diff --git a/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.cc b/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.cc
index b6297462c..98a356518 100644
--- a/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.cc
+++ b/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.cc
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ void writeToken(util::ringbuffer::Producer& producer, Reactor::TToken token) {
     TP_DCHECK_EQ(rv, sizeof(token));
     break;
   }
+  producer.semPostData();
 }
 
 } // namespace
@@ -41,12 +42,13 @@ Reactor::Reactor() {
   consumer_.emplace(rb);
   producer_.emplace(rb);
   deferredFunctionToken_ = add([this]() { handleDeferredFunctionFromLoop(); });
+  wakeUpToken_ = add([]() { ; });
   thread_ = std::thread(&Reactor::run, this);
 }
 
 void Reactor::close() {
   if (!closed_.exchange(true)) {
-    // No need to wake up the reactor, since it is busy-waiting.
+    trigger(wakeUpToken_);
   }
 }
 
@@ -94,6 +96,11 @@ void Reactor::remove(TToken token) {
   functions_[token] = nullptr;
   reusableTokens_.insert(token);
   functionCount_--;
+  if (functionCount_ >= 2) {
+    // Wake up loop thread upon each token removal except for the
+    // two used to defer and wake up.
+    writeToken(producer_.value(), wakeUpToken_);
+  }
 }
 
 void Reactor::trigger(TToken token) {
@@ -108,14 +115,13 @@ std::tuple<int, int> Reactor::fds() const {
 void Reactor::run() {
   setThreadName("TP_SHM_reactor");
   // Stop when another thread has asked the reactor the close and when
-  // all functions have been removed except for the one used to defer.
-  while (!closed_ || functionCount_ > 1) {
+  // all functions have been removed except for the two used to defer
+  // and wakeup.
+  while (!closed_ || functionCount_ > 2) {
     uint32_t token;
+    consumer_->semWaitData();
     auto ret = consumer_->copy(sizeof(token), &token);
-    if (ret == -ENODATA) {
-      std::this_thread::yield();
-      continue;
-    }
+    TP_DCHECK_NE(ret, -ENODATA);
 
     TFunction fn;
 
@@ -133,6 +139,7 @@ void Reactor::run() {
   }
   TP_DCHECK(deferredFunctionList_.empty());
   remove(deferredFunctionToken_);
+  remove(wakeUpToken_);
 }
 
 Reactor::Trigger::Trigger(Fd&& headerFd, Fd&& dataFd)
diff --git a/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.h b/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.h
index 044ab7928..8f4975b2e 100644
--- a/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.h
+++ b/tensorpipe/transport/shm/reactor.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ class Reactor final {
   std::atomic<bool> closed_{false};
   std::atomic<bool> joined_{false};
 
+  TToken wakeUpToken_;
   TToken deferredFunctionToken_;
   std::mutex deferredFunctionMutex_;
   std::list<TDeferredFunction> deferredFunctionList_;
diff --git a/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/consumer.h b/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/consumer.h
index 69c95464c..7cd7d6d25 100644
--- a/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/consumer.h
+++ b/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/consumer.h
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ class Consumer : public RingBufferWrapper {
     return static_cast<ssize_t>(size);
   }
 
+  void semWaitData() {
+    semWait_();
+  }
+
  protected:
   bool inTx_{false};
 
diff --git a/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/producer.h b/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/producer.h
index 9a5c94226..9634639a1 100644
--- a/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/producer.h
+++ b/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/producer.h
@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@ class Producer : public RingBufferWrapper {
     return writeInTx(sizeof(T), &d);
   }
 
+  void semPostData() {
+    semPost_();
+  }
+
   [[nodiscard]] std::pair<ssize_t, void*> reserveContiguousInTx(
       const size_t size) {
     if (unlikely(size == 0)) {
diff --git a/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/ringbuffer.h b/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/ringbuffer.h
index 91664f8ba..da6cb4f35 100644
--- a/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/ringbuffer.h
+++ b/tensorpipe/util/ringbuffer/ringbuffer.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <semaphore.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
 #include <atomic>
@@ -76,6 +77,12 @@ class RingBufferHeader {
            " buffer to ever be larger than what an int can hold";
     in_write_tx.clear();
     in_read_tx.clear();
+
+    // Init semaphore to work on shared memory.
+    int ret = sem_init(&sem_, 1, 0);
+    if (ret != 0) {
+      TP_THROW_SYSTEM(errno);
+    }
   }
 
   // Get size that is only guaranteed to be correct when producers and consumers
@@ -107,6 +114,14 @@ class RingBufferHeader {
     atomicTail_.store(atomicHead_.load());
   }
 
+  void semWait() {
+    sem_wait(&sem_);
+  }
+
+  void semPost() {
+    sem_post(&sem_);
+  }
+
   // acquired by producers.
   std::atomic_flag in_write_tx;
   // acquired by consumers.
@@ -118,6 +133,8 @@ class RingBufferHeader {
   // Written by consumer.
   std::atomic<uint64_t> atomicTail_{0};
 
+  sem_t sem_;
+
   // http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2007/n2427.html#atomics.lockfree
   // static_assert(
   //     decltype(atomicHead_)::is_always_lock_free,
@@ -194,6 +211,14 @@ class RingBufferWrapper {
   }
 
  protected:
+  void semWait_() {
+    header_.semWait();
+  }
+
+  void semPost_() {
+    header_.semPost();
+  }
+
   std::shared_ptr<RingBuffer> rb_;
   RingBufferHeader& header_;
   uint8_t* const data_;