diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 608fcf2..5cf125c 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ mod db;
 mod migrations;
 mod model;
 mod option_future;
+mod program_runner;
 mod section_interface;
 mod section_runner;
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/src/program_runner.rs b/src/program_runner.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8747247
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/program_runner.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,459 @@
+use crate::model::{ProgramId, ProgramRef, Programs, Sections};
+use crate::section_runner::{SectionEvent, SectionRunHandle, SectionRunner};
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
+use thiserror::Error;
+use tokio::{
+    spawn,
+    sync::{broadcast, mpsc, oneshot},
+};
+use tracing::{debug, error, trace, trace_span, warn};
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum RunnerMsg {
+    Quit,
+    UpdateSections(Sections),
+    UpdatePrograms(Programs),
+    RunProgramId(ProgramId),
+    RunProgram(ProgramRef),
+    CancelProgram(ProgramId),
+    Subscribe(oneshot::Sender<ProgramEventRecv>),
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub enum ProgramEvent {
+    RunStart(ProgramRef),
+    RunFinish(ProgramRef),
+}
+
+pub type ProgramEventRecv = broadcast::Receiver<ProgramEvent>;
+type ProgramEventSend = broadcast::Sender<ProgramEvent>;
+
+const EVENT_CAPACITY: usize = 8;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+enum RunState {
+    Waiting,
+    Running,
+    Finished,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct ProgRun {
+    program: ProgramRef,
+    state: RunState,
+    sec_run_handles: Vec<SectionRunHandle>,
+}
+
+impl ProgRun {
+    fn new(program: ProgramRef) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            program,
+            state: RunState::Waiting,
+            sec_run_handles: Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+type RunQueue = VecDeque<ProgRun>;
+
+struct RunnerTask {
+    section_runner: SectionRunner,
+    msg_recv: mpsc::Receiver<RunnerMsg>,
+    running: bool,
+    sections: Sections,
+    programs: Programs,
+    event_send: Option<ProgramEventSend>,
+}
+
+impl RunnerTask {
+    fn new(section_runner: SectionRunner, msg_recv: mpsc::Receiver<RunnerMsg>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            section_runner,
+            msg_recv,
+            running: true,
+            sections: Sections::new(),
+            programs: Programs::new(),
+            event_send: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn send_event(&mut self, event: ProgramEvent) {
+        if let Some(event_send) = &mut self.event_send {
+            match event_send.send(event) {
+                Ok(_) => {}
+                Err(_closed) => {
+                    self.event_send = None;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn subscribe_event(&mut self) -> ProgramEventRecv {
+        match &mut self.event_send {
+            Some(event_send) => event_send.subscribe(),
+            None => {
+                let (event_send, event_recv) = broadcast::channel(EVENT_CAPACITY);
+                self.event_send = Some(event_send);
+                event_recv
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn start_program_run(&mut self, run: &mut ProgRun) {
+        if run.state != RunState::Waiting {
+            warn!(
+                program_id = run.program.id,
+                "cannot run program which is already running"
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        run.sec_run_handles.reserve(run.program.sequence.len());
+        for item in &run.program.sequence {
+            let section = match self.sections.get(&item.section_id) {
+                Some(sec) => sec.clone(),
+                None => {
+                    warn!(
+                        program_id = run.program.id,
+                        section_id = item.section_id,
+                        "trying to run program with nonexistant section"
+                    );
+                    continue;
+                }
+            };
+            let handle = match self.section_runner.queue_run(section, item.duration).await {
+                Ok(handle) => handle,
+                Err(_closed) => {
+                    error!("section runner channel closed");
+                    self.running = false;
+                    return;
+                }
+            };
+            run.sec_run_handles.push(handle);
+        }
+        run.state = RunState::Running;
+        debug!(program_id = run.program.id, "started running program");
+        self.send_event(ProgramEvent::RunStart(run.program.clone()));
+    }
+
+    async fn process_queue(&mut self, run_queue: &mut RunQueue) {
+        while let Some(current_run) = run_queue.front_mut() {
+            let run_finished = match current_run.state {
+                RunState::Waiting => {
+                    self.start_program_run(current_run).await;
+                    false
+                }
+                RunState::Running => false,
+                RunState::Finished => true,
+            };
+            if run_finished {
+                run_queue.pop_front();
+            } else {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn handle_msg(&mut self, msg: Option<RunnerMsg>, run_queue: &mut RunQueue) {
+        let msg = msg.expect("SectionRunner channel closed");
+        use RunnerMsg::*;
+        trace!(msg = debug(&msg), "runner_task recv");
+        match msg {
+            Quit => self.running = false,
+            Subscribe(res_send) => {
+                let event_recv = self.subscribe_event();
+                // Ignore error if channel closed
+                let _ = res_send.send(event_recv);
+            }
+            UpdateSections(new_sections) => {
+                self.sections = new_sections;
+            }
+            UpdatePrograms(new_programs) => {
+                self.programs = new_programs;
+            }
+            RunProgramId(program_id) => {
+                let program = match self.programs.get(&program_id) {
+                    Some(program) => program.clone(),
+                    None => {
+                        warn!(program_id, "trying to run non-existant program");
+                        return;
+                    }
+                };
+                run_queue.push_back(ProgRun::new(program));
+            }
+            RunProgram(program) => {
+                run_queue.push_back(ProgRun::new(program));
+            }
+            RunnerMsg::CancelProgram(_) => todo!(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn handle_finished_run(
+        &mut self,
+        finished_run: SectionRunHandle,
+        run_queue: &mut RunQueue,
+    ) -> Option<()> {
+        let current_run = run_queue.front_mut()?;
+        let last_run_handle = current_run.sec_run_handles.last()?;
+        if finished_run == *last_run_handle {
+            current_run.state = RunState::Finished;
+            debug!(
+                program_id = current_run.program.id,
+                "finished running program"
+            );
+            self.send_event(ProgramEvent::RunFinish(current_run.program.clone()));
+        }
+        Some(())
+    }
+
+    fn handle_sec_event(
+        &mut self,
+        sec_event: Result<SectionEvent, broadcast::RecvError>,
+        run_queue: &mut RunQueue,
+    ) {
+        let sec_event = match sec_event {
+            Ok(ev) => ev,
+            Err(broadcast::RecvError::Lagged(missed)) => {
+                warn!(
+                    missed,
+                    "missed some section events, increase event channel size"
+                );
+                return;
+            }
+            Err(broadcast::RecvError::Closed) => {
+                error!("section events channel closed");
+                self.running = false;
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+        #[allow(clippy::single_match)]
+        match sec_event {
+            SectionEvent::RunFinish(finished_run) => {
+                self.handle_finished_run(finished_run, run_queue);
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn start(mut self) {
+        let span = trace_span!("runner_task");
+        let _enter = span.enter();
+
+        let mut sec_events = self
+            .section_runner
+            .subscribe()
+            .await
+            .expect("could not subscribe to SectionRunner events");
+
+        let mut run_queue: RunQueue = VecDeque::new();
+
+        while self.running {
+            self.process_queue(&mut run_queue).await;
+            tokio::select! {
+                msg = self.msg_recv.recv() => self.handle_msg(msg, &mut run_queue),
+                sec_event = sec_events.recv() => self.handle_sec_event(sec_event, &mut run_queue),
+                // _ = &mut self.delay_future, if self.delay_future.is_some() => delay_done()
+            };
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Error)]
+#[error("the SectionRunner channel is closed")]
+pub struct ChannelClosed;
+
+pub type Result<T, E = ChannelClosed> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
+
+impl<T> From<mpsc::error::SendError<T>> for ChannelClosed {
+    fn from(_: mpsc::error::SendError<T>) -> Self {
+        Self
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<oneshot::error::RecvError> for ChannelClosed {
+    fn from(_: oneshot::error::RecvError) -> Self {
+        Self
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct ProgramRunner {
+    msg_send: mpsc::Sender<RunnerMsg>,
+}
+
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+impl ProgramRunner {
+    pub fn new(section_runner: SectionRunner) -> Self {
+        let (msg_send, msg_recv) = mpsc::channel(8);
+        spawn(RunnerTask::new(section_runner, msg_recv).start());
+        Self { msg_send }
+    }
+
+    pub async fn quit(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.msg_send.send(RunnerMsg::Quit).await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub async fn update_sections(&mut self, new_sections: Sections) -> Result<()> {
+        self.msg_send
+            .send(RunnerMsg::UpdateSections(new_sections))
+            .await
+            .map_err(From::from)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn update_programs(&mut self, new_programs: Programs) -> Result<()> {
+        self.msg_send
+            .send(RunnerMsg::UpdatePrograms(new_programs))
+            .await
+            .map_err(From::from)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn run_program_id(&mut self, program_id: ProgramId) -> Result<()> {
+        self.msg_send
+            .send(RunnerMsg::RunProgramId(program_id))
+            .await
+            .map_err(From::from)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn run_program(&mut self, program: ProgramRef) -> Result<()> {
+        self.msg_send
+            .send(RunnerMsg::RunProgram(program))
+            .await
+            .map_err(From::from)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn cancel_program(&mut self, program_id: ProgramId) -> Result<()> {
+        self.msg_send
+            .send(RunnerMsg::CancelProgram(program_id))
+            .await
+            .map_err(From::from)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn subscribe(&mut self) -> Result<ProgramEventRecv> {
+        let (res_send, res_recv) = oneshot::channel();
+        self.msg_send.send(RunnerMsg::Subscribe(res_send)).await?;
+        let event_recv = res_recv.await?;
+        Ok(event_recv)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::section_interface::{MockSectionInterface, SectionInterface};
+    use crate::{
+        model::{Program, ProgramItem, Section},
+        trace_listeners::{EventListener, Filters, SpanFilters, SpanListener},
+    };
+    use im::ordmap;
+    use std::{sync::Arc, time::Duration};
+    use tracing_subscriber::prelude::*;
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_quit() {
+        let quit_msg = EventListener::new(
+            Filters::new()
+                .target("sprinklers_rs::program_runner")
+                .message("runner_task recv")
+                .field_value("msg", "Quit"),
+        );
+        let task_span = SpanListener::new(
+            SpanFilters::new()
+                .target("sprinklers_rs::program_runner")
+                .name("runner_task"),
+        );
+        let subscriber = tracing_subscriber::registry()
+            .with(quit_msg.clone())
+            .with(task_span.clone());
+        let _sub = tracing::subscriber::set_default(subscriber);
+
+        let interface = MockSectionInterface::new(6);
+        let sec_runner = SectionRunner::new(Arc::new(interface));
+        let mut runner = ProgramRunner::new(sec_runner);
+        tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+        runner.quit().await.unwrap();
+        tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+
+        assert_eq!(quit_msg.get_count(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(task_span.get_exit_count(), 1);
+    }
+
+    fn make_sections_and_runner() -> (Sections, SectionRunner, Arc<MockSectionInterface>) {
+        let interface = Arc::new(MockSectionInterface::new(2));
+        let sections: Sections = ordmap![
+            1 => Section {
+                id: 1,
+                name: "Section 1".into(),
+                interface_id: 0,
+            }.into(),
+            2 => Section {
+                id: 2,
+                name: "Section 2".into(),
+                interface_id: 1,
+            }.into()
+        ];
+        let sec_runner = SectionRunner::new(interface.clone());
+        (sections, sec_runner, interface)
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_run_program() {
+        tracing_subscriber::fmt().init();
+        let (sections, mut sec_runner, interface) = make_sections_and_runner();
+        let mut sec_events = sec_runner.subscribe().await.unwrap();
+        let mut runner = ProgramRunner::new(sec_runner);
+        let mut prog_events = runner.subscribe().await.unwrap();
+
+        let program: ProgramRef = Program {
+            id: 1,
+            name: "Program 1".into(),
+            sequence: vec![
+                ProgramItem {
+                    section_id: 1,
+                    duration: Duration::from_secs(10),
+                },
+                ProgramItem {
+                    section_id: 2,
+                    duration: Duration::from_secs(10),
+                },
+            ],
+        }
+        .into();
+
+        runner.update_sections(sections.clone()).await.unwrap();
+
+        runner.run_program(program).await.unwrap();
+        tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+        assert!(matches!(
+            prog_events.try_recv().unwrap(),
+            ProgramEvent::RunStart(prog)
+            if prog.id == 1
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            sec_events.try_recv().unwrap(),
+            SectionEvent::RunStart(_)
+        ));
+        assert_eq!(interface.get_section_state(0), true);
+
+        tokio::time::pause();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            sec_events.recv().await.unwrap(),
+            SectionEvent::RunFinish(_)
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            sec_events.recv().await.unwrap(),
+            SectionEvent::RunStart(_)
+        ));
+        assert_eq!(interface.get_section_state(0), false);
+        assert_eq!(interface.get_section_state(1), true);
+        assert!(matches!(
+            sec_events.recv().await.unwrap(),
+            SectionEvent::RunFinish(_)
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            prog_events.recv().await.unwrap(),
+            ProgramEvent::RunFinish(_)
+        ));
+
+        runner.quit().await.unwrap();
+    }
+}