diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 86f323c8..071e84f8 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -32,3 +32,5 @@ repos:
           - types-attrs
           - pydantic
           - typing_extensions
+          - anyio
+          - trio
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4111073e..def54ead 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ test = [
     "pyinstaller>=4.0",
     "pytest>=6.0",
     "pytest-cov",
+    "pytest-asyncio",
     "wrapt",
     "msgspec",
     "toolz",
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ exclude = [
     "src/psygnal/qt.py",
     "src/psygnal/_pyinstaller_util",
     "src/psygnal/_throttler.py",
+    "src/psygnal/_async.py",
 ]
 
 [tool.cibuildwheel]
@@ -171,6 +173,7 @@ docstring-code-format = true
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 minversion = "6.0"
 testpaths = ["tests"]
+asyncio_default_fixture_loop_scope = "function"
 filterwarnings = [
     "error",
     "ignore:The distutils package is deprecated:DeprecationWarning:",
diff --git a/src/psygnal/__init__.py b/src/psygnal/__init__.py
index 8ffd9483..68c5a180 100644
--- a/src/psygnal/__init__.py
+++ b/src/psygnal/__init__.py
@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@
     "debounced",
     "emit_queued",
     "evented",
+    "get_async_backend",
     "get_evented_namespace",
     "is_evented",
+    "set_async_backend",
     "throttled",
 ]
 
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@
         stacklevel=2,
     )
 
+from ._async import get_async_backend, set_async_backend
 from ._evented_decorator import evented
 from ._exceptions import EmitLoopError
 from ._group import EmissionInfo, SignalGroup
diff --git a/src/psygnal/_async.py b/src/psygnal/_async.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..42c7c53e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/psygnal/_async.py
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from math import inf
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, overload
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import anyio.streams.memory
+    import trio
+    from typing_extensions import Literal, TypeAlias
+
+    from psygnal._weak_callback import WeakCallback
+
+    SupportedBackend: TypeAlias = Literal["asyncio", "anyio", "trio"]
+    QueueItem: TypeAlias = tuple["WeakCallback", tuple[Any, ...]]
+
+
+_ASYNC_BACKEND: _AsyncBackend | None = None
+
+
+def get_async_backend() -> _AsyncBackend | None:
+    """Get the current async backend. Returns None if no backend is set."""
+    return _ASYNC_BACKEND
+
+
+@overload
+def set_async_backend(backend: Literal["asyncio"]) -> AsyncioBackend: ...
+@overload
+def set_async_backend(backend: Literal["anyio"]) -> AnyioBackend: ...
+@overload
+def set_async_backend(backend: Literal["trio"]) -> TrioBackend: ...
+def set_async_backend(backend: SupportedBackend = "asyncio") -> _AsyncBackend:
+    """Set the async backend to use. Must be one of: 'asyncio', 'anyio', 'trio'.
+
+    This should be done as early as possible, and *must* be called before calling
+    `SignalInstance.connect` with a coroutine function.
+    """
+    global _ASYNC_BACKEND
+
+    if _ASYNC_BACKEND is not None and _ASYNC_BACKEND._backend != backend:
+        # allow setting the same backend multiple times, for tests
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Async backend already set to: {_ASYNC_BACKEND._backend}")
+
+    if backend == "asyncio":
+        _ASYNC_BACKEND = AsyncioBackend()
+    elif backend == "anyio":
+        _ASYNC_BACKEND = AnyioBackend()
+    elif backend == "trio":
+        _ASYNC_BACKEND = TrioBackend()
+    else:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"Async backend not supported: {backend}.  "
+            "Must be one of: 'asyncio', 'anyio', 'trio'"
+        )
+
+    return _ASYNC_BACKEND
+
+
+class _AsyncBackend(ABC):
+    def __init__(self, backend: str):
+        self._backend = backend
+        self._running = False
+
+    @property
+    def running(self) -> bool:
+        return self._running
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def _put(self, item: QueueItem) -> None: ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    async def _get(self) -> QueueItem: ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    async def run(self) -> None: ...
+
+    async def call_back(self, item: QueueItem) -> None:
+        cb, args = item
+        if func := cb.dereference():
+            await func(*args)
+
+
+class AsyncioBackend(_AsyncBackend):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__("asyncio")
+        import asyncio
+
+        self._asyncio = asyncio
+        self._queue: asyncio.Queue[tuple] = asyncio.Queue()
+        self._task = asyncio.create_task(self.run())
+        self._loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+
+    def _put(self, item: QueueItem) -> None:
+        self._queue.put_nowait(item)
+
+    async def _get(self) -> QueueItem:
+        return await self._queue.get()
+
+    async def run(self) -> None:
+        if self.running:
+            return
+
+        self._running = True
+        try:
+            while True:
+                item = await self._get()
+                await self.call_back(item)
+        except self._asyncio.CancelledError:
+            pass
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            if not self._loop.is_closed():
+                raise e
+
+
+class AnyioBackend(_AsyncBackend):
+    _send_stream: anyio.streams.memory.MemoryObjectSendStream[QueueItem]
+    _receive_stream: anyio.streams.memory.MemoryObjectReceiveStream[QueueItem]
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__("anyio")
+        import anyio
+
+        self._send_stream, self._receive_stream = anyio.create_memory_object_stream(
+            max_buffer_size=inf
+        )
+
+    def _put(self, item: QueueItem) -> None:
+        self._send_stream.send_nowait(item)
+
+    async def _get(self) -> QueueItem:
+        return await self._receive_stream.receive()
+
+    async def run(self) -> None:
+        if self.running:
+            return
+
+        self._running = True
+        async with self._receive_stream:
+            async for item in self._receive_stream:
+                await self.call_back(item)
+
+
+class TrioBackend(_AsyncBackend):
+    _send_channel: trio._channel.MemorySendChannel[QueueItem]
+    _receive_channel: trio.abc.ReceiveChannel[QueueItem]
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__("trio")
+        import trio
+
+        self._send_channel, self._receive_channel = trio.open_memory_channel(
+            max_buffer_size=inf
+        )
+
+    def _put(self, item: tuple) -> None:
+        self._send_channel.send_nowait(item)
+
+    async def _get(self) -> tuple:
+        return await self._receive_channel.receive()
+
+    async def run(self) -> None:
+        if self.running:
+            return
+
+        self._running = True
+        async for item in self._receive_channel:
+            await self.call_back(item)
diff --git a/src/psygnal/_weak_callback.py b/src/psygnal/_weak_callback.py
index aa233300..f5a65e53 100644
--- a/src/psygnal/_weak_callback.py
+++ b/src/psygnal/_weak_callback.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import inspect
 import sys
 import weakref
 from functools import partial
@@ -16,12 +17,15 @@
 )
 from warnings import warn
 
+from ._async import get_async_backend
 from ._mypyc import mypyc_attr
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import toolz
     from typing_extensions import TypeAlias, TypeGuard  # py310
 
+    from ._async import _AsyncBackend
+
     RefErrorChoice: TypeAlias = Literal["raise", "warn", "ignore"]
 
 __all__ = ["WeakCallback", "weak_callback"]
@@ -124,14 +128,40 @@ def _on_delete(weak_cb):
         kwargs = cb.keywords
         cb = cb.func
 
+    is_coro = inspect.iscoroutinefunction(cb)
+    if is_coro:
+        if (backend := get_async_backend()) is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("No async backend set: call `set_async_backend()`")
+        if not backend.running:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "Async backend not running (launch `get_async_backend().run()` "
+                "in a background task)"
+            )
+
     if isinstance(cb, FunctionType):
-        return (
-            StrongFunction(cb, max_args, args, kwargs, priority=priority)
-            if strong_func
-            else WeakFunction(
+        # NOTE: I know it looks like this should be easy to express in much shorter
+        # syntax ... but mypyc will likely fail at runtime.
+        # Make sure to test compiled version if you change this.
+        if strong_func:
+            if is_coro:
+                return StrongCoroutineFunction(
+                    cb, max_args, args, kwargs, priority=priority
+                )
+            return StrongFunction(cb, max_args, args, kwargs, priority=priority)
+        else:
+            if is_coro:
+                return WeakCoroutineFunction(
+                    cb,
+                    max_args,
+                    args,
+                    kwargs,
+                    finalize,
+                    on_ref_error=on_ref_error,
+                    priority=priority,
+                )
+            return WeakFunction(
                 cb, max_args, args, kwargs, finalize, on_ref_error, priority=priority
             )
-        )
 
     if isinstance(cb, MethodType):
         if getattr(cb, "__name__", None) == "__setitem__":
@@ -145,6 +175,11 @@ def _on_delete(weak_cb):
             return WeakSetitem(
                 obj, key, max_args, finalize, on_ref_error, priority=priority
             )
+
+        if is_coro:
+            return WeakCoroutineMethod(
+                cb, max_args, args, kwargs, finalize, on_ref_error, priority=priority
+            )
         return WeakMethod(
             cb, max_args, args, kwargs, finalize, on_ref_error, priority=priority
         )
@@ -335,6 +370,8 @@ def _cb(_: weakref.ReferenceType) -> None:
 class StrongFunction(WeakCallback):
     """Wrapper around a strong function reference."""
 
+    _f: Callable
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         obj: Callable,
@@ -580,3 +617,37 @@ def cb(self, args: tuple[Any, ...] = ()) -> None:
     def dereference(self) -> partial | None:
         obj = self._obj_ref()
         return None if obj is None else partial(obj.__setitem__, self._itemkey)
+
+
+# --------------------------- Coroutines ---------------------------
+
+
+class WeakCoroutineFunction(WeakFunction):
+    def cb(self, args: tuple[Any, ...] = ()) -> None:
+        if self._f() is None:
+            raise ReferenceError("weakly-referenced object no longer exists")
+        if self._max_args is not None:
+            args = args[: self._max_args]
+
+        cast("_AsyncBackend", get_async_backend())._put((self, args))
+
+
+class StrongCoroutineFunction(StrongFunction):
+    """Wrapper around a strong coroutine function reference."""
+
+    def cb(self, args: tuple[Any, ...] = ()) -> None:
+        if self._max_args is not None:
+            args = args[: self._max_args]
+
+        cast("_AsyncBackend", get_async_backend())._put((self, args))
+
+
+class WeakCoroutineMethod(WeakMethod):
+    def cb(self, args: tuple[Any, ...] = ()) -> None:
+        if self._obj_ref() is None or self._func_ref() is None:
+            raise ReferenceError("weakly-referenced object no longer exists")
+
+        if self._max_args is not None:
+            args = args[: self._max_args]
+
+        cast("_AsyncBackend", get_async_backend())._put((self, args))
diff --git a/tests/test_coroutines.py b/tests/test_coroutines.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..506cff1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_coroutines.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import asyncio
+import gc
+from typing import Any
+from unittest.mock import Mock
+
+import pytest
+
+from psygnal import _async
+from psygnal._weak_callback import WeakCallback, weak_callback
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "type_",
+    [
+        "coroutinefunc",
+        "weak_coroutinefunc",
+        "coroutinemethod",
+    ],
+)
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_slot_types(type_: str, capsys: Any) -> None:
+    backend = _async.set_async_backend("asyncio")
+    assert backend is _async.get_async_backend() is not None
+    while not backend.running:
+        await asyncio.sleep(0)
+
+    mock = Mock()
+    final_mock = Mock()
+
+    obj: Any
+    if type_ in {"coroutinefunc", "weak_coroutinefunc"}:
+
+        async def obj(x: int) -> int:
+            mock(x)
+            return x
+
+        cb = weak_callback(
+            obj, strong_func=(type_ == "coroutinefunc"), finalize=final_mock
+        )
+    elif type_ == "coroutinemethod":
+
+        class MyObj:
+            async def coroutine_method(self, x: int) -> int:
+                mock(x)
+                return x
+
+        obj = MyObj()
+        cb = weak_callback(obj.coroutine_method, finalize=final_mock)
+
+    assert isinstance(cb, WeakCallback)
+    assert isinstance(cb.slot_repr(), str)
+    assert cb.dereference() is not None
+
+    cb.cb((2,))
+    await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+    mock.assert_called_once_with(2)
+
+    mock.reset_mock()
+    assert await cb(4) == 4
+    mock.assert_called_once_with(4)
+
+    del obj
+    gc.collect()
+    await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+
+    if type_ == "coroutinefunc":  # strong_func
+        cb.cb((4,))
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+        mock.assert_called_with(4)
+
+    else:
+        final_mock.assert_called_once_with(cb)
+        assert cb.dereference() is None
+        with pytest.raises(ReferenceError):
+            cb.cb((2,))
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+        with pytest.raises(ReferenceError):
+            await cb(2)