diff --git a/crates/daemon/src/event.rs b/crates/daemon/src/event.rs
index 76257d1..55d9872 100644
--- a/crates/daemon/src/event.rs
+++ b/crates/daemon/src/event.rs
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ use std::{
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use krata::{
-    idm::protocol::{idm_event::Event, idm_packet::Content, IdmPacket},
+    idm::protocol::{idm_event::Event, IdmEvent},
     v1::common::{GuestExitInfo, GuestState, GuestStatus},
 };
-use log::error;
+use log::{error, warn};
 use tokio::{
     select,
     sync::{
@@ -21,15 +21,12 @@ use tokio::{
 };
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
-use crate::{
-    db::GuestStore,
-    idm::{DaemonIdmHandle, DaemonIdmSubscribeHandle},
-};
+use crate::{db::GuestStore, idm::DaemonIdmHandle};
 
 pub type DaemonEvent = krata::v1::control::watch_events_reply::Event;
 
 const EVENT_CHANNEL_QUEUE_LEN: usize = 1000;
-const IDM_CHANNEL_QUEUE_LEN: usize = 1000;
+const IDM_EVENT_CHANNEL_QUEUE_LEN: usize = 1000;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct DaemonEventContext {
@@ -52,9 +49,9 @@ pub struct DaemonEventGenerator {
     guest_reconciler_notify: Sender<Uuid>,
     feed: broadcast::Receiver<DaemonEvent>,
     idm: DaemonIdmHandle,
-    idms: HashMap<u32, (Uuid, DaemonIdmSubscribeHandle)>,
-    idm_sender: Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
-    idm_receiver: Receiver<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
+    idms: HashMap<u32, (Uuid, JoinHandle<()>)>,
+    idm_sender: Sender<(u32, IdmEvent)>,
+    idm_receiver: Receiver<(u32, IdmEvent)>,
     _event_sender: broadcast::Sender<DaemonEvent>,
 }
 
@@ -65,7 +62,7 @@ impl DaemonEventGenerator {
         idm: DaemonIdmHandle,
     ) -> Result<(DaemonEventContext, DaemonEventGenerator)> {
         let (sender, _) = broadcast::channel(EVENT_CHANNEL_QUEUE_LEN);
-        let (idm_sender, idm_receiver) = channel(IDM_CHANNEL_QUEUE_LEN);
+        let (idm_sender, idm_receiver) = channel(IDM_EVENT_CHANNEL_QUEUE_LEN);
         let generator = DaemonEventGenerator {
             guests,
             guest_reconciler_notify,
@@ -97,15 +94,27 @@ impl DaemonEventGenerator {
                 match status {
                     GuestStatus::Started => {
                         if let Entry::Vacant(e) = self.idms.entry(domid) {
-                            let subscribe =
-                                self.idm.subscribe(domid, self.idm_sender.clone()).await?;
-                            e.insert((id, subscribe));
+                            let client = self.idm.client(domid).await?;
+                            let mut receiver = client.subscribe().await?;
+                            let sender = self.idm_sender.clone();
+                            let task = tokio::task::spawn(async move {
+                                loop {
+                                    let Ok(event) = receiver.recv().await else {
+                                        break;
+                                    };
+
+                                    if let Err(error) = sender.send((domid, event)).await {
+                                        warn!("unable to deliver idm event: {}", error);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            });
+                            e.insert((id, task));
                         }
                     }
 
                     GuestStatus::Destroyed => {
                         if let Some((_, handle)) = self.idms.remove(&domid) {
-                            handle.unsubscribe().await?;
+                            handle.abort();
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -116,14 +125,10 @@ impl DaemonEventGenerator {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    async fn handle_idm_packet(&mut self, id: Uuid, packet: IdmPacket) -> Result<()> {
-        match packet.content {
-            Some(Content::Event(event)) => match event.event {
-                Some(Event::Exit(exit)) => self.handle_exit_code(id, exit.code).await,
-                None => Ok(()),
-            },
-
-            _ => Ok(()),
+    async fn handle_idm_event(&mut self, id: Uuid, event: IdmEvent) -> Result<()> {
+        match event.event {
+            Some(Event::Exit(exit)) => self.handle_exit_code(id, exit.code).await,
+            None => Ok(()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -146,9 +151,9 @@ impl DaemonEventGenerator {
     async fn evaluate(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         select! {
             x = self.idm_receiver.recv() => match x {
-                Some((domid, packet)) => {
+                Some((domid, event)) => {
                     if let Some((id, _)) = self.idms.get(&domid) {
-                        self.handle_idm_packet(*id, packet).await?;
+                        self.handle_idm_event(*id, event).await?;
                     }
                     Ok(())
                 },
diff --git a/crates/daemon/src/idm.rs b/crates/daemon/src/idm.rs
index 18ba0f2..a2e04b8 100644
--- a/crates/daemon/src/idm.rs
+++ b/crates/daemon/src/idm.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
-use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::Arc};
+use std::{
+    collections::{hash_map::Entry, HashMap},
+    sync::Arc,
+};
 
-use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use bytes::{Buf, BytesMut};
-use krata::idm::protocol::IdmPacket;
+use krata::idm::{
+    client::{IdmBackend, IdmClient},
+    protocol::IdmPacket,
+};
 use kratart::channel::ChannelService;
 use log::{error, warn};
 use prost::Message;
@@ -15,53 +21,20 @@ use tokio::{
     task::JoinHandle,
 };
 
-type ListenerMap = Arc<Mutex<HashMap<u32, Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>>>>;
+type BackendFeedMap = Arc<Mutex<HashMap<u32, Sender<IdmPacket>>>>;
+type ClientMap = Arc<Mutex<HashMap<u32, IdmClient>>>;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct DaemonIdmHandle {
-    listeners: ListenerMap,
+    clients: ClientMap,
+    feeds: BackendFeedMap,
     tx_sender: Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
     task: Arc<JoinHandle<()>>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone)]
-pub struct DaemonIdmSubscribeHandle {
-    domid: u32,
-    tx_sender: Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
-    listeners: ListenerMap,
-}
-
-impl DaemonIdmSubscribeHandle {
-    pub async fn send(&self, packet: IdmPacket) -> Result<()> {
-        self.tx_sender.send((self.domid, packet)).await?;
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    pub async fn unsubscribe(&self) -> Result<()> {
-        let mut guard = self.listeners.lock().await;
-        let _ = guard.remove(&self.domid);
-        Ok(())
-    }
-}
-
 impl DaemonIdmHandle {
-    pub async fn send(&self, domid: u32, packet: IdmPacket) -> Result<()> {
-        self.tx_sender.send((domid, packet)).await?;
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    pub async fn subscribe(
-        &self,
-        domid: u32,
-        sender: Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
-    ) -> Result<DaemonIdmSubscribeHandle> {
-        let mut guard = self.listeners.lock().await;
-        guard.insert(domid, sender);
-        Ok(DaemonIdmSubscribeHandle {
-            domid,
-            tx_sender: self.tx_sender.clone(),
-            listeners: self.listeners.clone(),
-        })
+    pub async fn client(&self, domid: u32) -> Result<IdmClient> {
+        client_or_create(domid, &self.tx_sender, &self.clients, &self.feeds).await
     }
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +47,8 @@ impl Drop for DaemonIdmHandle {
 }
 
 pub struct DaemonIdm {
-    listeners: ListenerMap,
+    clients: ClientMap,
+    feeds: BackendFeedMap,
     tx_sender: Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
     tx_raw_sender: Sender<(u32, Vec<u8>)>,
     tx_receiver: Receiver<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
@@ -88,19 +62,22 @@ impl DaemonIdm {
             ChannelService::new("krata-channel".to_string(), None).await?;
         let (tx_sender, tx_receiver) = channel(100);
         let task = service.launch().await?;
-        let listeners = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));
+        let clients = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));
+        let feeds = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));
         Ok(DaemonIdm {
             rx_receiver,
             tx_receiver,
             tx_sender,
             tx_raw_sender,
             task,
-            listeners,
+            clients,
+            feeds,
         })
     }
 
     pub async fn launch(mut self) -> Result<DaemonIdmHandle> {
-        let listeners = self.listeners.clone();
+        let clients = self.clients.clone();
+        let feeds = self.feeds.clone();
         let tx_sender = self.tx_sender.clone();
         let task = tokio::task::spawn(async move {
             let mut buffers: HashMap<u32, BytesMut> = HashMap::new();
@@ -109,7 +86,8 @@ impl DaemonIdm {
             }
         });
         Ok(DaemonIdmHandle {
-            listeners,
+            clients,
+            feeds,
             tx_sender,
             task: Arc::new(task),
         })
@@ -134,11 +112,9 @@ impl DaemonIdm {
                         packet.advance(2);
                         match IdmPacket::decode(packet) {
                             Ok(packet) => {
-                                let guard = self.listeners.lock().await;
-                                if let Some(sender) = guard.get(&domid) {
-                                    if let Err(error) = sender.try_send((domid, packet)) {
-                                        warn!("dropped idm packet from domain {}: {}", domid, error);
-                                    }
+                                let guard = self.feeds.lock().await;
+                                if let Some(feed) = guard.get(&domid) {
+                                    let _ = feed.try_send(packet);
                                 }
                             }
 
@@ -173,3 +149,50 @@ impl Drop for DaemonIdm {
         self.task.abort();
     }
 }
+
+async fn client_or_create(
+    domid: u32,
+    tx_sender: &Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
+    clients: &ClientMap,
+    feeds: &BackendFeedMap,
+) -> Result<IdmClient> {
+    let mut clients = clients.lock().await;
+    let mut feeds = feeds.lock().await;
+    match clients.entry(domid) {
+        Entry::Occupied(entry) => Ok(entry.get().clone()),
+        Entry::Vacant(entry) => {
+            let (rx_sender, rx_receiver) = channel(100);
+            feeds.insert(domid, rx_sender);
+            let backend = IdmDaemonBackend {
+                domid,
+                rx_receiver,
+                tx_sender: tx_sender.clone(),
+            };
+            let client = IdmClient::new(Box::new(backend) as Box<dyn IdmBackend>).await?;
+            entry.insert(client.clone());
+            Ok(client)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct IdmDaemonBackend {
+    domid: u32,
+    rx_receiver: Receiver<IdmPacket>,
+    tx_sender: Sender<(u32, IdmPacket)>,
+}
+
+#[async_trait::async_trait]
+impl IdmBackend for IdmDaemonBackend {
+    async fn recv(&mut self) -> Result<IdmPacket> {
+        if let Some(packet) = self.rx_receiver.recv().await {
+            Ok(packet)
+        } else {
+            Err(anyhow!("idm receive channel closed"))
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn send(&mut self, packet: IdmPacket) -> Result<()> {
+        self.tx_sender.send((self.domid, packet)).await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/guest/src/background.rs b/crates/guest/src/background.rs
index 9bd0faf..1195e65 100644
--- a/crates/guest/src/background.rs
+++ b/crates/guest/src/background.rs
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use cgroups_rs::Cgroup;
 use krata::idm::{
     client::IdmClient,
-    protocol::{idm_event::Event, idm_packet::Content, IdmEvent, IdmExitEvent, IdmPacket},
+    protocol::{idm_event::Event, IdmEvent, IdmExitEvent},
 };
 use log::debug;
 use nix::unistd::Pid;
-use tokio::select;
+use tokio::{select, sync::broadcast};
 
 pub struct GuestBackground {
     idm: IdmClient,
@@ -30,16 +30,21 @@ impl GuestBackground {
     }
 
     pub async fn run(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut event_subscription = self.idm.subscribe().await?;
         loop {
             select! {
-                x = self.idm.receiver.recv() => match x {
-                    Some(_packet) => {
+                x = event_subscription.recv() => match x {
+                    Ok(_event) => {
 
                     },
 
-                    None => {
+                    Err(broadcast::error::RecvError::Closed) => {
                         debug!("idm packet channel closed");
                         break;
+                    },
+
+                    _ => {
+                        continue;
                     }
                 },
 
@@ -57,11 +62,8 @@ impl GuestBackground {
     async fn child_event(&mut self, event: ChildEvent) -> Result<()> {
         if event.pid == self.child {
             self.idm
-                .sender
-                .send(IdmPacket {
-                    content: Some(Content::Event(IdmEvent {
-                        event: Some(Event::Exit(IdmExitEvent { code: event.status })),
-                    })),
+                .emit(IdmEvent {
+                    event: Some(Event::Exit(IdmExitEvent { code: event.status })),
                 })
                 .await?;
             death(event.status).await?;
diff --git a/crates/krata/src/idm/client.rs b/crates/krata/src/idm/client.rs
index 4be6335..df19dc9 100644
--- a/crates/krata/src/idm/client.rs
+++ b/crates/krata/src/idm/client.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 use std::{path::Path, sync::Arc};
 
-use super::protocol::IdmPacket;
+use crate::idm::protocol::idm_packet::Content;
+
+use super::protocol::{IdmEvent, IdmPacket};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use bytes::BytesMut;
 use log::{debug, error};
@@ -11,6 +13,7 @@ use tokio::{
     io::{unix::AsyncFd, AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt},
     select,
     sync::{
+        broadcast,
         mpsc::{channel, Receiver, Sender},
         Mutex,
     },
@@ -72,31 +75,37 @@ impl IdmBackend for IdmFileBackend {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct IdmClient {
-    pub receiver: Receiver<IdmPacket>,
-    pub sender: Sender<IdmPacket>,
-    task: JoinHandle<()>,
+    event_receiver_sender: broadcast::Sender<IdmEvent>,
+    tx_sender: Sender<IdmPacket>,
+    task: Arc<JoinHandle<()>>,
 }
 
 impl Drop for IdmClient {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
-        self.task.abort();
+        if Arc::strong_count(&self.task) <= 1 {
+            self.task.abort();
+        }
     }
 }
 
 impl IdmClient {
-    pub async fn new<'a>(backend: Box<dyn IdmBackend>) -> Result<IdmClient> {
-        let (rx_sender, rx_receiver) = channel(IDM_PACKET_QUEUE_LEN);
+    pub async fn new(backend: Box<dyn IdmBackend>) -> Result<IdmClient> {
+        let (event_sender, event_receiver) = broadcast::channel(IDM_PACKET_QUEUE_LEN);
         let (tx_sender, tx_receiver) = channel(IDM_PACKET_QUEUE_LEN);
+        let backend_event_sender = event_sender.clone();
         let task = tokio::task::spawn(async move {
-            if let Err(error) = IdmClient::process(backend, rx_sender, tx_receiver).await {
+            if let Err(error) =
+                IdmClient::process(backend, backend_event_sender, event_receiver, tx_receiver).await
+            {
                 debug!("failed to handle idm client processing: {}", error);
             }
         });
         Ok(IdmClient {
-            receiver: rx_receiver,
-            sender: tx_sender,
-            task,
+            event_receiver_sender: event_sender.clone(),
+            tx_sender,
+            task: Arc::new(task),
         })
     }
 
@@ -111,16 +120,36 @@ impl IdmClient {
         IdmClient::new(Box::new(backend) as Box<dyn IdmBackend>).await
     }
 
+    pub async fn emit(&self, event: IdmEvent) -> Result<()> {
+        self.tx_sender
+            .send(IdmPacket {
+                content: Some(Content::Event(event)),
+            })
+            .await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub async fn subscribe(&self) -> Result<broadcast::Receiver<IdmEvent>> {
+        Ok(self.event_receiver_sender.subscribe())
+    }
+
     async fn process(
         mut backend: Box<dyn IdmBackend>,
-        sender: Sender<IdmPacket>,
+        event_sender: broadcast::Sender<IdmEvent>,
+        _event_receiver: broadcast::Receiver<IdmEvent>,
         mut receiver: Receiver<IdmPacket>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         loop {
             select! {
                 x = backend.recv() => match x {
                     Ok(packet) => {
-                        sender.send(packet).await?;
+                        match packet.content {
+                            Some(Content::Event(event)) => {
+                                let _ = event_sender.send(event);
+                            },
+
+                            _ => {},
+                        }
                     },
 
                     Err(error) => {