diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/test_utils.py b/nova/tests/unit/test_utils.py
index a2d7f6d873..b086e2266a 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/test_utils.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/test_utils.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import datetime
+import futurist
 import hashlib
 import os
 import os.path
@@ -1989,3 +1990,505 @@ class TestFairLockGuard(test.NoDBTestCase):
             self.assertTrue(lock_guard.is_locked())
             self.assertTrue(test_locks[0].is_writer())
             self.assertTrue(test_locks[1].is_writer())
+
+
+class StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapperTest(test.NoDBTestCase):
+    def test_submit_one(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.01, utils._get_default_executor())
+        self.addCleanup(executor.shutdown)
+
+        task_done = threading.Event()
+
+        def task(num, foo):
+            self.assertEqual(12, num)
+            self.assertEqual("bar", foo)
+            task_done.set()
+            return foo + str(num)
+
+        future = executor.submit_with_delay(task, 12, foo="bar")
+
+        result = future.result()
+        self.assertTrue(task_done.is_set())
+        self.assertEqual("bar12", result)
+
+    def test_submit_one_exception_result(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.01, utils._get_default_executor())
+        self.addCleanup(executor.shutdown)
+
+        task_done = threading.Event()
+        exc_to_raise = ValueError()
+
+        def task(num, foo):
+            self.assertEqual(12, num)
+            self.assertEqual("bar", foo)
+            task_done.set()
+            raise exc_to_raise
+
+        future = executor.submit_with_delay(task, 12, foo="bar")
+        exc = future.exception()
+
+        self.assertTrue(task_done.is_set())
+        self.assertEqual(exc_to_raise, exc)
+
+    def test_submit_two_non_overlapping(self):
+
+        def task1():
+            return 42
+
+        def task2():
+            return 13
+
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.01, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        self.assertEqual(42, future1.result())
+
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+        self.assertEqual(13, future2.result())
+
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+
+    def test_submit_second_while_delaying_first(self):
+        task1_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task1():
+            task1_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        task2_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task2():
+            task2_started.set()
+            return 13
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while we submit the second task
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        task1_start = time.monotonic()
+        # wait a bit so the wrapper is picking it up and waiting for its
+        # deadline
+        time.sleep(1)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+
+        # now submit the second task, it will be queued
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+        task2_start = time.monotonic()
+        self.assertFalse(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+
+        # eventually both tasks finishes
+        self.assertEqual(42, future1.result())
+        task1_end = time.monotonic()
+        self.assertEqual(13, future2.result())
+        task2_end = time.monotonic()
+
+        # and both tasks took about delay seconds individually, but the two
+        # tasks together took less than 2x delay seconds as they were
+        # overlapped.
+        task1_runtime = task1_end - task1_start
+        self.assertLess(task1_runtime, 2.5)
+        self.assertGreater(task1_runtime, 2.0)
+        task2_runtime = task2_end - task2_start
+        self.assertLess(task2_runtime, 2.5)
+        self.assertGreater(task2_runtime, 2.0)
+        total_runtime = task2_end - task1_start
+        self.assertLess(total_runtime, 4)
+
+    def test_submit_multiple(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.1, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        def task(i):
+            return 2 * i
+
+        futures = []
+        for i in range(20):
+            futures.append(executor.submit_with_delay(task, i))
+
+        for i, f in enumerate(futures):
+            self.assertEqual(2 * i, f.result())
+
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+
+    def test_submit_multiple_executor_rejects_first_executes_second(self):
+        def task1():
+            return 42
+
+        def task2():
+            return 13
+
+        check_and_reject = mock.Mock(
+            side_effect=[futurist.RejectedSubmission(), None])
+
+        if utils.concurrency_mode_threading():
+            ex = futurist.ThreadPoolExecutor(
+                max_workers=1, check_and_reject=check_and_reject)
+        else:
+            ex = futurist.GreenThreadPoolExecutor(
+                max_workers=1, check_and_reject=check_and_reject)
+
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.1, ex)
+        self.addCleanup(executor.shutdown, wait=True)
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            futurist.RejectedSubmission, type(future1.exception()))
+        self.assertEqual(13, future2.result())
+
+    def test_cancel_during_delay(self):
+        task1_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task1():
+            task1_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        def task2():
+            return 13
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so the task will be actively delayed by
+        # the wrapper when we cancel it
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        # wait a bit to let the task being picked up
+        time.sleep(1)
+        # it is not in the queue, so it is picked up
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        # but not executing yet so it is being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+
+        # cancel the task
+        future1.cancel()
+
+        # Submit and wait for the execution of the second task to prove
+        # that the executor had time to finish waiting for the deadline of
+        # the first task, detected the cancellation and skipped the task,
+        # then executed the second task.
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+        self.assertEqual(13, future2.result())
+
+        # task1 is still not executed
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+        self.assertTrue(future1.cancelled())
+        # no tasks remaining in the executor queue
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+
+    def test_cancel_while_in_queue(self):
+        task1_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task1():
+            task1_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        task2_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task2():
+            task2_started.set()
+            return 13
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so one task will be actively delayed while
+        # we submit a second task then cancel the second task.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        # Wait a bit to let the task being picked up.
+        time.sleep(1)
+        # It is not in the queue, so it is picked up,
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        # but not executing yet, so it is being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+
+        # Submit a second task that will be queued.
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+        self.assertFalse(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+
+        # Cancel the second task while it is in the queue.
+        future2.cancel()
+
+        # The first task should finish normally
+        self.assertEqual(42, future1.result())
+
+        # But the second task should never be executed.
+        # To prove that we shutdown both the wrapper and the real executor
+        # then check the second task again.
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+        utils._get_default_executor().shutdown(wait=True)
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+        self.assertTrue(future2.cancelled())
+
+    def test_instantaneous_shutdown(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.1, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        executor.shutdown(wait=False)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+
+    def test_shutdown_wait(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.1, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+        # Shutting down the wrapper does not affect the real executor
+        self.assertTrue(executor._executor.alive)
+
+    def test_submit_after_shutdown_rejected(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.1, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        executor.shutdown()
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+
+        exc = self.assertRaises(
+            RuntimeError, executor.submit_with_delay, lambda: None)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            "Cannot schedule new tasks after being shutdown", str(exc))
+
+    def test_submit_while_shutting_down(self):
+        task_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task():
+            task_started.set()
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while the test calls shutdown on it.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+        self.addCleanup(executor.shutdown, wait=True)
+
+        executor.submit_with_delay(task)
+        executor.shutdown(wait=False)
+
+        # the task is actively managed, delayed, by our wrapper while we are
+        # shutting the executor down, we should not be able to add new tasks
+        # even if the shutdown is not finished yet
+        self.assertFalse(task_started.is_set())
+        exc = self.assertRaises(
+            RuntimeError, executor.submit_with_delay, lambda: None)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            "Cannot schedule new tasks after being shutdown", str(exc))
+
+    def test_shutdown_after_task_finished(self):
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            0.01, utils._get_default_executor())
+        self.addCleanup(executor.shutdown)
+
+        def task():
+            return
+
+        future = executor.submit_with_delay(task)
+        future.result()
+
+        executor.shutdown()
+
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+
+    def test_no_wait_shutdown_task_finishes_normally(self):
+        task_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task():
+            task_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while the test calls shutdown on it.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+        self.addCleanup(executor.shutdown, wait=True)
+
+        future = executor.submit_with_delay(task)
+        # Task is not executing it is being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task_started.is_set())
+
+        # We expect that shutdown returns even though there are tasks being
+        # actively managed, delayed, by the executor as we called it with
+        # wait=False
+        executor.shutdown(wait=False)
+
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertFalse(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertTrue(executor.is_alive)
+
+        # Task is still delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task_started.is_set())
+        # and it is not cancelled
+        self.assertFalse(future.cancelled())
+        # and eventually executed
+        self.assertEqual(42, future.result())
+        # and eventually the executor is terminated. This also covers the case
+        # when multiple shutdown call is made to the same executor.
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+
+    def test_no_wait_shutdown_multiple_tasks_finishes_normally(self):
+        task1_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task1():
+            task1_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        task2_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task2():
+            task2_started.set()
+            return 13
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while the test calls shutdown on it.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+        # Tasks are not executing they are being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+
+        # wait a bit so the wrapper actually starts waiting for the deadline
+        # of task1
+        time.sleep(1)
+        # Task are still not executing
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+        # task1 is already popped from the queue and the code is waiting for
+        # its deadline, while task2 is in the queue waiting
+        self.assertEqual(1, executor._queue.qsize())
+
+        # Shut down the executor. We expect that the tasks are still executed
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+
+        self.assertEqual(42, future1.result())
+        self.assertEqual(13, future2.result())
+        # and our wrapper is in a shutdown state
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+
+    def test_shutdown_wait_task_finishes_normally(self):
+        task_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task():
+            task_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        # Create a "long" delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while the test calls shutdown on it.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future = executor.submit_with_delay(task)
+        # Task is not executing it is being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task_started.is_set())
+
+        # We expect that shutdown waits for the task to be submitted to the
+        # real executor after the delay
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+        # Task is now submitted to the real executor so it can actually run
+        # and produce a result
+        result = future.result()
+        self.assertTrue(task_started.is_set())
+        self.assertEqual(42, result)
+        # but our wrapper is in a shutdown state
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+
+    def test_shutdown_does_not_wait_for_cancelled_task(self):
+        task_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task():
+            task_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        # Create a very long delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while the test calls shutdown on it and we can
+        # check that the wrapper detects cancelled tasks during shutdown and
+        # does not wait for the whole deadline.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2000, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future = executor.submit_with_delay(task)
+        # Task is not executing it is being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task_started.is_set())
+
+        # Cancel the task, shutdown the executor. We expect that the cancelled
+        # task is not submitted for execution.
+        future.cancel()
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+        self.assertFalse(task_started.is_set())
+        self.assertTrue(future.cancelled())
+        # and our wrapper is in a shutdown state
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
+
+    def test_shutdown_does_not_wait_for_multiple_cancelled_tasks(self):
+        task1_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task1():
+            task1_started.set()
+            return 42
+
+        task2_started = threading.Event()
+
+        def task2():
+            task2_started.set()
+            return 13
+
+        # Create a very long delay so the task will be actively managed by
+        # the wrapper while the test calls shutdown on it and we can
+        # check that the wrapper detects cancelled tasks during shutdown and
+        # does not wait for the whole deadline.
+        executor = utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+            2000, utils._get_default_executor())
+
+        future1 = executor.submit_with_delay(task1)
+        future2 = executor.submit_with_delay(task2)
+        # Tasks are not executing they are being delayed
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+
+        # wait a bit so the wrapper actually starts waiting for the deadline
+        # of task1
+        time.sleep(1)
+        # Task are still not executing
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+        # task1 is already popped from the queue and the code is waiting for
+        # its deadline, while task2 is in the queue waiting
+        self.assertEqual(1, executor._queue.qsize())
+
+        # Cancel both tasks then shutdown the executor and expect that no
+        # task will be executed.
+        future1.cancel()
+        future2.cancel()
+        executor.shutdown(wait=True)
+
+        self.assertFalse(task1_started.is_set())
+        self.assertTrue(future1.cancelled())
+        self.assertFalse(task2_started.is_set())
+        self.assertTrue(future2.cancelled())
+        # and our wrapper is in a shutdown state
+        self.assertTrue(executor._shutdown)
+        self.assertTrue(executor._queue.empty())
+        self.assertFalse(executor.is_alive)
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py
index e575d9a57f..62a2f4f4b4 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py
@@ -118,8 +118,9 @@ class HostTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(0, len(log_mock.method_calls),
                          'LOG should not be used in _connect_auth_cb.')
 
-    @mock.patch.object(utils, 'spawn_after')
-    def test_event_dispatch(self, mock_spawn_after):
+    @mock.patch.object(
+        utils, 'StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper')
+    def test_event_dispatch(self, mock_wrapper):
         # Validate that the libvirt self-pipe for forwarding
         # events between threads is working sanely
 
@@ -164,9 +165,11 @@ class HostTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         want_events = [event1, event2, event3]
         self.assertEqual(want_events, got_events)
 
+        mock_wrapper.assert_called_once_with(
+            delay=15, executor=utils._get_default_executor())
         # STOPPED is delayed so it's handled separately
-        mock_spawn_after.assert_called_once_with(
-            hostimpl._lifecycle_delay, hostimpl._event_emit, event4)
+        mock_wrapper.return_value.submit_with_delay(
+            hostimpl._event_emit, event4)
 
     @mock.patch('nova.virt.libvirt.host.Host._event_emit_delayed')
     def test_event_lifecycle(self, mock_emit):
@@ -275,19 +278,21 @@ class HostTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
             test.MatchType(libvirt_guest.Guest), instance=None,
             logging_ok=False)
 
-    @mock.patch.object(utils, 'spawn_after')
-    def test_event_emit_delayed_call_delayed(self, mock_spawn_after):
+    @mock.patch('nova.utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper')
+    def test_event_emit_delayed_call_delayed(self, mock_wrapper):
         ev = event.LifecycleEvent(
             "cef19ce0-0ca2-11df-855d-b19fbce37686",
             event.EVENT_LIFECYCLE_STOPPED)
         hostimpl = host.Host(
             'qemu:///system', lifecycle_event_handler=lambda e: None)
         hostimpl._event_emit_delayed(ev)
-        mock_spawn_after.assert_called_once_with(
-            15, hostimpl._event_emit, ev)
+        mock_wrapper.assert_called_once_with(
+            delay=15, executor=utils._get_default_executor())
+        mock_wrapper.return_value.submit_with_delay.assert_called_once_with(
+            hostimpl._event_emit, ev)
 
-    @mock.patch.object(utils, 'spawn_after')
-    def test_event_emit_delayed_call_delayed_pending(self, spawn_after_mock):
+    @mock.patch('nova.utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper')
+    def test_event_emit_delayed_call_delayed_pending(self, mock_wrapper):
         hostimpl = host.Host(
             'qemu:///system', lifecycle_event_handler=lambda e: None)
         uuid = "cef19ce0-0ca2-11df-855d-b19fbce37686"
@@ -295,9 +300,9 @@ class HostTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         ev = event.LifecycleEvent(
             uuid, event.EVENT_LIFECYCLE_STOPPED)
         hostimpl._event_emit_delayed(ev)
-        mock_future = spawn_after_mock.return_value
+        mock_future = mock_wrapper.return_value.submit_with_delay.return_value
         mock_future.add_done_callback.assert_called_once()
-        self.assertTrue(spawn_after_mock.called)
+        self.assertTrue(mock_wrapper.return_value.submit_with_delay.called)
         self.assertIs(mock_future, hostimpl._events_delayed[uuid])
 
     def test_event_delayed_cleanup(self):
diff --git a/nova/utils.py b/nova/utils.py
index 574dd04db0..35ee8ad6ee 100644
--- a/nova/utils.py
+++ b/nova/utils.py
@@ -23,10 +23,12 @@ import hashlib
 import inspect
 import multiprocessing
 import os
+import queue
 import random
 import re
 import shutil
 import tempfile
+import threading
 import time
 import typing as ty
 
@@ -1409,3 +1411,219 @@ def tpool_wrap(target, autowrap=()):
         return target
     else:
         return tpool.Proxy(target, autowrap=autowrap)
+
+
+class StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper:
+    """Executor wrapper that submit work to another executor but delays each
+    task's submission with a statically defined delay and supports cancelling
+    the task during such delay.
+
+    Note that tasks that are actually started running in the real executor
+    might not be cancellable anymore depending on that executor and the
+    concurrency mode used. See
+    https://docs.python.org/3.12/library/concurrent.futures.html#concurrent.futures.Future.cancel
+
+    Note that shutting down the wrapper only shuts down its own scheduler
+    thread but does not shut down the real executor that is passed in __init__.
+
+    Note that this class does not support a different delay length for
+    different tasks.
+    """
+
+    class Task:
+        def __init__(
+            self,
+            delay: float,
+            fn: ty.Callable[..., ty.Any],
+            args: tuple,
+            kwargs: dict
+        ):
+            self.deadline = time.monotonic() + delay
+            self.future = futurist.Future()
+            self.fn = fn
+            self.args = args
+            self.kwargs = kwargs
+
+        @property
+        def remaining_delay(self):
+            return self.deadline - time.monotonic()
+
+        def __str__(self):
+            return (
+                f"Task(fn={self.fn}, "
+                f"remaining_delay={self.remaining_delay} "
+                f"future={self.future})")
+
+    def __init__(self, delay: float, executor: Executor):
+        """Initialize the wrapper
+
+        :param delay: delay length in seconds
+        :param executor: executor object to run each task. It supports both
+            native threading and eventlet based executors.
+        """
+
+        self._queue: queue.Queue = queue.Queue()
+        self._executor = executor
+        self._delay = delay
+        self._shutdown = threading.Condition()
+        self._shutdown_requested = False
+        self._sentinel = self.Task(0, lambda: None, (), {})
+        # We are intentionally not running our _run() in the executor
+        # as we cannot assume that the executor has more than one worker
+        # and our logic never finishes so it would consume one worker
+        # constantly.
+        self._thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run)
+        self._thread.daemon = True
+        self._thread.start()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _log(msg, *args):
+        LOG.debug(msg, *args)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _task_wrapper(task) -> None:
+        """This wraps the original task so when it finishes in the real
+        executor the result of the task can be copied to the Future object
+        already returned to our caller from submit_with_delay(). So
+        the caller can get the result or exception from the task.
+        """
+        try:
+            task.future.set_result(task.fn(*task.args, **task.kwargs))
+        except BaseException as e:
+            task.future.set_exception(e)
+
+    def _wait_for_deadline_then_set_running(self, task) -> bool:
+        """Waiting for the task's deadline then mark it running
+
+        Wait can be interrupted by shutdown of the wrapper in such a case
+        the task's state is checked. If the task is cancelled then return
+        immediately with False. If the task is not cancelled then wait for
+        its deadline and eventually return True if the task is still not
+        cancelled.
+
+        If True is returned the future in the task is also atomically set to
+        running state and the future cannot be cancelled anymore.
+        """
+        if task.remaining_delay <= 0:
+            return task.future.set_running_or_notify_cancel()
+
+        self._log("Waitig for the deadline of %s", task)
+        with self._shutdown:
+            shutdown = self._shutdown.wait_for(
+                lambda: self._shutdown_requested, task.remaining_delay)
+
+        if shutdown:
+            self._log(
+                "Shutdown is requested while waiting "
+                "for the deadline of %s", task)
+
+            if task.future.cancelled():
+                return False
+
+            self._log(
+                "%s is not cancelled so still waiting for its "
+                "deadline", task)
+            if task.remaining_delay > 0:
+                # Blocking here is fine as we have the assumption that
+                # no new task can arrive that has a deadline that is sooner
+                # than the deadline of the oldest task in the queue due to
+                # our static delay (and we assume that time travel is not
+                # allowed).
+                time.sleep(task.remaining_delay)
+
+        return task.future.set_running_or_notify_cancel()
+
+    def _run(self):
+        while True:
+            self._log("Waiting for the next task")
+            task: StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper.Task = (
+                self._queue.get())
+            self._log("Received %s", task)
+
+            if task is self._sentinel:
+                # We are asked to terminate so exit the loop.
+                self._queue.task_done()
+                self._log("Sentinel received, thread is exiting")
+                return
+
+            if task.future.cancelled():
+                # The task was cancelled while it was in the queue.
+                # We don't need to run it. Just move on to the next task
+                self._log("%s was cancelled while queued, skipping", task)
+                self._queue.task_done()
+                continue
+
+            # The task is still valid, wait for its deadline
+            run_it = self._wait_for_deadline_then_set_running(task)
+            if not run_it:
+                # The task was cancelled during the delay period.
+                # We don't need to run it. Just move on to the next task.
+                self._log(
+                    "%s was cancelled during its delay period, skipping", task)
+                self._queue.task_done()
+                continue
+
+            # Push the task to the real executor. We don't need to wait
+            # for the result here as the client can do that
+            # via the task.future we already returned from submit_with_delay()
+            try:
+                self._executor.submit(self._task_wrapper, task)
+            except BaseException as e:
+                # If for any reason we cannot submit a task then we should not
+                # let the exception escape as that will prevent our thread
+                # to terminate cleanly. Instead, we log and propagate back.
+                LOG.exception(
+                    "Failed to submit %s to executor %s", task, self._executor)
+                task.future.set_exception(e)
+                self._queue.task_done()
+                continue
+
+            self._log("%s submitted to %s", task, self._executor)
+            # The task is not done from the executor perspective, but it is
+            # done from the _run() logic perspective. Signal it, so shutdown()
+            # can use Queue.join()
+            self._queue.task_done()
+
+    def submit_with_delay(
+        self, fn: ty.Callable[..., ty.Any], *args: ty.Any, **kwargs: ty.Any
+    ) -> futurist.Future:
+        """Submit work with delay."""
+        # We need this wide locking as we don't want to queue a task behind
+        # the sentinel as that task will never be processed.
+        with self._shutdown:
+            if self._shutdown_requested:
+                raise RuntimeError(
+                    "Cannot schedule new tasks after being shutdown")
+
+            task = self.Task(self._delay, fn, args, kwargs)
+            self._queue.put(task)
+            self._log("Queued %s", task)
+            return task.future
+
+    def shutdown(self, wait: bool = True):
+        """Shutdown the executor"""
+        with self._shutdown:
+            if not self._shutdown_requested:
+                # Ensure that our thread wakes at least one more time to allow
+                # it to exit by queuing up a sentinel task after the shutdown
+                # condition is set. This task won't be executed.
+                self._queue.put(self._sentinel)
+                self._log("Sentinel is queued")
+                self._shutdown_requested = True
+                self._shutdown.notify_all()
+                self._log("Shutdown is set")
+
+        # If wait is set we need to wait for our sentinel to be processed and
+        # therefore our thread to exit.
+        # NOTE(gibi): We are intentionally not shutting down the real executor
+        # as we are not the one created it or owning it so it might be shared
+        # between different callers.
+        if wait:
+            self._queue.join()
+            self._log("Queue joined")
+            self._thread.join()
+            self._log("Scheduler thread joined")
+
+    @property
+    def is_alive(self) -> bool:
+        return self._thread.is_alive()
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py
index 1b24f8bbbd..5266481a45 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py
@@ -346,7 +346,9 @@ class Host(object):
         #                STARTED events are sent. To prevent shutting
         #                down the domain during a reboot, delay the
         #                STOPPED lifecycle event some seconds.
-        self._lifecycle_delay = 15
+        self._delayed_executor = (
+            utils.StaticallyDelayingCancellableTaskExecutorWrapper(
+                delay=15, executor=utils._get_default_executor()))
 
         self._initialized = False
         self._libvirt_proxy_classes = self._get_libvirt_proxy_classes(libvirt)
@@ -542,29 +544,29 @@ class Host(object):
 
     def _event_emit_delayed(self, event):
         """Emit events - possibly delayed."""
-        def event_cleanup(event):
-            """Callback function for greenthread. Called
-            to cleanup the _events_delayed dictionary when an event
-            was called.
-            """
-            self._events_delayed.pop(event.uuid, None)
 
-        # Cleanup possible delayed stop events.
-        if event.uuid in self._events_delayed.keys():
+        # Cancel possible delayed stop events when we received any other
+        # event for the same domain.
+        if (isinstance(event, virtevent.LifecycleEvent) and
+            event.uuid in self._events_delayed.keys()
+        ):
             self._events_delayed[event.uuid].cancel()
             self._events_delayed.pop(event.uuid, None)
-            LOG.debug("Removed pending event for %s due to event", event.uuid)
+            LOG.debug(
+                "Removed pending STOPPED event for %s due to new event %s",
+                event.uuid, event)
 
         if (isinstance(event, virtevent.LifecycleEvent) and
             event.transition == virtevent.EVENT_LIFECYCLE_STOPPED):
             # Delay STOPPED event, as they may be followed by a STARTED
             # event in case the instance is rebooting
-            id_ = utils.spawn_after(
-                self._lifecycle_delay, self._event_emit, event)
-            self._events_delayed[event.uuid] = id_
+            future = self._delayed_executor.submit_with_delay(
+                self._event_emit, event)
+            self._events_delayed[event.uuid] = future
             # add callback to cleanup self._events_delayed dict after
             # event was called
-            id_.add_done_callback(lambda _: event_cleanup(event))
+            future.add_done_callback(
+                lambda _: self._events_delayed.pop(event.uuid, None))
         else:
             self._event_emit(event)