diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/experimental/v1/_src/synchronization/thread_utils.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/experimental/v1/_src/synchronization/thread_utils.py
index 33a9c10dc..737f90149 100644
--- a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/experimental/v1/_src/synchronization/thread_utils.py
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/experimental/v1/_src/synchronization/thread_utils.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 
 """Utilities for working with threads and asyncio event loops."""
 
-import asyncio
-import threading
-from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Generic, TypeVar
+from typing import Any, Callable, Coroutine, Generic, TypeVar
+
+from orbax.checkpoint._src import asyncio_utils
 
 T = TypeVar('T')
 
@@ -25,35 +25,22 @@ class BackgroundThreadRunner(Generic[T]):
   """A runner for an asyncio event loop in a background thread.
 
   This class expects an awaitable function that will be run in a background
-  thread. It creates an event loop that is passed to the thread. This event loop
-  should only be interacted with via asyncio thread-safe APIs, when tasks are
-  scheduled from the main thread.
+  thread and in a dedicated event loop, which are managed by an AsyncRunner
+  instance.
   """
 
   def __init__(
       self,
-      target: Awaitable[T],
+      target: Coroutine[Any, Any, T],
   ):
-    self._target = target
-    self._event_loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
-    self._thread = threading.Thread(
-        target=self._event_loop_runner, args=(self._event_loop,), daemon=True
-    )
-    self._thread.start()
-    self._future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(
-        self._target, self._event_loop
-    )
-
-  def _event_loop_runner(self, event_loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop):
-    event_loop.run_forever()
-    event_loop.close()
+    self._runner = asyncio_utils.AsyncRunner()
+    self._future = self._runner.run_coroutine(target)
 
   def result(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> T:
     r = self._future.result(timeout=timeout)
-    if self._thread:
-      self._event_loop.call_soon_threadsafe(self._event_loop.stop)
-      self._thread.join(timeout=timeout)
-      self._thread = None
+    if self._runner:
+      self._runner.shutdown()
+      self._runner = None
     return r
 
   def on_complete(self, callback: Callable[[T], None]) -> None: