diff --git a/ofborg/src/utils/pastebin.rs b/ofborg/src/utils/pastebin.rs
index b63c8a4..4ac94d7 100644
--- a/ofborg/src/utils/pastebin.rs
+++ b/ofborg/src/utils/pastebin.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,16 @@
 
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
+use async_std::stream::StreamExt;
 use base64::{prelude::BASE64_URL_SAFE_NO_PAD, Engine};
+use lapin::{
+    options::{BasicConsumeOptions, BasicPublishOptions},
+    types::{FieldTable, ShortString},
+    BasicProperties, Channel,
+};
+use tracing::{debug, trace};
+
+use crate::worker::prepare_queue_message;
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
 pub struct Pastebin {
@@ -31,14 +40,61 @@ impl From<&Pastebin> for PersistedPastebin {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn make_pastebin(title: &str, contents: String) -> Option<PersistedPastebin> {
+pub async fn make_pastebin(
+    chan: &mut Channel,
+    title: &str,
+    contents: String,
+) -> Result<PersistedPastebin, lapin::Error> {
     let pastebin = Pastebin {
         title: title.to_owned(),
         contents,
     };
 
-    // wait for a reply?
-    //async_std::task::block_on(publish_serde_action(pastebin));
+    let mut msg = prepare_queue_message(Some("pastebin-log"), None, &pastebin);
+    // publish with a correlation ID and a reply-to the pastebin event queue
+    let correlation_id: ShortString = format!("{}", uuid::Uuid::new_v4().as_simple()).into();
+    let mut props = BasicProperties::default()
+        .with_reply_to("persisted-pastebins".into())
+        .with_correlation_id(correlation_id.clone())
+        .with_delivery_mode(2); // do not lose pastebins please
 
-    None
+    if let Some(s) = msg.content_type {
+        props = props.with_content_type(s.into());
+    }
+
+    trace!(?title, "creating a pastebin");
+    let confirmation = chan
+        .basic_publish(
+            &msg.exchange.take().unwrap_or_else(|| "".to_owned()),
+            &msg.routing_key.take().unwrap_or_else(|| "".to_owned()),
+            BasicPublishOptions::default(),
+            &msg.content,
+            props,
+        )
+        .await?
+        .await?;
+
+    trace!(?confirmation, "pastebin created");
+    let mut consumer = chan
+        .basic_consume(
+            "persisted-pastebins",
+            "adhoc-pastebin",
+            BasicConsumeOptions::default(),
+            FieldTable::default(),
+        )
+        .await?;
+
+    let mut persisted_pastebin: Option<PersistedPastebin> = None;
+    // TODO: add timeout here.
+    // FIXME: if we timeout, increase the number of errors for stats?
+    while let Some(Ok(deliver)) = consumer.next().await {
+        debug!(?deliver.delivery_tag, "received a persisted pastebin");
+        if deliver.properties.correlation_id().as_ref().unwrap() == &correlation_id {
+            persisted_pastebin = Some(serde_json::from_slice(&deliver.data).unwrap());
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // return the persisted pastebin
+    persisted_pastebin.ok_or_else(|| lapin::Error::InvalidChannel(1))
 }
diff --git a/ofborg/src/worker.rs b/ofborg/src/worker.rs
index ec63dc7..818134b 100644
--- a/ofborg/src/worker.rs
+++ b/ofborg/src/worker.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,24 @@ pub struct QueueMsg {
     pub content: Vec<u8>,
 }
 
+pub fn prepare_queue_message<T: ?Sized>(
+    exchange: Option<&str>,
+    routing_key: Option<&str>,
+    msg: &T,
+) -> QueueMsg
+where
+    T: Serialize,
+{
+    QueueMsg {
+        exchange: exchange.map(|s| s.to_owned()),
+        routing_key: routing_key.map(|s| s.to_owned()),
+        mandatory: false,
+        immediate: false,
+        content_type: Some("application/json".to_owned()),
+        content: serde_json::to_string(&msg).unwrap().into_bytes(),
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn publish_serde_action<T: ?Sized>(
     exchange: Option<String>,
     routing_key: Option<String>,
@@ -32,14 +50,11 @@ pub fn publish_serde_action<T: ?Sized>(
 where
     T: Serialize,
 {
-    Action::Publish(Box::new(QueueMsg {
-        exchange,
-        routing_key,
-        mandatory: false,
-        immediate: false,
-        content_type: Some("application/json".to_owned()),
-        content: serde_json::to_string(&msg).unwrap().into_bytes(),
-    }))
+    Action::Publish(Box::new(prepare_queue_message(
+        exchange.as_deref(),
+        routing_key.as_deref(),
+        msg,
+    )))
 }
 
 pub trait SimpleWorker: Send {