diff --git a/lib/backend.py b/lib/backend.py
index 639aba1..39ef7c7 100644
--- a/lib/backend.py
+++ b/lib/backend.py
@@ -146,21 +146,23 @@ class Backend:
 
         def advance_queue_after_completion(event: asyncio.Event):
             """Pop current head and wake next waiter, if any."""
+            # If this event is current head, wake next waiter
             if self.queue and self.queue[0] is event:
                 self.queue.popleft()
                 if self.queue:
                     self.queue[0].set()
             else:
+                # Else, remove it from the queue
                 try:
                     self.queue.remove(event)
                 except ValueError:
                     pass
 
-        async def cancel_api_call_if_disconnected() -> web.Response:
+        async def cancel_api_call_if_disconnected() -> None:
             await request.wait_for_disconnection()
-            log.debug(f"request with reqnum: {request_metrics.reqnum} was canceled")
+            log.debug(f"Request with reqnum: {request_metrics.reqnum} was canceled")
             self.metrics._request_canceled(request_metrics)
-            raise asyncio.CancelledError
+            return
 
         async def make_request() -> Union[web.Response, web.StreamResponse]:
             try:
@@ -177,6 +179,8 @@ class Backend:
                 res = await handler.generate_client_response(request, response)
                 self.metrics._request_success(request_metrics)
                 return res
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                raise
             except Exception as e:
                 log.debug(f"[backend] Request error: {e}")
                 self.metrics._request_errored(request_metrics)
@@ -193,10 +197,14 @@ class Backend:
             return web.Response(status=429)
 
         disconnect_task = create_task(cancel_api_call_if_disconnected())
+        next_request_task = None
+        work_task = None
+        event = asyncio.Event() # Used in finally block, so initialize here
+
         self.metrics._request_start(request_metrics)
 
-        if self.allow_parallel_requests:
-            try:
+        try:
+            if self.allow_parallel_requests:
                 log.debug(f"Starting request for reqnum:{request_metrics.reqnum}")
                 work_task = create_task(make_request())
                 done, pending = await wait([work_task, disconnect_task], return_when=FIRST_COMPLETED)
@@ -206,33 +214,19 @@ class Backend:
                 await asyncio.gather(*pending, return_exceptions=True)
 
                 if disconnect_task in done:
-                    # Make sure work_task is settled/cancelled
-                    try:
-                        await work_task
-                    except Exception:
-                        pass
                     return web.Response(status=499)
 
                 # otherwise work_task completed
                 return await work_task
+            
+            # FIFO-queue branch
+            else:
+                # Insert a Event into the queue for this request
+                # Event.set() == our request is up next
+                self.queue.append(event)
+                if self.queue and self.queue[0] is event:
+                    event.set()
 
-            except asyncio.CancelledError:
-                return web.Response(status=499)
-            except Exception as e:
-                log.debug(f"Exception in main handler loop {e}")
-                return web.Response(status=500)
-            finally:
-                self.metrics._request_end(request_metrics)
-
-        else:
-            # Insert a Event into the queue for this request
-            # Event.set() == our request is up next
-            event = asyncio.Event()
-            self.queue.append(event)
-            if self.queue and self.queue[0] is event:
-                event.set()
-
-            try:
                 # Race between our request being next and request being cancelled
                 next_request_task = create_task(event.wait())
                 first_done, first_pending = await wait(
@@ -240,15 +234,8 @@ class Backend:
                 )
 
                 # If the disconnect task wins the race
-                if disconnect_task in first_done and not event.is_set():
-                    was_head = (self.queue and self.queue[0] is event)
-                    try:
-                        self.queue.remove(event)
-                    except ValueError:
-                        pass
-                    if was_head and self.queue:
-                        self.queue[0].set()
-
+                if disconnect_task in first_done:
+                    # Clean up the next_request_task, then exit
                     for t in first_pending:
                         t.cancel()
                     await asyncio.gather(*first_pending, return_exceptions=True)
@@ -259,43 +246,37 @@ class Backend:
 
                 # Race the backend API call with the disconnect task
                 work_task = create_task(make_request())
+
                 done, pending = await wait([work_task, disconnect_task], return_when=FIRST_COMPLETED)
                 for t in pending:
                     t.cancel()
                 await asyncio.gather(*pending, return_exceptions=True)
 
                 if disconnect_task in done:
-                    # ensure work is cancelled and accounted for
-                    try:
-                        await work_task
-                    except Exception:
-                        pass
                     return web.Response(status=499)
 
                 # otherwise work_task completed
                 return await work_task
+            
+        except asyncio.CancelledError:
+            return web.Response(status=499)
+        
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.debug(f"Exception in main handler loop {e}")
+            return web.Response(status=500)
+        
+        finally:
+            if not self.allow_parallel_requests:
+                advance_queue_after_completion(event)
 
-            except asyncio.CancelledError:
-                # Cleanup if request was cancelled
-                was_head = (self.queue and self.queue[0] is event)
-                try:
-                    self.queue.remove(event)
-                except ValueError:
-                    pass
-                if was_head and self.queue:
-                    self.queue[0].set()
+            self.metrics._request_end(request_metrics)
+            cleanup_tasks = [t for t in (next_request_task, work_task, disconnect_task) if t]
+            for t in cleanup_tasks:
+                if not t.done():
+                    t.cancel()
+            if cleanup_tasks:
+                await asyncio.gather(*cleanup_tasks, return_exceptions=True)
 
-                return web.Response(status=499)
-
-            except Exception as e:
-                log.debug(f"Exception in main handler loop {e}")
-                return web.Response(status=500)
-
-            finally:
-                self.metrics._request_end(request_metrics)
-                if event.is_set():
-                    # The request is done, advance the queue
-                    advance_queue_after_completion(event)
 
     @cached_property  
     def healthcheck_session(self):