diff --git a/sync3/caches/global.go b/sync3/caches/global.go
index 75fdf72..7393c52 100644
--- a/sync3/caches/global.go
+++ b/sync3/caches/global.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/getsentry/sentry-go"
 	"os"
 	"sort"
 	"sync"
@@ -74,14 +73,14 @@ func NewGlobalCache(store *state.Storage) *GlobalCache {
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *GlobalCache) OnRegistered(_ int64) error {
+func (c *GlobalCache) OnRegistered(_ context.Context, _ int64) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
 // Load the current room metadata for the given room IDs. Races unless you call this in a dispatcher loop.
 // Always returns copies of the room metadata so ownership can be passed to other threads.
 // Keeps the ordering of the room IDs given.
-func (c *GlobalCache) LoadRooms(roomIDs ...string) map[string]*internal.RoomMetadata {
+func (c *GlobalCache) LoadRooms(ctx context.Context, roomIDs ...string) map[string]*internal.RoomMetadata {
 	c.roomIDToMetadataMu.RLock()
 	defer c.roomIDToMetadataMu.RUnlock()
 	result := make(map[string]*internal.RoomMetadata, len(roomIDs))
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ func (c *GlobalCache) LoadRooms(roomIDs ...string) map[string]*internal.RoomMeta
 		if sr == nil {
 			const errMsg = "GlobalCache.LoadRoom: no metadata for this room"
 			logger.Error().Str("room", roomID).Msg(errMsg)
-			sentry.CaptureException(fmt.Errorf(errMsg))
+			internal.GetSentryHubFromContextOrDefault(ctx).CaptureException(fmt.Errorf(errMsg))
 			continue
 		}
 		srCopy := *sr
@@ -107,7 +106,7 @@ func (c *GlobalCache) LoadRooms(roomIDs ...string) map[string]*internal.RoomMeta
 
 // Load all current joined room metadata for the user given. Returns the absolute database position along
 // with the results. TODO: remove with LoadRoomState?
-func (c *GlobalCache) LoadJoinedRooms(userID string) (pos int64, joinedRooms map[string]*internal.RoomMetadata, err error) {
+func (c *GlobalCache) LoadJoinedRooms(ctx context.Context, userID string) (pos int64, joinedRooms map[string]*internal.RoomMetadata, err error) {
 	if c.LoadJoinedRoomsOverride != nil {
 		return c.LoadJoinedRoomsOverride(userID)
 	}
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ func (c *GlobalCache) LoadJoinedRooms(userID string) (pos int64, joinedRooms map
 		return 0, nil, err
 	}
 	// TODO: no guarantee that this state is the same as latest unless called in a dispatcher loop
-	rooms := c.LoadRooms(joinedRoomIDs...)
+	rooms := c.LoadRooms(ctx, joinedRoomIDs...)
 	return initialLoadPosition, rooms, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/sync3/caches/user.go b/sync3/caches/user.go
index e408820..24a8915 100644
--- a/sync3/caches/user.go
+++ b/sync3/caches/user.go
@@ -213,10 +213,10 @@ func (c *UserCache) Unsubscribe(id int) {
 	delete(c.listeners, id)
 }
 
-func (c *UserCache) OnRegistered(_ int64) error {
+func (c *UserCache) OnRegistered(ctx context.Context, _ int64) error {
 	// select all spaces the user is a part of to seed the cache correctly. This has to be done in
 	// the OnRegistered callback which has locking guarantees. This is why...
-	latestPos, joinedRooms, err := c.globalCache.LoadJoinedRooms(c.UserID)
+	latestPos, joinedRooms, err := c.globalCache.LoadJoinedRooms(ctx, c.UserID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load joined rooms: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ func (c *roomUpdateCache) UserRoomMetadata() *UserRoomData {
 func (c *UserCache) newRoomUpdate(ctx context.Context, roomID string) RoomUpdate {
 	u := c.LoadRoomData(roomID)
 	var r *internal.RoomMetadata
-	globalRooms := c.globalCache.LoadRooms(roomID)
+	globalRooms := c.globalCache.LoadRooms(ctx, roomID)
 	if globalRooms == nil || globalRooms[roomID] == nil {
 		// this can happen when we join a room we didn't know about because we process unread counts
 		// before the timeline events. Warn and send a stub
diff --git a/sync3/dispatcher.go b/sync3/dispatcher.go
index a1e25f6..b06af11 100644
--- a/sync3/dispatcher.go
+++ b/sync3/dispatcher.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ type Receiver interface {
 	OnNewEvent(ctx context.Context, event *caches.EventData)
 	OnReceipt(ctx context.Context, receipt internal.Receipt)
 	OnEphemeralEvent(ctx context.Context, roomID string, ephEvent json.RawMessage)
-	OnRegistered(latestPos int64) error
+	OnRegistered(ctx context.Context, latestPos int64) error
 }
 
 // Dispatches live events to caches
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ func (d *Dispatcher) Unregister(userID string) {
 	delete(d.userToReceiver, userID)
 }
 
-func (d *Dispatcher) Register(userID string, r Receiver) error {
+func (d *Dispatcher) Register(ctx context.Context, userID string, r Receiver) error {
 	d.userToReceiverMu.Lock()
 	defer d.userToReceiverMu.Unlock()
 	if _, ok := d.userToReceiver[userID]; ok {
 		logger.Warn().Str("user", userID).Msg("Dispatcher.Register: receiver already registered")
 	}
 	d.userToReceiver[userID] = r
-	return r.OnRegistered(d.latestPos)
+	return r.OnRegistered(ctx, d.latestPos)
 }
 
 func (d *Dispatcher) newEventData(event json.RawMessage, roomID string, latestPos int64) *caches.EventData {
diff --git a/sync3/extensions/typing.go b/sync3/extensions/typing.go
index d735264..286f277 100644
--- a/sync3/extensions/typing.go
+++ b/sync3/extensions/typing.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func (r *TypingRequest) ProcessInitial(ctx context.Context, res *Response, extCt
 	for roomID := range extCtx.RoomIDToTimeline {
 		roomIDs = append(roomIDs, roomID)
 	}
-	roomToGlobalMetadata := extCtx.GlobalCache.LoadRooms(roomIDs...)
+	roomToGlobalMetadata := extCtx.GlobalCache.LoadRooms(ctx, roomIDs...)
 	for roomID := range extCtx.RoomIDToTimeline {
 		meta := roomToGlobalMetadata[roomID]
 		if meta == nil || meta.TypingEvent == nil {
diff --git a/sync3/handler/connstate.go b/sync3/handler/connstate.go
index 608299e..8fc9052 100644
--- a/sync3/handler/connstate.go
+++ b/sync3/handler/connstate.go
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ func NewConnState(
 //     N events arrive and get buffered.
 //   - load() bases its current state based on the latest position, which includes processing of these N events.
 //   - post load() we read N events, processing them a 2nd time.
-func (s *ConnState) load() error {
-	initialLoadPosition, joinedRooms, err := s.globalCache.LoadJoinedRooms(s.userID)
+func (s *ConnState) load(ctx context.Context) error {
+	initialLoadPosition, joinedRooms, err := s.globalCache.LoadJoinedRooms(ctx, s.userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func (s *ConnState) OnIncomingRequest(ctx context.Context, cid sync3.ConnID, req
 	if s.loadPosition == -1 {
 		// load() needs no ctx so drop it
 		_, region := internal.StartSpan(ctx, "load")
-		s.load()
+		s.load(ctx)
 		region.End()
 	}
 	return s.onIncomingRequest(ctx, req, isInitial)
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func (s *ConnState) onIncomingListRequest(ctx context.Context, builder *RoomsBui
 			roomList, _ = s.lists.AssignList(ctx, listKey, nextReqList.Filters, nextReqList.Sort, sync3.Overwrite)
 		}
 		// resort as either we changed the sort order or we added/removed a bunch of rooms
-		if err := roomList.Sort(ctx, nextReqList.Sort); err != nil {
+		if err := roomList.Sort(nextReqList.Sort); err != nil {
 			logger.Err(err).Str("key", listKey).Msg("cannot sort list")
 			internal.GetSentryHubFromContextOrDefault(ctx).CaptureException(err)
 		}
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ func (s *ConnState) getInitialRoomData(ctx context.Context, roomSub sync3.RoomSu
 	rooms := make(map[string]sync3.Room, len(roomIDs))
 	// We want to grab the user room data and the room metadata for each room ID.
 	roomIDToUserRoomData := s.userCache.LazyLoadTimelines(ctx, s.loadPosition, roomIDs, int(roomSub.TimelineLimit))
-	roomMetadatas := s.globalCache.LoadRooms(roomIDs...)
+	roomMetadatas := s.globalCache.LoadRooms(ctx, roomIDs...)
 	// prepare lazy loading data structures, txn IDs
 	roomToUsersInTimeline := make(map[string][]string, len(roomIDToUserRoomData))
 	roomToTimeline := make(map[string][]json.RawMessage)
diff --git a/sync3/handler/handler.go b/sync3/handler/handler.go
index 9fccad6..98c7ede 100644
--- a/sync3/handler/handler.go
+++ b/sync3/handler/handler.go
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func (h *SyncLiveHandler) Startup(storeSnapshot *state.StartupSnapshot) error {
 	if err := h.Dispatcher.Startup(storeSnapshot.AllJoinedMembers); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load sync3.Dispatcher: %s", err)
 	}
-	h.Dispatcher.Register(sync3.DispatcherAllUsers, h.GlobalCache)
+	h.Dispatcher.Register(context.Background(), sync3.DispatcherAllUsers, h.GlobalCache)
 	if err := h.GlobalCache.Startup(storeSnapshot.GlobalMetadata); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to populate global cache: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ func (h *SyncLiveHandler) userCache(userID string) (*caches.UserCache, error) {
 	actualUC, loaded := h.userCaches.LoadOrStore(userID, uc)
 	uc = actualUC.(*caches.UserCache)
 	if !loaded { // we actually inserted the cache, so register with the dispatcher.
-		if err = h.Dispatcher.Register(userID, uc); err != nil {
+		if err = h.Dispatcher.Register(context.Background(), userID, uc); err != nil {
 			h.Dispatcher.Unregister(userID)
 			h.userCaches.Delete(userID)
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to register user cache with dispatcher: %s", err)
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ func (h *SyncLiveHandler) OnReceipt(p *pubsub.V2Receipt) {
 func (h *SyncLiveHandler) OnTyping(p *pubsub.V2Typing) {
 	ctx, task := internal.StartTask(context.Background(), "OnTyping")
 	defer task.End()
-	rooms := h.GlobalCache.LoadRooms(p.RoomID)
+	rooms := h.GlobalCache.LoadRooms(ctx, p.RoomID)
 	if rooms[p.RoomID] != nil {
 		if reflect.DeepEqual(p.EphemeralEvent, rooms[p.RoomID].TypingEvent) {
 			return // it's a duplicate, which happens when 2+ users are in the same room
diff --git a/sync3/lists.go b/sync3/lists.go
index 84969ca..83928f0 100644
--- a/sync3/lists.go
+++ b/sync3/lists.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (s *InternalRequestLists) AssignList(ctx context.Context, listKey string, f
 
 	roomList := NewFilteredSortableRooms(s, roomIDs, filters)
 	if sort != nil {
-		err := roomList.Sort(ctx, sort)
+		err := roomList.Sort(sort)
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Err(err).Strs("sort_by", sort).Msg("failed to sort")
 			internal.GetSentryHubFromContextOrDefault(ctx).CaptureException(err)
diff --git a/sync3/ops.go b/sync3/ops.go
index 3847b9f..9f05119 100644
--- a/sync3/ops.go
+++ b/sync3/ops.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func CalculateListOps(ctx context.Context, reqList *RequestList, list List, room
 		listFromIndex := listFromTo[0]
 		listToIndex := listFromTo[1]
 		wasUpdatedRoomInserted := listToIndex == toIndex
-		toRoomID := list.Get(ctx, listToIndex)
+		toRoomID := list.Get(listToIndex)
 		if toRoomID == roomID && listFromIndex == listToIndex && listOp == ListOpChange && wasInsideRange && len(listFromTos) == 1 {
 			// DELETE/INSERT have the same index, we're INSERTing the room that was updated, it was a Change not Add/Delete, it
 			// was previously inside the window AND there's just 1 move operation = it's moving to and from the same index so
diff --git a/sync3/sort.go b/sync3/sort.go
index db14af1..4402b84 100644
--- a/sync3/sort.go
+++ b/sync3/sort.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package sync3
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 
@@ -52,8 +51,9 @@ func (s *SortableRooms) Add(roomID string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (s *SortableRooms) Get(ctx context.Context, index int) string {
-	internal.AssertWithContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("index is within len(rooms) %v < %v", index, len(s.roomIDs)), index < len(s.roomIDs))
+func (s *SortableRooms) Get(index int) string {
+	// TODO: find a way to plumb a context through
+	internal.Assert(fmt.Sprintf("index is within len(rooms) %v < %v", index, len(s.roomIDs)), index < len(s.roomIDs))
 	return s.roomIDs[index]
 }
 
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ func (s *SortableRooms) Subslice(i, j int64) Subslicer {
 	}
 }
 
-func (s *SortableRooms) Sort(ctx context.Context, sortBy []string) error {
-	internal.AssertWithContext(ctx, "sortBy is not empty", len(sortBy) != 0)
+func (s *SortableRooms) Sort(sortBy []string) error {
+	internal.Assert("sortBy is not empty", len(sortBy) != 0)
 	comparators := []func(i, j int) int{}
 	for _, sort := range sortBy {
 		switch sort {