diff --git a/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner.go b/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner.go
index 3a5ab0f6d..80fc1d6a1 100644
--- a/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner.go
+++ b/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner.go
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ type allocRunner struct {
 	// before this goroutine exits.
 	taskStateUpdateHandlerCh chan struct{}
 
+	// allocUpdatedCh is a channel that is used to stream allocation updates into
+	// the allocUpdate handler. Must have len==1 to allow nonblocking notification
+	// of new allocation updates while the goroutine is processing a previous
+	// update.
+	allocUpdatedCh chan *structs.Allocation
+
 	// consulClient is the client used by the consul service hook for
 	// registering services and checks
 	consulClient consul.ConsulServiceAPI
@@ -64,12 +70,32 @@ type allocRunner struct {
 	// to access.
 	destroyed bool
 
+	// destroyCh is closed when the Run() loop has exited, postrun hooks have
+	// run, and alloc runner has been destroyed.
+	destroyCh chan struct{}
+
+	// shutdown is true when the Run() loop has exited, and shutdown hooks have
+	// run. Must acquire destroyedLock to access.
+	shutdown bool
+
+	// shutdownCh is closed when the Run() loop has exited, and shutdown hooks
+	// have run.
+	shutdownCh chan struct{}
+
 	// runnersLaunched is true if TaskRunners were Run. Must acquire
 	// destroyedLock to access.
 	runnersLaunched bool
 
-	// destroyedLock guards destroyed, runnersLaunched, and serializes
-	// Shutdown/Destroy calls.
+	// destroyLaunched is true if Destroy has been called. Must acquire
+	// destroyedLock to access.
+	destroyLaunched bool
+
+	// shutdownLaunched is true if Shutdown has been called. Must acquire
+	// destroyedLock to access.
+	shutdownLaunched bool
+
+	// destroyedLock guards destroyed, runnersLaunched, destroyLaunched,
+	// shutdownLaunched, and serializes Shutdown/Destroy calls.
 	destroyedLock sync.Mutex
 
 	// Alloc captures the allocation being run.
@@ -130,11 +156,14 @@ func NewAllocRunner(config *Config) (*allocRunner, error) {
 		vaultClient:              config.Vault,
 		tasks:                    make(map[string]*taskrunner.TaskRunner, len(tg.Tasks)),
 		waitCh:                   make(chan struct{}),
+		destroyCh:                make(chan struct{}),
+		shutdownCh:               make(chan struct{}),
 		state:                    &state.State{},
 		stateDB:                  config.StateDB,
 		stateUpdater:             config.StateUpdater,
 		taskStateUpdatedCh:       make(chan struct{}, 1),
 		taskStateUpdateHandlerCh: make(chan struct{}),
+		allocUpdatedCh:           make(chan *structs.Allocation, 1),
 		deviceStatsReporter:      config.DeviceStatsReporter,
 		prevAllocWatcher:         config.PrevAllocWatcher,
 		prevAllocMigrator:        config.PrevAllocMigrator,
@@ -204,6 +233,9 @@ func (ar *allocRunner) Run() {
 	// Start the task state update handler
 	go ar.handleTaskStateUpdates()
 
+	// Start the alloc update handler
+	go ar.handleAllocUpdates()
+
 	// If an alloc should not be run, ensure any restored task handles are
 	// destroyed and exit to wait for the AR to be GC'd by the client.
 	if !ar.shouldRun() {
@@ -579,12 +611,55 @@ func (ar *allocRunner) AllocState() *state.State {
 	return state
 }
 
-// Update the running allocation with a new version received from the server.
-//
+// Update asyncronously updates the running allocation with a new version
+// received from the server.
+// When processing a new update, we will first attempt to drain stale updates
+// from the queue, before appending the new one.
+func (ar *allocRunner) Update(update *structs.Allocation) {
+	select {
+	// Drain queued update from the channel if possible, and check the modify
+	// index
+	case oldUpdate := <-ar.allocUpdatedCh:
+		// If the old update is newer than the replacement, then skip the new one
+		// and return. This case shouldn't happen, but may in the case of a bug
+		// elsewhere inside the system.
+		if oldUpdate.AllocModifyIndex > update.AllocModifyIndex {
+			ar.logger.Warn("Discarding allocation update due to newer alloc revision in queue",
+				"old_modify_index", oldUpdate.AllocModifyIndex,
+				"new_modify_index", update.AllocModifyIndex)
+			ar.allocUpdatedCh <- oldUpdate
+			return
+		} else {
+			ar.logger.Trace("Discarding allocation update",
+				"skipped_modify_index", oldUpdate.AllocModifyIndex,
+				"new_modify_index", update.AllocModifyIndex)
+		}
+	case <-ar.waitCh:
+		ar.logger.Trace("AllocRunner has terminated, skipping alloc update",
+			"modify_index", update.AllocModifyIndex)
+		return
+	default:
+	}
+
+	// Queue the new update
+	ar.allocUpdatedCh <- update
+}
+
+func (ar *allocRunner) handleAllocUpdates() {
+	for {
+		select {
+		case update := <-ar.allocUpdatedCh:
+			ar.handleAllocUpdate(update)
+		case <-ar.waitCh:
+			break
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // This method sends the updated alloc to Run for serially processing updates.
 // If there is already a pending update it will be discarded and replaced by
 // the latest update.
-func (ar *allocRunner) Update(update *structs.Allocation) {
+func (ar *allocRunner) handleAllocUpdate(update *structs.Allocation) {
 	// Detect Stop updates
 	stopping := !ar.Alloc().TerminalStatus() && update.TerminalStatus()
 
@@ -615,19 +690,7 @@ func (ar *allocRunner) Listener() *cstructs.AllocListener {
 	return ar.allocBroadcaster.Listen()
 }
 
-// Destroy the alloc runner by synchronously stopping it if it is still running
-// and cleaning up all of its resources.
-//
-// This method is safe for calling concurrently with Run() and will cause it to
-// exit (thus closing WaitCh).
-func (ar *allocRunner) Destroy() {
-	ar.destroyedLock.Lock()
-	defer ar.destroyedLock.Unlock()
-	if ar.destroyed {
-		// Only destroy once
-		return
-	}
-
+func (ar *allocRunner) destroyImpl() {
 	// Stop any running tasks and persist states in case the client is
 	// shutdown before Destroy finishes.
 	states := ar.killTasks()
@@ -652,7 +715,53 @@ func (ar *allocRunner) Destroy() {
 	}
 
 	// Mark alloc as destroyed
+	ar.destroyedLock.Lock()
+
+	if !ar.shutdown {
+		ar.shutdown = true
+		close(ar.shutdownCh)
+	}
+
 	ar.destroyed = true
+	close(ar.destroyCh)
+
+	ar.destroyedLock.Unlock()
+}
+
+// Destroy the alloc runner by stopping it if it is still running and cleaning
+// up all of its resources.
+//
+// This method is safe for calling concurrently with Run() and will cause it to
+// exit (thus closing WaitCh).
+// When the destroy action is completed, it will close DestroyCh().
+func (ar *allocRunner) Destroy() {
+	ar.destroyedLock.Lock()
+	defer ar.destroyedLock.Unlock()
+
+	if ar.destroyed {
+		// Only destroy once
+		return
+	}
+
+	if ar.destroyLaunched {
+		// Only dispatch a destroy once
+		return
+	}
+
+	ar.destroyLaunched = true
+
+	// Synchronize calls to shutdown/destroy
+	if ar.shutdownLaunched {
+		go func() {
+			ar.logger.Debug("Waiting for shutdown before destroying runner")
+			<-ar.shutdownCh
+			ar.destroyImpl()
+		}()
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	go ar.destroyImpl()
 }
 
 // IsDestroyed returns true if the alloc runner has been destroyed (stopped and
@@ -675,8 +784,21 @@ func (ar *allocRunner) IsWaiting() bool {
 	return ar.prevAllocWatcher.IsWaiting()
 }
 
-// Shutdown AllocRunner gracefully. Blocks while shutting down all TaskRunners.
+// DestroyCh is a channel that is closed when an allocrunner is closed due to
+// an explicit call to Destroy().
+func (ar *allocRunner) DestroyCh() <-chan struct{} {
+	return ar.destroyCh
+}
+
+// ShutdownCh is a channel that is closed when an allocrunner is closed due to
+// either an explicit call to Shutdown(), or Destroy().
+func (ar *allocRunner) ShutdownCh() <-chan struct{} {
+	return ar.shutdownCh
+}
+
+// Shutdown AllocRunner gracefully. Asynchronously shuts down all TaskRunners.
 // Tasks are unaffected and may be restored.
+// When the destroy action is completed, it will close ShutdownCh().
 func (ar *allocRunner) Shutdown() {
 	ar.destroyedLock.Lock()
 	defer ar.destroyedLock.Unlock()
@@ -687,29 +809,45 @@ func (ar *allocRunner) Shutdown() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	ar.logger.Trace("shutting down")
-
-	// Shutdown tasks gracefully if they were run
-	if ar.runnersLaunched {
-		wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
-		for _, tr := range ar.tasks {
-			wg.Add(1)
-			go func(tr *taskrunner.TaskRunner) {
-				tr.Shutdown()
-				wg.Done()
-			}(tr)
-		}
-		wg.Wait()
+	// Destroy is a superset of Shutdown so if it's been marked for destruction,
+	// don't try and shutdown in parallel. If shutdown has been launched, don't
+	// try again.
+	if ar.destroyLaunched || ar.shutdownLaunched {
+		return
 	}
 
-	// Wait for Run to exit
-	<-ar.waitCh
+	ar.shutdownLaunched = true
 
-	// Run shutdown hooks
-	ar.shutdownHooks()
+	go func() {
+		ar.logger.Trace("shutting down")
 
-	// Wait for updater to finish its final run
-	<-ar.taskStateUpdateHandlerCh
+		// Shutdown tasks gracefully if they were run
+		if ar.runnersLaunched {
+			wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
+			for _, tr := range ar.tasks {
+				wg.Add(1)
+				go func(tr *taskrunner.TaskRunner) {
+					tr.Shutdown()
+					wg.Done()
+				}(tr)
+			}
+			wg.Wait()
+		}
+
+		// Wait for Run to exit
+		<-ar.waitCh
+
+		// Run shutdown hooks
+		ar.shutdownHooks()
+
+		// Wait for updater to finish its final run
+		<-ar.taskStateUpdateHandlerCh
+
+		ar.destroyedLock.Lock()
+		ar.shutdown = true
+		close(ar.shutdownCh)
+		ar.destroyedLock.Unlock()
+	}()
 }
 
 // IsMigrating returns true if the alloc runner is migrating data from its
diff --git a/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner_test.go b/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner_test.go
index 3c1464560..e626fbd1b 100644
--- a/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner_test.go
+++ b/client/allocrunner/alloc_runner_test.go
@@ -279,13 +279,64 @@ func TestAllocRunner_TaskLeader_StopRestoredTG(t *testing.T) {
 	ar2.Destroy()
 
 	select {
-	case <-ar2.WaitCh():
+	case <-ar2.DestroyCh():
 		// exited as expected
 	case <-time.After(10 * time.Second):
 		t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for AR to GC")
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAllocRunner_Update_Semantics(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	require := require.New(t)
+
+	updatedAlloc := func(a *structs.Allocation) *structs.Allocation {
+		upd := a.CopySkipJob()
+		upd.AllocModifyIndex++
+
+		return upd
+	}
+
+	alloc := mock.Alloc()
+	alloc.Job.TaskGroups[0].Tasks[0].Driver = "mock_driver"
+	conf, cleanup := testAllocRunnerConfig(t, alloc)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	ar, err := NewAllocRunner(conf)
+	require.NoError(err)
+
+	upd1 := updatedAlloc(alloc)
+	ar.Update(upd1)
+
+	// Update was placed into a queue
+	require.Len(ar.allocUpdatedCh, 1)
+
+	upd2 := updatedAlloc(alloc)
+	ar.Update(upd2)
+
+	// Allocation was _replaced_
+
+	require.Len(ar.allocUpdatedCh, 1)
+	queuedAlloc := <-ar.allocUpdatedCh
+	require.Equal(upd2, queuedAlloc)
+
+	// Requeueing older alloc is skipped
+	ar.Update(upd2)
+	ar.Update(upd1)
+
+	queuedAlloc = <-ar.allocUpdatedCh
+	require.Equal(upd2, queuedAlloc)
+
+	// Ignore after watch closed
+
+	close(ar.waitCh)
+
+	ar.Update(upd1)
+
+	// Did not queue the update
+	require.Len(ar.allocUpdatedCh, 0)
+}
+
 /*
 
 import (
diff --git a/client/client.go b/client/client.go
index d7b39b077..882b7d42e 100644
--- a/client/client.go
+++ b/client/client.go
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ type AllocRunner interface {
 	StatsReporter() interfaces.AllocStatsReporter
 	Update(*structs.Allocation)
 	WaitCh() <-chan struct{}
+	DestroyCh() <-chan struct{}
+	ShutdownCh() <-chan struct{}
 }
 
 // Client is used to implement the client interaction with Nomad. Clients
@@ -567,22 +569,21 @@ func (c *Client) Shutdown() error {
 	// Stop Garbage collector
 	c.garbageCollector.Stop()
 
+	arGroup := group{}
 	if c.config.DevMode {
 		// In DevMode destroy all the running allocations.
 		for _, ar := range c.getAllocRunners() {
 			ar.Destroy()
-		}
-		for _, ar := range c.getAllocRunners() {
-			<-ar.WaitCh()
+			arGroup.AddCh(ar.DestroyCh())
 		}
 	} else {
 		// In normal mode call shutdown
-		arGroup := group{}
 		for _, ar := range c.getAllocRunners() {
-			arGroup.Go(ar.Shutdown)
+			ar.Shutdown()
+			arGroup.AddCh(ar.ShutdownCh())
 		}
-		arGroup.Wait()
 	}
+	arGroup.Wait()
 
 	c.shutdown = true
 	close(c.shutdownCh)
@@ -2682,6 +2683,12 @@ func (g *group) Go(f func()) {
 	}()
 }
 
+func (c *group) AddCh(ch <-chan struct{}) {
+	c.Go(func() {
+		<-ch
+	})
+}
+
 // Wait for all goroutines to exit. Must be called after all calls to Go
 // complete.
 func (g *group) Wait() {
diff --git a/client/client_test.go b/client/client_test.go
index e5e68ed1c..f81cfe93f 100644
--- a/client/client_test.go
+++ b/client/client_test.go
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ func TestClient_SaveRestoreState(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, ar := range c2.getAllocRunners() {
-		<-ar.WaitCh()
+		<-ar.DestroyCh()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ func TestClient_BlockedAllocations(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, ar := range c1.getAllocRunners() {
-		<-ar.WaitCh()
+		<-ar.DestroyCh()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/client/gc.go b/client/gc.go
index c08c43bdb..2ec640d08 100644
--- a/client/gc.go
+++ b/client/gc.go
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ func (a *AllocGarbageCollector) destroyAllocRunner(allocID string, ar AllocRunne
 	ar.Destroy()
 
 	select {
-	case <-ar.WaitCh():
+	case <-ar.DestroyCh():
 	case <-a.shutdownCh:
 	}