diff --git a/lix/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc b/lix/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
index 08ffe7750..b261ee027 100644
--- a/lix/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
+++ b/lix/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "lix/libstore/build/derivation-goal.hh"
+#include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/file-system.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build/hook-instance.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build/worker.hh"
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ try {
         co_return co_await loadDerivation();
     }
 
-    (co_await waitForGoals(worker.goalFactory().makePathSubstitutionGoal(drvPath))).value();
+    TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(worker.goalFactory().makePathSubstitutionGoal(drvPath)));
     co_return co_await loadDerivation();
 } catch (...) {
     co_return result::current_exception();
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@ try {
     }
 
     if (!dependencies.empty()) { /* to prevent hang (no wake-up event) */
-        (co_await waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray())).value();
+        TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray()));
     }
     co_return co_await outputsSubstitutionTried();
 } catch (...) {
@@ -447,7 +448,7 @@ try {
     }
 
     if (!dependencies.empty()) {/* to prevent hang (no wake-up event) */
-        (co_await waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray())).value();
+        TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray()));
     }
     co_return co_await inputsRealised();
 } catch (...) {
@@ -513,7 +514,7 @@ try {
         co_return done(BuildResult::AlreadyValid, assertPathValidity());
     }
 
-    (co_await waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray())).value();
+    TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray()));
     co_return co_await closureRepaired();
 } catch (...) {
     co_return result::current_exception();
@@ -618,7 +619,7 @@ try {
                 pathResolved, wantedOutputs, buildMode);
             resolvedDrvGoal = dependency.first;
 
-            (co_await waitForGoals(std::move(dependency))).value();
+            TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(std::move(dependency)));
             co_return co_await resolvedFinished();
         }
 
diff --git a/lix/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc b/lix/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
index 9d33e9b31..ace2f5161 100644
--- a/lix/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/lix/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "lix/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build-result.hh"
+#include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/finally.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build/worker.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build/substitution-goal.hh"
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ try {
     dependencies.add(worker.goalFactory().makePathSubstitutionGoal(outputInfo->outPath));
 
     if (!dependencies.empty()) {
-        (co_await waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray())).value();
+        TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray()));
     }
     co_return co_await outPathValid();
 } catch (...) {
diff --git a/lix/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc b/lix/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
index 50ee7ff7f..2501495f9 100644
--- a/lix/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/lix/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "lix/libstore/build/worker.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build/substitution-goal.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/nar-info.hh"
+#include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/signals.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/finally.hh"
 #include <boost/outcome/try.hpp>
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ try {
             dependencies.add(worker.goalFactory().makePathSubstitutionGoal(i));
 
     if (!dependencies.empty()) {/* to prevent hang (no wake-up event) */
-        (co_await waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray())).value();
+        TRY_AWAIT(waitForGoals(dependencies.releaseAsArray()));
     }
     co_return co_await referencesValid();
 } catch (...) {
diff --git a/lix/libutil/async.hh b/lix/libutil/async.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..72dd644fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libutil/async.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#pragma once
+///@file
+
+#include "lix/libutil/result.hh"
+
+namespace nix {
+namespace detail {
+inline void materializeResult(Result<void> r)
+{
+    r.value();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+inline T materializeResult(Result<T> r)
+{
+    return std::move(r.value());
+}
+}
+}
+
+// force materialization of the value. result::value() returns only an rvalue reference
+// and is thus unsuitable for use in e.g. range for without materialization. ideally we
+// would wrap the expression in `auto()`, but apple clang fails when given `auto(void)`
+#define LIX_TRY_AWAIT(...) (::nix::detail::materializeResult(co_await (__VA_ARGS__)))
+
+#if LIX_UR_COMPILER_UWU
+# define TRY_AWAIT LIX_TRY_AWAIT
+#endif
diff --git a/lix/libutil/meson.build b/lix/libutil/meson.build
index 1f8904b3b..4a04698cb 100644
--- a/lix/libutil/meson.build
+++ b/lix/libutil/meson.build
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ libutil_headers = files(
   'args/root.hh',
   'args.hh',
   'async-collect.hh',
+  'async.hh',
   'async-semaphore.hh',
   'backed-string-view.hh',
   'box_ptr.hh',
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index dab2e063f..88130c9ca 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -138,6 +138,15 @@ endif
 
 cxx = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
 
+# tag define to tell us we are compiling lix itself and can thus make
+# non-namespaced aliases of a utility defines visible. this spares us
+# writing LIX_TRY_AWAIT, LIX_RUN_ASYNC_IN, and others in our own code
+# without being forced to hide the headers we take these defines from
+add_project_arguments(
+  '-DLIX_UR_COMPILER_UWU',
+  language : 'cpp',
+)
+
 
 # clangd breaks when GCC is using precompiled headers lmao
 # https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix/issues/374