diff --git a/cpp/include/ucxx/worker_progress_thread.h b/cpp/include/ucxx/worker_progress_thread.h
index 9c9ac44d..38aae033 100644
--- a/cpp/include/ucxx/worker_progress_thread.h
+++ b/cpp/include/ucxx/worker_progress_thread.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 namespace ucxx {
 
+typedef std::function<void(void)> SignalWorkerFunction;
 typedef std::function<void(void*)> ProgressThreadStartCallback;
 typedef void* ProgressThreadStartCallbackArg;
 
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@ class WorkerProgressThread {
   std::thread _thread{};     ///< Thread object
   bool _stop{false};         ///< Signal to stop on next iteration
   bool _pollingMode{false};  ///< Whether thread will use polling mode to progress
+  SignalWorkerFunction _signalWorkerFunction{
+    nullptr};  ///< Function signaling worker to wake the progress event (when _pollingMode is
+               ///< `false`)
   ProgressThreadStartCallback _startCallback{
     nullptr};  ///< Callback to execute at start of the progress thread
   ProgressThreadStartCallbackArg _startCallbackArg{
@@ -71,6 +75,8 @@ class WorkerProgressThread {
    * @param[in] pollingMode                 whether the thread should use polling mode to
    *                                        progress.
    * @param[in] progressFunction            user-defined progress function implementation.
+   * @param[in] signalWorkerFunction        user-defined function to wake the worker
+   *                                        progress event (when `pollingMode` is `false`).
    * @param[in] startCallback               user-defined callback function to be executed
    *                                        at the start of the progress thread.
    * @param[in] startCallbackArg            an argument to be passed to the start callback.
@@ -79,6 +85,7 @@ class WorkerProgressThread {
    */
   WorkerProgressThread(const bool pollingMode,
                        std::function<bool(void)> progressFunction,
+                       std::function<void(void)> signalWorkerFunction,
                        ProgressThreadStartCallback startCallback,
                        ProgressThreadStartCallbackArg startCallbackArg,
                        std::shared_ptr<DelayedSubmissionCollection> delayedSubmissionCollection);
diff --git a/cpp/src/worker.cpp b/cpp/src/worker.cpp
index 83aa8756..403b17c1 100644
--- a/cpp/src/worker.cpp
+++ b/cpp/src/worker.cpp
@@ -254,19 +254,18 @@ void Worker::startProgressThread(const bool pollingMode)
   if (!pollingMode) initBlockingProgressMode();
   auto progressFunction = pollingMode ? std::bind(&Worker::progress, this)
                                       : std::bind(&Worker::progressWorkerEvent, this);
+  auto signalWorkerFunction =
+    pollingMode ? std::function<void()>{[]() {}} : std::bind(&Worker::signal, this);
 
   _progressThread = std::make_shared<WorkerProgressThread>(pollingMode,
                                                            progressFunction,
+                                                           signalWorkerFunction,
                                                            _progressThreadStartCallback,
                                                            _progressThreadStartCallbackArg,
                                                            _delayedSubmissionCollection);
 }
 
-void Worker::stopProgressThreadNoWarn()
-{
-  if (_progressThread && !_progressThread->pollingMode()) signal();
-  _progressThread = nullptr;
-}
+void Worker::stopProgressThreadNoWarn() { _progressThread = nullptr; }
 
 void Worker::stopProgressThread()
 {
diff --git a/cpp/src/worker_progress_thread.cpp b/cpp/src/worker_progress_thread.cpp
index f9156b14..e772ec9d 100644
--- a/cpp/src/worker_progress_thread.cpp
+++ b/cpp/src/worker_progress_thread.cpp
@@ -28,10 +28,14 @@ void WorkerProgressThread::progressUntilSync(
 WorkerProgressThread::WorkerProgressThread(
   const bool pollingMode,
   std::function<bool(void)> progressFunction,
+  std::function<void(void)> signalWorkerFunction,
   ProgressThreadStartCallback startCallback,
   ProgressThreadStartCallbackArg startCallbackArg,
   std::shared_ptr<DelayedSubmissionCollection> delayedSubmissionCollection)
-  : _pollingMode(pollingMode), _startCallback(startCallback), _startCallbackArg(startCallbackArg)
+  : _pollingMode(pollingMode),
+    _signalWorkerFunction(signalWorkerFunction),
+    _startCallback(startCallback),
+    _startCallbackArg(startCallbackArg)
 {
   _thread = std::thread(WorkerProgressThread::progressUntilSync,
                         progressFunction,
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ WorkerProgressThread::~WorkerProgressThread()
   }
 
   _stop = true;
+  _signalWorkerFunction();
   _thread.join();
 }