diff --git a/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
index 60389fdd5..c6ac39ddf 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.cc
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::killChild()
 }
 
 
-Goal::Finished DerivationGoal::timedOut(Error && ex)
+Goal::WorkResult DerivationGoal::timedOut(Error && ex)
 {
     killChild();
     return done(BuildResult::TimedOut, {}, std::move(ex));
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ retry:
         if (!actLock)
             actLock = std::make_unique<Activity>(*logger, lvlWarn, actBuildWaiting,
                 fmt("waiting for lock on %s", Magenta(showPaths(lockFiles))));
-        (co_await waitForAWhile()).value();
+        co_await waitForAWhile();
         // we can loop very often, and `co_return co_await` always allocates a new frame
         goto retry;
     }
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ retry:
                 actLock = std::make_unique<Activity>(*logger, lvlTalkative, actBuildWaiting,
                     fmt("waiting for a machine to build '%s'", Magenta(worker.store.printStorePath(drvPath))));
             outputLocks.unlock();
-            (co_await waitForAWhile()).value();
+            co_await waitForAWhile();
             goto retry;
         }
 
@@ -1331,7 +1331,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::closeLogFile()
 }
 
 
-Goal::Finished DerivationGoal::tooMuchLogs()
+Goal::WorkResult DerivationGoal::tooMuchLogs()
 {
     killChild();
     return done(
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@ struct DerivationGoal::InputStream final : private kj::AsyncObject
     }
 };
 
-kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> DerivationGoal::handleBuilderOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept
+kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>> DerivationGoal::handleBuilderOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept
 try {
     auto buf = kj::heapArray<char>(4096);
     while (true) {
@@ -1413,7 +1413,7 @@ try {
     co_return std::current_exception();
 }
 
-kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> DerivationGoal::handleHookOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept
+kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>> DerivationGoal::handleHookOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept
 try {
     auto buf = kj::heapArray<char>(4096);
     while (true) {
@@ -1467,7 +1467,7 @@ try {
     co_return std::current_exception();
 }
 
-kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> DerivationGoal::handleChildOutput() noexcept
+kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>> DerivationGoal::handleChildOutput() noexcept
 try {
     assert(builderOutFD);
 
@@ -1483,7 +1483,7 @@ try {
         handlers = handlers.exclusiveJoin(
             worker.aio.provider->getTimer()
                 .afterDelay(settings.buildTimeout.get() * kj::SECONDS)
-                .then([this]() -> Outcome<void, Finished> {
+                .then([this]() -> Outcome<void, WorkResult> {
                     return timedOut(
                         Error("%1% timed out after %2% seconds", name, settings.buildTimeout)
                     );
@@ -1491,7 +1491,7 @@ try {
         );
     }
 
-    return handlers.then([this](auto r) -> Outcome<void, Finished> {
+    return handlers.then([this](auto r) -> Outcome<void, WorkResult> {
         if (!currentLogLine.empty()) flushLine();
         return r;
     });
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ try {
     return {std::current_exception()};
 }
 
-kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> DerivationGoal::monitorForSilence() noexcept
+kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>> DerivationGoal::monitorForSilence() noexcept
 {
     while (true) {
         const auto stash = lastChildActivity;
@@ -1513,13 +1513,13 @@ kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> DerivationGoal::monitorForSilence() n
     }
 }
 
-kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>>
+kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>>
 DerivationGoal::handleChildStreams(InputStream & builderIn, InputStream * hookIn) noexcept
 {
     lastChildActivity = worker.aio.provider->getTimer().now();
 
     auto handlers = kj::joinPromisesFailFast([&] {
-        kj::Vector<kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>>> parts{2};
+        kj::Vector<kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>>> parts{2};
 
         parts.add(handleBuilderOutput(builderIn));
         if (hookIn) {
@@ -1680,7 +1680,7 @@ SingleDrvOutputs DerivationGoal::assertPathValidity()
 }
 
 
-Goal::Finished DerivationGoal::done(
+Goal::WorkResult DerivationGoal::done(
     BuildResult::Status status,
     SingleDrvOutputs builtOutputs,
     std::optional<Error> ex)
@@ -1717,7 +1717,7 @@ Goal::Finished DerivationGoal::done(
         logError(ex->info());
     }
 
-    return Finished{
+    return WorkResult{
         .exitCode = buildResult.success() ? ecSuccess : ecFailed,
         .result = buildResult,
         .ex = ex ? std::make_shared<Error>(std::move(*ex)) : nullptr,
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.hh b/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.hh
index 1e2f9b55c..0cacf75fd 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/derivation-goal.hh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ struct HookInstance;
 
 struct HookReplyBase {
     struct [[nodiscard]] Accept {
-        kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> promise;
+        kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>> promise;
     };
     struct [[nodiscard]] Decline {};
     struct [[nodiscard]] Postpone {};
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ struct DerivationGoal : public Goal
         BuildMode buildMode = bmNormal);
     virtual ~DerivationGoal() noexcept(false);
 
-    Finished timedOut(Error && ex);
+    WorkResult timedOut(Error && ex);
 
     kj::Promise<Result<WorkResult>> work() noexcept override;
 
@@ -319,13 +319,13 @@ struct DerivationGoal : public Goal
 protected:
     kj::TimePoint lastChildActivity = kj::minValue;
 
-    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>> handleChildOutput() noexcept;
-    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>>
+    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>> handleChildOutput() noexcept;
+    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>>
     handleChildStreams(InputStream & builderIn, InputStream * hookIn) noexcept;
-    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>> handleBuilderOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept;
-    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>> handleHookOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept;
-    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>> monitorForSilence() noexcept;
-    Finished tooMuchLogs();
+    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>> handleBuilderOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept;
+    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>> handleHookOutput(InputStream & in) noexcept;
+    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>> monitorForSilence() noexcept;
+    WorkResult tooMuchLogs();
     void flushLine();
 
 public:
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ public:
 
     void started();
 
-    Finished done(
+    WorkResult done(
         BuildResult::Status status,
         SingleDrvOutputs builtOutputs = {},
         std::optional<Error> ex = {});
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
index 9ffa33d7b..765908aeb 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/drv-output-substitution-goal.cc
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ try {
 
     /* If the derivation already exists, we’re done */
     if (worker.store.queryRealisation(id)) {
-        co_return Finished{ecSuccess, std::move(buildResult)};
+        co_return WorkResult{ecSuccess, std::move(buildResult)};
     }
 
     subs = settings.useSubstitutes ? getDefaultSubstituters() : std::list<ref<Store>>();
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ try {
         /* Hack: don't indicate failure if there were no substituters.
            In that case the calling derivation should just do a
            build. */
-        co_return Finished{substituterFailed ? ecFailed : ecNoSubstituters, std::move(buildResult)};
+        co_return WorkResult{substituterFailed ? ecFailed : ecNoSubstituters, std::move(buildResult)};
     }
 
     sub = subs.front();
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ try {
 
     if (nrFailed > 0) {
         debug("The output path of the derivation output '%s' could not be substituted", id.to_string());
-        return {Finished{
+        return {WorkResult{
             nrNoSubstituters > 0 || nrIncompleteClosure > 0 ? ecIncompleteClosure : ecFailed,
             std::move(buildResult),
         }};
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ try {
 kj::Promise<Result<Goal::WorkResult>> DrvOutputSubstitutionGoal::finished() noexcept
 try {
     trace("finished");
-    return {Finished{ecSuccess, std::move(buildResult)}};
+    return {WorkResult{ecSuccess, std::move(buildResult)}};
 } catch (...) {
     return {std::current_exception()};
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/goal.cc
index cfdb6717c..5910c37b2 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/goal.cc
@@ -11,18 +11,15 @@ void Goal::trace(std::string_view s)
     debug("%1%: %2%", name, s);
 }
 
-kj::Promise<Result<Goal::WorkResult>> Goal::waitForAWhile()
-try {
+kj::Promise<void> Goal::waitForAWhile()
+{
     trace("wait for a while");
     /* If we are polling goals that are waiting for a lock, then wake
        up after a few seconds at most. */
-    co_await worker.aio.provider->getTimer().afterDelay(settings.pollInterval.get() * kj::SECONDS);
-    co_return StillAlive{};
-} catch (...) {
-    co_return std::current_exception();
+    return worker.aio.provider->getTimer().afterDelay(settings.pollInterval.get() * kj::SECONDS);
 }
 
-kj::Promise<Result<Goal::WorkResult>>
+kj::Promise<Result<void>>
 Goal::waitForGoals(kj::Array<std::pair<GoalPtr, kj::Promise<void>>> dependencies) noexcept
 try {
     auto left = dependencies.size();
@@ -45,11 +42,11 @@ try {
         waiteeDone(dep);
 
         if (dep->exitCode == ecFailed && !settings.keepGoing) {
-            co_return result::success(StillAlive{});
+            co_return result::success();
         }
     }
 
-    co_return result::success(StillAlive{});
+    co_return result::success();
 } catch (...) {
     co_return result::failure(std::current_exception());
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/goal.hh b/src/libstore/build/goal.hh
index 17c3d85db..03c2cf309 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/goal.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/goal.hh
@@ -99,11 +99,7 @@ protected:
     AsyncSemaphore::Token slotToken;
 
 public:
-
-    struct Finished;
-
-    struct [[nodiscard]] StillAlive {};
-    struct [[nodiscard]] Finished {
+    struct [[nodiscard]] WorkResult {
         ExitCode exitCode;
         BuildResult result;
         std::shared_ptr<Error> ex;
@@ -113,21 +109,13 @@ public:
         bool checkMismatch = false;
     };
 
-    struct [[nodiscard]] WorkResult : std::variant<
-                                          StillAlive,
-                                          Finished>
-    {
-        WorkResult() = delete;
-        using variant::variant;
-    };
-
 protected:
-    kj::Promise<Result<WorkResult>> waitForAWhile();
-    kj::Promise<Result<WorkResult>>
+    kj::Promise<void> waitForAWhile();
+    kj::Promise<Result<void>>
     waitForGoals(kj::Array<std::pair<GoalPtr, kj::Promise<void>>> dependencies) noexcept;
 
     template<std::derived_from<Goal>... G>
-    kj::Promise<Result<Goal::WorkResult>>
+    kj::Promise<Result<void>>
     waitForGoals(std::pair<std::shared_ptr<G>, kj::Promise<void>>... goals) noexcept
     {
         return waitForGoals(kj::arrOf<std::pair<GoalPtr, kj::Promise<void>>>(std::move(goals)...));
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
index 5c1fcf1f8..c8c68f99f 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ retry:
             if (!actLock)
                 actLock = std::make_unique<Activity>(*logger, lvlWarn, actBuildWaiting,
                     fmt("waiting for a free build user ID for '%s'", Magenta(worker.store.printStorePath(drvPath))));
-            (co_await waitForAWhile()).value();
+            co_await waitForAWhile();
             // we can loop very often, and `co_return co_await` always allocates a new frame
             goto retry;
         }
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ void LocalDerivationGoal::cleanupPostOutputsRegisteredModeNonCheck()
 
 // NOTE this one isn't noexcept because it's called from places that expect
 // exceptions to signal failure to launch. we should change this some time.
-kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::Finished>> LocalDerivationGoal::startBuilder()
+kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Goal::WorkResult>> LocalDerivationGoal::startBuilder()
 {
     if ((buildUser && buildUser->getUIDCount() != 1)
         #if __linux__
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.hh b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.hh
index 44bcd2ffe..cd6ea2b55 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.hh
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ struct LocalDerivationGoal : public DerivationGoal
     /**
      * Start building a derivation.
      */
-    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, Finished>> startBuilder();
+    kj::Promise<Outcome<void, WorkResult>> startBuilder();
 
     /**
      * Fill in the environment for the builder.
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
index 6dddf6e40..c0dd95da5 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ PathSubstitutionGoal::~PathSubstitutionGoal()
 }
 
 
-Goal::Finished PathSubstitutionGoal::done(
+Goal::WorkResult PathSubstitutionGoal::done(
     ExitCode result,
     BuildResult::Status status,
     std::optional<std::string> errorMsg)
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Goal::Finished PathSubstitutionGoal::done(
         debug(*errorMsg);
         buildResult.errorMsg = *errorMsg;
     }
-    return Finished{result, std::move(buildResult)};
+    return WorkResult{result, std::move(buildResult)};
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.hh b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.hh
index dc701bcba..41e665779 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.hh
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ struct PathSubstitutionGoal : public Goal
      */
     std::optional<ContentAddress> ca;
 
-    Finished done(
+    WorkResult done(
         ExitCode result,
         BuildResult::Status status,
         std::optional<std::string> errorMsg = {});
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
index e063ede71..0ca805b4d 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/worker.cc
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ static void removeGoal(std::shared_ptr<G> goal, auto & goalMap)
 }
 
 
-void Worker::goalFinished(GoalPtr goal, Goal::Finished & f)
+void Worker::goalFinished(GoalPtr goal, Goal::WorkResult & f)
 {
     goal->trace("done");
     assert(!goal->exitCode.has_value());
@@ -210,20 +210,6 @@ void Worker::goalFinished(GoalPtr goal, Goal::Finished & f)
     goal->cleanup();
 }
 
-void Worker::handleWorkResult(GoalPtr goal, Goal::WorkResult how)
-{
-    std::visit(
-        overloaded{
-            [&](Goal::StillAlive) {
-                childStarted(goal, kj::evalLater([goal] { return goal->work(); }));
-            },
-            [&](Goal::Finished & f) { goalFinished(goal, f); },
-        },
-        how
-    );
-    updateStatistics();
-}
-
 void Worker::removeGoal(GoalPtr goal)
 {
     if (auto drvGoal = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<DerivationGoal>(goal))
@@ -250,7 +236,7 @@ void Worker::childStarted(GoalPtr goal, kj::Promise<Result<Goal::WorkResult>> pr
     children.add(promise
         .then([this, goal](auto result) {
             if (result.has_value()) {
-                handleWorkResult(goal, std::move(result.assume_value()));
+                goalFinished(goal, result.assume_value());
             } else {
                 childException = result.assume_error();
             }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/worker.hh b/src/libstore/build/worker.hh
index cd49fb860..d0bf742c5 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/worker.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/build/worker.hh
@@ -139,8 +139,7 @@ private:
      */
     bool checkMismatch = false;
 
-    void goalFinished(GoalPtr goal, Goal::Finished & f);
-    void handleWorkResult(GoalPtr goal, Goal::WorkResult how);
+    void goalFinished(GoalPtr goal, Goal::WorkResult & f);
 
     kj::Own<kj::PromiseFulfiller<void>> childFinished;