diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/database/AsyncTransaction.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/database/AsyncTransaction.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a4ff07f3b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/database/AsyncTransaction.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+/*
+  * Copyright 2019 New Vector Ltd
+  *
+  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+  * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+  *
+  *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+  *
+  * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+  * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+  * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+  * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package im.vector.matrix.android.internal.database
+
+import io.realm.Realm
+import io.realm.RealmConfiguration
+import io.realm.internal.OsSharedRealm
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CancellableContinuation
+import kotlinx.coroutines.suspendCancellableCoroutine
+import timber.log.Timber
+import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService
+import java.util.concurrent.Executors
+import java.util.concurrent.Future
+import kotlin.coroutines.resume
+import kotlin.coroutines.resumeWithException
+
+private object AsyncTransactionThreadHolder {
+
+    val EXECUTOR: ExecutorService by lazy {
+        Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor()
+    }
+
+}
+
+private class AsyncTransactionRunnable(private val continuation: CancellableContinuation<Unit>,
+                                       private val realmConfiguration: RealmConfiguration,
+                                       private val transaction: (realm: Realm) -> Unit) : Runnable {
+
+    override fun run() {
+        if (Thread.currentThread().isInterrupted) {
+            return
+        }
+        var versionID: OsSharedRealm.VersionID? = null
+        var exception: Throwable? = null
+
+        val bgRealm = Realm.getInstance(realmConfiguration)
+        bgRealm.beginTransaction()
+        try {
+            transaction(bgRealm)
+            if (Thread.currentThread().isInterrupted) {
+                return
+            }
+            bgRealm.commitTransaction()
+            versionID = bgRealm.sharedRealm.versionID
+        } catch (e: Throwable) {
+            exception = e
+        } finally {
+            try {
+                if (bgRealm.isInTransaction) {
+                    bgRealm.cancelTransaction()
+                }
+            } finally {
+                bgRealm.close()
+            }
+        }
+        val backgroundException = exception
+        val backgroundVersionID = versionID
+        when {
+            backgroundVersionID != null -> continuation.resume(Unit)
+            backgroundException != null -> continuation.resumeWithException(backgroundException)
+        }
+    }
+
+}
+
+suspend fun awaitTransaction(realmConfiguration: RealmConfiguration, transaction: (realm: Realm) -> Unit) {
+    return suspendCancellableCoroutine { continuation ->
+        var futureTask: Future<*>? = null
+        continuation.invokeOnCancellation {
+            Timber.v("Cancel database transaction")
+            futureTask?.cancel(true)
+        }
+        val runnable = AsyncTransactionRunnable(continuation, realmConfiguration, transaction)
+        futureTask = AsyncTransactionThreadHolder.EXECUTOR.submit(runnable)
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/database/RealmExtensions.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/database/RealmExtensions.kt
deleted file mode 100644
index 872b0b1da9..0000000000
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/database/RealmExtensions.kt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
-/*
-  * Copyright 2019 New Vector Ltd
-  *
-  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-  * You may obtain a copy of the License at
-  *
-  *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-  *
-  * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-  * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-  * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-  * limitations under the License.
- */
-package im.vector.matrix.android.internal.database
-
-import io.realm.Realm
-import kotlinx.coroutines.suspendCancellableCoroutine
-import timber.log.Timber
-import kotlin.coroutines.resume
-import kotlin.coroutines.resumeWithException
-
-
-suspend fun Realm.awaitTransaction(transaction: (realm: Realm) -> Unit) {
-    return suspendCancellableCoroutine { continuation ->
-        beginTransaction()
-        try {
-            transaction(this)
-            commitTransaction()
-            continuation.resume(Unit)
-        } catch (e: Throwable) {
-            if (isInTransaction) {
-                cancelTransaction()
-            } else {
-                Timber.w("Could not cancel transaction, not currently in a transaction.")
-            }
-            continuation.resumeWithException(e)
-        }
-        continuation.invokeOnCancellation {
-            if (isInTransaction) {
-                cancelTransaction()
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/session/cache/ClearCacheTask.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/session/cache/ClearCacheTask.kt
index 7d10103135..5af4ee74fb 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/session/cache/ClearCacheTask.kt
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/session/cache/ClearCacheTask.kt
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package im.vector.matrix.android.internal.session.cache
 
 import im.vector.matrix.android.internal.database.awaitTransaction
 import im.vector.matrix.android.internal.task.Task
-import io.realm.Realm
 import io.realm.RealmConfiguration
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
@@ -27,10 +26,8 @@ internal interface ClearCacheTask : Task<Unit, Unit>
 internal class RealmClearCacheTask @Inject constructor(private val realmConfiguration: RealmConfiguration) : ClearCacheTask {
 
     override suspend fun execute(params: Unit) {
-        val realm = Realm.getInstance(realmConfiguration)
-        realm.awaitTransaction {
+        awaitTransaction(realmConfiguration) {
             it.deleteAll()
         }
-        realm.close()
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/util/Monarchy.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/util/Monarchy.kt
index 1d0f66dfd1..be9b0b0691 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/util/Monarchy.kt
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/im/vector/matrix/android/internal/util/Monarchy.kt
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ import io.realm.RealmModel
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference
 
 internal suspend fun Monarchy.awaitTransaction(transaction: (realm: Realm) -> Unit) {
-    Realm.getInstance(realmConfiguration).use {
-        it.awaitTransaction(transaction)
-    }
+    awaitTransaction(realmConfiguration, transaction)
 }
 
 fun <T : RealmModel> Monarchy.fetchCopied(query: (Realm) -> T?): T? {