diff --git a/cmake/core-files.cmake b/cmake/core-files.cmake
index 66f569abc..f4ee786df 100644
--- a/cmake/core-files.cmake
+++ b/cmake/core-files.cmake
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ set(MBGL_CORE_FILES
     # actor
     include/mbgl/actor/actor.hpp
     include/mbgl/actor/actor_ref.hpp
+    include/mbgl/actor/aspiring_actor.hpp
+    include/mbgl/actor/established_actor.hpp
     include/mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp
     include/mbgl/actor/message.hpp
     include/mbgl/actor/scheduler.hpp
diff --git a/include/mbgl/actor/actor.hpp b/include/mbgl/actor/actor.hpp
index a0df19208..0052fad24 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/actor/actor.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/actor/actor.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <mbgl/actor/aspiring_actor.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/actor/established_actor.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/actor/message.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/actor/actor_ref.hpp>
@@ -8,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <future>
 #include <type_traits>
+#include <cassert>
 
 namespace mbgl {
 
@@ -34,65 +37,33 @@ namespace mbgl {
     the lifetime of the owning Actor, and sending a message to a `Ref` whose `Actor` has died is
     a no-op. (In the future, a dead-letters queue or log may be implemented.)
 
-    Construction and destruction of an actor is currently synchronous: the corresponding `O`
+    Construction and destruction of an Actor is synchronous: the corresponding `O`
     object is constructed synchronously by the `Actor` constructor, and destructed synchronously
     by the `~Actor` destructor, after ensuring that the `O` is not currently receiving an
-    asynchronous message. (Construction and destruction may change to be asynchronous in the
-    future.) The constructor of `O` is passed an `ActorRef<O>` referring to itself (which it
-    can use to self-send messages), followed by the forwarded arguments passed to `Actor<O>`.
+    asynchronous message. The constructor of `O` is passed an `ActorRef<O>` referring to itself
+    (which it can use to self-send messages), followed by the forwarded arguments passed to
+    `Actor<O>`.  Asynchronous object construction can be accomplished by directly using the
+    lower-level types, `AspiringActor<O>` and `EstablishedActor<O>`.
 
     Please don't send messages that contain shared pointers or references. That subverts the
     purpose of the actor model: prohibiting direct concurrent access to shared state.
 */
-
 template <class Object>
-class Actor : public util::noncopyable {
+class Actor {
 public:
+    template <class... Args>
+    Actor(Scheduler& scheduler, Args&&... args)
+        : target(scheduler, parent, std::forward<Args>(args)...) {}
 
-    // Enabled for Objects with a constructor taking ActorRef<Object> as the first parameter
-    template <typename U = Object, class... Args, typename std::enable_if<std::is_constructible<U, ActorRef<U>, Args...>::value>::type * = nullptr>
-    Actor(Scheduler& scheduler, Args&&... args_)
-            : mailbox(std::make_shared<Mailbox>(scheduler)),
-              object(self(), std::forward<Args>(args_)...) {
-    }
-
-    // Enabled for plain Objects
-    template<typename U = Object, class... Args, typename std::enable_if<!std::is_constructible<U, ActorRef<U>, Args...>::value>::type * = nullptr>
-    Actor(Scheduler& scheduler, Args&& ... args_)
-            : mailbox(std::make_shared<Mailbox>(scheduler)), object(std::forward<Args>(args_)...) {
-    }
-
-    ~Actor() {
-        mailbox->close();
-    }
-
-    template <typename Fn, class... Args>
-    void invoke(Fn fn, Args&&... args) {
-        mailbox->push(actor::makeMessage(object, fn, std::forward<Args>(args)...));
-    }
-
-    template <typename Fn, class... Args>
-    auto ask(Fn fn, Args&&... args) {
-        // Result type is deduced from the function's return type
-        using ResultType = typename std::result_of<decltype(fn)(Object, Args...)>::type;
-
-        std::promise<ResultType> promise;
-        auto future = promise.get_future();
-        mailbox->push(actor::makeMessage(std::move(promise), object, fn, std::forward<Args>(args)...));
-        return future;
-    }
+    Actor(const Actor&) = delete;
 
     ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>> self() {
-        return ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>>(object, mailbox);
-    }
-
-    operator ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>>() {
-        return self();
+        return parent.self();
     }
 
 private:
-    std::shared_ptr<Mailbox> mailbox;
-    Object object;
+    AspiringActor<Object> parent;
+    EstablishedActor<Object> target;
 };
 
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/include/mbgl/actor/aspiring_actor.hpp b/include/mbgl/actor/aspiring_actor.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6c410cdfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/mbgl/actor/aspiring_actor.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/actor/message.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/actor/actor_ref.hpp>
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <future>
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <cassert>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+
+template <class Object>
+class EstablishedActor;
+
+template <class Object>
+class Actor;
+
+/*
+    An `AspiringActor<O>` is one half of the pair of types that comprise an actor (see `Actor<O>`),
+    the other half being `EstablishedActor<O>`.  It is responsible for:
+     - ownership of the actor's `Mailbox`
+     - allocating the memory for (but *not* constructing) the target object `O`
+ 
+    Using these two pieces--the mailbox and a stable address for `O`--an `AspiringActor<O>` can
+    accept messages for the target object, or provide `ActorRef<O>`s that do so, before the object
+    has actually been constructed by the corresponding `EstablishedActor<O>`.  (Such messages are
+    queued in the mailbox until after the object is constructed.)
+ 
+    This allows for an `AspiringActor<O>` to be created and safely used by a thread other than the
+    one on which the target object will (eventually) live.
+*/
+template <class Object>
+class AspiringActor {
+public:
+    AspiringActor() : mailbox(std::make_shared<Mailbox>()) {
+        // mailbox starts closed because the `Object` hasn't yet been constructed
+        assert(!mailbox->isOpen());
+    }
+    
+    AspiringActor(const AspiringActor&) = delete;
+    
+    ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>> self() {
+        return ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>>(object(), mailbox);
+    }
+    
+private:
+    std::shared_ptr<Mailbox> mailbox;
+    std::aligned_storage_t<sizeof(Object)> objectStorage;
+    
+    Object& object() {
+        return *reinterpret_cast<Object *>(&objectStorage);
+    }
+    
+    friend class EstablishedActor<Object>;
+    friend class Actor<Object>;
+};
+
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/include/mbgl/actor/established_actor.hpp b/include/mbgl/actor/established_actor.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da0d8ac70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/mbgl/actor/established_actor.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <mbgl/actor/aspiring_actor.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/actor/message.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/actor/actor_ref.hpp>
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <future>
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <cassert>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+
+/*
+    An `EstablishedActor<O>` is one half of the pair of types that comprise an actor (see `Actor<O>`),
+    the other half being `AspiringActor<O>`.  It is responsible for managing the lifetime of the
+    target object `O` and the open/closed state of the parent's `mailbox`.
+ 
+    The `O` object's lifetime is contained by that of its owning `EstablishedActor<O>`: the 
+    `EstablishedActor` constructor executes the `O` constructor via "placement new", constructing
+    it at the address provided by the parent `AspiringActor`, and the `~EstablishedActor` destructor
+    similarly executes the `~O` destructor (after closing the mailbox). `EstablishedActor` should
+    therefore live entirely on the thread intended to own `O`.
+*/
+
+template <class Object>
+class EstablishedActor {
+public:
+    // Construct the Object from a parameter pack `args` (i.e. `Object(args...)`)
+    template <typename U = Object, class... Args, typename std::enable_if<
+        std::is_constructible<U, Args...>::value ||
+        std::is_constructible<U, ActorRef<U>, Args...>::value
+    >::type * = nullptr>
+    EstablishedActor(Scheduler& scheduler, AspiringActor<Object>& parent_, Args&& ... args)
+    :   parent(parent_) {
+        emplaceObject(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+        parent.mailbox->open(scheduler);
+    }
+    
+    // Construct the `Object` from a tuple containing the constructor arguments (i.e.
+    // `Object(std::get<0>(args), std::get<1>(args), ...)`)
+    template <class ArgsTuple, std::size_t ArgCount = std::tuple_size<std::decay_t<ArgsTuple>>::value>
+    EstablishedActor(Scheduler& scheduler, AspiringActor<Object>& parent_, ArgsTuple&& args)
+    :   parent(parent_) {
+        emplaceObject(std::forward<ArgsTuple>(args), std::make_index_sequence<ArgCount>{});
+        parent.mailbox->open(scheduler);
+    }
+    
+    EstablishedActor(const EstablishedActor&) = delete;
+
+    ~EstablishedActor() {
+        parent.mailbox->close();
+        parent.object().~Object();
+    }
+    
+private:
+    // Enabled for Objects with a constructor taking ActorRef<Object> as the first parameter
+    template <typename U = Object, class... Args, typename std::enable_if<std::is_constructible<U, ActorRef<U>, Args...>::value>::type * = nullptr>
+    void emplaceObject(Args&&... args_) {
+        new (&parent.objectStorage) Object(parent.self(), std::forward<Args>(args_)...);
+    }
+
+    // Enabled for plain Objects
+    template <typename U = Object, class... Args, typename std::enable_if<std::is_constructible<U, Args...>::value>::type * = nullptr>
+    void emplaceObject(Args&&... args_) {
+        new (&parent.objectStorage) Object(std::forward<Args>(args_)...);
+    }
+    
+    // Used to expand a tuple holding the constructor arguments
+    template <class ArgsTuple, std::size_t... I>
+    void emplaceObject(ArgsTuple&& args, std::index_sequence<I...>) {
+        emplaceObject(std::move(std::get<I>(std::forward<ArgsTuple>(args)))...);
+        (void) args; // mark args as used: if it's empty tuple, it's not actually used above.
+    }
+
+    AspiringActor<Object>& parent;
+};
+
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/include/mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp b/include/mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp
index 8ecf91701..23c579917 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/actor/mailbox.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <mbgl/util/optional.hpp>
+
 #include <memory>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <queue>
@@ -11,17 +13,30 @@ class Message;
 
 class Mailbox : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Mailbox> {
 public:
+   
+    // Create a "holding" mailbox, messages to which will remain queued,
+    // unconsumed, until the mailbox is associated with a Scheduler using
+    // start(). This allows a Mailbox object to be created on one thread and
+    // later transferred to a different target thread that may not yet exist.
+    Mailbox();
+    
     Mailbox(Scheduler&);
 
-    void push(std::unique_ptr<Message>);
-
+    // Attach the given scheduler to this mailbox and begin processing messages
+    // sent to it. The mailbox must be a "holding" mailbox, as created by the
+    // default constructor Mailbox().
+    void open(Scheduler& scheduler_);
     void close();
+
+    bool isOpen() const;
+
+    void push(std::unique_ptr<Message>);
     void receive();
 
     static void maybeReceive(std::weak_ptr<Mailbox>);
 
 private:
-    Scheduler& scheduler;
+    optional<Scheduler*> scheduler;
 
     std::recursive_mutex receivingMutex;
     std::mutex pushingMutex;
diff --git a/include/mbgl/actor/scheduler.hpp b/include/mbgl/actor/scheduler.hpp
index d8a26ebea..75ead29f0 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/actor/scheduler.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/actor/scheduler.hpp
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ class Mailbox;
 class Scheduler {
 public:
     virtual ~Scheduler() = default;
+    
+    // Used by a Mailbox when it has a message in its queue to request that it
+    // be scheduled. Specifically, the scheduler is expected to asynchronously
+    // call `receive() on the given mailbox, provided it still exists at that
+    // time.
     virtual void schedule(std::weak_ptr<Mailbox>) = 0;
 
     // Set/Get the current Scheduler for this thread
diff --git a/include/mbgl/util/thread.hpp b/include/mbgl/util/thread.hpp
index 74e722b02..bc5842734 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/util/thread.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/util/thread.hpp
@@ -37,45 +37,55 @@ namespace util {
 // - `Object` can use `Timer` and do asynchronous I/O, like wait for sockets events.
 //
 template<class Object>
-class Thread : public Scheduler {
+class Thread {
 public:
     template <class... Args>
     Thread(const std::string& name, Args&&... args) {
-        std::promise<void> running;
 
-        thread = std::thread([&] {
+        std::promise<void> running_;
+        running = running_.get_future();
+
+        auto capturedArgs = std::make_tuple(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+
+        thread = std::thread([
+            this,
+            name,
+            capturedArgs = std::move(capturedArgs),
+            runningPromise = std::move(running_)
+        ] () mutable {
             platform::setCurrentThreadName(name);
             platform::makeThreadLowPriority();
 
             util::RunLoop loop_(util::RunLoop::Type::New);
             loop = &loop_;
+            EstablishedActor<Object> establishedActor(loop_, object, std::move(capturedArgs));
 
-            object = std::make_unique<Actor<Object>>(*this, std::forward<Args>(args)...);
-            running.set_value();
-
+            runningPromise.set_value();
+            
             loop->run();
+            
+            (void) establishedActor;
+            
             loop = nullptr;
         });
-
-        running.get_future().get();
     }
 
-    ~Thread() override {
+    ~Thread() {
         if (paused) {
             resume();
         }
 
-        std::promise<void> joinable;
+        std::promise<void> stoppable;
+        
+        running.wait();
 
-        // Kill the actor, so we don't get more
-        // messages posted on this scheduler after
-        // we delete the RunLoop.
+        // Invoke a noop task on the run loop to ensure that we're executing
+        // run() before we call stop()
         loop->invoke([&] {
-            object.reset();
-            joinable.set_value();
+            stoppable.set_value();
         });
 
-        joinable.get_future().get();
+        stoppable.get_future().get();
 
         loop->stop();
         thread.join();
@@ -85,8 +95,8 @@ public:
     // can be used to send messages to `Object`. It is safe
     // to the non-owning reference to outlive this object
     // and be used after the `Thread<>` gets destroyed.
-    ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>> actor() const {
-        return object->self();
+    ActorRef<std::decay_t<Object>> actor() {
+        return object.self();
     }
 
     // Pauses the `Object` thread. It will prevent the object to wake
@@ -103,6 +113,8 @@ public:
 
         auto pausing = paused->get_future();
 
+        running.wait();
+
         loop->invoke(RunLoop::Priority::High, [this] {
             auto resuming = resumed->get_future();
             paused->set_value();
@@ -127,13 +139,12 @@ public:
 private:
     MBGL_STORE_THREAD(tid);
 
-    void schedule(std::weak_ptr<Mailbox> mailbox) override {
-        loop->schedule(mailbox);
-    }
+    AspiringActor<Object> object;
 
     std::thread thread;
-    std::unique_ptr<Actor<Object>> object;
 
+    std::future<void> running;
+    
     std::unique_ptr<std::promise<void>> paused;
     std::unique_ptr<std::promise<void>> resumed;
 
diff --git a/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.cpp b/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.cpp
index 155fdf81f..e8fcc6177 100644
--- a/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.cpp
+++ b/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.cpp
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ MapSnapshotter::MapSnapshotter(jni::JNIEnv& _env,
     
     showLogo = _showLogo;
     // Create the core snapshotter
-    snapshotter = std::make_unique<mbgl::MapSnapshotter>(fileSource,
-                                                         *threadPool,
+    snapshotter = std::make_unique<mbgl::MapSnapshotter>(&fileSource,
+                                                         threadPool,
                                                          style,
                                                          size,
                                                          pixelRatio,
@@ -173,4 +173,4 @@ void MapSnapshotter::registerNative(jni::JNIEnv& env) {
 }
 
 } // namespace android
-} // namespace mbgl
\ No newline at end of file
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.hpp b/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.hpp
index 3be2cb4f6..7b72452c4 100644
--- a/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.hpp
+++ b/platform/android/src/snapshotter/map_snapshotter.hpp
@@ -76,4 +76,4 @@ private:
 };
 
 } // namespace android
-} // namespace mbgl
\ No newline at end of file
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/platform/darwin/src/MGLMapSnapshotter.mm b/platform/darwin/src/MGLMapSnapshotter.mm
index 2a2bef8fb..d9fa04421 100644
--- a/platform/darwin/src/MGLMapSnapshotter.mm
+++ b/platform/darwin/src/MGLMapSnapshotter.mm
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ const CGFloat MGLSnapshotterMinimumPixelSize = 64;
     }
     
     // Create the snapshotter
-    _mbglMapSnapshotter = std::make_unique<mbgl::MapSnapshotter>(*mbglFileSource, *_mbglThreadPool, style, size, pixelRatio, cameraOptions, coordinateBounds);
+    _mbglMapSnapshotter = std::make_unique<mbgl::MapSnapshotter>(mbglFileSource, _mbglThreadPool, style, size, pixelRatio, cameraOptions, coordinateBounds);
 }
 
 @end
diff --git a/platform/default/default_file_source.cpp b/platform/default/default_file_source.cpp
index 89aabeb8d..f07012149 100644
--- a/platform/default/default_file_source.cpp
+++ b/platform/default/default_file_source.cpp
@@ -19,15 +19,10 @@ namespace mbgl {
 
 class DefaultFileSource::Impl {
 public:
-    Impl(ActorRef<Impl> self, std::shared_ptr<FileSource> assetFileSource_, const std::string& cachePath, uint64_t maximumCacheSize)
+    Impl(std::shared_ptr<FileSource> assetFileSource_, std::string cachePath, uint64_t maximumCacheSize)
             : assetFileSource(assetFileSource_)
-            , localFileSource(std::make_unique<LocalFileSource>()) {
-        // Initialize the Database asynchronously so as to not block Actor creation.
-        self.invoke(&Impl::initializeOfflineDatabase, cachePath, maximumCacheSize);
-    }
-
-    void initializeOfflineDatabase(std::string cachePath, uint64_t maximumCacheSize) {
-        offlineDatabase = std::make_unique<OfflineDatabase>(cachePath, maximumCacheSize);
+            , localFileSource(std::make_unique<LocalFileSource>())
+            , offlineDatabase(std::make_unique<OfflineDatabase>(cachePath, maximumCacheSize)) {
     }
 
     void setAPIBaseURL(const std::string& url) {
diff --git a/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.cpp b/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.cpp
index a909e3fe9..149ef22e7 100644
--- a/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.cpp
+++ b/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.cpp
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ namespace mbgl {
 
 class MapSnapshotter::Impl {
 public:
-    Impl(FileSource&,
-         Scheduler&,
+    Impl(FileSource*,
+         std::shared_ptr<Scheduler>,
          const std::pair<bool, std::string> style,
          const Size&,
          const float pixelRatio,
@@ -40,20 +40,22 @@ public:
     void snapshot(ActorRef<MapSnapshotter::Callback>);
 
 private:
+    std::shared_ptr<Scheduler> scheduler;
     HeadlessFrontend frontend;
     Map map;
 };
 
-MapSnapshotter::Impl::Impl(FileSource& fileSource,
-           Scheduler& scheduler,
+MapSnapshotter::Impl::Impl(FileSource* fileSource,
+           std::shared_ptr<Scheduler> scheduler_,
            const std::pair<bool, std::string> style,
            const Size& size,
            const float pixelRatio,
            const optional<CameraOptions> cameraOptions,
            const optional<LatLngBounds> region,
            const optional<std::string> programCacheDir)
-    : frontend(size, pixelRatio, fileSource, scheduler, programCacheDir)
-    , map(frontend, MapObserver::nullObserver(), size, pixelRatio, fileSource, scheduler, MapMode::Static) {
+    : scheduler(std::move(scheduler_))
+    , frontend(size, pixelRatio, *fileSource, *scheduler, programCacheDir)
+    , map(frontend, MapObserver::nullObserver(), size, pixelRatio, *fileSource, *scheduler, MapMode::Static) {
 
     if (style.first) {
         map.getStyle().loadJSON(style.second);
@@ -149,15 +151,15 @@ LatLngBounds MapSnapshotter::Impl::getRegion() const {
     return map.latLngBoundsForCamera(getCameraOptions());
 }
 
-MapSnapshotter::MapSnapshotter(FileSource& fileSource,
-                               Scheduler& scheduler,
+MapSnapshotter::MapSnapshotter(FileSource* fileSource,
+                               std::shared_ptr<Scheduler> scheduler,
                                const std::pair<bool, std::string> style,
                                const Size& size,
                                const float pixelRatio,
                                const optional<CameraOptions> cameraOptions,
                                const optional<LatLngBounds> region,
                                const optional<std::string> programCacheDir)
-   : impl(std::make_unique<util::Thread<MapSnapshotter::Impl>>("Map Snapshotter", fileSource, scheduler, style, size, pixelRatio, cameraOptions, region, programCacheDir)) {
+   : impl(std::make_unique<util::Thread<MapSnapshotter::Impl>>("Map Snapshotter", fileSource, std::move(scheduler), style, size, pixelRatio, cameraOptions, region, programCacheDir)) {
 }
 
 MapSnapshotter::~MapSnapshotter() = default;
diff --git a/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.hpp b/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.hpp
index b9e630766..f40d1e4b7 100644
--- a/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.hpp
+++ b/platform/default/mbgl/map/map_snapshotter.hpp
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ class Style;
 
 class MapSnapshotter {
 public:
-    MapSnapshotter(FileSource& fileSource,
-                   Scheduler& scheduler,
+    MapSnapshotter(FileSource* fileSource,
+                   std::shared_ptr<Scheduler> scheduler,
                    const std::pair<bool, std::string> style,
                    const Size&,
                    const float pixelRatio,
diff --git a/src/mbgl/actor/mailbox.cpp b/src/mbgl/actor/mailbox.cpp
index 373c24275..8ee8dca11 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/actor/mailbox.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/actor/mailbox.cpp
@@ -6,8 +6,30 @@
 
 namespace mbgl {
 
+Mailbox::Mailbox() {
+}
+
 Mailbox::Mailbox(Scheduler& scheduler_)
-    : scheduler(scheduler_) {
+    : scheduler(&scheduler_) {
+}
+
+void Mailbox::open(Scheduler& scheduler_) {
+    assert(!scheduler);
+
+    // As with close(), block until neither receive() nor push() are in progress, and acquire the two
+    // mutexes in the same order.
+    std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> receivingLock(receivingMutex);
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> pushingLock(pushingMutex);
+    
+    scheduler = &scheduler_;
+
+    if (closed) {
+        return;
+    }
+    
+    if (!queue.empty()) {
+        (*scheduler)->schedule(shared_from_this());
+    }
 }
 
 void Mailbox::close() {
@@ -22,6 +44,9 @@ void Mailbox::close() {
     closed = true;
 }
 
+bool Mailbox::isOpen() const { return bool(scheduler); }
+
+
 void Mailbox::push(std::unique_ptr<Message> message) {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> pushingLock(pushingMutex);
 
@@ -32,13 +57,15 @@ void Mailbox::push(std::unique_ptr<Message> message) {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> queueLock(queueMutex);
     bool wasEmpty = queue.empty();
     queue.push(std::move(message));
-    if (wasEmpty) {
-        scheduler.schedule(shared_from_this());
+    if (wasEmpty && scheduler) {
+        (*scheduler)->schedule(shared_from_this());
     }
 }
 
 void Mailbox::receive() {
     std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> receivingLock(receivingMutex);
+    
+    assert(scheduler);
 
     if (closed) {
         return;
@@ -58,7 +85,7 @@ void Mailbox::receive() {
     (*message)();
 
     if (!wasEmpty) {
-        scheduler.schedule(shared_from_this());
+        (*scheduler)->schedule(shared_from_this());
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/mbgl/sprite/sprite_loader.cpp b/src/mbgl/sprite/sprite_loader.cpp
index 93d6dfd9a..df4fe6e8d 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/sprite/sprite_loader.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/sprite/sprite_loader.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void SpriteLoader::emitSpriteLoadedIfComplete() {
         return;
     }
 
-    loader->worker.invoke(&SpriteLoaderWorker::parse, loader->image, loader->json);
+    loader->worker.self().invoke(&SpriteLoaderWorker::parse, loader->image, loader->json);
 }
 
 void SpriteLoader::onParsed(std::vector<std::unique_ptr<style::Image>>&& result) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/sources/custom_geometry_source.cpp b/src/mbgl/style/sources/custom_geometry_source.cpp
index b37490a5c..6ce7c1be1 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/style/sources/custom_geometry_source.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/sources/custom_geometry_source.cpp
@@ -30,15 +30,15 @@ void CustomGeometrySource::loadDescription(FileSource&) {
 
 void CustomGeometrySource::setTileData(const CanonicalTileID& tileID,
                                      const GeoJSON& data) {
-    loader->invoke(&CustomTileLoader::setTileData, tileID, data);
+    loader->self().invoke(&CustomTileLoader::setTileData, tileID, data);
 }
 
 void CustomGeometrySource::invalidateTile(const CanonicalTileID& tileID) {
-    loader->invoke(&CustomTileLoader::invalidateTile, tileID);
+    loader->self().invoke(&CustomTileLoader::invalidateTile, tileID);
 }
 
 void CustomGeometrySource::invalidateRegion(const LatLngBounds& bounds) {
-    loader->invoke(&CustomTileLoader::invalidateRegion, bounds, impl().getZoomRange());
+    loader->self().invoke(&CustomTileLoader::invalidateRegion, bounds, impl().getZoomRange());
 }
 
 } // namespace style
diff --git a/src/mbgl/tile/geometry_tile.cpp b/src/mbgl/tile/geometry_tile.cpp
index af28fe396..d686d8440 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/tile/geometry_tile.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/tile/geometry_tile.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void GeometryTile::setData(std::unique_ptr<const GeometryTileData> data_) {
     pending = true;
 
     ++correlationID;
-    worker.invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::setData, std::move(data_), correlationID);
+    worker.self().invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::setData, std::move(data_), correlationID);
 }
 
 
@@ -112,14 +112,14 @@ void GeometryTile::setLayers(const std::vector<Immutable<Layer::Impl>>& layers)
     }
 
     ++correlationID;
-    worker.invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::setLayers, std::move(impls), correlationID);
+    worker.self().invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::setLayers, std::move(impls), correlationID);
 }
 
 void GeometryTile::setShowCollisionBoxes(const bool showCollisionBoxes_) {
     if (showCollisionBoxes != showCollisionBoxes_) {
         showCollisionBoxes = showCollisionBoxes_;
         ++correlationID;
-        worker.invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::setShowCollisionBoxes, showCollisionBoxes, correlationID);
+        worker.self().invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::setShowCollisionBoxes, showCollisionBoxes, correlationID);
     }
 }
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void GeometryTile::onError(std::exception_ptr err, const uint64_t resultCorrelat
 }
     
 void GeometryTile::onGlyphsAvailable(GlyphMap glyphs) {
-    worker.invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::onGlyphsAvailable, std::move(glyphs));
+    worker.self().invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::onGlyphsAvailable, std::move(glyphs));
 }
 
 void GeometryTile::getGlyphs(GlyphDependencies glyphDependencies) {
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ void GeometryTile::getGlyphs(GlyphDependencies glyphDependencies) {
 }
 
 void GeometryTile::onImagesAvailable(ImageMap images, uint64_t imageCorrelationID) {
-    worker.invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::onImagesAvailable, std::move(images), imageCorrelationID);
+    worker.self().invoke(&GeometryTileWorker::onImagesAvailable, std::move(images), imageCorrelationID);
 }
 
 void GeometryTile::getImages(ImageRequestPair pair) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/tile/raster_dem_tile.cpp b/src/mbgl/tile/raster_dem_tile.cpp
index 5db298cf4..f29861ee7 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/tile/raster_dem_tile.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/tile/raster_dem_tile.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ void RasterDEMTile::setMetadata(optional<Timestamp> modified_, optional<Timestam
 void RasterDEMTile::setData(std::shared_ptr<const std::string> data) {
     pending = true;
     ++correlationID;
-    worker.invoke(&RasterDEMTileWorker::parse, data, correlationID, encoding);
+    worker.self().invoke(&RasterDEMTileWorker::parse, data, correlationID, encoding);
 }
 
 void RasterDEMTile::onParsed(std::unique_ptr<HillshadeBucket> result, const uint64_t resultCorrelationID) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/tile/raster_tile.cpp b/src/mbgl/tile/raster_tile.cpp
index ff23d4493..cc71c04ba 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/tile/raster_tile.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/tile/raster_tile.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ void RasterTile::setMetadata(optional<Timestamp> modified_, optional<Timestamp>
 void RasterTile::setData(std::shared_ptr<const std::string> data) {
     pending = true;
     ++correlationID;
-    worker.invoke(&RasterTileWorker::parse, data, correlationID);
+    worker.self().invoke(&RasterTileWorker::parse, data, correlationID);
 }
 
 void RasterTile::onParsed(std::unique_ptr<RasterBucket> result, const uint64_t resultCorrelationID) {
diff --git a/test/actor/actor.test.cpp b/test/actor/actor.test.cpp
index 967dc152d..7493abe26 100644
--- a/test/actor/actor.test.cpp
+++ b/test/actor/actor.test.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <mbgl/actor/actor.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/default_thread_pool.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/util/run_loop.hpp>
 
 #include <mbgl/test/util.hpp>
 
@@ -7,13 +8,12 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <future>
 #include <memory>
+#include <thread>
 
 using namespace mbgl;
 using namespace std::chrono_literals;
 
 TEST(Actor, Construction) {
-    // Construction is currently synchronous. It may become asynchronous in the future.
-
     struct Test {
         Test(ActorRef<Test>, bool& constructed) {
             constructed = true;
@@ -27,6 +27,25 @@ TEST(Actor, Construction) {
     EXPECT_TRUE(constructed);
 }
 
+TEST(Actor, Destruction) {
+    struct Test {
+        Test(ActorRef<Test>, bool& destructed_) : destructed(destructed_) {};
+        ~Test() {
+            destructed = true;
+        }
+        
+        bool& destructed;
+    };
+
+    ThreadPool pool { 1 };
+    bool destructed = false;
+    {
+        Actor<Test> test(pool, std::ref(destructed));
+    }
+
+    EXPECT_TRUE(destructed);
+}
+
 TEST(Actor, DestructionBlocksOnReceive) {
     // Destruction blocks until the actor is not receiving.
 
@@ -63,7 +82,7 @@ TEST(Actor, DestructionBlocksOnReceive) {
 
     Actor<Test> test(pool, std::move(enteredPromise), std::move(exitingFuture));
 
-    test.invoke(&Test::wait);
+    test.self().invoke(&Test::wait);
     enteredFuture.wait();
     exitingPromise.set_value();
 }
@@ -145,7 +164,7 @@ TEST(Actor, DestructionAllowedInReceiveOnSameThread) {
     auto test = std::make_unique<Actor<Test>>(pool);
 
     // Callback (triggered while mutex is locked in Mailbox::receive())
-    test->invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
+    test->self().invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
         // Destroy the Actor/Mailbox in the same thread
         test.reset();
         callbackFiredPromise.set_value();
@@ -180,16 +199,16 @@ TEST(Actor, SelfDestructionDoesntCrashWaitingReceivingThreads) {
     std::atomic<bool> waitingMessageProcessed {false};
 
     // Callback (triggered while mutex is locked in Mailbox::receive())
-    closingActor->invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
+    closingActor->self().invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
 
         // Queue up another message from another thread
         std::promise<void> messageQueuedPromise;
-        waitingActor->invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
+        waitingActor->self().invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
             // This will be waiting on the mutex in
             // Mailbox::receive(), holding a lock
             // on the weak_ptr so the mailbox is not
             // destroyed
-            closingActor->invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
+            closingActor->self().invoke(&Test::callMeBack, [&]() {
                 waitingMessageProcessed.store(true);
             });
             messageQueuedPromise.set_value();
@@ -239,10 +258,10 @@ TEST(Actor, OrderedMailbox) {
     Actor<Test> test(pool, std::move(endedPromise));
 
     for (auto i = 1; i <= 10; ++i) {
-        test.invoke(&Test::receive, i);
+        test.self().invoke(&Test::receive, i);
     }
 
-    test.invoke(&Test::end);
+    test.self().invoke(&Test::end);
     endedFuture.wait();
 }
 
@@ -275,10 +294,10 @@ TEST(Actor, NonConcurrentMailbox) {
     Actor<Test> test(pool, std::move(endedPromise));
 
     for (auto i = 1; i <= 10; ++i) {
-        test.invoke(&Test::receive, i);
+        test.self().invoke(&Test::receive, i);
     }
 
-    test.invoke(&Test::end);
+    test.self().invoke(&Test::end);
     endedFuture.wait();
 }
 
@@ -297,7 +316,7 @@ TEST(Actor, Ask) {
     ThreadPool pool { 2 };
     Actor<Test> test(pool);
 
-    auto result = test.ask(&Test::doubleIt, 1);
+    auto result = test.self().ask(&Test::doubleIt, 1);
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(result.valid());
     
@@ -324,7 +343,7 @@ TEST(Actor, AskVoid) {
     bool executed = false;
     Actor<Test> actor(pool, executed);
 
-    actor.ask(&Test::doIt).get();
+    actor.self().ask(&Test::doIt).get();
     EXPECT_TRUE(executed);
 }
 
@@ -355,6 +374,58 @@ TEST(Actor, NoSelfActorRef) {
     auto future = promise.get_future();
     Actor<WithArguments> withArguments(pool, std::move(promise));
     
-    withArguments.invoke(&WithArguments::receive);
+    withArguments.self().invoke(&WithArguments::receive);
     future.wait();
 }
+
+TEST(Actor, TwoPhaseConstruction) {
+    // This test mimics, in simplified form, the approach used by the Thread<Object> to construct
+    // its actor in two parts so that the Thread<Object> instance can be created without waiting
+    // for the target thread to be up and running.
+
+    struct Test {
+        Test(ActorRef<Test>, std::shared_ptr<bool> destroyed_)
+            : destroyed(std::move(destroyed_)) {};
+        
+        ~Test() {
+            *destroyed = true;
+        }
+        
+        void callMe(std::promise<void> p) {
+            p.set_value();
+        }
+        
+        void stop() {
+            util::RunLoop::Get()->stop();
+        }
+        
+        std::shared_ptr<bool> destroyed;
+    };
+
+    AspiringActor<Test> parent;
+    
+    auto destroyed = std::make_shared<bool>(false);
+    
+    std::promise<void> queueExecuted;
+    auto queueExecutedFuture = queueExecuted.get_future();
+    
+    parent.self().invoke(&Test::callMe, std::move(queueExecuted));
+    parent.self().invoke(&Test::stop);
+    
+    auto thread = std::thread([
+        capturedArgs = std::make_tuple(destroyed),
+        &parent
+    ] () mutable {
+        util::RunLoop loop(util::RunLoop::Type::New);
+        EstablishedActor<Test> test(loop, parent, capturedArgs);
+        loop.run();
+    });
+    
+    // should not hang
+    queueExecutedFuture.get();
+    thread.join();
+    
+    EXPECT_TRUE(*destroyed);
+}
+
+
diff --git a/test/util/thread.test.cpp b/test/util/thread.test.cpp
index 76fb5ce3f..2bcb9d895 100644
--- a/test/util/thread.test.cpp
+++ b/test/util/thread.test.cpp
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ class TestObject {
 public:
     TestObject(ActorRef<TestObject>, std::thread::id otherTid)
         : tid(std::this_thread::get_id()) {
-        EXPECT_NE(tid, otherTid);
+        EXPECT_NE(tid, otherTid); // Object is created on child thread
     }
 
     ~TestObject() {
-        EXPECT_EQ(tid, std::this_thread::get_id());
+        EXPECT_EQ(tid, std::this_thread::get_id()); // Object is destroyed on child thread
     }
 
     void fn1(int val) const {
@@ -275,3 +275,60 @@ TEST(Thread, PauseResume) {
     thread.actor().invoke(&TestWorker::send, [&] { loop.stop(); });
     loop.run();
 }
+
+
+class TestWorkerDelayedConstruction {
+public:
+    TestWorkerDelayedConstruction(ActorRef<TestWorkerDelayedConstruction>, std::future<void> start) {
+        start.get();
+    }
+
+    void send(std::function<void ()> cb) {
+        cb();
+    }
+
+private:
+    Timer timer;
+};
+
+TEST(Thread, InvokeBeforeChildStarts) {
+    RunLoop loop;
+
+    std::promise<void> start;
+    Thread<TestWorkerDelayedConstruction> thread("Test", start.get_future());
+    
+    std::atomic<int> count { 0 };
+    
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < 100; ++i) {
+        thread.actor().invoke(&TestWorkerDelayedConstruction::send, [&] { ++count; });
+    }
+
+    thread.actor().invoke(&TestWorkerDelayedConstruction::send, [&] { loop.stop(); });
+
+    // This test will be flaky if messages are consumed before the target object is constructed.
+    ASSERT_EQ(count, 0);
+
+    start.set_value();
+    
+    loop.run();
+
+    ASSERT_EQ(count, 100);
+}
+
+TEST(Thread, DeleteBeforeChildStarts) {
+    std::atomic_bool flag(false);
+    std::promise<void> start;
+
+    Thread<TestWorker> control("Control");
+    auto thread = std::make_unique<Thread<TestWorkerDelayedConstruction>>("Test", start.get_future());
+    
+    thread->actor().invoke(&TestWorkerDelayedConstruction::send, [&] { flag = true; });
+
+    control.actor().invoke(&TestWorker::sendDelayed, [&] { start.set_value(); });
+
+    // Should not hang.
+    thread.reset();
+
+    // Should process the queue before destruction.
+    ASSERT_TRUE(flag);
+}