diff --git a/modules/ca/src/client/access.cpp b/modules/ca/src/client/access.cpp
index 3fc26ae88..19f62460f 100644
--- a/modules/ca/src/client/access.cpp
+++ b/modules/ca/src/client/access.cpp
@@ -717,6 +717,18 @@ int epicsStdCall ca_context_status ( ca_client_context * pcac, unsigned level )
     return ECA_NORMAL;
 }
 
+extern "C"
+LIBCA_API
+void dbCaSyncLocal(void);
+
+void dbCaSyncLocal(void)
+{
+    if(struct ca_client_context * ctxt = ca_current_context()) {
+        // bounce for access to private data member
+        ctxt->sync();
+    }
+}
+
 /*
  * ca_current_context ()
  *
diff --git a/modules/ca/src/client/ca_client_context.cpp b/modules/ca/src/client/ca_client_context.cpp
index 6a3b3b1b2..6dd15826c 100644
--- a/modules/ca/src/client/ca_client_context.cpp
+++ b/modules/ca/src/client/ca_client_context.cpp
@@ -728,6 +728,12 @@ epicsMutex & ca_client_context::mutexRef () const
     return this->mutex;
 }
 
+void ca_client_context::sync()
+{
+    // bounce through vtable
+    this->pServiceContext->sync();
+}
+
 cacContext & ca_client_context::createNetworkContext (
     epicsMutex & mutexIn, epicsMutex & cbMutexIn )
 {
diff --git a/modules/ca/src/client/cac.cpp b/modules/ca/src/client/cac.cpp
index fd641ad21..13ef7514c 100644
--- a/modules/ca/src/client/cac.cpp
+++ b/modules/ca/src/client/cac.cpp
@@ -398,6 +398,8 @@ void cac::flush ( epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & guard )
     }
 }
 
+void cac::sync() {}
+
 unsigned cac::circuitCount (
     epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & guard ) const
 {
diff --git a/modules/ca/src/client/cac.h b/modules/ca/src/client/cac.h
index 8fcb7c563..725254f78 100644
--- a/modules/ca/src/client/cac.h
+++ b/modules/ca/src/client/cac.h
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ public:
 
     // IO management
     void flush ( epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & guard );
+    void sync ();
     bool executeResponse ( callbackManager &, tcpiiu &,
         const epicsTime & currentTime, caHdrLargeArray &, char *pMsgBody );
 
diff --git a/modules/ca/src/client/cacIO.h b/modules/ca/src/client/cacIO.h
index 777155047..84938246c 100644
--- a/modules/ca/src/client/cacIO.h
+++ b/modules/ca/src/client/cacIO.h
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ public:
         cacChannel::priLev = cacChannel::priorityDefault ) = 0;
     virtual void flush (
         epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & ) = 0;
+    virtual void sync () = 0;
     virtual unsigned circuitCount (
         epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & ) const = 0;
     virtual void selfTest (
diff --git a/modules/ca/src/client/oldAccess.h b/modules/ca/src/client/oldAccess.h
index ec2df38ca..6fbef965c 100644
--- a/modules/ca/src/client/oldAccess.h
+++ b/modules/ca/src/client/oldAccess.h
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ public:
     void destroyPutCallback ( epicsGuard < epicsMutex > &, putCallback & );
     void destroySubscription ( epicsGuard < epicsMutex > &, oldSubscription & );
     epicsMutex & mutexRef () const;
+    void sync();
 
     template < class T >
     void whenThereIsAnExceptionDestroySyncGroupIO ( epicsGuard < epicsMutex > &, T & );
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCAC.h b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCAC.h
index 9fbba07cd..dfd7e3311 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCAC.h
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCAC.h
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ private:
         cacChannel::priLev );
     void flush (
         epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & );
+    void sync ();
     unsigned circuitCount (
         epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & ) const;
     void selfTest (
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c
index 03490e9b7..0a5214895 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbCa.c
@@ -209,9 +209,9 @@ void testdbCaWaitForEventCB(void *raw)
 {
     struct waitPvt *pvt = raw;
 
-    epicsMutexMustLock(pvt->pca->lock);
+    epicsMutexMustLock(workListLock);
     epicsEventMustTrigger(pvt->evt);
-    epicsMutexUnlock(pvt->pca->lock);
+    epicsMutexUnlock(workListLock);
 }
 
 static
@@ -239,8 +239,6 @@ void testdbCaWaitForEvent(DBLINK *plink, unsigned long cnt, enum testEvent event
         dbScanUnlock(plink->precord);
 
         epicsEventMustWait(evt);
-        /* ensure worker has finished executing */
-        dbCaSync();
 
         dbScanLock(plink->precord);
         epicsMutexMustLock(pca->lock);
@@ -250,8 +248,15 @@ void testdbCaWaitForEvent(DBLINK *plink, unsigned long cnt, enum testEvent event
         pca->userPvt = NULL;
     }
 
-    epicsEventDestroy(evt);
     epicsMutexUnlock(pca->lock);
+
+    /* ensure worker has finished executing */
+    dbCaSync();
+
+    epicsMutexMustLock(workListLock); /* lock to ensure that epicsEventMustTrigger() has returned */
+    epicsEventDestroy(evt);
+    epicsMutexUnlock(workListLock);
+
     caLinkDec(pca);
     dbScanUnlock(plink->precord);
 }
@@ -266,6 +271,10 @@ void testdbCaWaitForUpdateCount(DBLINK *plink, unsigned long cnt)
     testdbCaWaitForEvent(plink, cnt, testEventCount);
 }
 
+// private access to access.cpp
+LIBCA_API
+void dbCaSyncLocal(void);
+
 /* Block until worker thread has processed all previously queued actions.
  * Does not prevent additional actions from being queued.
  */
@@ -274,6 +283,8 @@ void dbCaSync(void)
     epicsEventId wake;
     caLink templink;
 
+    dbCaSyncLocal();
+
     /* we only partially initialize templink.
      * It has no link field and no subscription
      * so the worker must handle it early
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbContext.cpp b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbContext.cpp
index c38ca663c..9aca23d1a 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbContext.cpp
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbContext.cpp
@@ -399,6 +399,23 @@ void dbContext::flush (
     }
 }
 
+static
+void dbContextDummyExtraLabor(void *) {}
+
+void dbContext::sync()
+{
+    // ctx created lazily on first subscription
+    {
+        epicsGuard<epicsMutex> G(mutex);
+        if(!ctx)
+            return;
+    }
+    // assumes dbContext makes no other use of extra labor
+    db_add_extra_labor_event(ctx, dbContextDummyExtraLabor, NULL);
+    db_post_extra_labor(ctx);
+    db_flush_extra_labor_event(ctx);
+}
+
 unsigned dbContext::circuitCount (
     epicsGuard < epicsMutex > & guard ) const
 {