diff --git a/src/pool.ml b/src/pool.ml
index 4dda7141..ebc1cab1 100644
--- a/src/pool.ml
+++ b/src/pool.ml
@@ -40,8 +40,12 @@ let find_current_worker_ (self : state) : worker_state option =
 (** Run [task] as is, on the pool. *)
 let run_direct_ (self : state) (w : worker_state option) (task : task) : unit =
   match w with
-  | Some w -> WSQ.push w.q task
-  | None -> Bb_queue.push self.main_q task
+  | Some w ->
+    print_endline "push local";
+    WSQ.push w.q task
+  | None ->
+    print_endline "push blocking";
+    Bb_queue.push self.main_q task
 
 let run_async_ (self : state) (task : task) : unit =
   (* stay on current worker if possible *)
@@ -88,6 +92,7 @@ let worker_thread_ (self : state) (runner : t) (w : worker_state) ~on_exn
   in
 
   let run_self_tasks_ () =
+    print_endline "run self tasks";
     let continue = ref true in
     let pop_retries = ref 0 in
     while !continue do
@@ -104,6 +109,7 @@ let worker_thread_ (self : state) (runner : t) (w : worker_state) ~on_exn
 
   (* get a task from another worker *)
   let try_to_steal_work () : task option =
+    print_endline "try to steal work";
     try
       for _retry = 1 to 3 do
         Array.iter
@@ -119,32 +125,46 @@ let worker_thread_ (self : state) (runner : t) (w : worker_state) ~on_exn
     with Got_task task -> Some task
   in
 
-  let main_loop () =
-    let steal_attempts = ref 0 in
-    while true do
-      run_self_tasks_ ();
-
-      match try_to_steal_work () with
-      | Some task ->
-        steal_attempts := 0;
-        run_task task
-      | None ->
-        incr steal_attempts;
-        Domain_.relax ();
-
-        if !steal_attempts > steal_attempt_max_retry then (
-          steal_attempts := 0;
-          let task = Bb_queue.pop self.main_q in
-          run_task task
-        )
-    done
+  (* try to steal work multiple times *)
+  let try_to_steal_work_loop () : bool =
+    try
+      let unsuccessful_steal_attempts = ref 0 in
+      while !unsuccessful_steal_attempts < steal_attempt_max_retry do
+        match try_to_steal_work () with
+        | Some task ->
+          run_task task;
+          raise_notrace Exit
+        | None ->
+          incr unsuccessful_steal_attempts;
+          Domain_.relax ()
+      done;
+      false
+    with Exit -> true
   in
 
-  try
-    (* handle domain-local await *)
-    Dla_.using ~prepare_for_await:Suspend_.prepare_for_await
-      ~while_running:main_loop
-  with Bb_queue.Closed -> ()
+  let main_loop () =
+    (try
+       while true do
+         run_self_tasks_ ();
+
+         if not (try_to_steal_work_loop ()) then (
+           Array.iteri
+             (fun i w -> Printf.printf "w[%d].q.size=%d\n" i (WSQ.size w.q))
+             self.workers;
+           Printf.printf "bq.size=%d\n%!" (Bb_queue.size self.main_q);
+
+           print_endline "wait block";
+           let task = Bb_queue.pop self.main_q in
+           run_task task
+         )
+       done
+     with Bb_queue.Closed -> ());
+    run_self_tasks_ ()
+  in
+
+  (* handle domain-local await *)
+  Dla_.using ~prepare_for_await:Suspend_.prepare_for_await
+    ~while_running:main_loop
 
 let default_thread_init_exit_ ~dom_id:_ ~t_id:_ () = ()