diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index e79038ae..2ce93a66 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #![feature(const_fn)]
 #![feature(alloc_layout_extra)]
 #![feature(const_in_array_repeat_expressions)]
+#![feature(wake_trait)]
 #![test_runner(crate::test_runner)]
 #![reexport_test_harness_main = "test_main"]
 
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ pub mod gdt;
 pub mod interrupts;
 pub mod memory;
 pub mod serial;
+pub mod task;
 pub mod vga_buffer;
 
 pub fn init() {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 84d42343..40da8c06 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 extern crate alloc;
 
-use alloc::{boxed::Box, rc::Rc, vec, vec::Vec};
 use blog_os::println;
 use bootloader::{entry_point, BootInfo};
 use core::panic::PanicInfo;
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@ entry_point!(kernel_main);
 fn kernel_main(boot_info: &'static BootInfo) -> ! {
     use blog_os::allocator;
     use blog_os::memory::{self, BootInfoFrameAllocator};
+    use blog_os::task::{simple_executor::SimpleExecutor, Task};
     use x86_64::VirtAddr;
 
     println!("Hello World{}", "!");
@@ -27,29 +27,9 @@ fn kernel_main(boot_info: &'static BootInfo) -> ! {
 
     allocator::init_heap(&mut mapper, &mut frame_allocator).expect("heap initialization failed");
 
-    // allocate a number on the heap
-    let heap_value = Box::new(41);
-    println!("heap_value at {:p}", heap_value);
-
-    // create a dynamically sized vector
-    let mut vec = Vec::new();
-    for i in 0..500 {
-        vec.push(i);
-    }
-    println!("vec at {:p}", vec.as_slice());
-
-    // create a reference counted vector -> will be freed when count reaches 0
-    let reference_counted = Rc::new(vec![1, 2, 3]);
-    let cloned_reference = reference_counted.clone();
-    println!(
-        "current reference count is {}",
-        Rc::strong_count(&cloned_reference)
-    );
-    core::mem::drop(reference_counted);
-    println!(
-        "reference count is {} now",
-        Rc::strong_count(&cloned_reference)
-    );
+    let mut executor = SimpleExecutor::new();
+    executor.spawn(Task::new(example_task()));
+    executor.run();
 
     #[cfg(test)]
     test_main();
@@ -58,6 +38,15 @@ fn kernel_main(boot_info: &'static BootInfo) -> ! {
     blog_os::hlt_loop();
 }
 
+async fn async_number() -> u32 {
+    42
+}
+
+async fn example_task() {
+    let number = async_number().await;
+    println!("async number: {}", number);
+}
+
 /// This function is called on panic.
 #[cfg(not(test))]
 #[panic_handler]
diff --git a/src/task/mod.rs b/src/task/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d55e2a4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/task/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+use alloc::boxed::Box;
+use core::task::{Context, Poll};
+use core::{future::Future, pin::Pin};
+
+pub mod simple_executor;
+
+pub struct Task {
+    future: Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = ()>>>,
+}
+
+impl Task {
+    pub fn new(future: impl Future<Output = ()> + 'static) -> Task {
+        Task {
+            future: Box::pin(future),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn poll(&mut self, context: &mut Context) -> Poll<()> {
+        self.future.as_mut().poll(context)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/task/simple_executor.rs b/src/task/simple_executor.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d20699e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/task/simple_executor.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+use super::Task;
+use alloc::{collections::VecDeque, sync::Arc, task::Wake};
+use core::task::{Context, Poll, Waker};
+
+pub struct SimpleExecutor {
+    task_queue: VecDeque<Task>,
+}
+
+impl SimpleExecutor {
+    pub fn new() -> SimpleExecutor {
+        SimpleExecutor {
+            task_queue: VecDeque::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn spawn(&mut self, task: Task) {
+        self.task_queue.push_back(task)
+    }
+
+    pub fn run(&mut self) {
+        while let Some(mut task) = self.task_queue.pop_front() {
+            let waker = DummyWaker.to_waker();
+            let mut context = Context::from_waker(&waker);
+            match task.poll(&mut context) {
+                Poll::Ready(()) => {} // task done
+                Poll::Pending => self.task_queue.push_back(task),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+struct DummyWaker;
+
+impl Wake for DummyWaker {
+    fn wake(self: Arc<Self>) {
+        // do nothing
+    }
+}
+
+impl DummyWaker {
+    fn to_waker(self) -> Waker {
+        Waker::from(Arc::new(self))
+    }
+}