diff --git a/nomt/src/beatree/ops/update/leaf_stage.rs b/nomt/src/beatree/ops/update/leaf_stage.rs
index 855341d6..ba26e669 100644
--- a/nomt/src/beatree/ops/update/leaf_stage.rs
+++ b/nomt/src/beatree/ops/update/leaf_stage.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use crate::beatree::{
     },
     Key, ValueChange,
 };
-use crate::io::{IoCommand, IoHandle, IoKind, IoPool};
+use crate::io::{IoCommand, IoHandle, IoKind};
 use crate::task::{join_task, spawn_task};
 
 /// Tracker of all changes that happen to leaves during an update
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ pub fn run(
                 &leaf_cache,
                 &leaf_reader,
                 &bbn_index,
-                io_handle.io_pool(),
+                io_handle.make_new_sibiling_handle(),
                 changeset[worker_params.op_range.clone()]
                     .iter()
                     .map(|(k, _)| *k),
@@ -699,11 +699,9 @@ fn preload_and_prepare(
     leaf_cache: &LeafCache,
     leaf_reader: &StoreReader,
     bbn_index: &Index,
-    io_pool: &IoPool,
+    io_handle: IoHandle,
     changeset: impl IntoIterator<Item = Key>,
 ) -> std::io::Result<Vec<PreparedLeaf>> {
-    let io_handle = io_pool.make_handle();
-
     let mut changeset_leaves: Vec<PreparedLeaf> = Vec::new();
     let mut submissions = 0;
     for key in changeset {
diff --git a/nomt/src/io/linux.rs b/nomt/src/io/linux.rs
index 9e0ebf27..b8c48fc9 100644
--- a/nomt/src/io/linux.rs
+++ b/nomt/src/io/linux.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use crossbeam_channel::{Receiver, Sender, TryRecvError};
 use io_uring::{cqueue, opcode, squeue, types, IoUring};
 use slab::Slab;
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
+use threadpool::ThreadPool;
 
 const RING_CAPACITY: u32 = 128;
 
@@ -14,30 +15,33 @@ struct PendingIo {
     completion_sender: Sender<CompleteIo>,
 }
 
-pub fn start_io_worker(page_pool: PagePool, io_workers: usize, iopoll: bool) -> Sender<IoPacket> {
+pub fn start_io_worker(
+    page_pool: PagePool,
+    io_workers_tp: &ThreadPool,
+    io_workers: usize,
+    iopoll: bool,
+) -> Sender<IoPacket> {
     // main bound is from the pending slab.
     let (command_tx, command_rx) = crossbeam_channel::unbounded();
 
-    start_workers(page_pool, command_rx, io_workers, iopoll);
+    start_workers(page_pool, io_workers_tp, command_rx, io_workers, iopoll);
 
     command_tx
 }
 
 fn start_workers(
     page_pool: PagePool,
+    io_workers_tp: &ThreadPool,
     command_rx: Receiver<IoPacket>,
     io_workers: usize,
     iopoll: bool,
 ) {
-    for i in 0..io_workers {
-        let _ = std::thread::Builder::new()
-            .name(format!("io_worker-{i}"))
-            .spawn({
-                let page_pool = page_pool.clone();
-                let command_rx = command_rx.clone();
-                move || run_worker(page_pool, command_rx, iopoll)
-            })
-            .unwrap();
+    for _ in 0..io_workers {
+        io_workers_tp.execute({
+            let page_pool = page_pool.clone();
+            let command_rx = command_rx.clone();
+            move || run_worker(page_pool, command_rx, iopoll)
+        });
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/nomt/src/io/mod.rs b/nomt/src/io/mod.rs
index 9f1d0ef8..4b2e8ba5 100644
--- a/nomt/src/io/mod.rs
+++ b/nomt/src/io/mod.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ std::compile_error!("NOMT only supports Unix-based OSs");
 
 use crossbeam_channel::{Receiver, RecvError, SendError, Sender, TryRecvError};
 use page_pool::Page;
-use std::{fmt, fs::File, os::fd::RawFd, sync::Arc};
+use std::{
+    fmt,
+    fs::File,
+    os::fd::RawFd,
+    sync::{Arc, Weak},
+};
+use threadpool::ThreadPool;
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 #[path = "linux.rs"]
@@ -97,31 +103,41 @@ struct IoPacket {
 /// Create an I/O worker managing an io_uring and sending responses back via channels to a number
 /// of handles.
 pub fn start_io_pool(io_workers: usize, iopoll: bool, page_pool: PagePool) -> IoPool {
-    let sender = platform::start_io_worker(page_pool.clone(), io_workers, iopoll);
-    IoPool { sender, page_pool }
+    let io_workers_tp = ThreadPool::with_name("io-worker".to_string(), io_workers);
+    let sender = platform::start_io_worker(page_pool.clone(), &io_workers_tp, io_workers, iopoll);
+    let sender = Some(Arc::new(sender));
+    IoPool {
+        sender,
+        page_pool,
+        io_workers_tp,
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 pub fn start_test_io_pool(io_workers: usize, page_pool: PagePool) -> IoPool {
-    let sender = platform::start_io_worker(page_pool.clone(), io_workers, false);
-    IoPool { sender, page_pool }
+    start_io_pool(io_workers, false, page_pool)
 }
 
 /// A manager for the broader I/O pool. This can be used to create new I/O handles.
-///
-/// Dropping this does not close any outstanding I/O handles or shut down I/O workers.
-#[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct IoPool {
-    sender: Sender<IoPacket>,
+    sender: Option<Arc<Sender<IoPacket>>>,
     page_pool: PagePool,
+    io_workers_tp: ThreadPool,
 }
 
 impl IoPool {
     /// Create a new I/O handle.
+    ///
+    /// This will panic if the I/O pool has been shut down.
     pub fn make_handle(&self) -> IoHandle {
         let (completion_sender, completion_receiver) = crossbeam_channel::unbounded();
+        let sender = self
+            .sender
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("call to make_handle after shutdown");
+        let sender = Arc::downgrade(sender);
         IoHandle {
-            io_pool: self.clone(),
+            sender,
             completion_sender,
             completion_receiver,
         }
@@ -130,6 +146,18 @@ impl IoPool {
     pub fn page_pool(&self) -> &PagePool {
         &self.page_pool
     }
+
+    /// Initiate the shutdown procedure.
+    ///
+    /// This will return only after all the I/O workers are shut down.
+    pub fn shutdown(&mut self) {
+        // There is only a single strong reference to the sender, dropping it will close the
+        // channel, causing the I/O workers to shut down.
+        let sender = self.sender.take().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&sender), 1);
+        drop(sender);
+        self.io_workers_tp.join();
+    }
 }
 
 /// A handle for submitting I/O commands and receiving their completions.
@@ -143,7 +171,7 @@ impl IoPool {
 /// This is safe to use across multiple threads, but care must be taken by the user for correctness.
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct IoHandle {
-    io_pool: IoPool,
+    sender: Weak<Sender<IoPacket>>,
     completion_sender: Sender<CompleteIo>,
     completion_receiver: Receiver<CompleteIo>,
 }
@@ -151,8 +179,11 @@ pub struct IoHandle {
 impl IoHandle {
     /// Send an I/O command. This fails if the channel has hung up, but does not block the thread.
     pub fn send(&self, command: IoCommand) -> Result<(), SendError<IoCommand>> {
-        self.io_pool
-            .sender
+        let sender = match self.sender.upgrade() {
+            Some(sender) => sender,
+            None => return Err(SendError(command)),
+        };
+        sender
             .send(IoPacket {
                 command,
                 completion_sender: self.completion_sender.clone(),
@@ -176,8 +207,19 @@ impl IoHandle {
         &self.completion_receiver
     }
 
-    pub fn io_pool(&self) -> &IoPool {
-        &self.io_pool
+    /// Creates a new handle that can be used to submit I/O commands.
+    ///
+    /// Unlike [`Self::clone`] this creates a new handle that can be used independently of the
+    /// original handle.
+    ///
+    /// This will panic if the I/O pool has been shut down.
+    pub fn make_new_sibiling_handle(&self) -> IoHandle {
+        let (completion_sender, completion_receiver) = crossbeam_channel::unbounded();
+        IoHandle {
+            sender: self.sender.clone(),
+            completion_sender,
+            completion_receiver,
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/nomt/src/io/unix.rs b/nomt/src/io/unix.rs
index ee1b4297..061104a4 100644
--- a/nomt/src/io/unix.rs
+++ b/nomt/src/io/unix.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,27 @@
 use super::{CompleteIo, IoCommand, IoKind, IoKindResult, IoPacket, PagePool, PAGE_SIZE};
 use crossbeam_channel::{Receiver, Sender};
+use threadpool::ThreadPool;
 
-pub fn start_io_worker(page_pool: PagePool, io_workers: usize, _iopoll: bool) -> Sender<IoPacket> {
+pub fn start_io_worker(
+    page_pool: PagePool,
+    io_workers_tp: &ThreadPool,
+    io_workers: usize,
+    _iopoll: bool,
+) -> Sender<IoPacket> {
     let (command_tx, command_rx) = crossbeam_channel::unbounded();
 
     for _ in 0..io_workers {
-        spawn_worker_thread(page_pool.clone(), command_rx.clone());
+        spawn_worker_thread(page_pool.clone(), io_workers_tp, command_rx.clone());
     }
 
     command_tx
 }
 
-fn spawn_worker_thread(page_pool: PagePool, command_rx: Receiver<IoPacket>) {
+fn spawn_worker_thread(
+    page_pool: PagePool,
+    io_workers_tp: &ThreadPool,
+    command_rx: Receiver<IoPacket>,
+) {
     let work = move || loop {
         let Ok(packet) = command_rx.recv() else {
             // Why the `drop` here?
@@ -29,10 +39,7 @@ fn spawn_worker_thread(page_pool: PagePool, command_rx: Receiver<IoPacket>) {
         let _ = packet.completion_sender.send(complete);
     };
 
-    std::thread::Builder::new()
-        .name("nomt-io-worker".to_string())
-        .spawn(work)
-        .unwrap();
+    io_workers_tp.execute(work);
 }
 
 fn execute(mut command: IoCommand) -> CompleteIo {
diff --git a/nomt/src/store/mod.rs b/nomt/src/store/mod.rs
index ea302019..c5ae39f1 100644
--- a/nomt/src/store/mod.rs
+++ b/nomt/src/store/mod.rs
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ struct Shared {
     rollback: Option<Rollback>,
     io_pool: IoPool,
     meta_fd: File,
-    #[allow(unused)]
-    flock: flock::Flock,
+    flock: Option<flock::Flock>,
     poisoned: AtomicBool,
 
     // Retained for the lifetime of the store.
@@ -199,7 +198,7 @@ impl Store {
                 io_pool,
                 _db_dir_fd: db_dir_fd,
                 meta_fd,
-                flock,
+                flock: Some(flock),
                 poisoned: false.into(),
             }),
         })
@@ -312,6 +311,18 @@ impl Store {
     }
 }
 
+impl Drop for Shared {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        // `Shared` is dropped, meaning no more commits are expected. Therefore, we can
+        // wait for IO workers to finish their work and then drop the flock. The order is important
+        // because we need to ensure that the flock is only dropped after the IO workers are done.
+        // Otherwise, these IO workers might still be writing to the files while another process
+        // acquired the flock.
+        self.io_pool.shutdown();
+        drop(self.flock.take());
+    }
+}
+
 /// An atomic transaction on raw key/value pairs to be applied against the store
 /// with [`Store::commit`].
 pub struct ValueTransaction {