diff --git a/contrib/lib/src/json.rs b/contrib/lib/src/json.rs
index e5a3ca74..fa71547e 100644
--- a/contrib/lib/src/json.rs
+++ b/contrib/lib/src/json.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ use std::io;
 use std::iter::FromIterator;
 
 use tokio::io::AsyncReadExt;
+use rocket::futures::future::BoxFuture;
 
 use rocket::request::Request;
 use rocket::outcome::Outcome::*;
@@ -169,14 +170,19 @@ impl<'a, T: Deserialize<'a>> FromData<'a> for Json<T> {
 /// JSON and a fixed-size body with the serialized value. If serialization
 /// fails, an `Err` of `Status::InternalServerError` is returned.
 impl<'r, T: Serialize> Responder<'r> for Json<T> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        match serde_json::to_string(&self.0) {
-            Ok(string) => Box::pin(async move { Ok(content::Json(string).respond_to(req).await.unwrap()) }),
-            Err(e) => Box::pin(async move {
-                error_!("JSON failed to serialize: {:?}", e);
-                Err(Status::InternalServerError)
-            })
-        }
+    fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, req: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, response::Result<'r>>
+        where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+    {
+        let json_string = serde_json::to_string(&self.0);
+        Box::pin(async move {
+            match json_string {
+                Ok(string) => Ok(content::Json(string).respond_to(req).await.unwrap()),
+                Err(e) => {
+                    error_!("JSON failed to serialize: {:?}", e);
+                    Err(Status::InternalServerError)
+                }
+            }
+        })
     }
 }
 
@@ -291,10 +297,10 @@ impl<T> FromIterator<T> for JsonValue where serde_json::Value: FromIterator<T> {
 
 /// Serializes the value into JSON. Returns a response with Content-Type JSON
 /// and a fixed-size body with the serialized value.
+#[rocket::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for JsonValue {
-    #[inline]
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        content::Json(self.0.to_string()).respond_to(req)
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        content::Json(self.0.to_string()).respond_to(req).await
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/contrib/lib/src/msgpack.rs b/contrib/lib/src/msgpack.rs
index 31b18c0b..bfb73283 100644
--- a/contrib/lib/src/msgpack.rs
+++ b/contrib/lib/src/msgpack.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use rocket::outcome::Outcome::*;
 use rocket::data::{Data, FromData, FromDataFuture, Transform::*, TransformFuture, Transformed};
 use rocket::http::Status;
 use rocket::response::{self, content, Responder};
+use rocket::futures::future::BoxFuture;
 
 use serde::Serialize;
 use serde::de::Deserialize;
@@ -157,13 +158,15 @@ impl<'a, T: Deserialize<'a>> FromData<'a> for MsgPack<T> {
 /// Content-Type `MsgPack` and a fixed-size body with the serialization. If
 /// serialization fails, an `Err` of `Status::InternalServerError` is returned.
 impl<'r, T: Serialize> Responder<'r> for MsgPack<T> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
+    fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, req: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, response::Result<'r>>
+        where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+    {
         match rmp_serde::to_vec(&self.0) {
             Ok(buf) => content::MsgPack(buf).respond_to(req),
-            Err(e) => Box::pin(async move {
+            Err(e) =>  {
                 error_!("MsgPack failed to serialize: {:?}", e);
-                Err(Status::InternalServerError)
-            }),
+                Box::pin(async { Err(Status::InternalServerError) })
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/contrib/lib/src/templates/mod.rs b/contrib/lib/src/templates/mod.rs
index 0ad40e69..b6b00ad4 100644
--- a/contrib/lib/src/templates/mod.rs
+++ b/contrib/lib/src/templates/mod.rs
@@ -383,21 +383,20 @@ impl Template {
 /// Returns a response with the Content-Type derived from the template's
 /// extension and a fixed-size body containing the rendered template. If
 /// rendering fails, an `Err` of `Status::InternalServerError` is returned.
+#[rocket::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for Template {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            let (render, content_type) = {
-                let ctxt = req.guard::<State<'_, ContextManager>>().await.succeeded().ok_or_else(|| {
-                    error_!("Uninitialized template context: missing fairing.");
-                    info_!("To use templates, you must attach `Template::fairing()`.");
-                    info_!("See the `Template` documentation for more information.");
-                    Status::InternalServerError
-                })?.inner().context();
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        let (render, content_type) = {
+            let ctxt = req.guard::<State<'_, ContextManager>>().await.succeeded().ok_or_else(|| {
+                error_!("Uninitialized template context: missing fairing.");
+                info_!("To use templates, you must attach `Template::fairing()`.");
+                info_!("See the `Template` documentation for more information.");
+                Status::InternalServerError
+            })?.inner().context();
 
-                self.finalize(&ctxt)?
-            };
+            self.finalize(&ctxt)?
+        };
 
-            Content(content_type, render).respond_to(req).await
-        })
+        Content(content_type, render).respond_to(req).await
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/codegen/src/attribute/catch.rs b/core/codegen/src/attribute/catch.rs
index 4b6d91b8..71d09455 100644
--- a/core/codegen/src/attribute/catch.rs
+++ b/core/codegen/src/attribute/catch.rs
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@ pub fn _catch(args: TokenStream, input: TokenStream) -> Result<TokenStream> {
                     .status(#status)
                     .merge(__response)
                     .ok()
-                    .await
             })
         }
 
diff --git a/core/codegen/src/derive/responder.rs b/core/codegen/src/derive/responder.rs
index e10fb29f..d80c86c4 100644
--- a/core/codegen/src/derive/responder.rs
+++ b/core/codegen/src/derive/responder.rs
@@ -30,10 +30,12 @@ pub fn derive_responder(input: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
             false => Ok(())
         })
         .function(|_, inner| quote! {
-            fn respond_to(
+            fn respond_to<'__i, '__x>(
                 self,
-                __req: &'__r ::rocket::Request
-            ) -> ::rocket::response::ResultFuture<'__r> {
+                __req: &'__r ::rocket::request::Request<'__i>
+            ) -> ::rocket::futures::future::BoxFuture<'__x, ::rocket::response::Result<'__r>>
+                where '__i: '__x, '__r: '__x, Self: '__x
+            {
                 #inner
             }
         })
diff --git a/core/codegen/tests/responder.rs b/core/codegen/tests/responder.rs
index 4902dd2f..55f137a3 100644
--- a/core/codegen/tests/responder.rs
+++ b/core/codegen/tests/responder.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ async fn responder_foo() {
     let req = local_req.inner();
 
     let mut response = Foo::First("hello".into())
-        .respond_to(req)
-        .await
+        .respond_to(req).await
         .expect("response okay");
 
     assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::Ok);
@@ -37,8 +36,7 @@ async fn responder_foo() {
     assert_eq!(response.body_string().await, Some("hello".into()));
 
     let mut response = Foo::Second("just a test".into())
-        .respond_to(req)
-        .await
+        .respond_to(req).await
         .expect("response okay");
 
     assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::InternalServerError);
@@ -46,8 +44,7 @@ async fn responder_foo() {
     assert_eq!(response.body_string().await, Some("just a test".into()));
 
     let mut response = Foo::Third { responder: "well, hi", ct: ContentType::JSON }
-        .respond_to(req)
-        .await
+        .respond_to(req).await
         .expect("response okay");
 
     assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::NotFound);
@@ -55,8 +52,7 @@ async fn responder_foo() {
     assert_eq!(response.body_string().await, Some("well, hi".into()));
 
     let mut response = Foo::Fourth { string: "goodbye", ct: ContentType::JSON }
-        .respond_to(req)
-        .await
+        .respond_to(req).await
         .expect("response okay");
 
     assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::raw(105));
@@ -106,8 +102,7 @@ async fn responder_baz() {
     let req = local_req.inner();
 
     let mut response = Baz { responder: "just a custom" }
-        .respond_to(req)
-        .await
+        .respond_to(req).await
         .expect("response okay");
 
     assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::Ok);
diff --git a/core/http/src/accept.rs b/core/http/src/accept.rs
index a8c944ec..6e441ff8 100644
--- a/core/http/src/accept.rs
+++ b/core/http/src/accept.rs
@@ -158,10 +158,7 @@ impl PartialEq for AcceptParams {
 /// use rocket::http::Accept;
 /// use rocket::response::Response;
 ///
-/// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
-/// # rocket::async_test(async {
-/// let response = Response::build().header(Accept::JSON).await;
-/// # })
+/// let response = Response::build().header(Accept::JSON).finalize();
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Accept(pub(crate) AcceptParams);
diff --git a/core/http/src/content_type.rs b/core/http/src/content_type.rs
index d3c8b954..9856fb2b 100644
--- a/core/http/src/content_type.rs
+++ b/core/http/src/content_type.rs
@@ -38,10 +38,7 @@ use crate::ext::IntoCollection;
 /// use rocket::http::ContentType;
 /// use rocket::response::Response;
 ///
-/// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
-/// # rocket::async_test(async {
-/// let response = Response::build().header(ContentType::HTML).await;
-/// # })
+/// let response = Response::build().header(ContentType::HTML).finalize();
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Hash)]
 pub struct ContentType(pub MediaType);
diff --git a/core/lib/Cargo.toml b/core/lib/Cargo.toml
index 639d6bca..53ead5be 100644
--- a/core/lib/Cargo.toml
+++ b/core/lib/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ ctrl_c_shutdown = ["tokio/signal"]
 rocket_codegen = { version = "0.5.0-dev", path = "../codegen" }
 rocket_http = { version = "0.5.0-dev", path = "../http" }
 futures-util = "0.3.0"
+futures = "0.3.0"
 tokio = { version = "0.2.9", features = ["fs", "io-std", "io-util", "rt-threaded", "sync"] }
 yansi = "0.5"
 log = { version = "0.4", features = ["std"] }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/lib.rs b/core/lib/src/lib.rs
index 61798419..3861253e 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/lib.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/lib.rs
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ pub use async_trait::*;
 #[macro_use] extern crate log;
 #[macro_use] extern crate pear;
 
+pub use futures;
+pub use tokio;
+
 #[doc(hidden)] #[macro_use] pub mod logger;
 #[macro_use] pub mod outcome;
 pub mod local;
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/content.rs b/core/lib/src/response/content.rs
index 1e0862a4..2a0ab96a 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/content.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/content.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 //! ```
 
 use crate::request::Request;
-use crate::response::{Response, Responder, ResultFuture};
+use crate::response::{self, Response, Responder};
 use crate::http::ContentType;
 
 /// Sets the Content-Type of a `Responder` to a chosen value.
@@ -46,21 +46,21 @@ pub struct Content<R>(pub ContentType, pub R);
 
 /// Overrides the Content-Type of the response to the wrapped `ContentType` then
 /// delegates the remainder of the response to the wrapped responder.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Content<R> {
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build()
-                .merge(self.1.respond_to(req).await?)
-                .header(self.0)
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build()
+            .merge(self.1.respond_to(req).await?)
+            .header(self.0)
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
 macro_rules! ctrs {
     ($($name:ident: $ct:ident, $name_str:expr, $ct_str:expr),+) => {
+        use futures_util::future::BoxFuture;
+
         $(
             #[doc="Override the `Content-Type` of the response to <b>"]
             #[doc=$name_str]
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ macro_rules! ctrs {
             /// Sets the Content-Type of the response then delegates the
             /// remainder of the response to the wrapped responder.
             impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for $name<R> {
-                fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
+                fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, req: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, response::Result<'r>>
+                    where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+                {
                     Content(ContentType::$ct, self.0).respond_to(req)
                 }
             }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/debug.rs b/core/lib/src/response/debug.rs
index f09084b4..2e51bc34 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/debug.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/debug.rs
@@ -63,12 +63,11 @@ impl<E> From<E> for Debug<E> {
     }
 }
 
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, E: std::fmt::Debug + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Debug<E> {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            warn_!("Debug: {:?}", Paint::default(self.0));
-            warn_!("Debug always responds with {}.", Status::InternalServerError);
-            Response::build().status(Status::InternalServerError).ok().await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        warn_!("Debug: {:?}", Paint::default(self.0));
+        warn_!("Debug always responds with {}.", Status::InternalServerError);
+        Response::build().status(Status::InternalServerError).ok()
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/flash.rs b/core/lib/src/response/flash.rs
index b9c7f308..ba47233a 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/flash.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/flash.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::convert::AsRef;
 use time::Duration;
 
 use crate::outcome::IntoOutcome;
-use crate::response::{Responder, ResultFuture};
+use crate::response::{self, Responder};
 use crate::request::{self, Request, FromRequest};
 use crate::http::{Status, Cookie};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
@@ -198,11 +198,12 @@ impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>> Flash<R> {
 /// response. In other words, simply sets a cookie and delegates the rest of the
 /// response handling to the wrapped responder. As a result, the `Outcome` of
 /// the response is the `Outcome` of the wrapped `Responder`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Flash<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
         trace_!("Flash: setting message: {}:{}", self.name, self.message);
         req.cookies().add(self.cookie());
-        self.inner.respond_to(req)
+        self.inner.respond_to(req).await
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/mod.rs b/core/lib/src/response/mod.rs
index d86da660..ceedf04e 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/mod.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/mod.rs
@@ -46,8 +46,5 @@ pub use self::stream::Stream;
 pub use self::debug::Debug;
 #[doc(inline)] pub use self::content::Content;
 
-/// Type alias for the `Result` of a `Responder::respond` call.
+/// Type alias for the `Result` of a [`Responder::respond_to()`] call.
 pub type Result<'r> = std::result::Result<self::Response<'r>, crate::http::Status>;
-
-/// Type alias for the `Future` returned by a `Responder::respond` call.
-pub type ResultFuture<'r> = futures_util::future::BoxFuture<'r, Result<'r>>;
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/named_file.rs b/core/lib/src/response/named_file.rs
index e5cfdcd5..ed993c43 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/named_file.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/named_file.rs
@@ -78,18 +78,17 @@ impl NamedFile {
 /// recognized. See [`ContentType::from_extension()`] for more information. If
 /// you would like to stream a file with a different Content-Type than that
 /// implied by its extension, use a [`File`] directly.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for NamedFile {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            let mut response = self.1.respond_to(req).await?;
-            if let Some(ext) = self.0.extension() {
-                if let Some(ct) = ContentType::from_extension(&ext.to_string_lossy()) {
-                    response.set_header(ct);
-                }
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        let mut response = self.1.respond_to(req).await?;
+        if let Some(ext) = self.0.extension() {
+            if let Some(ct) = ContentType::from_extension(&ext.to_string_lossy()) {
+                response.set_header(ct);
             }
+        }
 
-            Ok(response)
-        })
+        Ok(response)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/redirect.rs b/core/lib/src/response/redirect.rs
index ab64c760..01ad5924 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/redirect.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/redirect.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::convert::TryInto;
 
 use crate::request::Request;
-use crate::response::{Response, Responder, ResultFuture};
+use crate::response::{self, Response, Responder};
 use crate::http::uri::Uri;
 use crate::http::Status;
 
@@ -147,19 +147,17 @@ impl Redirect {
 /// the `Location` header field. The body of the response is empty. If the URI
 /// value used to create the `Responder` is an invalid URI, an error of
 /// `Status::InternalServerError` is returned.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for Redirect {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async {
-            if let Some(uri) = self.1 {
-                Response::build()
-                    .status(self.0)
-                    .raw_header("Location", uri.to_string())
-                    .ok()
-                    .await
-            } else {
-                error!("Invalid URI used for redirect.");
-                Err(Status::InternalServerError)
-            }
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        if let Some(uri) = self.1 {
+            Response::build()
+                .status(self.0)
+                .raw_header("Location", uri.to_string())
+                .ok()
+        } else {
+            error!("Invalid URI used for redirect.");
+            Err(Status::InternalServerError)
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/responder.rs b/core/lib/src/response/responder.rs
index 03117b6c..1812787d 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/responder.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/responder.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use std::fs::File;
 use std::io::Cursor;
 
-use futures_util::future::ready;
 use tokio::io::BufReader;
+use futures_util::future::BoxFuture;
 
 use crate::http::{Status, ContentType, StatusClass};
 use crate::response::{self, Response, Body};
@@ -113,13 +113,50 @@ use crate::request::Request;
 /// regardless of the incoming request. Thus, knowing the type is sufficient to
 /// fully determine its functionality.
 ///
+/// # Async Trait
+///
+/// [`Responder`] is an _async_ trait. Implementations of `Responder` may be
+/// decorated with an attribute of `#[rocket::async_trait]`, allowing the
+/// `respond_to` method to be implemented as an `async fn`:
+///
+/// ```rust
+/// use rocket::response::{self, Responder};
+/// use rocket::request::Request;
+/// # struct MyType;
+///
+/// #[rocket::async_trait]
+/// impl<'r> Responder<'r> for MyType {
+///     async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+///         /* .. */
+///         # unimplemented!()
+///     }
+/// }
+/// ```
+///
+/// In certain cases, including when implementing a _wrapping_ responder, it may
+/// be desirable to perform work before entering an `async` section, or to
+/// return a future directly. In this case, `Responder` can be implemented as:
+///
+/// ```rust
+/// use rocket::response::{self, Responder};
+/// use rocket::futures::future::BoxFuture;
+/// use rocket::request::Request;
+/// # struct MyType<R> { inner: R };
+///
+/// impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>> Responder<'r> for MyType<R> {
+///     fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, req: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, response::Result<'r>>
+///         where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+///     {
+///         self.inner.respond_to(req)
+///     }
+/// }
+/// ```
+///
 /// # Example
 ///
 /// Say that you have a custom type, `Person`:
 ///
 /// ```rust
-///
-/// # #[allow(dead_code)]
 /// struct Person {
 ///     name: String,
 ///     age: u16
@@ -129,11 +166,16 @@ use crate::request::Request;
 /// You'd like to use `Person` as a `Responder` so that you can return a
 /// `Person` directly from a handler:
 ///
-/// ```rust,ignore
+/// ```rust
+/// # #[macro_use] extern crate rocket;
+/// # type Person = String;
 /// #[get("/person/<id>")]
 /// fn person(id: usize) -> Option<Person> {
+///     # /*
 ///     Person::from_id(id)
+///     # */ None
 /// }
+/// # fn main() {}
 /// ```
 ///
 /// You want the `Person` responder to set two header fields: `X-Person-Name`
@@ -154,17 +196,16 @@ use crate::request::Request;
 /// use rocket::response::{self, Response, Responder};
 /// use rocket::http::ContentType;
 ///
+/// #[rocket::async_trait]
 /// impl<'r> Responder<'r> for Person {
-///     fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-///         Box::pin(async move {
-///             Response::build()
-///                 .sized_body(Cursor::new(format!("{}:{}", self.name, self.age)))
-///                 .raw_header("X-Person-Name", self.name)
-///                 .raw_header("X-Person-Age", self.age.to_string())
-///                 .header(ContentType::new("application", "x-person"))
-///                 .ok()
-///                 .await
-///         })
+///     async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+///         let person_string = format!("{}:{}", self.name, self.age);
+///         Response::build()
+///             .sized_body(Cursor::new(person_string)).await
+///             .raw_header("X-Person-Name", self.name)
+///             .raw_header("X-Person-Age", self.age.to_string())
+///             .header(ContentType::new("application", "x-person"))
+///             .ok()
 ///     }
 /// }
 /// #
@@ -172,6 +213,7 @@ use crate::request::Request;
 /// # fn person() -> Person { Person { name: "a".to_string(), age: 20 } }
 /// # fn main() {  }
 /// ```
+#[crate::async_trait]
 pub trait Responder<'r> {
     /// Returns `Ok` if a `Response` could be generated successfully. Otherwise,
     /// returns an `Err` with a failing `Status`.
@@ -184,113 +226,108 @@ pub trait Responder<'r> {
     /// returned, the error catcher for the given status is retrieved and called
     /// to generate a final error response, which is then written out to the
     /// client.
-    fn respond_to(self, request: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r>;
+    async fn respond_to(self, request: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r>;
 }
 
 /// Returns a response with Content-Type `text/plain` and a fixed-size body
 /// containing the string `self`. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for &'r str {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build()
-                .header(ContentType::Plain)
-                .sized_body(Cursor::new(self))
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build()
+            .header(ContentType::Plain)
+            .sized_body(Cursor::new(self)).await
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
 /// Returns a response with Content-Type `text/plain` and a fixed-size body
 /// containing the string `self`. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for String {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build()
-                .header(ContentType::Plain)
-                .sized_body(Cursor::new(self))
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build()
+            .header(ContentType::Plain)
+            .sized_body(Cursor::new(self)).await
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
 /// Returns a response with Content-Type `application/octet-stream` and a
 /// fixed-size body containing the data in `self`. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for &'r [u8] {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build()
-                .header(ContentType::Binary)
-                .sized_body(Cursor::new(self))
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build()
+            .header(ContentType::Binary)
+            .sized_body(Cursor::new(self)).await
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
 /// Returns a response with Content-Type `application/octet-stream` and a
 /// fixed-size body containing the data in `self`. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for Vec<u8> {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build()
-                .header(ContentType::Binary)
-                .sized_body(Cursor::new(self))
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build()
+            .header(ContentType::Binary)
+            .sized_body(Cursor::new(self)).await
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
 /// Returns a response with a sized body for the file. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for File {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        tokio::fs::File::from(self).respond_to(req)
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        tokio::fs::File::from(self).respond_to(req).await
     }
 }
 
 /// Returns a response with a sized body for the file. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for tokio::fs::File {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            let metadata = self.metadata().await;
-            let stream = BufReader::new(self);
-            match metadata {
-                Ok(md) => Response::build().raw_body(Body::Sized(stream, md.len())).ok().await,
-                Err(_) => Response::build().streamed_body(stream).ok().await
-            }
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        let metadata = self.metadata().await;
+        let stream = BufReader::new(self);
+        match metadata {
+            Ok(md) => Response::build().raw_body(Body::Sized(stream, md.len())).ok(),
+            Err(_) => Response::build().streamed_body(stream).ok()
+        }
     }
 }
 
 /// Returns an empty, default `Response`. Always returns `Ok`.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for () {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Ok(Response::new())
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Ok(Response::new())
     }
 }
 
 /// If `self` is `Some`, responds with the wrapped `Responder`. Otherwise prints
 /// a warning message and returns an `Err` of `Status::NotFound`.
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>> Responder<'r> for Option<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
+    fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, req: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, response::Result<'r>>
+        where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+    {
         match self {
             Some(r) => r.respond_to(req),
             None => {
                 warn_!("Response was `None`.");
-                Box::pin(ready(Err(Status::NotFound)))
+                Box::pin(async { Err(Status::NotFound) })
             },
         }
     }
 }
 
-/// Responds with the wrapped `Responder` in `self`, whether it is `Ok` or
+// Responds with the wrapped `Responder` in `self`, whether it is `Ok` or
 /// `Err`.
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>, E: Responder<'r>> Responder<'r> for Result<R, E> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
+    fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, req: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, response::Result<'r>>
+        where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+    {
         match self {
             Ok(responder) => responder.respond_to(req),
             Err(responder) => responder.respond_to(req),
@@ -312,23 +349,22 @@ impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>, E: Responder<'r>> Responder<'r> for Result<R, E> {
 /// `100` responds with any empty body and the given status code, and all other
 /// status code emit an error message and forward to the `500` (internal server
 /// error) catcher.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for Status {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            match self.class() {
-                StatusClass::ClientError | StatusClass::ServerError => Err(self),
-                StatusClass::Success if self.code < 206 => {
-                    Response::build().status(self).ok().await
-                }
-                StatusClass::Informational if self.code == 100 => {
-                    Response::build().status(self).ok().await
-                }
-                _ => {
-                    error_!("Invalid status used as responder: {}.", self);
-                    warn_!("Fowarding to 500 (Internal Server Error) catcher.");
-                    Err(Status::InternalServerError)
-                }
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        match self.class() {
+            StatusClass::ClientError | StatusClass::ServerError => Err(self),
+            StatusClass::Success if self.code < 206 => {
+                Response::build().status(self).ok()
             }
-        })
+            StatusClass::Informational if self.code == 100 => {
+                Response::build().status(self).ok()
+            }
+            _ => {
+                error_!("Invalid status used as responder: {}.", self);
+                warn_!("Fowarding to 500 (Internal Server Error) catcher.");
+                Err(Status::InternalServerError)
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/response.rs b/core/lib/src/response/response.rs
index 1e0f808f..2606f3aa 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/response.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/response.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 use std::{io, fmt, str};
 use std::borrow::Cow;
-use std::future::Future;
 use std::pin::Pin;
-use std::task::{Context, Poll};
 
 use tokio::io::{AsyncRead, AsyncReadExt, AsyncSeek, AsyncSeekExt};
 
-use crate::response::{Responder, ResultFuture};
+use crate::response::{self, Responder};
 use crate::http::{Header, HeaderMap, Status, ContentType, Cookie};
 
 /// The default size, in bytes, of a chunk for streamed responses.
@@ -100,12 +98,6 @@ impl<T> fmt::Debug for Body<T> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Internal workaround for `Box<dyn AsyncRead + AsyncSeek>` not being allowed.
-///
-/// https://github.com/rust-lang/rfcs/issues/2035
-trait AsyncReadAsyncSeek: AsyncRead + AsyncSeek + Unpin + Send {}
-impl<T: AsyncRead + AsyncSeek + Unpin + Send> AsyncReadAsyncSeek for T {}
-
 /// Type for easily building `Response`s.
 ///
 /// Building a [`Response`] can be a low-level ordeal; this structure presents a
@@ -119,9 +111,8 @@ impl<T: AsyncRead + AsyncSeek + Unpin + Send> AsyncReadAsyncSeek for T {}
 /// with field(s) modified in the `Responder` being built. These method calls
 /// can be chained: `build.a().b()`.
 ///
-/// To finish building and retrieve the built `Response`, `.await` the builder.
-/// The [`ok()` method](#method.ok) is also provided as a convenience
-/// for `Responder` implementations.
+/// To finish building and retrieve the built `Response`, use the
+/// [`finalize()`](#method.finalize) or [`ok()`](#method.ok) methods.
 ///
 /// ## Headers
 ///
@@ -157,23 +148,18 @@ impl<T: AsyncRead + AsyncSeek + Unpin + Send> AsyncReadAsyncSeek for T {}
 /// use rocket::http::{Status, ContentType};
 ///
 /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-///
-/// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
 /// let response = Response::build()
 ///     .status(Status::ImATeapot)
 ///     .header(ContentType::Plain)
 ///     .raw_header("X-Teapot-Make", "Rocket")
 ///     .raw_header("X-Teapot-Model", "Utopia")
 ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Teapot-Model", "Series 1")
-///     .sized_body(Cursor::new("Brewing the best coffee!"))
-///     .await;
-///
-/// # })
+///     .sized_body(Cursor::new("Brewing the best coffee!")).await
+///     .finalize();
+/// # });
 /// ```
 pub struct ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     response: Response<'r>,
-    pending_sized_body: Option<Box<dyn AsyncReadAsyncSeek + 'r>>,
-    fut: Option<Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output=Response<'r>> + Send + 'r>>>,
 }
 
 impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
@@ -192,8 +178,6 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     pub fn new(base: Response<'r>) -> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
         ResponseBuilder {
             response: base,
-            pending_sized_body: None,
-            fut: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -205,14 +189,9 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use rocket::Response;
     /// use rocket::http::Status;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
-    /// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::NotFound)
-    ///     .await;
-    ///
-    /// # })
+    ///     .finalize();
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn status(&mut self, status: Status) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r> {
@@ -227,14 +206,13 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     ///
     /// ```rust
     /// use rocket::Response;
+    /// use rocket::http::Status;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
-    /// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .raw_status(699, "Alien Encounter")
-    ///     .await;
-    /// # })
+    ///     .finalize();
+    ///
+    /// assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::new(699, "Alien Encounter"));
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn raw_status(&mut self, code: u16, reason: &'static str) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r> {
@@ -257,16 +235,12 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use rocket::Response;
     /// use rocket::http::ContentType;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .header(ContentType::JSON)
     ///     .header(ContentType::HTML)
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.headers().get("Content-Type").count(), 1);
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn header<'h: 'r, H>(&mut self, header: H) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
@@ -292,16 +266,12 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use rocket::http::Header;
     /// use rocket::http::hyper::header::ACCEPT;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .header_adjoin(Header::new(ACCEPT.as_str(), "application/json"))
     ///     .header_adjoin(Header::new(ACCEPT.as_str(), "text/plain"))
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.headers().get("Accept").count(), 2);
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn header_adjoin<'h: 'r, H>(&mut self, header: H) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
@@ -321,16 +291,12 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// ```rust
     /// use rocket::Response;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "first")
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "second")
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.headers().get("X-Custom").count(), 1);
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn raw_header<'a, 'b, N, V>(&mut self, name: N, value: V) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
@@ -351,16 +317,12 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// ```rust
     /// use rocket::Response;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Custom", "first")
     ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Custom", "second")
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.headers().get("X-Custom").count(), 2);
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn raw_header_adjoin<'a, 'b, N, V>(&mut self, name: N, value: V) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
@@ -375,24 +337,19 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// # Example
     ///
     /// ```rust
+    /// use std::io::Cursor;
     /// use rocket::Response;
-    /// use tokio::fs::File;
-    /// # use std::io;
     ///
-    /// # #[allow(dead_code)]
-    /// # async fn test() -> io::Result<()> {
-    /// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
+    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
     /// let response = Response::build()
-    ///     .sized_body(File::open("body.txt").await?)
-    ///     .await;
-    /// # Ok(())
-    /// # }
+    ///     .sized_body(Cursor::new("Hello, world!")).await
+    ///     .finalize();
+    /// # })
     /// ```
-    #[inline(always)]
-    pub fn sized_body<B>(&mut self, body: B) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
+    pub async fn sized_body<B>(&mut self, body: B) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
         where B: AsyncRead + AsyncSeek + Send + Unpin + 'r
     {
-        self.pending_sized_body = Some(Box::new(body));
+        self.response.set_sized_body(body).await;
         self
     }
 
@@ -401,25 +358,18 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// # Example
     ///
     /// ```rust
+    /// use std::io::Cursor;
     /// use rocket::Response;
-    /// use tokio::fs::File;
-    /// # use std::io;
     ///
-    /// # #[allow(dead_code)]
-    /// # async fn test() -> io::Result<()> {
-    /// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
     /// let response = Response::build()
-    ///     .streamed_body(File::open("body.txt").await?)
-    ///     .await;
-    /// # Ok(())
-    /// # }
+    ///     .streamed_body(Cursor::new("Hello, world!"))
+    ///     .finalize();
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn streamed_body<B>(&mut self, body: B) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
         where B: AsyncRead + Send + 'r
     {
         self.response.set_streamed_body(body);
-        self.pending_sized_body = None;
         self
     }
 
@@ -433,21 +383,18 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use tokio::fs::File;
     /// # use std::io;
     ///
-    /// # #[allow(dead_code)]
-    /// # async fn test() -> io::Result<()> {
-    /// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
+    /// # async fn test<'r>() -> io::Result<Response<'r>> {
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .chunked_body(File::open("body.txt").await?, 8096)
-    ///     .await;
-    /// # Ok(())
+    ///     .ok();
+    /// # response
     /// # }
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
-    pub fn chunked_body<B: AsyncRead + Send + 'r>(&mut self, body: B, chunk_size: u64)
-            -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
+    pub fn chunked_body<B>(&mut self, body: B, chunk_size: u64) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
+        where B: AsyncRead + Send + 'r
     {
         self.response.set_chunked_body(body, chunk_size);
-        self.pending_sized_body = None;
         self
     }
 
@@ -462,20 +409,16 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use rocket::response::{Response, Body};
     ///
     /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
-    /// # #[allow(unused_variables)]
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .raw_body(Body::Sized(Cursor::new("Hello!"), 6))
-    ///     .await;
-    ///
+    ///     .finalize();
     /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
-    pub fn raw_body<T: AsyncRead + Send + Unpin + 'r>(&mut self, body: Body<T>)
-            -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
+    pub fn raw_body<T>(&mut self, body: Body<T>) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r>
+        where T: AsyncRead + Send + Unpin + 'r
     {
         self.response.set_raw_body(body);
-        self.pending_sized_body = None;
         self
     }
 
@@ -491,40 +434,29 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use rocket::Response;
     /// use rocket::http::{Status, ContentType};
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let base = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::NotFound)
     ///     .header(ContentType::HTML)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 1")
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::ImATeapot)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 2")
     ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Custom", "value 3")
     ///     .merge(base)
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::NotFound);
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let ctype: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("Content-Type").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(ctype, vec![ContentType::HTML.to_string()]);
-    /// # }
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let custom_values: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("X-Custom").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(custom_values, vec!["value 1"]);
-    /// # }
-    ///
-    /// # });
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
-    pub fn merge(&mut self, mut other: Response<'r>) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r> {
-        if other.body().is_some() {
-            self.pending_sized_body = None;
-        }
+    pub fn merge(&mut self, other: Response<'r>) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r> {
         self.response.merge(other);
         self
     }
@@ -542,34 +474,26 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
     /// use rocket::Response;
     /// use rocket::http::{Status, ContentType};
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let other = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::NotFound)
     ///     .header(ContentType::HTML)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 1")
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::ImATeapot)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 2")
     ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Custom", "value 3")
     ///     .join(other)
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::ImATeapot);
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let ctype: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("Content-Type").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(ctype, vec![ContentType::HTML.to_string()]);
-    /// # }
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let custom_values: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("X-Custom").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(custom_values, vec!["value 2", "value 3", "value 1"]);
-    /// # }
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn join(&mut self, other: Response<'r>) -> &mut ResponseBuilder<'r> {
@@ -577,48 +501,47 @@ impl<'r> ResponseBuilder<'r> {
         self
     }
 
-    /// Retrieve the built `Response` wrapped in `Ok`.
+    /// Return the `Response` structure that was being built by this builder.
+    /// After calling this method, `self` is cleared and must be rebuilt as if
+    /// from `new()`.
+    ///
+    /// # Example
+    ///
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use std::io::Cursor;
+    ///
+    /// use rocket::Response;
+    /// use rocket::http::Status;
+    ///
+    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
+    /// let response = Response::build()
+    ///     .status(Status::ImATeapot)
+    ///     .sized_body(Cursor::new("Brewing the best coffee!")).await
+    ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 2")
+    ///     .finalize();
+    /// # })
+    /// ```
+    pub fn finalize(&mut self) -> Response<'r> {
+        std::mem::replace(&mut self.response, Response::new())
+    }
+
+    /// Retrieve the built `Response` wrapped in `Ok`. After calling this
+    /// method, `self` is cleared and must be rebuilt as if from `new()`.
     ///
     /// # Example
     ///
     /// ```rust
     /// use rocket::Response;
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let response: Result<Response, ()> = Response::build()
     ///     // build the response
-    ///     .ok()
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .ok();
     ///
     /// assert!(response.is_ok());
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
-    pub async fn ok<E>(&mut self) -> Result<Response<'r>, E> {
-        Ok(self.await)
-    }
-}
-
-impl<'r> Future for ResponseBuilder<'r> {
-    type Output = Response<'r>;
-
-    fn poll(self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
-        let this = self.get_mut();
-        if this.fut.is_none() {
-            let mut response = std::mem::replace(&mut this.response, Response::new());
-            let pending_sized_body = this.pending_sized_body.take();
-            this.fut = Some(Box::pin(async {
-                if let Some(sb) = pending_sized_body {
-                    // TODO: Avoid double boxing (Pin<Box<Take<Pin<Box<dyn AsyncReadAsyncSeek>>>>>)
-                    response.set_sized_body(sb).await;
-                }
-                response
-            }));
-        }
-
-        this.fut.as_mut().expect("this.fut.is_none() checked and assigned Some").as_mut().poll(cx)
+    pub fn ok<E>(&mut self) -> Result<Response<'r>, E> {
+        Ok(self.finalize())
     }
 }
 
@@ -1139,7 +1062,8 @@ impl<'r> Response<'r> {
     /// ```
     #[inline(always)]
     pub fn set_chunked_body<B>(&mut self, body: B, chunk_size: u64)
-            where B: AsyncRead + Send + 'r {
+            where B: AsyncRead + Send + 'r
+    {
         self.body = Some(Body::Chunked(Box::pin(body), chunk_size));
     }
 
@@ -1181,34 +1105,26 @@ impl<'r> Response<'r> {
     /// use rocket::Response;
     /// use rocket::http::{Status, ContentType};
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let base = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::NotFound)
     ///     .header(ContentType::HTML)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 1")
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::ImATeapot)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 2")
     ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Custom", "value 3")
     ///     .merge(base)
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::NotFound);
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let ctype: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("Content-Type").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(ctype, vec![ContentType::HTML.to_string()]);
-    /// # }
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let custom_values: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("X-Custom").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(custom_values, vec!["value 1"]);
-    /// # }
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     pub fn merge(&mut self, other: Response<'r>) {
         if let Some(status) = other.status {
@@ -1234,34 +1150,26 @@ impl<'r> Response<'r> {
     /// use rocket::Response;
     /// use rocket::http::{Status, ContentType};
     ///
-    /// # rocket::async_test(async {
-    ///
     /// let other = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::NotFound)
     ///     .header(ContentType::HTML)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 1")
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// let response = Response::build()
     ///     .status(Status::ImATeapot)
     ///     .raw_header("X-Custom", "value 2")
     ///     .raw_header_adjoin("X-Custom", "value 3")
     ///     .join(other)
-    ///     .await;
+    ///     .finalize();
     ///
     /// assert_eq!(response.status(), Status::ImATeapot);
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let ctype: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("Content-Type").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(ctype, vec![ContentType::HTML.to_string()]);
-    /// # }
     ///
-    /// # {
     /// let custom_values: Vec<_> = response.headers().get("X-Custom").collect();
     /// assert_eq!(custom_values, vec!["value 2", "value 3", "value 1"]);
-    /// # }
-    ///
-    /// # })
     /// ```
     pub fn join(&mut self, other: Response<'r>) {
         if self.status.is_none() {
@@ -1295,11 +1203,10 @@ impl fmt::Debug for Response<'_> {
 
 use crate::request::Request;
 
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r> Responder<'r> for Response<'r> {
     /// This is the identity implementation. It simply returns `Ok(self)`.
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async {
-            Ok(self)
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Ok(self)
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/status.rs b/core/lib/src/response/status.rs
index 41c85a56..50aaf21a 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/status.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/status.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use std::collections::hash_map::DefaultHasher;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
 use crate::request::Request;
-use crate::response::{Responder, Response, ResultFuture};
+use crate::response::{self, Responder, Response};
 use crate::http::Status;
 
 /// Sets the status of the response to 201 (Created).
@@ -160,23 +160,21 @@ impl<'r, R> Created<R> {
 /// the response with the `Responder`, the `ETag` header is set conditionally if
 /// a hashable `Responder` is provided via [`Created::tagged_body()`]. The `ETag`
 /// header is set to a hash value of the responder.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Created<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            let mut response = Response::build();
-            if let Some(responder) = self.1 {
-                response.merge(responder.respond_to(req).await?);
-            }
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        let mut response = Response::build();
+        if let Some(responder) = self.1 {
+            response.merge(responder.respond_to(req).await?);
+        }
 
-            if let Some(hash) = self.2 {
-                response.raw_header("ETag", format!(r#""{}""#, hash));
-            }
+        if let Some(hash) = self.2 {
+            response.raw_header("ETag", format!(r#""{}""#, hash));
+        }
 
-           response.status(Status::Created)
-               .raw_header("Location", self.0)
-               .ok()
-               .await
-        })
+        response.status(Status::Created)
+            .raw_header("Location", self.0)
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
@@ -209,16 +207,15 @@ pub struct Accepted<R>(pub Option<R>);
 
 /// Sets the status code of the response to 202 Accepted. If the responder is
 /// `Some`, it is used to finalize the response.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Accepted<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            let mut build = Response::build();
-            if let Some(responder) = self.0 {
-                build.merge(responder.respond_to(req).await?);
-            }
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        let mut build = Response::build();
+        if let Some(responder) = self.0 {
+            build.merge(responder.respond_to(req).await?);
+        }
 
-            build.status(Status::Accepted).ok().await
-        })
+        build.status(Status::Accepted).ok()
     }
 }
 
@@ -276,16 +273,15 @@ pub struct BadRequest<R>(pub Option<R>);
 
 /// Sets the status code of the response to 400 Bad Request. If the responder is
 /// `Some`, it is used to finalize the response.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for BadRequest<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            let mut build = Response::build();
-            if let Some(responder) = self.0 {
-                build.merge(responder.respond_to(req).await?);
-            }
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        let mut build = Response::build();
+        if let Some(responder) = self.0 {
+            build.merge(responder.respond_to(req).await?);
+        }
 
-            build.status(Status::BadRequest).ok().await
-        })
+        build.status(Status::BadRequest).ok()
     }
 }
 
@@ -385,14 +381,12 @@ impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>> Responder<'r> for Forbidden<R> {
 pub struct NotFound<R>(pub R);
 
 /// Sets the status code of the response to 404 Not Found.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for NotFound<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build_from(self.0.respond_to(req).await?)
-                .status(Status::NotFound)
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build_from(self.0.respond_to(req).await?)
+            .status(Status::NotFound)
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
@@ -453,14 +447,12 @@ pub struct Custom<R>(pub Status, pub R);
 
 /// Sets the status code of the response and then delegates the remainder of the
 /// response to the wrapped responder.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r> + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Custom<R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async move {
-            Response::build_from(self.1.respond_to(req).await?)
-                .status(self.0)
-                .ok()
-                .await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, req: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build_from(self.1.respond_to(req).await?)
+            .status(self.0)
+            .ok()
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/lib/src/response/stream.rs b/core/lib/src/response/stream.rs
index 3f1ddd88..cfec48cb 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/response/stream.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/response/stream.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::fmt::{self, Debug};
 use tokio::io::AsyncRead;
 
 use crate::request::Request;
-use crate::response::{Response, Responder, ResultFuture, DEFAULT_CHUNK_SIZE};
+use crate::response::{self, Response, Responder, DEFAULT_CHUNK_SIZE};
 
 /// Streams a response to a client from an arbitrary `AsyncRead`er type.
 ///
@@ -66,10 +66,9 @@ impl<T: AsyncRead> From<T> for Stream<T> {
 /// If reading from the input stream fails at any point during the response, the
 /// response is abandoned, and the response ends abruptly. An error is printed
 /// to the console with an indication of what went wrong.
+#[crate::async_trait]
 impl<'r, T: AsyncRead + Send + 'r> Responder<'r> for Stream<T> {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> ResultFuture<'r> {
-        Box::pin(async {
-            Response::build().chunked_body(self.0, self.1).ok().await
-        })
+    async fn respond_to(self, _: &'r Request<'_>) -> response::Result<'r> {
+        Response::build().chunked_body(self.0, self.1).ok()
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/lib/src/router/mod.rs b/core/lib/src/router/mod.rs
index 0ab30640..9810500d 100644
--- a/core/lib/src/router/mod.rs
+++ b/core/lib/src/router/mod.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ use crate::http::Method;
 type Selector = Method;
 
 // A handler to use when one is needed temporarily.
-pub(crate) fn dummy_handler<'r>(r: &'r Request<'_>, _: crate::Data) -> BoxFuture<'r, crate::handler::Outcome<'r>> {
+pub(crate) fn dummy_handler<'r>(
+    r: &'r Request<'_>, _: crate::Data
+) -> BoxFuture<'r, crate::handler::Outcome<'r>> {
     crate::Outcome::from(r, ())
 }
 
diff --git a/core/lib/tests/conditionally-set-server-header-996.rs b/core/lib/tests/conditionally-set-server-header-996.rs
index af160970..6a19a68e 100644
--- a/core/lib/tests/conditionally-set-server-header-996.rs
+++ b/core/lib/tests/conditionally-set-server-header-996.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use rocket::http::Header;
 async fn do_not_overwrite() -> Response<'static> {
     Response::build()
         .header(Header::new("Server", "Test"))
-        .await
+        .finalize()
 }
 
 #[get("/use_default")]
diff --git a/core/lib/tests/responder_lifetime-issue-345.rs b/core/lib/tests/responder_lifetime-issue-345.rs
index 73dbc8d2..8ef87716 100644
--- a/core/lib/tests/responder_lifetime-issue-345.rs
+++ b/core/lib/tests/responder_lifetime-issue-345.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 
 #[macro_use] extern crate rocket;
 
-use rocket::State;
-use rocket::response::{self, Responder};
+use rocket::{Request, State};
+use rocket::futures::future::BoxFuture;
+use rocket::response::{Responder, Result};
 
 struct SomeState;
 
@@ -14,7 +15,9 @@ pub struct CustomResponder<'r, R> {
 }
 
 impl<'r, R: Responder<'r>> Responder<'r> for CustomResponder<'r, R> {
-    fn respond_to(self, _: &rocket::Request) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
+    fn respond_to<'a, 'x>(self, _: &'r Request<'a>) -> BoxFuture<'x, Result<'r>>
+        where 'a: 'x, 'r: 'x, Self: 'x
+    {
         unimplemented!()
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs b/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs
index 31c1c209..6296a660 100644
--- a/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ mod tests;
 
 use std::env;
 
-use tokio::fs::File;
-
 use rocket::{Request, Handler, Route, Data, Catcher, try_outcome};
 use rocket::http::{Status, RawStr};
 use rocket::response::{self, Responder, status::Custom};
 use rocket::handler::{Outcome, HandlerFuture};
 use rocket::outcome::IntoOutcome;
 use rocket::http::Method::*;
+use rocket::futures::future::BoxFuture;
+use rocket::tokio::fs::File;
 
 fn forward<'r>(_req: &'r Request, data: Data) -> HandlerFuture<'r> {
     Box::pin(async move { Outcome::forward(data) })
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ fn get_upload<'r>(req: &'r Request, _: Data) -> HandlerFuture<'r> {
     Outcome::from(req, std::fs::File::open(env::temp_dir().join("upload.txt")).ok())
 }
 
-fn not_found_handler<'r>(req: &'r Request) -> response::ResultFuture<'r> {
+fn not_found_handler<'r>(req: &'r Request) -> BoxFuture<'r, response::Result<'r>> {
     let res = Custom(Status::NotFound, format!("Couldn't find: {}", req.uri()));
     res.respond_to(req)
 }