diff --git a/src/tools/perf/libperf.c b/src/tools/perf/libperf.c
index f3c2ebb08bb..c8d968327a8 100644
--- a/src/tools/perf/libperf.c
+++ b/src/tools/perf/libperf.c
@@ -1173,6 +1173,9 @@ static ucs_status_t uct_perf_setup(ucx_perf_context_t *perf, ucx_perf_params_t *
         goto out_free_mem;
     }
 
+    uct_iface_progress_enable(perf->uct.iface,
+                              UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
+
     return UCS_OK;
 
 out_free_mem:
diff --git a/src/ucp/core/ucp_context.c b/src/ucp/core/ucp_context.c
index a10dd627e38..298f55d7279 100644
--- a/src/ucp/core/ucp_context.c
+++ b/src/ucp/core/ucp_context.c
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ void ucp_context_tag_offload_enable(ucp_context_h context)
 
         offload_iface = ucs_queue_head_elem_non_empty(&context->tm.offload.ifaces,
                                                       ucp_worker_iface_t, queue);
-        ucp_worker_iface_activate(offload_iface);
+        ucp_worker_iface_activate(offload_iface, 0);
 
         ucs_debug("Enable TM offload: thresh %zu, zcopy_thresh %zu",
                   context->tm.offload.thresh, context->tm.offload.zcopy_thresh);
diff --git a/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.c b/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.c
index e8e2ad34107..70c1e27e7ad 100644
--- a/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.c
+++ b/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.c
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ ucp_worker_iface_error_handler(void *arg, uct_ep_h uct_ep, ucs_status_t status)
     }
 }
 
-void ucp_worker_iface_activate(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface)
+void ucp_worker_iface_activate(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface, unsigned uct_flags)
 {
     ucp_worker_h worker = wiface->worker;
     ucs_status_t status;
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ void ucp_worker_iface_activate(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface)
     }
 
     uct_iface_progress_enable(wiface->iface,
-                              UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
+                              UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV | uct_flags);
 }
 
 static void ucp_worker_iface_deactivate(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface, int force)
@@ -451,7 +451,12 @@ void ucp_worker_iface_progress_ep(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface)
     ucs_trace_func("iface=%p", wiface->iface);
 
     UCS_ASYNC_BLOCK(&wiface->worker->async);
-    ucp_worker_iface_activate(wiface);
+
+    /* This function may be called from progress thread (such as when processing
+     * wireup messages), so ask UCT to be thread-safe.
+     */
+    ucp_worker_iface_activate(wiface, UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE);
+
     UCS_ASYNC_UNBLOCK(&wiface->worker->async);
 }
 
@@ -488,7 +493,7 @@ static ucs_status_t ucp_worker_iface_check_events_do(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface,
     *progress_count = uct_iface_progress(wiface->iface);
     if (prev_am_count != wiface->proxy_am_count) {
         /* Received relevant active messages, activate the interface */
-        ucp_worker_iface_activate(wiface);
+        ucp_worker_iface_activate(wiface, 0);
         return UCS_OK;
     } else if (*progress_count == 0) {
         /* Arm the interface to wait for next event */
@@ -682,10 +687,6 @@ ucp_worker_add_iface(ucp_worker_h worker, ucp_rsc_index_t tl_id,
                tl_id, wiface->iface, UCT_TL_RESOURCE_DESC_ARG(&resource->tl_rsc),
                worker);
 
-    /* Disable progress until we know better */
-    uct_iface_progress_disable(wiface->iface, UCT_PROGRESS_SEND |
-                                              UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
-
     VALGRIND_MAKE_MEM_UNDEFINED(&wiface->attr, sizeof(wiface->attr));
     status = uct_iface_query(wiface->iface, &wiface->attr);
     if (status != UCS_OK) {
@@ -725,7 +726,7 @@ ucp_worker_add_iface(ucp_worker_h worker, ucp_rsc_index_t tl_id,
         {
             ucp_worker_iface_deactivate(wiface, 1);
         } else {
-            ucp_worker_iface_activate(wiface);
+            ucp_worker_iface_activate(wiface, 0);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.h b/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.h
index 916755910a5..dba1dca46ca 100644
--- a/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.h
+++ b/src/ucp/core/ucp_worker.h
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void ucp_worker_iface_unprogress_ep(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface);
 
 void ucp_worker_signal_internal(ucp_worker_h worker);
 
-void ucp_worker_iface_activate(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface);
+void ucp_worker_iface_activate(ucp_worker_iface_t *wiface, unsigned uct_flags);
 
 static inline const char* ucp_worker_get_name(ucp_worker_h worker)
 {
diff --git a/src/uct/api/uct.h b/src/uct/api/uct.h
index 131fcd13715..4c747a5497b 100644
--- a/src/uct/api/uct.h
+++ b/src/uct/api/uct.h
@@ -290,8 +290,11 @@ enum uct_flush_flags {
  * @brief UCT progress types
  */
 enum uct_progress_types {
-    UCT_PROGRESS_SEND   = UCS_BIT(0),  /**< Progress send operations */
-    UCT_PROGRESS_RECV   = UCS_BIT(1)   /**< Progress receive operations */
+    UCT_PROGRESS_SEND        = UCS_BIT(0),  /**< Progress send operations */
+    UCT_PROGRESS_RECV        = UCS_BIT(1),  /**< Progress receive operations */
+    UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE = UCS_BIT(7)   /**< Enable/disable progress while
+                                                 another thread may be calling
+                                                 @ref ucp_worker_progress(). */
 };
 
 
@@ -2306,11 +2309,15 @@ UCT_INLINE_API ucs_status_t uct_iface_tag_recv_cancel(uct_iface_h iface,
  * Notify the transport that it should actively progress communications during
  * @ref uct_worker_progress().
  *
- * When the interface is created, its progress is enabled.
+ * When the interface is created, its progress is initially disabled.
  *
  * @param [in]  iface    The interface to enable progress.
  * @param [in]  flags    The type of progress to enable as defined by
- *                       @ref uct_progress_types.
+ *                       @ref uct_progress_types
+ *
+ * @note This function is not thread safe with respect to
+ *       @ref ucp_worker_progress(), unless the flag
+ *       @ref UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE is specified.
  *
  */
 UCT_INLINE_API void uct_iface_progress_enable(uct_iface_h iface, unsigned flags)
@@ -2327,12 +2334,16 @@ UCT_INLINE_API void uct_iface_progress_enable(uct_iface_h iface, unsigned flags)
  * @ref uct_worker_progress(). Thus the latency of other transports may be
  * improved.
  *
- * By default, progress is enabled when the interface is created.
+ * By default, progress is disabled when the interface is created.
  *
  * @param [in]  iface    The interface to disable progress.
  * @param [in]  flags    The type of progress to disable as defined by
  *                       @ref uct_progress_types.
  *
+ * @note This function is not thread safe with respect to
+ *       @ref ucp_worker_progress(), unless the flag
+ *       @ref UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE is specified.
+ *
  */
 UCT_INLINE_API void uct_iface_progress_disable(uct_iface_h iface, unsigned flags)
 {
diff --git a/src/uct/base/uct_iface.c b/src/uct/base/uct_iface.c
index 8ff721b9ce6..fe794255c2c 100644
--- a/src/uct/base/uct_iface.c
+++ b/src/uct/base/uct_iface.c
@@ -185,15 +185,31 @@ void uct_iface_close(uct_iface_h iface)
 void uct_base_iface_progress_enable(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags)
 {
     uct_base_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_base_iface_t);
+    uct_base_iface_progress_enable_cb(iface,
+                                      (ucs_callback_t)iface->super.ops.iface_progress,
+                                      flags);
+}
+
+void uct_base_iface_progress_enable_cb(uct_base_iface_t *iface,
+                                       ucs_callback_t cb, unsigned flags)
+{
     uct_priv_worker_t *worker = iface->worker;
+    unsigned thread_safe;
 
     UCS_ASYNC_BLOCK(worker->async);
 
+    thread_safe = flags & UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE;
+    flags      &= ~UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE;
+
     /* Add callback only if previous flags are 0 and new flags != 0 */
-    if (!iface->progress_flags && flags) {
-        if (iface->prog.id == UCS_CALLBACKQ_ID_NULL) {
-            iface->prog.id = ucs_callbackq_add(&worker->super.progress_q,
-                                               (ucs_callback_t)iface->super.ops.iface_progress,
+    if ((!iface->progress_flags && flags) &&
+        (iface->prog.id == UCS_CALLBACKQ_ID_NULL)) {
+        if (thread_safe) {
+            iface->prog.id = ucs_callbackq_add_safe(&worker->super.progress_q,
+                                                    cb, iface,
+                                                    UCS_CALLBACKQ_FLAG_FAST);
+        } else {
+            iface->prog.id = ucs_callbackq_add(&worker->super.progress_q, cb,
                                                iface, UCS_CALLBACKQ_FLAG_FAST);
         }
     }
@@ -206,17 +222,24 @@ void uct_base_iface_progress_disable(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags)
 {
     uct_base_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_base_iface_t);
     uct_priv_worker_t *worker = iface->worker;
+    unsigned thread_safe;
 
     UCS_ASYNC_BLOCK(worker->async);
 
+    thread_safe = flags & UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE;
+    flags      &= ~UCT_PROGRESS_THREAD_SAFE;
+
     /* Remove callback only if previous flags != 0, and removing the given
      * flags makes it become 0.
      */
-    if (iface->progress_flags && !(iface->progress_flags & ~flags)) {
-        if (iface->prog.id != UCS_CALLBACKQ_ID_NULL) {
+    if ((iface->progress_flags && !(iface->progress_flags & ~flags)) &&
+        (iface->prog.id != UCS_CALLBACKQ_ID_NULL)) {
+        if (thread_safe) {
+            ucs_callbackq_remove_safe(&worker->super.progress_q, iface->prog.id);
+        } else {
             ucs_callbackq_remove(&worker->super.progress_q, iface->prog.id);
-            iface->prog.id = UCS_CALLBACKQ_ID_NULL;
         }
+        iface->prog.id = UCS_CALLBACKQ_ID_NULL;
     }
     iface->progress_flags &= ~flags;
 
diff --git a/src/uct/base/uct_iface.h b/src/uct/base/uct_iface.h
index 12abee28d0e..b52ad540b7a 100644
--- a/src/uct/base/uct_iface.h
+++ b/src/uct/base/uct_iface.h
@@ -481,6 +481,9 @@ ucs_status_t uct_base_iface_fence(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags);
 
 void uct_base_iface_progress_enable(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags);
 
+void uct_base_iface_progress_enable_cb(uct_base_iface_t *iface,
+                                       ucs_callback_t cb, unsigned flags);
+
 void uct_base_iface_progress_disable(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags);
 
 ucs_status_t uct_base_ep_flush(uct_ep_h tl_ep, unsigned flags,
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/dc/accel/dc_mlx5.c b/src/uct/ib/dc/accel/dc_mlx5.c
index e7f390cd8cd..60a85a19f00 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/dc/accel/dc_mlx5.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/dc/accel/dc_mlx5.c
@@ -801,9 +801,6 @@ static UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_dc_mlx5_iface_t, uct_md_h md, uct_worker_h worker
                              UCT_IB_MLX5_AV_FULL_SIZE) /
                              sizeof(struct mlx5_wqe_data_seg));
 
-    /* TODO: only register progress when we have a connection */
-    uct_base_iface_progress_enable(&self->super.super.super.super.super,
-                                   UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
     ucs_debug("created dc iface %p", self);
     return UCS_OK;
 
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/dc/verbs/dc_verbs.c b/src/uct/ib/dc/verbs/dc_verbs.c
index 882769178a9..3308f847e00 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/dc/verbs/dc_verbs.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/dc/verbs/dc_verbs.c
@@ -767,9 +767,9 @@ uct_dc_verbs_poll_tx(uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface)
     return num_wcs;
 }
 
-static unsigned uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress(uct_iface_h tl_iface)
+static unsigned uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress(void *arg)
 {
-    uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_dc_verbs_iface_t);
+    uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface = arg;
     unsigned count;
 
     count = uct_rc_verbs_iface_poll_rx_common(&iface->super.super);
@@ -978,9 +978,9 @@ static ucs_status_t uct_dc_verbs_iface_tag_recv_cancel(uct_iface_h tl_iface,
                                                     ctx, force);
 }
 
-static unsigned uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress_tm(uct_iface_h tl_iface)
+static unsigned uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress_tm(void *arg)
 {
-    uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_dc_verbs_iface_t);
+    uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface = arg;
     unsigned count;
 
     count = uct_rc_verbs_iface_poll_rx_tm(&iface->verbs_common,
@@ -997,9 +997,8 @@ static ucs_status_t
 uct_dc_verbs_iface_tag_init(uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface,
                             uct_dc_verbs_iface_config_t *config)
 {
-    uct_iface_t *tl_iface = &iface->super.super.super.super.super;
-
 #if IBV_EXP_HW_TM_DC
+
     if (UCT_RC_VERBS_TM_ENABLED(&iface->verbs_common)) {
         struct ibv_exp_create_srq_attr srq_init_attr = {};
         struct ibv_exp_srq_dc_offload_params dc_op   = {};
@@ -1032,13 +1031,13 @@ uct_dc_verbs_iface_tag_init(uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface,
             return status;
         }
 
-
-        tl_iface->ops.iface_progress   = uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress_tm;
-    }
+        iface->verbs_common.progress   = uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress_tm;
+    } else
 #endif
+    {
+        iface->verbs_common.progress = uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress;
+    }
 
-    uct_base_iface_progress_enable(tl_iface,
-                                   UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
     return UCS_OK;
 }
 
@@ -1096,6 +1095,19 @@ uct_dc_verbs_iface_event_arm(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned events)
                                          UCT_RC_VERBS_TM_ENABLED(&iface->verbs_common));
 }
 
+static void uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress_enable(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags)
+{
+    uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_dc_verbs_iface_t);
+    uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_progress_enable(&iface->verbs_common,
+                                              &iface->super.super, flags);
+}
+
+static unsigned uct_dc_verbs_iface_do_progress(uct_iface_h tl_iface)
+{
+    uct_dc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_dc_verbs_iface_t);
+    return iface->verbs_common.progress(iface);
+}
+
 static void UCS_CLASS_DELETE_FUNC_NAME(uct_dc_verbs_iface_t)(uct_iface_t*);
 
 static uct_dc_iface_ops_t uct_dc_verbs_iface_ops = {
@@ -1136,9 +1148,9 @@ static uct_dc_iface_ops_t uct_dc_verbs_iface_ops = {
 #endif
     .iface_flush              = uct_dc_iface_flush,
     .iface_fence              = uct_base_iface_fence,
-    .iface_progress_enable    = uct_base_iface_progress_enable,
+    .iface_progress_enable    = uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress_enable,
     .iface_progress_disable   = uct_base_iface_progress_disable,
-    .iface_progress           = uct_dc_verbs_iface_progress,
+    .iface_progress           = uct_dc_verbs_iface_do_progress,
     .iface_event_fd_get       = uct_ib_iface_event_fd_get,
     .iface_event_arm          = uct_dc_verbs_iface_event_arm,
     .iface_close              = UCS_CLASS_DELETE_FUNC_NAME(uct_dc_verbs_iface_t),
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_ep.c b/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_ep.c
index 719f314e5d2..28e142acb3e 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_ep.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_ep.c
@@ -443,10 +443,6 @@ UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_rc_mlx5_ep_t, uct_iface_h tl_iface)
     self->qp_num       = self->super.txqp.qp->qp_num;
     self->tx.wq.bb_max = ucs_min(self->tx.wq.bb_max, iface->tx.bb_max);
     uct_rc_txqp_available_set(&self->super.txqp, self->tx.wq.bb_max);
-
-    uct_worker_progress_add_safe(iface->super.super.super.worker,
-                                 uct_rc_mlx5_iface_progress, iface,
-                                 &iface->super.super.super.prog);
     return UCS_OK;
 }
 
@@ -455,8 +451,6 @@ static UCS_CLASS_CLEANUP_FUNC(uct_rc_mlx5_ep_t)
     uct_rc_mlx5_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(self->super.super.super.iface,
                                                 uct_rc_mlx5_iface_t);
 
-    uct_worker_progress_remove(iface->super.super.super.worker,
-                               &iface->super.super.super.prog);
     uct_ib_mlx5_txwq_cleanup(&self->tx.wq);
 
     /* Modify QP to error to make HW generate CQEs for all in-progress SRQ
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_iface.c b/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_iface.c
index 162110a8ef1..d47962ed9e4 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_iface.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/accel/rc_mlx5_iface.c
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ static UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_rc_mlx5_iface_t, uct_md_h md, uct_worker_h worker
 
 static UCS_CLASS_CLEANUP_FUNC(uct_rc_mlx5_iface_t)
 {
+    uct_base_iface_progress_disable(&self->super.super.super.super,
+                                    UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
     uct_rc_mlx5_iface_common_cleanup(&self->mlx5_common);
 }
 
@@ -213,8 +215,8 @@ static uct_rc_iface_ops_t uct_rc_mlx5_iface_ops = {
     .ep_connect_to_ep         = uct_rc_ep_connect_to_ep,
     .iface_flush              = uct_rc_iface_flush,
     .iface_fence              = uct_base_iface_fence,
-    .iface_progress_enable    = ucs_empty_function,
-    .iface_progress_disable   = ucs_empty_function,
+    .iface_progress_enable    = uct_base_iface_progress_enable,
+    .iface_progress_disable   = uct_base_iface_progress_disable,
     .iface_progress           = (void*)uct_rc_mlx5_iface_progress,
     .iface_event_fd_get       = uct_ib_iface_event_fd_get,
     .iface_event_arm          = uct_rc_iface_event_arm,
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs.h b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs.h
index e3e7067a526..750de26e8af 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs.h
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs.h
@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@ typedef struct uct_rc_verbs_iface {
     struct {
         unsigned                tx_max_wr;
     } config;
-
-    /* Progress function (either regular or TM aware) */
-    ucs_callback_t              progress;
 } uct_rc_verbs_iface_t;
 
 
@@ -198,8 +195,6 @@ ucs_status_t uct_rc_verbs_ep_connect_to_ep(uct_ep_h tl_ep,
 
 ucs_status_t uct_rc_verbs_ep_get_address(uct_ep_h tl_ep, uct_ep_addr_t *addr);
 
-unsigned uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress(void *arg);
-
 ucs_status_t uct_rc_verbs_ep_fc_ctrl(uct_ep_t *tl_ep, unsigned op,
                                      uct_rc_fc_request_t *req);
 
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.c b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.c
index badc2b9d974..106564a1e4e 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.c
@@ -165,8 +165,15 @@ ucs_status_t uct_rc_verbs_iface_prepost_recvs_common(uct_rc_iface_t *iface)
     return UCS_OK;
 }
 
-#if IBV_EXP_HW_TM
+void uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_progress_enable(uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_t *iface,
+                                               uct_rc_iface_t *rc_iface,
+                                               unsigned flags)
+{
+    uct_base_iface_progress_enable_cb(&rc_iface->super.super, iface->progress,
+                                      flags);
+}
 
+#if IBV_EXP_HW_TM
 
 static void uct_rc_verbs_iface_release_desc(uct_recv_desc_t *self, void *desc)
 {
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.h b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.h
index 8463e87adbf..9a6602f001e 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.h
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_common.h
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ typedef struct uct_rc_verbs_iface_common {
         uct_rc_verbs_release_desc_t  rndv_desc;
     } tm;
 #endif
+
+    /* Progress function (either regular or TM aware) */
+    ucs_callback_t              progress;
+
     /* TODO: make a separate datatype */
     struct {
         size_t             notag_hdr_size;
@@ -172,6 +176,10 @@ void uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_tag_cleanup(uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_t *iface);
 
 ucs_status_t uct_rc_verbs_iface_prepost_recvs_common(uct_rc_iface_t *iface);
 
+void uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_progress_enable(uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_t *iface,
+                                               uct_rc_iface_t *rc_iface,
+                                               unsigned flags);
+
 void uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_query(uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_t *verbs_iface,
                                      uct_rc_iface_t *rc_iface, uct_iface_attr_t *iface_attr);
 
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_ep.c b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_ep.c
index 49cba9e0270..eb02d40ec4a 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_ep.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_ep.c
@@ -831,10 +831,6 @@ UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_rc_verbs_ep_t, uct_iface_h tl_iface)
     uct_rc_txqp_available_set(&self->super.txqp, iface->config.tx_max_wr);
     uct_rc_verbs_txcnt_init(&self->txcnt);
 
-    uct_worker_progress_add_safe(iface->super.super.super.worker,
-                                 iface->progress, iface,
-                                 &iface->super.super.super.prog);
-
     return uct_rc_verbs_ep_tag_qp_create(iface, self);
 }
 
@@ -842,8 +838,7 @@ static UCS_CLASS_CLEANUP_FUNC(uct_rc_verbs_ep_t)
 {
     uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(self->super.super.super.iface,
                                                  uct_rc_verbs_iface_t);
-    uct_worker_progress_remove(iface->super.super.super.worker,
-                               &iface->super.super.super.prog);
+
     /* NOTE: usually, ci == pi here, but if user calls
      *       flush(UCT_FLUSH_FLAG_CANCEL) then ep_destroy without next progress,
      *       TX-completion handler is not able to return CQ credits because
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_iface.c b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_iface.c
index 2cfd15bc715..a77d9737f6a 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_iface.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/rc/verbs/rc_verbs_iface.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ uct_rc_verbs_iface_poll_tx(uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface)
     return num_wcs;
 }
 
-unsigned uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress(void *arg)
+static unsigned uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress(void *arg)
 {
     uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface = arg;
     unsigned count;
@@ -121,11 +121,10 @@ unsigned uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress(void *arg)
     return uct_rc_verbs_iface_poll_tx(iface);
 }
 
-unsigned uct_rc_verbs_iface_do_progress(uct_iface_h tl_iface)
+static unsigned uct_rc_verbs_iface_do_progress(uct_iface_h tl_iface)
 {
     uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_rc_verbs_iface_t);
-
-    return iface->progress(iface);
+    return iface->verbs_common.progress(iface);
 }
 
 #if IBV_EXP_HW_TM
@@ -185,7 +184,7 @@ uct_rc_verbs_iface_tag_init(uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface,
     if (UCT_RC_VERBS_TM_ENABLED(&iface->verbs_common)) {
         struct ibv_exp_create_srq_attr srq_init_attr = {};
 
-        iface->progress                = uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress_tm;
+        iface->verbs_common.progress   = uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress_tm;
 
         return uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_tag_init(&iface->verbs_common,
                                                   &iface->super,
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ uct_rc_verbs_iface_tag_init(uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface,
                                                   sizeof(struct ibv_exp_tmh_rvh));
     }
 #endif
-    iface->progress = uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress;
+    iface->verbs_common.progress = uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress;
     return UCS_OK;
 }
 
@@ -261,6 +260,13 @@ static ucs_status_t uct_rc_verbs_iface_query(uct_iface_h tl_iface, uct_iface_att
     return UCS_OK;
 }
 
+static void uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress_enable(uct_iface_h tl_iface, unsigned flags)
+{
+    uct_rc_verbs_iface_t *iface = ucs_derived_of(tl_iface, uct_rc_verbs_iface_t);
+    uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_progress_enable(&iface->verbs_common, &iface->super,
+                                              flags);
+}
+
 static UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_rc_verbs_iface_t, uct_md_h md, uct_worker_h worker,
                            const uct_iface_params_t *params,
                            const uct_iface_config_t *tl_config)
@@ -334,6 +340,8 @@ static UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_rc_verbs_iface_t, uct_md_h md, uct_worker_h worke
 
 static UCS_CLASS_CLEANUP_FUNC(uct_rc_verbs_iface_t)
 {
+    uct_base_iface_progress_disable(&self->super.super.super.super,
+                                    UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
     uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_tag_cleanup(&self->verbs_common);
     uct_rc_verbs_iface_common_cleanup(&self->verbs_common);
 }
@@ -373,8 +381,8 @@ static uct_rc_iface_ops_t uct_rc_verbs_iface_ops = {
     .ep_connect_to_ep         = uct_rc_verbs_ep_connect_to_ep,
     .iface_flush              = uct_rc_iface_flush,
     .iface_fence              = uct_base_iface_fence,
-    .iface_progress_enable    = ucs_empty_function,
-    .iface_progress_disable   = ucs_empty_function,
+    .iface_progress_enable    = uct_rc_verbs_iface_progress_enable,
+    .iface_progress_disable   = uct_base_iface_progress_disable,
     .iface_progress           = uct_rc_verbs_iface_do_progress,
 #if IBV_EXP_HW_TM
     .iface_tag_recv_zcopy     = uct_rc_verbs_iface_tag_recv_zcopy,
diff --git a/src/uct/ib/ud/base/ud_iface.c b/src/uct/ib/ud/base/ud_iface.c
index 6737e4a8bc9..bfb5bccecb5 100644
--- a/src/uct/ib/ud/base/ud_iface.c
+++ b/src/uct/ib/ud/base/ud_iface.c
@@ -367,8 +367,6 @@ ucs_status_t uct_ud_iface_complete_init(uct_ud_iface_t *iface)
         goto err_twheel_cleanup;
     }
 
-    uct_base_iface_progress_enable(&iface->super.super.super,
-                                   UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
     return UCS_OK;
 
 err_twheel_cleanup:
diff --git a/src/uct/sm/mm/mm_iface.c b/src/uct/sm/mm/mm_iface.c
index 1a2b331747b..3b45622c94e 100644
--- a/src/uct/sm/mm/mm_iface.c
+++ b/src/uct/sm/mm/mm_iface.c
@@ -550,9 +550,6 @@ static UCS_CLASS_INIT_FUNC(uct_mm_iface_t, uct_md_h md, uct_worker_h worker,
 
     ucs_arbiter_init(&self->arbiter);
 
-    uct_base_iface_progress_enable(&self->super.super,
-                                   UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
-
     ucs_debug("Created an MM iface. FIFO mm id: %zu", self->fifo_mm_id);
     return UCS_OK;
 
diff --git a/test/examples/uct_hello_world.c b/test/examples/uct_hello_world.c
index 43381c5525e..8e1e8c0014b 100644
--- a/test/examples/uct_hello_world.c
+++ b/test/examples/uct_hello_world.c
@@ -231,6 +231,10 @@ static ucs_status_t init_iface(char *dev_name, char *tl_name,
     uct_config_release(config);
     CHKERR_JUMP(UCS_OK != status, "open temporary interface", error_ret);
 
+    /* Enable progress on the interface */
+    uct_iface_progress_enable(iface_p->iface,
+                              UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
+
     /* Get interface attributes */
     status = uct_iface_query(iface_p->iface, &iface_p->attr);
     CHKERR_JUMP(UCS_OK != status, "query iface", error_iface);
diff --git a/test/gtest/uct/uct_test.cc b/test/gtest/uct/uct_test.cc
index 049224f3f05..745e3cd8e05 100644
--- a/test/gtest/uct/uct_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest/uct/uct_test.cc
@@ -272,6 +272,8 @@ uct_test::entity::entity(const resource& resource, uct_iface_config_t *iface_con
 
     status = uct_iface_query(m_iface, &m_iface_attr);
     ASSERT_UCS_OK(status);
+
+    uct_iface_progress_enable(m_iface, UCT_PROGRESS_SEND | UCT_PROGRESS_RECV);
 }