diff --git a/src/ezmsg/core/backendprocess.py b/src/ezmsg/core/backendprocess.py
index 3a367ae..9708097 100644
--- a/src/ezmsg/core/backendprocess.py
+++ b/src/ezmsg/core/backendprocess.py
@@ -305,28 +305,31 @@ async def perf_publish(stream: Stream, obj: Any) -> None:
         @wraps(task)
         async def wrapped_task(msg: Any = None) -> None:
             try:
-                # If we don't sub or pub anything, we are a simple task
-                if not hasattr(task, SUBSCRIBES_ATTR) and not hasattr(
-                    task, PUBLISHES_ATTR
-                ):
-                    await task(unit)
-
-                # No subscriptions; only publications...
-                elif not hasattr(task, SUBSCRIBES_ATTR):
-                    async for stream, obj in task(unit):
-                        await pub_fn(stream, obj)
 
-                # Subscribers need to be called with a message
-                else:
-                    if not getattr(task, ZERO_COPY_ATTR):
+                result = None
+                signature = inspect.signature(task)
+                if len(signature.parameters) == 1:
+                    # Task does not accept incoming messages
+                    result = task(unit)
+                elif len(signature.parameters) == 2:
+                    # Task requires an incoming message
+                    if not getattr(task, ZERO_COPY_ATTR, False):
                         msg = deepcopy(msg)
-                    if hasattr(task, PUBLISHES_ATTR):
-                        async for stream, obj in task(unit, msg):
-                            if getattr(task, ZERO_COPY_ATTR) and obj is msg:
-                                obj = deepcopy(obj)
-                            await pub_fn(stream, obj)
-                    else:
-                        await task(unit, msg)
+                    result = task(unit, msg)
+                else:
+                    logger.error(f'Incompatible call signature on task: {task.__name__}')
+
+                if inspect.isasyncgen(result):
+                    # Task returned an async generator
+                    # it must want to publish stuff
+                    async for stream, obj in result:
+                        if obj and getattr(task, ZERO_COPY_ATTR, False) and obj is msg:
+                            obj = deepcopy(obj)
+                        await pub_fn(stream, obj)
+
+                elif asyncio.iscoroutine(result):
+                    # Task returned a simple coroutine
+                    await result
 
             except Complete:
                 logger.info(f"{task_address} Complete")