diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h b/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h
index 638ab74b71..80b208d827 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/deltachat.h
@@ -2644,10 +2644,6 @@ void dc_str_unref (char* str);
 /**
  * Creates an object for sending a backup to another device.
  *
- * Before calling this function IO must be stopped using dc_accounts_stop_io()
- * or dc_stop_io() so that no changes to the blobs or database are happening.
- * IO should only be restarted once dc_backup_provider_wait() has returned.
- *
  * The backup is sent to through a peer-to-peer channel which is bootstrapped
  * by a QR-code.  The backup contains the entire state of the account
  * including credentials.  This can be used to setup a new device.
@@ -2708,9 +2704,7 @@ char* dc_backup_provider_get_qr_svg (const dc_backup_provider_t* backup_provider
 /**
  * Waits for the sending to finish.
  *
- * This is a blocking call and should only be called once.  Once this function
- * returns IO can be started again using dc_accounts_start_io() or
- * dc_start_io().
+ * This is a blocking call and should only be called once.
  *
  * @memberof dc_backup_provider_t
  * @param backup_provider The backup provider object as created by
diff --git a/src/imex.rs b/src/imex.rs
index bd965fa3dc..a329b1474e 100644
--- a/src/imex.rs
+++ b/src/imex.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub async fn imex(
     let cancel = context.alloc_ongoing().await?;
 
     let res = {
-        let mut guard = context.scheduler.pause(context).await;
+        let mut guard = context.scheduler.pause(context.clone()).await;
         let res = imex_inner(context, what, path, passphrase)
             .race(async {
                 cancel.recv().await.ok();
diff --git a/src/imex/transfer.rs b/src/imex/transfer.rs
index a294359e7f..ba334ca492 100644
--- a/src/imex/transfer.rs
+++ b/src/imex/transfer.rs
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ impl BackupProvider {
 
         // Acquire global "ongoing" mutex.
         let cancel_token = context.alloc_ongoing().await?;
+        let mut paused_guard = context.scheduler.pause(context.clone()).await;
         let context_dir = context
             .get_blobdir()
             .parent()
@@ -118,15 +119,19 @@ impl BackupProvider {
             Ok((provider, ticket)) => (provider, ticket),
             Err(err) => {
                 context.free_ongoing().await;
+                paused_guard.resume().await;
                 return Err(err);
             }
         };
-        let handle = tokio::spawn(Self::watch_provider(
-            context.clone(),
-            provider,
-            cancel_token,
-            dbfile,
-        ));
+        let handle = {
+            let context = context.clone();
+            tokio::spawn(async move {
+                let res = Self::watch_provider(&context, provider, cancel_token, dbfile).await;
+                context.free_ongoing().await;
+                paused_guard.resume().await;
+                res
+            })
+        };
         let slf = Self { handle, ticket };
         let qr = slf.qr();
         *context.export_provider.lock().expect("poisoned lock") = Some(qr);
@@ -181,7 +186,7 @@ impl BackupProvider {
     /// The *cancel_token* is the handle for the ongoing process mutex, when this completes
     /// we must cancel this operation.
     async fn watch_provider(
-        context: Context,
+        context: &Context,
         mut provider: Provider,
         cancel_token: Receiver<()>,
         _dbfile: TempPathGuard,
@@ -262,7 +267,6 @@ impl BackupProvider {
                 context.emit_event(SendProgress::Failed.into())
             }
         }
-        context.free_ongoing().await;
         res
     }
 
@@ -373,7 +377,7 @@ pub async fn get_backup(context: &Context, qr: Qr) -> Result<()> {
         !context.is_configured().await?,
         "Cannot import backups to accounts in use."
     );
-    let mut guard = context.scheduler.pause(context).await;
+    let mut guard = context.scheduler.pause(context.clone()).await;
 
     // Acquire global "ongoing" mutex.
     let cancel_token = context.alloc_ongoing().await?;
diff --git a/src/scheduler.rs b/src/scheduler.rs
index d5571f8356..c37cb3f86d 100644
--- a/src/scheduler.rs
+++ b/src/scheduler.rs
@@ -95,10 +95,10 @@ impl SchedulerState {
     /// If in the meantime [`SchedulerState::start`] or [`SchedulerState::stop`] is called
     /// resume will do the right thing and restore the scheduler to the state requested by
     /// the last call.
-    pub(crate) async fn pause<'a>(&'_ self, context: &'a Context) -> IoPausedGuard<'a> {
+    pub(crate) async fn pause<'a>(&'_ self, context: Context) -> IoPausedGuard {
         let mut inner = self.inner.write().await;
         inner.paused = true;
-        Self::do_stop(inner, context).await;
+        Self::do_stop(inner, &context).await;
         IoPausedGuard {
             context,
             done: false,
@@ -195,12 +195,12 @@ struct InnerSchedulerState {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub(crate) struct IoPausedGuard<'a> {
-    context: &'a Context,
+pub(crate) struct IoPausedGuard {
+    context: Context,
     done: bool,
 }
 
-impl<'a> IoPausedGuard<'a> {
+impl IoPausedGuard {
     pub(crate) async fn resume(&mut self) {
         self.done = true;
         let mut inner = self.context.scheduler.inner.write().await;
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ impl<'a> IoPausedGuard<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a> Drop for IoPausedGuard<'a> {
+impl Drop for IoPausedGuard {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         if self.done {
             return;