diff --git a/conduwuit-example.toml b/conduwuit-example.toml
index a82d8f69..3669961a 100644
--- a/conduwuit-example.toml
+++ b/conduwuit-example.toml
@@ -1410,6 +1410,13 @@
 #
 #db_pool_queue_size = 256
 
+# Number of sender task workers; determines sender parallelism. Default is
+# '0' which means the value is determined internally, likely matching the
+# number of tokio worker-threads or number of cores, etc. Override by
+# setting a non-zero value.
+#
+#sender_workers = 0
+
 [global.tls]
 
 # Path to a valid TLS certificate file.
diff --git a/src/admin/query/sending.rs b/src/admin/query/sending.rs
index 696067b7..3edbbe87 100644
--- a/src/admin/query/sending.rs
+++ b/src/admin/query/sending.rs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ pub(super) async fn process(
 				| (None, Some(server_name), None, None) => services
 					.sending
 					.db
-					.queued_requests(&Destination::Normal(server_name.into())),
+					.queued_requests(&Destination::Federation(server_name.into())),
 				| (None, None, Some(user_id), Some(push_key)) => {
 					if push_key.is_empty() {
 						return Ok(RoomMessageEventContent::text_plain(
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ pub(super) async fn process(
 				| (None, Some(server_name), None, None) => services
 					.sending
 					.db
-					.active_requests_for(&Destination::Normal(server_name.into())),
+					.active_requests_for(&Destination::Federation(server_name.into())),
 				| (None, None, Some(user_id), Some(push_key)) => {
 					if push_key.is_empty() {
 						return Ok(RoomMessageEventContent::text_plain(
diff --git a/src/core/config/mod.rs b/src/core/config/mod.rs
index 8fd5621f..23feb0ca 100644
--- a/src/core/config/mod.rs
+++ b/src/core/config/mod.rs
@@ -1598,6 +1598,15 @@ pub struct Config {
 	#[serde(default = "default_db_pool_queue_size")]
 	pub db_pool_queue_size: usize,
 
+	/// Number of sender task workers; determines sender parallelism. Default is
+	/// '0' which means the value is determined internally, likely matching the
+	/// number of tokio worker-threads or number of cores, etc. Override by
+	/// setting a non-zero value.
+	///
+	/// default: 0
+	#[serde(default)]
+	pub sender_workers: usize,
+
 	#[serde(flatten)]
 	#[allow(clippy::zero_sized_map_values)]
 	// this is a catchall, the map shouldn't be zero at runtime
diff --git a/src/service/resolver/actual.rs b/src/service/resolver/actual.rs
index 63de6539..3f609b95 100644
--- a/src/service/resolver/actual.rs
+++ b/src/service/resolver/actual.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 use conduwuit::{debug, debug_error, debug_info, debug_warn, err, error, trace, Err, Result};
+use futures::FutureExt;
 use hickory_resolver::error::ResolveError;
 use ipaddress::IPAddress;
 use ruma::ServerName;
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ impl super::Service {
 			(result, true)
 		} else {
 			self.validate_dest(server_name)?;
-			(self.resolve_actual_dest(server_name, true).await?, false)
+			(self.resolve_actual_dest(server_name, true).boxed().await?, false)
 		};
 
 		let CachedDest { dest, host, .. } = result;
diff --git a/src/service/sending/data.rs b/src/service/sending/data.rs
index ac06424f..a699b8ee 100644
--- a/src/service/sending/data.rs
+++ b/src/service/sending/data.rs
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ fn parse_servercurrentevent(key: &[u8], value: &[u8]) -> Result<(Destination, Se
 		})?;
 
 		(
-			Destination::Normal(ServerName::parse(server).map_err(|_| {
+			Destination::Federation(ServerName::parse(server).map_err(|_| {
 				Error::bad_database("Invalid server string in server_currenttransaction")
 			})?),
 			if value.is_empty() {
diff --git a/src/service/sending/dest.rs b/src/service/sending/dest.rs
index 2c6063cc..4099d372 100644
--- a/src/service/sending/dest.rs
+++ b/src/service/sending/dest.rs
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ use ruma::{OwnedServerName, OwnedUserId};
 pub enum Destination {
 	Appservice(String),
 	Push(OwnedUserId, String), // user and pushkey
-	Normal(OwnedServerName),
+	Federation(OwnedServerName),
 }
 
 #[implement(Destination)]
 #[must_use]
 pub(super) fn get_prefix(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
 	match self {
-		| Self::Normal(server) => {
+		| Self::Federation(server) => {
 			let len = server.as_bytes().len().saturating_add(1);
 
 			let mut p = Vec::with_capacity(len);
diff --git a/src/service/sending/mod.rs b/src/service/sending/mod.rs
index 2038f4eb..5ccba249 100644
--- a/src/service/sending/mod.rs
+++ b/src/service/sending/mod.rs
@@ -4,20 +4,25 @@ mod dest;
 mod send;
 mod sender;
 
-use std::{fmt::Debug, iter::once, sync::Arc};
+use std::{
+	fmt::Debug,
+	hash::{DefaultHasher, Hash, Hasher},
+	iter::once,
+	sync::Arc,
+};
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use conduwuit::{
-	debug_warn, err,
-	utils::{ReadyExt, TryReadyExt},
+	debug, debug_warn, err, error,
+	utils::{available_parallelism, math::usize_from_u64_truncated, ReadyExt, TryReadyExt},
 	warn, Result, Server,
 };
-use futures::{Stream, StreamExt};
+use futures::{FutureExt, Stream, StreamExt};
 use ruma::{
 	api::{appservice::Registration, OutgoingRequest},
 	RoomId, ServerName, UserId,
 };
-use tokio::sync::Mutex;
+use tokio::task::JoinSet;
 
 use self::data::Data;
 pub use self::{
@@ -30,11 +35,10 @@ use crate::{
 };
 
 pub struct Service {
+	pub db: Data,
 	server: Arc<Server>,
 	services: Services,
-	pub db: Data,
-	sender: loole::Sender<Msg>,
-	receiver: Mutex<loole::Receiver<Msg>>,
+	channels: Vec<(loole::Sender<Msg>, loole::Receiver<Msg>)>,
 }
 
 struct Services {
@@ -72,8 +76,9 @@ pub enum SendingEvent {
 #[async_trait]
 impl crate::Service for Service {
 	fn build(args: crate::Args<'_>) -> Result<Arc<Self>> {
-		let (sender, receiver) = loole::unbounded();
+		let num_senders = num_senders(&args);
 		Ok(Arc::new(Self {
+			db: Data::new(&args),
 			server: args.server.clone(),
 			services: Services {
 				client: args.depend::<client::Service>("client"),
@@ -91,20 +96,41 @@ impl crate::Service for Service {
 				pusher: args.depend::<pusher::Service>("pusher"),
 				server_keys: args.depend::<server_keys::Service>("server_keys"),
 			},
-			db: Data::new(&args),
-			sender,
-			receiver: Mutex::new(receiver),
+			channels: (0..num_senders).map(|_| loole::unbounded()).collect(),
 		}))
 	}
 
-	async fn worker(self: Arc<Self>) -> Result<()> {
-		// trait impl can't be split between files so this just glues to mod sender
-		self.sender().await
+	async fn worker(self: Arc<Self>) -> Result {
+		let mut senders =
+			self.channels
+				.iter()
+				.enumerate()
+				.fold(JoinSet::new(), |mut joinset, (id, _)| {
+					let self_ = self.clone();
+					let runtime = self.server.runtime();
+					let _abort = joinset.spawn_on(self_.sender(id).boxed(), runtime);
+					joinset
+				});
+
+		while let Some(ret) = senders.join_next_with_id().await {
+			match ret {
+				| Ok((id, _)) => {
+					debug!(?id, "sender worker finished");
+				},
+				| Err(error) => {
+					error!(id = ?error.id(), ?error, "sender worker finished");
+				},
+			};
+		}
+
+		Ok(())
 	}
 
 	fn interrupt(&self) {
-		if !self.sender.is_closed() {
-			self.sender.close();
+		for (sender, _) in &self.channels {
+			if !sender.is_closed() {
+				sender.close();
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -157,7 +183,7 @@ impl Service {
 		let _cork = self.db.db.cork();
 		let requests = servers
 			.map(|server| {
-				(Destination::Normal(server.into()), SendingEvent::Pdu(pdu_id.to_owned()))
+				(Destination::Federation(server.into()), SendingEvent::Pdu(pdu_id.to_owned()))
 			})
 			.collect::<Vec<_>>()
 			.await;
@@ -173,7 +199,7 @@ impl Service {
 
 	#[tracing::instrument(skip(self, server, serialized), level = "debug")]
 	pub fn send_edu_server(&self, server: &ServerName, serialized: Vec<u8>) -> Result<()> {
-		let dest = Destination::Normal(server.to_owned());
+		let dest = Destination::Federation(server.to_owned());
 		let event = SendingEvent::Edu(serialized);
 		let _cork = self.db.db.cork();
 		let keys = self.db.queue_requests(once((&event, &dest)));
@@ -203,7 +229,10 @@ impl Service {
 		let _cork = self.db.db.cork();
 		let requests = servers
 			.map(|server| {
-				(Destination::Normal(server.to_owned()), SendingEvent::Edu(serialized.clone()))
+				(
+					Destination::Federation(server.to_owned()),
+					SendingEvent::Edu(serialized.clone()),
+				)
 			})
 			.collect::<Vec<_>>()
 			.await;
@@ -235,7 +264,7 @@ impl Service {
 	{
 		servers
 			.map(ToOwned::to_owned)
-			.map(Destination::Normal)
+			.map(Destination::Federation)
 			.map(Ok)
 			.ready_try_for_each(|dest| {
 				self.dispatch(Msg {
@@ -327,9 +356,49 @@ impl Service {
 		}
 	}
 
-	fn dispatch(&self, msg: Msg) -> Result<()> {
-		debug_assert!(!self.sender.is_full(), "channel full");
-		debug_assert!(!self.sender.is_closed(), "channel closed");
-		self.sender.send(msg).map_err(|e| err!("{e}"))
+	fn dispatch(&self, msg: Msg) -> Result {
+		let shard = self.shard_id(&msg.dest);
+		let sender = &self
+			.channels
+			.get(shard)
+			.expect("missing sender worker channels")
+			.0;
+
+		debug_assert!(!sender.is_full(), "channel full");
+		debug_assert!(!sender.is_closed(), "channel closed");
+		sender.send(msg).map_err(|e| err!("{e}"))
+	}
+
+	pub(super) fn shard_id(&self, dest: &Destination) -> usize {
+		if self.channels.len() <= 1 {
+			return 0;
+		}
+
+		let mut hash = DefaultHasher::default();
+		dest.hash(&mut hash);
+
+		let hash: u64 = hash.finish();
+		let hash = usize_from_u64_truncated(hash);
+
+		let chans = self.channels.len().max(1);
+		hash.overflowing_rem(chans).0
 	}
 }
+
+fn num_senders(args: &crate::Args<'_>) -> usize {
+	const MIN_SENDERS: usize = 1;
+	// Limit the number of senders to the number of workers threads or number of
+	// cores, conservatively.
+	let max_senders = args
+		.server
+		.metrics
+		.num_workers()
+		.min(available_parallelism());
+
+	// If the user doesn't override the default 0, this is intended to then default
+	// to 1 for now as multiple senders is experimental.
+	args.server
+		.config
+		.sender_workers
+		.clamp(MIN_SENDERS, max_senders)
+}
diff --git a/src/service/sending/send.rs b/src/service/sending/send.rs
index 81467c16..3d13a3b0 100644
--- a/src/service/sending/send.rs
+++ b/src/service/sending/send.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ use crate::{
 };
 
 impl super::Service {
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug")]
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		level = "debug"
+		skip(self, client, request),
+	)]
 	pub async fn send<T>(
 		&self,
 		client: &Client,
diff --git a/src/service/sending/sender.rs b/src/service/sending/sender.rs
index f6b83e83..4e806ce8 100644
--- a/src/service/sending/sender.rs
+++ b/src/service/sending/sender.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 use std::{
 	collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap, HashSet},
 	fmt::Debug,
-	sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, AtomicUsize, Ordering},
+	sync::{
+		atomic::{AtomicU64, AtomicUsize, Ordering},
+		Arc,
+	},
 	time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
 
@@ -66,29 +69,56 @@ pub const PDU_LIMIT: usize = 50;
 pub const EDU_LIMIT: usize = 100;
 
 impl Service {
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug")]
-	pub(super) async fn sender(&self) -> Result<()> {
+	#[tracing::instrument(skip(self), level = "debug")]
+	pub(super) async fn sender(self: Arc<Self>, id: usize) -> Result {
 		let mut statuses: CurTransactionStatus = CurTransactionStatus::new();
 		let mut futures: SendingFutures<'_> = FuturesUnordered::new();
-		let receiver = self.receiver.lock().await;
 
-		self.initial_requests(&mut futures, &mut statuses).await;
-		while !receiver.is_closed() {
-			tokio::select! {
-				request = receiver.recv_async() => match request {
-					Ok(request) => self.handle_request(request, &mut futures, &mut statuses).await,
-					Err(_) => break,
-				},
-				Some(response) = futures.next() => {
-					self.handle_response(response, &mut futures, &mut statuses).await;
-				},
-			}
-		}
-		self.finish_responses(&mut futures).await;
+		self.startup_netburst(id, &mut futures, &mut statuses)
+			.boxed()
+			.await;
+
+		self.work_loop(id, &mut futures, &mut statuses).await;
+
+		self.finish_responses(&mut futures).boxed().await;
 
 		Ok(())
 	}
 
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "work",
+		level = "trace"
+		skip_all,
+		fields(
+			futures = %futures.len(),
+			statuses = %statuses.len(),
+		),
+	)]
+	async fn work_loop<'a>(
+		&'a self,
+		id: usize,
+		futures: &mut SendingFutures<'a>,
+		statuses: &mut CurTransactionStatus,
+	) {
+		let receiver = self
+			.channels
+			.get(id)
+			.map(|(_, receiver)| receiver.clone())
+			.expect("Missing channel for sender worker");
+		loop {
+			tokio::select! {
+				Some(response) = futures.next() => {
+					self.handle_response(response, futures, statuses).await;
+				},
+				request = receiver.recv_async() => match request {
+					Ok(request) => self.handle_request(request, futures, statuses).await,
+					Err(_) => return,
+				},
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	#[tracing::instrument(name = "response", level = "debug", skip_all)]
 	async fn handle_response<'a>(
 		&'a self,
 		response: SendingResult,
@@ -138,13 +168,14 @@ impl Service {
 			self.db.mark_as_active(new_events.iter());
 
 			let new_events_vec = new_events.into_iter().map(|(_, event)| event).collect();
-			futures.push(self.send_events(dest.clone(), new_events_vec).boxed());
+			futures.push(self.send_events(dest.clone(), new_events_vec));
 		} else {
 			statuses.remove(dest);
 		}
 	}
 
 	#[allow(clippy::needless_pass_by_ref_mut)]
+	#[tracing::instrument(name = "request", level = "debug", skip_all)]
 	async fn handle_request<'a>(
 		&'a self,
 		msg: Msg,
@@ -154,13 +185,19 @@ impl Service {
 		let iv = vec![(msg.queue_id, msg.event)];
 		if let Ok(Some(events)) = self.select_events(&msg.dest, iv, statuses).await {
 			if !events.is_empty() {
-				futures.push(self.send_events(msg.dest, events).boxed());
+				futures.push(self.send_events(msg.dest, events));
 			} else {
 				statuses.remove(&msg.dest);
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "finish",
+		level = "info",
+		skip_all,
+		fields(futures = %futures.len()),
+	)]
 	async fn finish_responses<'a>(&'a self, futures: &mut SendingFutures<'a>) {
 		use tokio::{
 			select,
@@ -183,9 +220,16 @@ impl Service {
 		}
 	}
 
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "netburst",
+		level = "debug",
+		skip_all,
+		fields(futures = %futures.len()),
+	)]
 	#[allow(clippy::needless_pass_by_ref_mut)]
-	async fn initial_requests<'a>(
+	async fn startup_netburst<'a>(
 		&'a self,
+		id: usize,
 		futures: &mut SendingFutures<'a>,
 		statuses: &mut CurTransactionStatus,
 	) {
@@ -195,6 +239,10 @@ impl Service {
 		let mut active = self.db.active_requests().boxed();
 
 		while let Some((key, event, dest)) = active.next().await {
+			if self.shard_id(&dest) != id {
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			let entry = txns.entry(dest.clone()).or_default();
 			if self.server.config.startup_netburst_keep >= 0 && entry.len() >= keep {
 				warn!("Dropping unsent event {dest:?} {:?}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&key));
@@ -207,19 +255,27 @@ impl Service {
 		for (dest, events) in txns {
 			if self.server.config.startup_netburst && !events.is_empty() {
 				statuses.insert(dest.clone(), TransactionStatus::Running);
-				futures.push(self.send_events(dest.clone(), events).boxed());
+				futures.push(self.send_events(dest.clone(), events));
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug")]
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "select",,
+		level = "debug",
+		skip_all,
+		fields(
+			?dest,
+			new_events = %new_events.len(),
+		)
+	)]
 	async fn select_events(
 		&self,
 		dest: &Destination,
 		new_events: Vec<QueueItem>, // Events we want to send: event and full key
 		statuses: &mut CurTransactionStatus,
 	) -> Result<Option<Vec<SendingEvent>>> {
-		let (allow, retry) = self.select_events_current(dest.clone(), statuses)?;
+		let (allow, retry) = self.select_events_current(dest, statuses)?;
 
 		// Nothing can be done for this remote, bail out.
 		if !allow {
@@ -249,7 +305,7 @@ impl Service {
 		}
 
 		// Add EDU's into the transaction
-		if let Destination::Normal(server_name) = dest {
+		if let Destination::Federation(server_name) = dest {
 			if let Ok((select_edus, last_count)) = self.select_edus(server_name).await {
 				debug_assert!(select_edus.len() <= EDU_LIMIT, "exceeded edus limit");
 				events.extend(select_edus.into_iter().map(SendingEvent::Edu));
@@ -260,10 +316,9 @@ impl Service {
 		Ok(Some(events))
 	}
 
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug")]
 	fn select_events_current(
 		&self,
-		dest: Destination,
+		dest: &Destination,
 		statuses: &mut CurTransactionStatus,
 	) -> Result<(bool, bool)> {
 		let (mut allow, mut retry) = (true, false);
@@ -292,7 +347,11 @@ impl Service {
 		Ok((allow, retry))
 	}
 
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug")]
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "edus",,
+		level = "debug",
+		skip_all,
+	)]
 	async fn select_edus(&self, server_name: &ServerName) -> Result<(Vec<Vec<u8>>, u64)> {
 		// selection window
 		let since = self.db.get_latest_educount(server_name).await;
@@ -329,7 +388,12 @@ impl Service {
 		Ok((events, max_edu_count.load(Ordering::Acquire)))
 	}
 
-	/// Look for presence
+	/// Look for device changes
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "device_changes",
+		level = "trace",
+		skip(self, server_name, max_edu_count)
+	)]
 	async fn select_edus_device_changes(
 		&self,
 		server_name: &ServerName,
@@ -386,6 +450,11 @@ impl Service {
 	}
 
 	/// Look for read receipts in this room
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "receipts",
+		level = "trace",
+		skip(self, server_name, max_edu_count)
+	)]
 	async fn select_edus_receipts(
 		&self,
 		server_name: &ServerName,
@@ -420,6 +489,7 @@ impl Service {
 	}
 
 	/// Look for read receipts in this room
+	#[tracing::instrument(name = "receipts", level = "trace", skip(self, since, max_edu_count))]
 	async fn select_edus_receipts_room(
 		&self,
 		room_id: &RoomId,
@@ -484,6 +554,11 @@ impl Service {
 	}
 
 	/// Look for presence
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "presence",
+		level = "trace",
+		skip(self, server_name, max_edu_count)
+	)]
 	async fn select_edus_presence(
 		&self,
 		server_name: &ServerName,
@@ -554,29 +629,33 @@ impl Service {
 		Some(presence_content)
 	}
 
-	async fn send_events(&self, dest: Destination, events: Vec<SendingEvent>) -> SendingResult {
+	fn send_events(&self, dest: Destination, events: Vec<SendingEvent>) -> SendingFuture<'_> {
 		//debug_assert!(!events.is_empty(), "sending empty transaction");
 		match dest {
-			| Destination::Normal(ref server) =>
-				self.send_events_dest_normal(&dest, server, events).await,
-			| Destination::Appservice(ref id) =>
-				self.send_events_dest_appservice(&dest, id, events).await,
-			| Destination::Push(ref userid, ref pushkey) =>
-				self.send_events_dest_push(&dest, userid, pushkey, events)
-					.await,
+			| Destination::Federation(server) =>
+				self.send_events_dest_federation(server, events).boxed(),
+			| Destination::Appservice(id) => self.send_events_dest_appservice(id, events).boxed(),
+			| Destination::Push(user_id, pushkey) =>
+				self.send_events_dest_push(user_id, pushkey, events).boxed(),
 		}
 	}
 
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip(self, dest, events), name = "appservice")]
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "appservice",
+		level = "debug",
+		skip(self, events),
+		fields(
+			events = %events.len(),
+		),
+	)]
 	async fn send_events_dest_appservice(
 		&self,
-		dest: &Destination,
-		id: &str,
+		id: String,
 		events: Vec<SendingEvent>,
 	) -> SendingResult {
-		let Some(appservice) = self.services.appservice.get_registration(id).await else {
+		let Some(appservice) = self.services.appservice.get_registration(&id).await else {
 			return Err((
-				dest.clone(),
+				Destination::Appservice(id.clone()),
 				err!(Database(warn!(?id, "Missing appservice registration"))),
 			));
 		};
@@ -633,23 +712,29 @@ impl Service {
 		)
 		.await
 		{
-			| Ok(_) => Ok(dest.clone()),
-			| Err(e) => Err((dest.clone(), e)),
+			| Ok(_) => Ok(Destination::Appservice(id)),
+			| Err(e) => Err((Destination::Appservice(id), e)),
 		}
 	}
 
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip(self, dest, events), name = "push")]
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "push",
+		level = "info",
+		skip(self, events),
+		fields(
+			events = %events.len(),
+		),
+	)]
 	async fn send_events_dest_push(
 		&self,
-		dest: &Destination,
-		userid: &OwnedUserId,
-		pushkey: &str,
+		user_id: OwnedUserId,
+		pushkey: String,
 		events: Vec<SendingEvent>,
 	) -> SendingResult {
-		let Ok(pusher) = self.services.pusher.get_pusher(userid, pushkey).await else {
+		let Ok(pusher) = self.services.pusher.get_pusher(&user_id, &pushkey).await else {
 			return Err((
-				dest.clone(),
-				err!(Database(error!(?userid, ?pushkey, "Missing pusher"))),
+				Destination::Push(user_id.clone(), pushkey.clone()),
+				err!(Database(error!(?user_id, ?pushkey, "Missing pusher"))),
 			));
 		};
 
@@ -677,17 +762,17 @@ impl Service {
 			let rules_for_user = self
 				.services
 				.account_data
-				.get_global(userid, GlobalAccountDataEventType::PushRules)
+				.get_global(&user_id, GlobalAccountDataEventType::PushRules)
 				.await
 				.map_or_else(
-					|_| push::Ruleset::server_default(userid),
+					|_| push::Ruleset::server_default(&user_id),
 					|ev: PushRulesEvent| ev.content.global,
 				);
 
 			let unread: UInt = self
 				.services
 				.user
-				.notification_count(userid, &pdu.room_id)
+				.notification_count(&user_id, &pdu.room_id)
 				.await
 				.try_into()
 				.expect("notification count can't go that high");
@@ -695,19 +780,25 @@ impl Service {
 			let _response = self
 				.services
 				.pusher
-				.send_push_notice(userid, unread, &pusher, rules_for_user, &pdu)
+				.send_push_notice(&user_id, unread, &pusher, rules_for_user, &pdu)
 				.await
-				.map_err(|e| (dest.clone(), e));
+				.map_err(|e| (Destination::Push(user_id.clone(), pushkey.clone()), e));
 		}
 
-		Ok(dest.clone())
+		Ok(Destination::Push(user_id, pushkey))
 	}
 
-	#[tracing::instrument(skip(self, dest, events), name = "", level = "debug")]
-	async fn send_events_dest_normal(
+	#[tracing::instrument(
+		name = "fed",
+		level = "debug",
+		skip(self, events),
+		fields(
+			events = %events.len(),
+		),
+	)]
+	async fn send_events_dest_federation(
 		&self,
-		dest: &Destination,
-		server: &OwnedServerName,
+		server: OwnedServerName,
 		events: Vec<SendingEvent>,
 	) -> SendingResult {
 		let mut pdu_jsons = Vec::with_capacity(
@@ -759,7 +850,7 @@ impl Service {
 		};
 
 		let client = &self.services.client.sender;
-		self.send(client, server, request)
+		self.send(client, &server, request)
 			.await
 			.inspect(|response| {
 				response
@@ -770,8 +861,8 @@ impl Service {
 						|(pdu_id, res)| warn!(%txn_id, %server, "error sending PDU {pdu_id} to remote server: {res:?}"),
 					);
 			})
-			.map(|_| dest.clone())
-			.map_err(|e| (dest.clone(), e))
+			.map_err(|e| (Destination::Federation(server.clone()), e))
+			.map(|_| Destination::Federation(server))
 	}
 
 	/// This does not return a full `Pdu` it is only to satisfy ruma's types.