -> Any:
         """
         obj = self.actor if ns == 'self' else importlib.import_module(ns)
         func = getattr(obj, func_name)
-        if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(func):
-            return await func(**kwargs)
-        else:
-            return func(**kwargs)
+        return await func(**kwargs)
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
@@ -399,7 +364,7 @@ async def open_portal(
     nursery: Optional[trio.Nursery] = None,
     start_msg_loop: bool = True,
     shield: bool = False,
-) -> typing.AsyncGenerator[Portal, None]:
+) -> AsyncGenerator[Portal, None]:
     """Open a ``Portal`` through the provided ``channel``.
 
     Spawns a background task to handle message processing.
diff --git a/tractor/_spawn.py b/tractor/_spawn.py
index f8528ace5..a07f60c78 100644
--- a/tractor/_spawn.py
+++ b/tractor/_spawn.py
@@ -98,17 +98,11 @@ async def exhaust_portal(
     """
     try:
         log.debug(f"Waiting on final result from {actor.uid}")
-        final = res = await portal.result()
-        # if it's an async-gen then alert that we're cancelling it
-        if inspect.isasyncgen(res):
-            final = []
-            log.warning(
-                f"Blindly consuming asyncgen for {actor.uid}")
-            with trio.fail_after(1):
-                async with aclosing(res) as agen:
-                    async for item in agen:
-                        log.debug(f"Consuming item {item}")
-                        final.append(item)
+
+        # XXX: streams should never be reaped here since they should
+        # always be established and shutdown using a context manager api
+        final = await portal.result()
+
     except (Exception, trio.MultiError) as err:
         # we reraise in the parent task via a ``trio.MultiError``
         return err
diff --git a/tractor/_state.py b/tractor/_state.py
index 37fdafa7a..1d5e2f3c8 100644
--- a/tractor/_state.py
+++ b/tractor/_state.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 
 import trio
 
+from ._exceptions import NoRuntime
+
+
 _current_actor: Optional['Actor'] = None  # type: ignore # noqa
 _runtime_vars: Dict[str, Any] = {
     '_debug_mode': False,
@@ -19,7 +22,7 @@ def current_actor(err_on_no_runtime: bool = True) -> 'Actor':  # type: ignore #
     """Get the process-local actor instance.
     """
     if _current_actor is None and err_on_no_runtime:
-        raise RuntimeError("No local actor has been initialized yet")
+        raise NoRuntime("No local actor has been initialized yet")
 
     return _current_actor
 
diff --git a/tractor/_streaming.py b/tractor/_streaming.py
index e683216d0..0836f4e2d 100644
--- a/tractor/_streaming.py
+++ b/tractor/_streaming.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 import inspect
-from contextvars import ContextVar
+from contextlib import contextmanager  # , asynccontextmanager
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, Iterator, Optional
+import warnings
 
 import trio
 
 from ._ipc import Channel
+from ._exceptions import unpack_error
+from .log import get_logger
 
 
-_context: ContextVar['Context'] = ContextVar('context')
+log = get_logger(__name__)
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -18,22 +21,76 @@ class Context:
     Allows maintaining task or protocol specific state between communicating
     actors. A unique context is created on the receiving end for every request
     to a remote actor.
+
+    A context can be cancelled and (eventually) restarted from
+    either side of the underlying IPC channel.
+
+    A context can be used to open task oriented message streams.
+
     """
     chan: Channel
     cid: str
-    cancel_scope: trio.CancelScope
+
+    # only set on the caller side
+    _portal: Optional['Portal'] = None    # type: ignore # noqa
+
+    # only set on the callee side
+    _cancel_scope: Optional[trio.CancelScope] = None
 
     async def send_yield(self, data: Any) -> None:
+
+        warnings.warn(
+            "`Context.send_yield()` is now deprecated. "
+            "Use ``MessageStream.send()``. ",
+            DeprecationWarning,
+            stacklevel=2,
+        )
         await self.chan.send({'yield': data, 'cid': self.cid})
 
     async def send_stop(self) -> None:
         await self.chan.send({'stop': True, 'cid': self.cid})
 
+    async def cancel(self) -> None:
+        """Cancel this inter-actor-task context.
 
-def current_context():
-    """Get the current task's context instance.
-    """
-    return _context.get()
+        Request that the far side cancel it's current linked context,
+        timeout quickly to sidestep 2-generals...
+
+        """
+        assert self._portal, (
+            "No portal found, this is likely a callee side context")
+
+        cid = self.cid
+        with trio.move_on_after(0.5) as cs:
+            cs.shield = True
+            log.warning(
+                f"Cancelling stream {cid} to "
+                f"{self._portal.channel.uid}")
+
+            # NOTE: we're telling the far end actor to cancel a task
+            # corresponding to *this actor*. The far end local channel
+            # instance is passed to `Actor._cancel_task()` implicitly.
+            await self._portal.run_from_ns('self', '_cancel_task', cid=cid)
+
+        if cs.cancelled_caught:
+            # XXX: there's no way to know if the remote task was indeed
+            # cancelled in the case where the connection is broken or
+            # some other network error occurred.
+            if not self._portal.channel.connected():
+                log.warning(
+                    "May have failed to cancel remote task "
+                    f"{cid} for {self._portal.channel.uid}")
+
+    # async def restart(self) -> None:
+    #     # TODO
+    #     pass
+
+    # @asynccontextmanager
+    # async def open_stream(
+    #     self,
+    # ) -> AsyncContextManager:
+    #     # TODO
+    #     pass
 
 
 def stream(func):
@@ -41,9 +98,163 @@ def stream(func):
     """
     func._tractor_stream_function = True
     sig = inspect.signature(func)
-    if 'ctx' not in sig.parameters:
+    params = sig.parameters
+    if 'stream' not in params and 'ctx' in params:
+        warnings.warn(
+            "`@tractor.stream decorated funcs should now declare a `stream` "
+            " arg, `ctx` is now designated for use with @tractor.context",
+            DeprecationWarning,
+            stacklevel=2,
+        )
+
+    if (
+        'ctx' not in params and
+        'to_trio' not in params and
+        'stream' not in params
+    ):
         raise TypeError(
             "The first argument to the stream function "
             f"{func.__name__} must be `ctx: tractor.Context`"
         )
     return func
+
+
+class ReceiveMsgStream(trio.abc.ReceiveChannel):
+    """A wrapper around a ``trio._channel.MemoryReceiveChannel`` with
+    special behaviour for signalling stream termination across an
+    inter-actor ``Channel``. This is the type returned to a local task
+    which invoked a remote streaming function using `Portal.run()`.
+
+    Termination rules:
+    - if the local task signals stop iteration a cancel signal is
+      relayed to the remote task indicating to stop streaming
+    - if the remote task signals the end of a stream, raise a
+      ``StopAsyncIteration`` to terminate the local ``async for``
+
+    """
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        ctx: Context,
+        rx_chan: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel,
+        portal: 'Portal',  # type: ignore # noqa
+    ) -> None:
+        self._ctx = ctx
+        self._rx_chan = rx_chan
+        self._portal = portal
+        self._shielded = False
+
+    # delegate directly to underlying mem channel
+    def receive_nowait(self):
+        return self._rx_chan.receive_nowait()
+
+    async def receive(self):
+        try:
+            msg = await self._rx_chan.receive()
+            return msg['yield']
+
+        except KeyError:
+            # internal error should never get here
+            assert msg.get('cid'), ("Received internal error at portal?")
+
+            # TODO: handle 2 cases with 3.10 match syntax
+            # - 'stop'
+            # - 'error'
+            # possibly just handle msg['stop'] here!
+
+            # TODO: test that shows stream raising an expected error!!!
+            if msg.get('error'):
+                # raise the error message
+                raise unpack_error(msg, self._portal.channel)
+
+        except (trio.ClosedResourceError, StopAsyncIteration):
+            # XXX: this indicates that a `stop` message was
+            # sent by the far side of the underlying channel.
+            # Currently this is triggered by calling ``.aclose()`` on
+            # the send side of the channel inside
+            # ``Actor._push_result()``, but maybe it should be put here?
+            # to avoid exposing the internal mem chan closing mechanism?
+            # in theory we could instead do some flushing of the channel
+            # if needed to ensure all consumers are complete before
+            # triggering closure too early?
+
+            # Locally, we want to close this stream gracefully, by
+            # terminating any local consumers tasks deterministically.
+            # We **don't** want to be closing this send channel and not
+            # relaying a final value to remaining consumers who may not
+            # have been scheduled to receive it yet?
+
+            # lots of testing to do here
+
+            # when the send is closed we assume the stream has
+            # terminated and signal this local iterator to stop
+            await self.aclose()
+            raise StopAsyncIteration
+
+        except trio.Cancelled:
+            # relay cancels to the remote task
+            await self.aclose()
+            raise
+
+    @contextmanager
+    def shield(
+        self
+    ) -> Iterator['ReceiveMsgStream']:  # noqa
+        """Shield this stream's underlying channel such that a local consumer task
+        can be cancelled (and possibly restarted) using ``trio.Cancelled``.
+
+        """
+        self._shielded = True
+        yield self
+        self._shielded = False
+
+    async def aclose(self):
+        """Cancel associated remote actor task and local memory channel
+        on close.
+        """
+        rx_chan = self._rx_chan
+
+        if rx_chan._closed:
+            log.warning(f"{self} is already closed")
+            return
+
+        # stats = rx_chan.statistics()
+        # if stats.open_receive_channels > 1:
+        #     # if we've been cloned don't kill the stream
+        #     log.debug(
+        #       "there are still consumers running keeping stream alive")
+        #     return
+
+        if self._shielded:
+            log.warning(f"{self} is shielded, portal channel being kept alive")
+            return
+
+        # close the local mem chan
+        rx_chan.close()
+
+        # cancel surrounding IPC context
+        await self._ctx.cancel()
+
+    # TODO: but make it broadcasting to consumers
+    # def clone(self):
+    #     """Clone this receive channel allowing for multi-task
+    #     consumption from the same channel.
+
+    #     """
+    #     return ReceiveStream(
+    #         self._cid,
+    #         self._rx_chan.clone(),
+    #         self._portal,
+    #     )
+
+
+# class MsgStream(ReceiveMsgStream, trio.abc.Channel):
+#     """
+#     Bidirectional message stream for use within an inter-actor actor
+#     ``Context```.
+
+#     """
+#     async def send(
+#         self,
+#         data: Any
+#     ) -> None:
+#         await self._ctx.chan.send({'yield': data, 'cid': self._ctx.cid})
diff --git a/tractor/_trionics.py b/tractor/_trionics.py
index 881556256..4674bd9a8 100644
--- a/tractor/_trionics.py
+++ b/tractor/_trionics.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 ``trio`` inspired apis and helpers
 """
 from functools import partial
+import inspect
 import multiprocessing as mp
 from typing import Tuple, List, Dict, Optional
 import typing
@@ -136,6 +137,14 @@ async def run_in_actor(
             # use the run_in_actor nursery
             nursery=self._ria_nursery,
         )
+
+        # XXX: don't allow stream funcs
+        if not (
+            inspect.iscoroutinefunction(fn) and
+            not getattr(fn, '_tractor_stream_function', False)
+        ):
+            raise TypeError(f'{fn} must be an async function!')
+
         # this marks the actor to be cancelled after its portal result
         # is retreived, see logic in `open_nursery()` below.
         self._cancel_after_result_on_exit.add(portal)
diff --git a/tractor/msg.py b/tractor/msg.py
index 5b343b630..560e644c0 100644
--- a/tractor/msg.py
+++ b/tractor/msg.py
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ def get_topics():
         return tuple(topics2ctxs.keys())
 
     agen = pub_async_gen_func(get_topics=get_topics)
+
     async with aclosing(agen) as pub_gen:
+
         async for published in pub_gen:
+
             ctx_payloads: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+
             for topic, data in published.items():
                 log.debug(f"publishing {topic, data}")
                 # build a new dict packet or invoke provided packetizer