diff --git a/bec_ipython_client/tests/end-2-end/test_scans_e2e.py b/bec_ipython_client/tests/end-2-end/test_scans_e2e.py
index 238883c11..53fcb19ab 100644
--- a/bec_ipython_client/tests/end-2-end/test_scans_e2e.py
+++ b/bec_ipython_client/tests/end-2-end/test_scans_e2e.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def test_mv_scan_nested_device(capsys, bec_ipython_client_fixture):
     bec.metadata.update({"unit_test": "test_mv_scan_nested_device"})
     dev = bec.device_manager.devices
     scans.mv(dev.hexapod.x, 10, dev.hexapod.y, 20, relative=False).wait()
-    if not bec.connector._messages_queue.empty():
+    if not bec.connector._message_callbacks_queue.empty():
         print("Waiting for messages to be processed")
         time.sleep(0.5)
     current_pos_hexapod_x = dev.hexapod.x.read(cached=True)["hexapod_x"]["value"]
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def test_mv_scan_nested_device(capsys, bec_ipython_client_fixture):
         current_pos_hexapod_y, 20, atol=dev.hexapod._config["deviceConfig"].get("tolerance", 0.5)
     )
     scans.umv(dev.hexapod.x, 10, dev.hexapod.y, 20, relative=False)
-    if not bec.connector._messages_queue.empty():
+    if not bec.connector._message_callbacks_queue.empty():
         print("Waiting for messages to be processed")
         time.sleep(0.5)
     current_pos_hexapod_x = dev.hexapod.x.read(cached=True)["hexapod_x"]["value"]
diff --git a/bec_lib/bec_lib/messaging_services.py b/bec_lib/bec_lib/messaging_services.py
index 50138a76c..aceee0793 100644
--- a/bec_lib/bec_lib/messaging_services.py
+++ b/bec_lib/bec_lib/messaging_services.py
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ def __init__(self, redis_connector: RedisConnector) -> None:
         self._redis_connector.register(
             MessageEndpoints.available_messaging_services(),
             cb=self._on_new_scope_change_msg,
-            parent=self,
             from_start=True,
         )
 
@@ -142,21 +141,19 @@ def set_default_scope(self, scope: str | list[str] | None) -> None:
             raise ValueError(f"Scope '{scope}' is not available for this messaging service.")
         self._default_scope = scope
 
-    @staticmethod
     def _on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message: dict[str, messages.AvailableMessagingServicesMessage], parent: MessagingService
+        self, message: dict[str, messages.AvailableMessagingServicesMessage]
     ) -> None:
         """
         Callback for scope changes. Currently a placeholder for future functionality.
 
         Args:
             message (dict[str, messages.AvailableMessagingServicesMessage]): The scope change message.
-            parent (MessagingService): The parent messaging service instance.
         """
         msg = message["data"]
         # pylint: disable=protected-access
-        parent._service_config = msg
-        parent._update_messaging_services(msg)
+        self._service_config = msg
+        self._update_messaging_services(msg)
 
     def _update_messaging_services(
         self, service_info: messages.AvailableMessagingServicesMessage
diff --git a/bec_lib/bec_lib/redis_connector.py b/bec_lib/bec_lib/redis_connector.py
index da66d17ed..0e392eb2a 100644
--- a/bec_lib/bec_lib/redis_connector.py
+++ b/bec_lib/bec_lib/redis_connector.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import time
 import traceback
 import warnings
+from collections import defaultdict
 from collections.abc import MutableMapping, Sequence
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from dataclasses import dataclass
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
     Generator,
     Iterable,
     Literal,
+    NamedTuple,
     ParamSpec,
     TypedDict,
     TypeVar,
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@
 import louie
 import redis.client
 import redis.exceptions
+from astroid.nodes import Unknown
 from redis.backoff import ExponentialBackoff
 from redis.client import Pipeline, Redis
 from redis.retry import Retry
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@
 )
 from bec_lib.serialization import MsgpackSerialization
 
+logger = bec_logger.logger
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
     from concurrent.futures import Future
 
@@ -84,6 +88,11 @@ class InvalidItemForOperation(ValueError): ...
 class WrongArguments(ValueError): ...
 
 
+def _error_log_with_context(msg: str):
+    context = "".join(traceback.format_stack(limit=5)[:-1])
+    logger.error(msg + f" Context:\n{context}")
+
+
 def _raise_incompatible_message(msg, endpoint):
     raise IncompatibleMessageForEndpoint(
         f"Message type {type(msg)} is not compatible with endpoint {endpoint}. Expected {endpoint.message_type}"
@@ -198,34 +207,194 @@ class GeneratorExecution:
 
 
 @dataclass
-class StreamSubscriptionInfo:
-    id: str
-    topic: str
-    newest_only: bool
-    from_start: bool
+class StreamSubInfo:
     cb_ref: Callable
-    kwargs: dict
+    kwargs: dict[str, Unknown]
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        if not isinstance(other, StreamSubscriptionInfo):
+        if not isinstance(other, StreamSubInfo):
             return False
-        return (
-            self.topic == other.topic
-            and self.cb_ref == other.cb_ref
-            and self.from_start == other.from_start
-        )
+        return self.cb_ref == other.cb_ref
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return self.cb_ref.__hash__()
 
 
 @dataclass
-class DirectReadingStreamSubscriptionInfo(StreamSubscriptionInfo):
+class DirectReadStreamSubInfo(StreamSubInfo):
     stop_event: threading.Event
-    thread: threading.Thread | None = None
+    thread: threading.Thread
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return self.cb_ref.__hash__()
 
 
 @dataclass
 class StreamMessage:
     msg: dict
-    callbacks: Iterable[tuple[Callable, dict]]
+    callbacks: Iterable[tuple[Callable, dict[str, Unknown]]]
+
+
+class StreamSubsEntry(NamedTuple):
+    read_id: str
+    subs: set[StreamSubInfo]
+
+
+StreamResponseList = list[tuple[bytes, list[tuple[bytes, dict[bytes, bytes]]]]]
+StreamSubsRegistry = dict[str, StreamSubsEntry]
+
+
+class StreamSubs:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        """Manager for stream subscriptions. Since operations often need to be combined,
+        use the lock directly at point of call, it is generally not used in the methods."""
+        self.lock = threading.RLock()
+
+        self._subs: StreamSubsRegistry = {}
+        self._direct_read_subs: dict[
+            str, dict[DirectReadStreamSubInfo, DirectReadStreamSubInfo]
+        ] = {}
+        self.from_start_subs: dict[str, set[StreamSubInfo]] = {}
+
+    @property
+    def normal_subs(self):
+        return {t: s.subs for t, s in self._subs.items()}
+
+    @property
+    def all_topics(self):
+        with self.lock:
+            from_start_keys = [k for k in self.from_start_subs if self.from_start_subs[k] != set()]
+            dr_sub_keys = [k for k in self._direct_read_subs if self._direct_read_subs[k] != set()]
+            return list(set((*self._subs.keys(), *dr_sub_keys, *from_start_keys)))
+
+    def topic_ids(self) -> dict[str, str]:
+        """Get Redis read Ids for active subscriptions"""
+        return {topic: infos.read_id for topic, infos in self._subs.items()}
+
+    def update_normal_ids(self, updated_ids: dict[str, str]):
+        for topic, id in updated_ids.items():
+            if topic in self._subs:
+                self._subs[topic] = StreamSubsEntry(id, self._subs[topic].subs)
+
+    def from_start_topics(self) -> set[str]:
+        """Get topics for new `from_start` subscriptions which haven't been read yet"""
+        return set(self.from_start_subs.keys())
+
+    def end_id(self, topic: str):
+        """Return the last read id for a given topic if given, or "+" """
+        return self._subs[topic].read_id if topic in self._subs else "+"
+
+    def move_from_start_to_normal(self, topics_and_end_ids: dict[str, str]):
+        if topics_and_end_ids.keys() != self.from_start_subs.keys():
+            _error_log_with_context(
+                f"Mismatch of subs to move! {topics_and_end_ids.keys()=}, {self.from_start_subs.keys()=} Was a lock forgotten?"
+            )
+        for topic in topics_and_end_ids:
+            if topic in self._subs:
+                if topics_and_end_ids[topic] != self._subs[topic].read_id:
+                    _error_log_with_context(f"Mismatch of ID! Was a lock forgotten?")
+                for sub in self.from_start_subs.pop(topic):
+                    self._subs[topic].subs.add(sub)  # type: ignore
+            else:
+                self._subs[topic] = StreamSubsEntry(
+                    read_id=topics_and_end_ids[topic], subs=self.from_start_subs.pop(topic)
+                )
+
+    def is_already_registered(self, topic: str, new_sub: StreamSubInfo):
+        return (
+            (topic in self.from_start_subs and new_sub in self.from_start_subs[topic])
+            or (topic in self._direct_read_subs and new_sub in self._direct_read_subs[topic])
+            or (topic in self._subs and new_sub in self._subs[topic].subs)
+        )
+
+    def _check_registered(self, topic: str, new_sub: StreamSubInfo):
+        if self.is_already_registered(topic, new_sub):
+            raise ValueError(f"Received duplicate subscription for {new_sub=}.")
+
+    def add_direct_listener(self, topic: str, new_sub: DirectReadStreamSubInfo):
+        self._check_registered(topic, new_sub)
+        if not topic in self._direct_read_subs:
+            self._direct_read_subs[topic] = {}
+        self._direct_read_subs[topic][new_sub] = new_sub
+        new_sub.thread.start()
+
+    def add(self, from_start: bool, last_id: str, topic: str, new_sub: StreamSubInfo):
+        self._check_registered(topic, new_sub)
+        if from_start:
+            if topic in self.from_start_subs:
+                subs = self.from_start_subs[topic]
+            else:
+                subs = set()
+                self.from_start_subs[topic] = subs
+        else:
+            if not topic in self._subs:
+                subs = set()
+                self._subs[topic] = StreamSubsEntry(read_id=last_id, subs=subs)
+            else:
+                subs = self._subs[topic].subs
+        subs.add(new_sub)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _kill_direct_stream(sub: DirectReadStreamSubInfo, topic: str):
+        sub.stop_event.set()
+        sub.thread.join(timeout=1)
+        if sub.thread.is_alive():
+            _error_log_with_context(
+                f"RedisConnector direct stream callback thread for {topic=}, {sub.cb_ref=} failed to shutdown"
+            )
+
+    def remove(self, topic: str, cb: Callable | None = None) -> bool:
+        removed = False
+        if cb is None:  # Remove all subs for the given topic
+            removed |= bool(self.from_start_subs.pop(topic, False))
+            removed |= bool(self._subs.pop(topic, False))
+            if (subs := self._direct_read_subs.pop(topic, None)) is not None:
+                for sub in subs:
+                    self._kill_direct_stream(sub, topic)
+                    removed = True
+            return removed
+        test_subinfo = StreamSubInfo(louie.saferef.safe_ref(cb), {})
+        if topic in self.from_start_subs and test_subinfo in self.from_start_subs[topic]:
+            self.from_start_subs[topic].remove(test_subinfo)
+            removed = True
+            if len(self.from_start_subs[topic]) == 0:
+                del self.from_start_subs[topic]
+        if topic in self._direct_read_subs and test_subinfo in self._direct_read_subs[topic]:
+            sub = self._direct_read_subs[topic].pop(test_subinfo)  # type: ignore # hash is the same
+            self._kill_direct_stream(sub, topic)
+            removed = True
+            if len(self._direct_read_subs[topic]) == 0:
+                del self._direct_read_subs[topic]
+        if topic in self._subs and test_subinfo in self._subs[topic].subs:
+            self._subs[topic].subs.remove(test_subinfo)
+            removed = True
+            if len(self._subs[topic].subs) == 0:
+                del self._subs[topic]
+        return removed
+
+    def gc_cb_refs(self):
+        for topic, entry in list(self._subs.items()):
+            for info in list(entry.subs):
+                if not info.cb_ref():
+                    entry.subs.remove(info)
+            if len(self._subs[topic].subs) == 0:
+                del self._subs[topic]
+        for topic, entry in list(self._direct_read_subs.items()):
+            for info in list(entry.keys()):
+                if not info.cb_ref():
+                    info.stop_event.set()
+                    info.thread.join(0.05)
+                    if info.thread.is_alive():
+                        _error_log_with_context(f"Failed to garbage collect in 0.05s {info}")
+                    del entry[info]
+            if self._direct_read_subs[topic] == {}:
+                del self._direct_read_subs[topic]
+        for topic, subs in list(self.from_start_subs.items()):
+            for info in list(subs):
+                if not info.cb_ref():
+                    subs.remove(info)
+            if len(self.from_start_subs[topic]) == 0:
+                del self.from_start_subs[topic]
 
 
 class RedisConnector:
@@ -276,16 +445,15 @@ def redis_connect_func(_redis_conn):
             collections.defaultdict(list)
         )
         self._topics_cb_lock = threading.Lock()
-        self._stream_topics_subscription = collections.defaultdict(list)
-        self._stream_topics_subscription_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._stream_subs = StreamSubs()
 
         self._events_listener_thread: threading.Thread | None = None
         self._stream_events_listener_thread: threading.Thread | None = None
         self._events_dispatcher_thread: threading.Thread | None = None
-        self._messages_queue = queue.Queue()
+        self._message_callbacks_queue = queue.Queue()
         self._stop_events_listener_thread = threading.Event()
         self._stop_stream_events_listener_thread = threading.Event()
-        self.stream_keys: dict[str, str] = {}
+        self.stream_keys: dict[str, str] = {}  # for explicit reads, not subscriptions
 
         self._generator_executor = ThreadPoolExecutor()
 
@@ -392,12 +560,12 @@ def shutdown(self, per_thread_timeout_s: float | None = None):
             self._stream_events_listener_thread.join(timeout=per_thread_timeout_s)
             self._stream_events_listener_thread = None
         if self._events_dispatcher_thread:
-            self._messages_queue.put(StopIteration)
+            self._message_callbacks_queue.put(StopIteration)
             self._events_dispatcher_thread.join(timeout=per_thread_timeout_s)
             self._events_dispatcher_thread = None
 
         # this will take care of shutting down direct listening threads
-        self._unregister_stream(self._stream_topics_subscription)
+        self._unregister_stream(self._stream_subs.all_topics)
 
         # release all connections
         self._pubsub_conn.close()
@@ -463,7 +631,7 @@ def raise_alarm(self, severity: Alarms, info: ErrorInfo, metadata: dict | None =
             >>> connector.raise_alarm(
                 severity=Alarms.WARNING,
                 info=ErrorInfo(
-                    id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
+                    id=str(uuid.uuid4()),_stream_topic_subscriptions
                     error_message="ValueError",
                     compact_error_message="test alarm",
                     exception_type="ValueError",
@@ -571,6 +739,19 @@ def _normalize_patterns(self, patterns) -> list[str]:
             raise ValueError("register: patterns must be a string or a list of strings")
         return patterns
 
+    def any_stream_is_registered(
+        self, topics: EndpointInfo | str | list[EndpointInfo] | list[str], cb: Callable
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Check if any stream in `topics` is already registered with this callback.
+        Does not check if the topic is a stream in Redis, it will just return False."""
+        with self._stream_subs.lock:
+            return any(
+                self._stream_subs.is_already_registered(
+                    topic, StreamSubInfo(louie.saferef.safe_ref(cb), {})
+                )
+                for topic in self._convert_endpointinfo(topics)[0]
+            )
+
     def register(
         self,
         topics: str | list[str] | EndpointInfo | list[EndpointInfo] | None = None,
@@ -648,7 +829,7 @@ def register(
                         self._topics_cb[topic].append(item)
         self._start_events_dispatcher_thread(start_thread)
 
-    def _add_direct_stream_listener(self, topic, cb_ref, **kwargs):
+    def _create_direct_stream_listener(self, topic, cb_ref, kwargs):
         """
         Add a direct listener for a topic. This is used when newest_only is True.
 
@@ -658,123 +839,98 @@ def _add_direct_stream_listener(self, topic, cb_ref, **kwargs):
             kwargs (dict): additional keyword arguments to be transmitted to the callback
 
         Returns:
-            None
+            DirectReadStreamSubInfo with an unstarted thread
         """
-        info = DirectReadingStreamSubscriptionInfo(
-            id="-",
-            topic=topic,
-            newest_only=True,
-            from_start=False,
-            cb_ref=cb_ref,
-            kwargs=kwargs,
-            stop_event=threading.Event(),
+        stop_event = threading.Event()
+        thread = threading.Thread(
+            target=self._direct_stream_listener, args=(topic, stop_event, cb_ref, kwargs)
         )
-        if info in self._stream_topics_subscription[topic]:
-            raise RuntimeError("Already registered stream topic with the same callback")
-
-        info.thread = threading.Thread(target=self._direct_stream_listener, args=(info,))
-        with self._stream_topics_subscription_lock:
-            self._stream_topics_subscription[topic].append(info)
-        info.thread.start()
-
-    def _direct_stream_listener(self, info: DirectReadingStreamSubscriptionInfo):
-        stop_event = info.stop_event
-        cb_ref = info.cb_ref
-        kwargs = info.kwargs
-        topic = info.topic
+        return DirectReadStreamSubInfo(cb_ref, kwargs, stop_event, thread)
+
+    def _direct_stream_listener(self, topic: str, stop_event: threading.Event, cb_ref, kwargs):
+        read_id = "-"
         while not stop_event.is_set():
-            ret = self._redis_conn.xrevrange(topic, "+", info.id, count=1)
-            if not ret:
-                time.sleep(0.1)
+            if not (response := self._redis_conn.xrevrange(topic, "+", read_id, count=1)):
+                stop_event.wait(timeout=0.1)
                 continue
-            redis_id, msg_dict = ret[0]  # type: ignore : we are using Redis synchronously
+            redis_id, msg_dict = response[0]  # type: ignore : we are using Redis synchronously
             timestamp, _, ind = redis_id.partition(b"-")
-            info.id = f"{timestamp.decode()}-{int(ind.decode())+1}"
+            read_id = f"{timestamp.decode()}-{int(ind.decode())+1}"
             stream_msg = StreamMessage(
                 {key.decode(): MsgpackSerialization.loads(val) for key, val in msg_dict.items()},
                 ((cb_ref, kwargs),),
             )
-            self._messages_queue.put(stream_msg)
-
-    def _get_stream_topics_id(self) -> tuple[dict, dict]:
-        stream_topics_id = {}
-        from_start_stream_topics_id = {}
-        with self._stream_topics_subscription_lock:
-            for topic, subscription_info_list in self._stream_topics_subscription.items():
-                for info in subscription_info_list:
-                    if isinstance(info, DirectReadingStreamSubscriptionInfo):
-                        continue
-                    if info.from_start:
-                        from_start_stream_topics_id[topic] = info.id
-                    else:
-                        stream_topics_id[topic] = info.id
-        return from_start_stream_topics_id, stream_topics_id
+            self._message_callbacks_queue.put(stream_msg)
 
-    def _handle_stream_msg_list(self, msg_list, from_start=False):
-        for topic, msgs in msg_list:
-            subscription_info_list = self._stream_topics_subscription[topic.decode()]
-            for index, record in msgs:
-                callbacks = []
-                for info in subscription_info_list:
-                    info.id = index.decode()
-                    if from_start and not info.from_start:
-                        continue
-                    callbacks.append((info.cb_ref, info.kwargs))
-                if callbacks:
+    def _handle_stream_msg_list(
+        self, redis_response: StreamResponseList, subs: dict[str, set[StreamSubInfo]]
+    ):
+        new_ids = {}
+        for btopic, msgs in redis_response:
+            for read_id, record in msgs:
+                topic: str = btopic.decode() if isinstance(btopic, bytes) else btopic  # type: ignore
+                if callbacks := subs.get(topic):
                     msg_dict = {
                         k.decode(): MsgpackSerialization.loads(msg) for k, msg in record.items()
                     }
-                    msg = StreamMessage(msg_dict, callbacks)
-                    self._messages_queue.put(msg)
-            for info in subscription_info_list:
-                info.from_start = False
+                    msg = StreamMessage(msg_dict, [(cb.cb_ref, cb.kwargs) for cb in callbacks])
+                    self._message_callbacks_queue.put(msg)
+                new_ids[topic] = read_id.decode()
+        return new_ids
+
+    def _try_read_streams(self, topics_ids: dict[str, str], from_start: bool = False):
+        try:
+            if from_start:
+                return [(t, self._redis_conn.xrange(t, "-", end)) for t, end in topics_ids.items()]
+            else:
+                return self._redis_conn.xread(topics_ids, block=200) or []  # type: ignore strs are fine key and id types
+        except redis.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+            logger.error("Failed to connect to redis. Is the server running?")
+        except redis.exceptions.NoPermissionError:
+            logger.error(f"Permission denied for stream topics: {set(topics_ids.keys())}")
+        # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        except Exception:
+            sys.excepthook(*sys.exc_info())  # type: ignore # inside except
+
+    def _read_from_start_streams_and_migrate(self) -> bool:
+        """Returns whether there was an error"""
+        with self._stream_subs.lock:
+            if from_start_topics := self._stream_subs.from_start_topics():
+                topics_and_end_ids = {t: self._stream_subs.end_id(t) for t in from_start_topics}
+                response = self._try_read_streams(topics_and_end_ids, from_start=True)
+                if response is not None:
+                    updated_end_ids = self._handle_stream_msg_list(
+                        response, self._stream_subs.from_start_subs
+                    )
+                    new_end_ids = {t: "0-0" for t in from_start_topics}
+                    new_end_ids.update(updated_end_ids)
+                    self._stream_subs.move_from_start_to_normal(new_end_ids)
+                else:
+                    return True
+            return False
 
     def _get_stream_messages_loop(self) -> None:
         """
         Get stream messages loop. This method is run in a separate thread and listens
         for messages from the redis server.
         """
-        error = False
-
         while not self._stop_stream_events_listener_thread.is_set():
-            try:
-                from_start_stream_topics_id, stream_topics_id = self._get_stream_topics_id()
-                if not any((stream_topics_id, from_start_stream_topics_id)):
-                    self._stop_stream_events_listener_thread.wait(timeout=0.1)
-                    continue
-                msg_list = []
-                from_start_msg_list = []
-                # first handle the 'from_start' streams ;
-                # in the case of reading from start what is expected is to call the
-                # callbacks for existing items, without waiting for a new element to be added
-                # to the stream
-                if from_start_stream_topics_id:
-                    # read the streams contents from beginning
-                    from_start_msg_list = self._redis_conn.xread(
-                        from_start_stream_topics_id, block=200
-                    )
-                if stream_topics_id:
-                    msg_list = self._redis_conn.xread(stream_topics_id, block=200)
-            except redis.exceptions.ConnectionError:
-                if not error:
-                    error = True
-                    bec_logger.logger.error("Failed to connect to redis. Is the server running?")
-                self._stop_stream_events_listener_thread.wait(timeout=1)
-            except redis.exceptions.NoPermissionError:
-                bec_logger.logger.error(
-                    f"Permission denied for stream topics: \n Topics id: {from_start_stream_topics_id}, Stream topics id: {stream_topics_id}"
-                )
-                if not error:
-                    error = True
+            # first clear any dead callbacks
+            with self._stream_subs.lock:
+                self._stream_subs.gc_cb_refs()
+            # First read the "from_start" streams, up until any id which is already in the normal
+            # subs, then all those them to the normal streams
+            error = self._read_from_start_streams_and_migrate()
+            # Then read all the normal streams
+            with self._stream_subs.lock:
+                normal_topics = self._stream_subs.topic_ids()
+                normal_subs = self._stream_subs.normal_subs
+            if normal_topics and (response := self._try_read_streams(normal_topics)) is not None:
+                updated_ids = self._handle_stream_msg_list(response, normal_subs)
+            with self._stream_subs.lock:
+                self._stream_subs.update_normal_ids(updated_ids)
+            if error:  # Encountered an error on xread, wait a while without the lock
                 self._stop_stream_events_listener_thread.wait(timeout=1)
-            # pylint: disable=broad-except
-            except Exception:
-                sys.excepthook(*sys.exc_info())  # type: ignore # inside except
-            else:
-                error = False
-                with self._stream_topics_subscription_lock:
-                    self._handle_stream_msg_list(from_start_msg_list, from_start=True)
-                    self._handle_stream_msg_list(msg_list)
 
     def _register_stream(
         self,
@@ -805,50 +961,27 @@ def _register_stream(
         cb_ref = louie.saferef.safe_ref(cb)
 
         self._start_events_dispatcher_thread(start_thread)
-
-        if newest_only:
-            # if newest_only is True, we need to provide a separate callback for each topic,
-            # directly calling the callback. This is because we need to have a backpressure
-            # mechanism in place, and we cannot rely on the dispatcher thread to handle it.
+        with self._stream_subs.lock:
             for topic in topics:
-                self._add_direct_stream_listener(topic, cb_ref, **kwargs)
-        else:
-            with self._stream_topics_subscription_lock:
-                for topic in topics:
+                if newest_only:
+                    new_sub = self._create_direct_stream_listener(topic, cb_ref, kwargs)
+                    self._stream_subs.add_direct_listener(topic, new_sub)
+                else:
+                    new_sub = StreamSubInfo(cb_ref, kwargs)
                     try:
                         stream_info = self._redis_conn.xinfo_stream(topic)
                     except redis.exceptions.ResponseError:
-                        # no such key
-                        last_id = "0-0"
+                        last_id = "0-0"  # no such key
                     else:
                         last_id = stream_info["last-entry"][0].decode()  # type: ignore # we are using the sync Redis client
-                    new_subscription = StreamSubscriptionInfo(
-                        id="0-0" if from_start else last_id,
-                        topic=topic,
-                        newest_only=newest_only,
-                        from_start=from_start,
-                        cb_ref=cb_ref,
-                        kwargs=kwargs,
-                    )
-                    subscriptions = self._stream_topics_subscription[topic]
-                    if new_subscription in subscriptions:
-                        # raise an error if attempted to register a stream with the same callback,
-                        # whereas it has already been registered as a 'direct reading' stream with
-                        # newest_only=True ; it is clearly an error case that would produce weird results
-                        index = subscriptions.index(new_subscription)
-                        if isinstance(subscriptions[index], DirectReadingStreamSubscriptionInfo):
-                            raise RuntimeError(
-                                "Already registered stream topic with the same callback with 'newest_only=True'"
-                            )
-                    else:
-                        subscriptions.append(new_subscription)
+                    self._stream_subs.add(from_start, last_id, topic, new_sub)
 
-            if self._stream_events_listener_thread is None:
-                # create the thread that will get all messages for this connector
-                self._stream_events_listener_thread = threading.Thread(
-                    target=self._get_stream_messages_loop
-                )
-                self._stream_events_listener_thread.start()
+        if self._stream_events_listener_thread is None:
+            # create the thread that will get all messages for this connector
+            self._stream_events_listener_thread = threading.Thread(
+                target=self._get_stream_messages_loop
+            )
+            self._stream_events_listener_thread.start()
 
     def _filter_topics_cb(self, topics: list, cb: Callable | None):
         unsubscribe_list = []
@@ -870,60 +1003,43 @@ def _filter_topics_cb(self, topics: list, cb: Callable | None):
     def unregister(self, topics=None, patterns=None, cb=None):
         if self._events_listener_thread is None:
             return
-
+        if topics and patterns:
+            _error_log_with_context(
+                f"Unsubscribe called with both {topics=} and {patterns=}. Topics will be ignored in favour of patterns."
+            )
         if patterns is not None:
             patterns = self._normalize_patterns(patterns)
             # see if registered streams can be unregistered
             for pattern in patterns:
-                self._unregister_stream(
-                    fnmatch.filter(self._stream_topics_subscription, pattern), cb
-                )
+                self._unregister_stream(fnmatch.filter(self._stream_subs.all_topics, pattern), cb)
             pubsub_unsubscribe_list = self._filter_topics_cb(patterns, cb)
             if pubsub_unsubscribe_list:
                 self._pubsub_conn.punsubscribe(pubsub_unsubscribe_list)
-        else:
+        elif topics is not None:
             topics, _ = self._convert_endpointinfo(topics, check_message_op=False)
             if not self._unregister_stream(topics, cb):
                 unsubscribe_list = self._filter_topics_cb(topics, cb)
                 if unsubscribe_list:
                     self._pubsub_conn.unsubscribe(unsubscribe_list)
+        else:
+            with self._topics_cb_lock:
+                topics = list(self._topics_cb.keys())
+            self.unregister(topics, cb)
+            self.unregister(self._stream_subs.all_topics, cb)
 
     def _unregister_stream(self, topics: list[str], cb: Callable | None = None) -> bool:
-        """
-        Unregister a stream listener.
-
-        Args:
-            topics (list[str]): list of stream topics
-
-        Returns:
-            bool: True if the stream listener has been removed, False otherwise
-        """
-        unsubscribe_list = []
-        with self._stream_topics_subscription_lock:
-            for topic in topics:
-                subscription_infos = self._stream_topics_subscription[topic]
-                # remove from list if callback corresponds
-                self._stream_topics_subscription[topic] = list(
-                    filter(lambda sub_info: cb and sub_info.cb_ref() is not cb, subscription_infos)
-                )
-                if not self._stream_topics_subscription[topic]:
-                    # no callbacks left, unsubscribe
-                    unsubscribe_list += subscription_infos
-            # clean the topics that have been unsubscribed
-            for subscription_info in unsubscribe_list:
-                if isinstance(subscription_info, DirectReadingStreamSubscriptionInfo):
-                    subscription_info.stop_event.set()
-                    if subscription_info.thread:
-                        subscription_info.thread.join()
-                # it is possible to register the same stream multiple times with different
-                # callbacks, in this case when unregistering with cb=None (unregister all)
-                # the topic can be deleted multiple times, hence try...except in code below
-                try:
-                    del self._stream_topics_subscription[subscription_info.topic]
-                except KeyError:
-                    pass
+        """Unregister callbacks from a list of topics. Returns true if any were removed"""
+        with self._stream_subs.lock:
+            return any([self._stream_subs.remove(topic, cb) for topic in topics])
 
-        return len(unsubscribe_list) > 0
+    def _garbage_collect_cb_refs(self):
+        """Only handles normal subscriptions, for streams, see StreamSubs.gc_cb_refs()"""
+        with self._topics_cb_lock:
+            for topic, subs in list(self._topics_cb.items()):
+                for cb_ref, kwargs in reversed(subs):
+                    if not cb_ref():
+                        idx = self._topics_cb[topic].index((cb_ref, kwargs))
+                        self._topics_cb[topic].pop(idx)
 
     def _get_messages_loop(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -935,6 +1051,7 @@ def _get_messages_loop(self) -> None:
         """
         error = False
         while not self._stop_events_listener_thread.is_set():
+            self._garbage_collect_cb_refs()
             try:
                 msg = self._pubsub_conn.get_message(timeout=0.2)
             except redis.exceptions.ConnectionError:
@@ -948,7 +1065,7 @@ def _get_messages_loop(self) -> None:
             else:
                 error = False
                 if msg is not None:
-                    self._messages_queue.put(msg)
+                    self._message_callbacks_queue.put(msg)
 
     def _execute_callback(self, cb, msg, kwargs):
         try:
@@ -959,17 +1076,16 @@ def _execute_callback(self, cb, msg, kwargs):
         else:
             if inspect.isgenerator(g):
                 # reschedule execution to delineate the generator
-                self._messages_queue.put(g)
+                self._message_callbacks_queue.put(g)
 
     def _handle_message(self, msg: StreamMessage | GeneratorExecution | PubSubMessage):
         if inspect.isgenerator(msg):
             g = msg
             fut = self._generator_executor.submit(next, g)
-            self._messages_queue.put(GeneratorExecution(fut, g))
+            self._message_callbacks_queue.put(GeneratorExecution(fut, g))
         elif isinstance(msg, StreamMessage):
             for cb_ref, kwargs in msg.callbacks:
-                cb = cb_ref()
-                if cb:
+                if cb := cb_ref():
                     self._execute_callback(cb, msg.msg, kwargs)
         elif isinstance(msg, GeneratorExecution):
             fut, g = msg.fut, msg.g
@@ -980,9 +1096,9 @@ def _handle_message(self, msg: StreamMessage | GeneratorExecution | PubSubMessag
                     pass
                 else:
                     fut = self._generator_executor.submit(g.send, res)
-                    self._messages_queue.put(GeneratorExecution(fut, g))
+                    self._message_callbacks_queue.put(GeneratorExecution(fut, g))
             else:
-                self._messages_queue.put(GeneratorExecution(fut, g))
+                self._message_callbacks_queue.put(GeneratorExecution(fut, g))
         else:
             channel = msg["channel"].decode()
             with self._topics_cb_lock:
@@ -992,8 +1108,7 @@ def _handle_message(self, msg: StreamMessage | GeneratorExecution | PubSubMessag
                     callbacks = self._topics_cb[channel]
             msg_obj = MessageObject(topic=channel, value=MsgpackSerialization.loads(msg["data"]))
             for cb_ref, kwargs in callbacks:
-                cb = cb_ref()
-                if cb:
+                if cb := cb_ref():
                     self._execute_callback(cb, msg_obj, kwargs)
 
     def poll_messages(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
@@ -1011,7 +1126,7 @@ def poll_messages(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
         while True:
             try:
                 # wait for a message and return it before timeout expires
-                msg = self._messages_queue.get(timeout=remaining_timeout, block=True)
+                msg = self._message_callbacks_queue.get(timeout=remaining_timeout, block=True)
             except queue.Empty as exc:
                 remaining_timeout = cast(float, remaining_timeout)
                 timeout = cast(float, timeout)
@@ -1032,7 +1147,7 @@ def poll_messages(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
                 bec_logger.logger.error(f"Error handling message {msg}:\n{content}")
 
             if timeout is None:
-                if self._messages_queue.empty():
+                if self._message_callbacks_queue.empty():
                     # no message to process
                     return True
             else:
diff --git a/bec_lib/tests/test_messaging_service.py b/bec_lib/tests/test_messaging_service.py
index 70552de78..e6a29649f 100644
--- a/bec_lib/tests/test_messaging_service.py
+++ b/bec_lib/tests/test_messaging_service.py
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ def scilog_service(connected_connector):
         ],
         session_services=[],
     )
-    SciLogMessagingService._on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message={"data": available_services}, parent=service
-    )
+    service._on_new_scope_change_msg(message={"data": available_services})
     yield service
 
 
@@ -48,9 +46,7 @@ def signal_service(connected_connector):
         ],
         session_services=[],
     )
-    SignalMessagingService._on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message={"data": available_services}, parent=service
-    )
+    service._on_new_scope_change_msg(message={"data": available_services})
     yield service
 
 
@@ -271,9 +267,7 @@ def test_disabled_service_cannot_create_message(connected_connector):
         ],
         session_services=[],
     )
-    SciLogMessagingService._on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message={"data": available_services}, parent=service
-    )
+    service._on_new_scope_change_msg(message={"data": available_services})
 
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Messaging service 'scilog' is not enabled."):
         service.new()
@@ -295,9 +289,7 @@ def test_disabled_service_cannot_send_message(connected_connector):
         ],
         session_services=[],
     )
-    SciLogMessagingService._on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message={"data": available_services}, parent=service
-    )
+    service._on_new_scope_change_msg(message={"data": available_services})
     message = service.new()
     message.add_text("Test message")
 
@@ -315,9 +307,7 @@ def test_disabled_service_cannot_send_message(connected_connector):
         ],
         session_services=[],
     )
-    SciLogMessagingService._on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message={"data": disabled_services}, parent=service
-    )
+    service._on_new_scope_change_msg(message={"data": available_services})
 
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Messaging service 'scilog' is not enabled."):
         message.send()
@@ -386,9 +376,7 @@ def test_signal_message_service_uses_default_scope(connected_connector):
         ],
         session_services=[],
     )
-    SignalMessagingService._on_new_scope_change_msg(
-        message={"data": available_services}, parent=service
-    )
+    service._on_new_scope_change_msg(message={"data": available_services})
 
     service.set_default_scope("user")
     message = service.new()
diff --git a/bec_lib/tests/test_redis_connector_fakeredis.py b/bec_lib/tests/test_redis_connector_fakeredis.py
index 43026ed45..3ac30f063 100644
--- a/bec_lib/tests/test_redis_connector_fakeredis.py
+++ b/bec_lib/tests/test_redis_connector_fakeredis.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import gc
 import threading
 import time
 from unittest import mock
@@ -369,20 +370,22 @@ def test_redis_connector_register_stream(connected_connector):
     connector.poll_messages()
     cb_mock1.assert_not_called()
     cb_mock2.assert_called_once_with({"data": 2}, a=2)
+    assert "test" in connector._stream_subs.all_topics
     connector.unregister("test")
-    assert connector._stream_topics_subscription["test"] == []
+    assert connector._stream_subs.all_topics == []
 
 
+@pytest.mark.timeout(10)
 def test_redis_connector_register_stream_identical(connected_connector):
     connector = connected_connector
 
     received_event1 = mock.Mock(spec=[])
     received_event2 = mock.Mock(spec=[])
 
-    connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=received_event1, start_thread=False)
     connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=received_event1, start_thread=False)
     connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=received_event2, start_thread=False)
     connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint2, cb=received_event1, start_thread=False)
+    connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint2, cb=received_event2, start_thread=False)
     connector.xadd("test", {"data": 1})
     connector.poll_messages(timeout=1)
     assert received_event1.call_count == 1
@@ -392,14 +395,11 @@ def test_redis_connector_register_stream_identical(connected_connector):
     assert received_event1.call_count == 2
 
     try:
-        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             connector.register(
                 TestStreamEndpoint2, cb=received_event1, newest_only=True, start_thread=False
             )
-        connector.register(
-            TestStreamEndpoint2, cb=received_event2, newest_only=True, start_thread=False
-        )
-        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint2, cb=received_event2, start_thread=False)
     finally:
         connector.unregister(TestStreamEndpoint2)
@@ -427,7 +427,8 @@ def test_redis_connector_register_stream_list(connected_connector, endpoint):
         connector.poll_messages()
     assert mock.call({"data": 2}, a=1) in cb_mock.mock_calls
     connector.unregister(endpoint)
-    assert len(connector._stream_topics_subscription) == 0
+    all_topics = connector._stream_subs.all_topics
+    assert len(all_topics) == 0
 
 
 @pytest.mark.timeout(10)
@@ -448,12 +449,14 @@ def test_redis_connector_register_stream_from_start(connected_connector):
     cb_mock1.assert_called_once_with({"data": 3}, a=1)
     cb_mock2.assert_called_once_with({"data": 3}, a=2)
     cb_mock1.reset_mock()
+    connector.unregister(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=cb_mock1)
     connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=cb_mock1, from_start=True, start_thread=False, a=3)
     connector.poll_messages(timeout=1)
     cb_mock1.assert_has_calls(
         [mock.call({"data": 1}, a=3), mock.call({"data": 2}, a=3), mock.call({"data": 3}, a=3)]
     )
     cb_mock1.reset_mock()
+    connector.unregister(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=cb_mock1)
     connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=cb_mock1, start_thread=False, a=4)
     with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
         connector.poll_messages(timeout=1)
@@ -608,3 +611,122 @@ def cb(msg):
     assert res.metrics["m2"].value == 5.5
     assert res.metrics["m3"].value == "test"
     assert res.metrics["m4"].value is True
+
+
+def test_merging_streams_does_not_skip_messages(connected_connector: RedisConnector):
+    connector = connected_connector
+    cb_normal = mock.Mock(spec=[])  # spec is here to remove all attributes
+    cb_from_start = mock.Mock(spec=[])  # spec is here to remove all attributes
+
+    connector.xadd("test", {"data": 1})
+    connector.xadd("test", {"data": 2})
+
+    connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=cb_normal, start_thread=False, key="normal")
+    with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
+        connector.poll_messages(timeout=0.1)
+    cb_normal.assert_not_called()
+
+    connector.xadd("test", {"data": 3})
+    connector.poll_messages()
+    cb_normal.assert_called_once_with({"data": 3}, key="normal")
+    cb_normal.reset_mock()
+
+    assert (id_3 := connected_connector._stream_subs.end_id("test")) != "+"
+
+    connector.xadd("test", {"data": 4})
+    connector.xadd("test", {"data": 5})
+    cb_normal.assert_not_called()
+    connector.register(
+        TestStreamEndpoint, cb=cb_from_start, from_start=True, start_thread=False, key="from_start"
+    )
+
+    connected_connector._read_from_start_streams_and_migrate()
+    connector.poll_messages(timeout=0)
+    connector.poll_messages(timeout=0)
+    connector.poll_messages(timeout=0)
+
+    assert cb_from_start.call_count == 3
+
+    with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
+        connector.poll_messages(timeout=0)
+
+    assert cb_from_start.call_count == 3
+    assert connected_connector._stream_subs.from_start_subs == {}
+    assert connected_connector._stream_subs.end_id("test") == id_3
+
+    connector.poll_messages()
+
+    assert cb_from_start.call_count == 5
+    assert cb_normal.call_count == 2
+
+
+def test_subs_garbage_collectioon(connected_connector):
+    sub1 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+    sub2 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+    sub3 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+
+    connected_connector.register("test", cb=sub1)
+    connected_connector.register("test", cb=sub2)
+    connected_connector.register("test", cb=sub3)
+
+    assert len(connected_connector._topics_cb["test"]) == 3
+    connected_connector._garbage_collect_cb_refs()
+    assert len(connected_connector._topics_cb["test"]) == 3
+    del sub2
+    gc.collect()
+    connected_connector._garbage_collect_cb_refs()
+    assert len(connected_connector._topics_cb["test"]) == 2
+
+
+def test_stream_subs_garbage_collectioon(connected_connector):
+    sub1 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+    sub2 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+    sub3 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+
+    connected_connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=sub1)
+    connected_connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=sub2)
+    connected_connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=sub3)
+
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._subs["test"].subs) == 3
+    connected_connector._stream_subs.gc_cb_refs()
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._subs["test"].subs) == 3
+
+    del sub2
+    gc.collect()
+    connected_connector._stream_subs.gc_cb_refs()
+
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._subs["test"].subs) == 2
+
+    sub4 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+    sub5 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+
+    connected_connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=sub4, from_start=True)
+    connected_connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=sub5, from_start=True)
+
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._subs["test"].subs) == 2
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs.from_start_subs["test"]) == 2
+
+    del sub4
+    del sub3
+    gc.collect()
+    connected_connector._stream_subs.gc_cb_refs()
+
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._subs["test"].subs) == 1
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs.from_start_subs["test"]) == 1
+
+    sub6 = mock.MagicMock(spec=[])
+    connected_connector.register(TestStreamEndpoint, cb=sub6, newest_only=True)
+
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._subs["test"].subs) == 1
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs.from_start_subs["test"]) == 1
+    assert len(connected_connector._stream_subs._direct_read_subs["test"]) == 1
+
+    del sub1
+    del sub5
+    del sub6
+    gc.collect()
+    connected_connector._stream_subs.gc_cb_refs()
+
+    assert "test" not in connected_connector._stream_subs._subs
+    assert "test" not in connected_connector._stream_subs.from_start_subs
+    assert "test" not in connected_connector._stream_subs._direct_read_subs