diff --git a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/base_task.h b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/base_task.h
index 8fab083..2631028 100644
--- a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/base_task.h
+++ b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/base_task.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ struct base_task {
       stack_memory_{stack_memory},
       stack_size_{stack_size},
       is_synchronized_{false},
+      is_serial_section_{false},
       prev_{nullptr},
       next_{nullptr},
       attached_resources_{nullptr} {}
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ struct base_task {
   size_t stack_size_;
   context_switcher::continuation continuation_;
   bool is_synchronized_;
+  bool is_serial_section_;
 
   // Linked list for trading/memory management
   base_task *prev_;
diff --git a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler.h b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler.h
index a427b58..7a1b0ba 100644
--- a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler.h
+++ b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 #include "pls/internal/scheduling/thread_state.h"
 #include "pls/internal/scheduling/task_manager.h"
+#include "pls/internal/scheduling/strain_local_resource.h"
 
 #include "pls/internal/profiling/profiler.h"
 
@@ -43,13 +44,15 @@ class scheduler {
   explicit scheduler(unsigned int num_threads,
                      size_t computation_depth,
                      size_t stack_size,
-                     bool reuse_thread = true);
+                     bool reuse_thread = true,
+                     size_t serial_stack_size = 4096 * 8);
 
   template<typename ALLOC>
   explicit scheduler(unsigned int num_threads,
                      size_t computation_depth,
                      size_t stack_size,
                      bool reuse_thread,
+                     size_t serial_stack_size,
                      ALLOC &&stack_allocator);
 
   /**
@@ -99,6 +102,19 @@ class scheduler {
   }
 
   /**
+   * Runs a function in the tail call portion of the stack.
+   * Can have nested parallelism if the scheduler is configured accordingly.
+   */
+  template<typename Function>
+  static void serial(Function &&lambda) {
+#ifdef PLS_SERIAL_ELUSION
+    lambda();
+#else
+    serial_internal(std::forward<Function>(lambda));
+#endif
+  }
+
+  /**
    * Explicitly terminate the worker threads. Scheduler must not be used after this.
    */
   void terminate();
@@ -123,6 +139,8 @@ class scheduler {
   template<typename Function>
   static void spawn_internal(Function &&lambda);
   static void sync_internal();
+  template<typename Function>
+  static void serial_internal(Function &&lambda);
 
   static context_switcher::continuation slow_return(thread_state &calling_state);
 
@@ -148,6 +166,8 @@ class scheduler {
 
   std::shared_ptr<base::stack_allocator> stack_allocator_;
 
+  size_t serial_stack_size_;
+
 #if PLS_PROFILING_ENABLED
   profiling::profiler profiler_;
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler_impl.h b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler_impl.h
index 2f55d79..48c1b9b 100644
--- a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler_impl.h
+++ b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/scheduler_impl.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ scheduler::scheduler(unsigned int num_threads,
                      size_t computation_depth,
                      size_t stack_size,
                      bool reuse_thread,
+                     size_t serial_stack_size,
                      ALLOC &&stack_allocator) :
     num_threads_{num_threads},
     reuse_thread_{reuse_thread},
@@ -29,7 +30,8 @@ scheduler::scheduler(unsigned int num_threads,
     main_thread_starter_function_{nullptr},
     work_section_done_{false},
     terminated_{false},
-    stack_allocator_{std::make_shared<ALLOC>(std::forward<ALLOC>(stack_allocator))}
+    stack_allocator_{std::make_shared<ALLOC>(std::forward<ALLOC>(stack_allocator))},
+    serial_stack_size_{serial_stack_size}
 #if PLS_PROFILING_ENABLED
 , profiler_{num_threads}
 #endif
@@ -44,7 +46,11 @@ scheduler::scheduler(unsigned int num_threads,
                                                                    computation_depth,
                                                                    stack_size,
                                                                    stack_allocator_));
-    auto &this_thread_state = thread_states_.emplace_back(std::make_unique<thread_state>(*this, i, *this_task_manager));
+    auto &this_thread_state = thread_states_.emplace_back(std::make_unique<thread_state>(*this,
+                                                                                         i,
+                                                                                         *this_task_manager,
+                                                                                         stack_allocator_,
+                                                                                         serial_stack_size));
 
     if (reuse_thread && i == 0) {
       worker_threads_.emplace_back();
@@ -148,10 +154,24 @@ template<typename Function>
 void scheduler::spawn_internal(Function &&lambda) {
   if (thread_state::is_scheduler_active()) {
     thread_state &spawning_state = thread_state::get();
+    scheduler &scheduler = spawning_state.get_scheduler();
 
     base_task *last_task = spawning_state.get_active_task();
     base_task *spawned_task = last_task->next_;
 
+    // We are at the end of our allocated tasks, go over to serial execution.
+    if (spawned_task == nullptr) {
+      scheduler::serial_internal(std::forward<Function>(lambda));
+      return;
+    }
+    // We are in a serial section.
+    // For now we simply stay serial. Later versions could add nested parallel sections.
+    if (last_task->is_serial_section_) {
+      lambda();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Carry over the resources allocated by parents
     auto *attached_resources = last_task->attached_resources_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
     spawned_task->attached_resources_.store(attached_resources, std::memory_order_relaxed);
 
@@ -171,6 +191,7 @@ void scheduler::spawn_internal(Function &&lambda) {
       // we are now executing the new task, allow others to steal the last task continuation.
       spawned_task->is_synchronized_ = true;
       spawning_state.set_active_task(spawned_task);
+
       spawning_state.get_task_manager().push_local_task(last_task);
 #if PLS_SLEEP_WORKERS_ON_EMPTY
       // TODO: relax atomic operations on empty flag
@@ -269,6 +290,29 @@ void scheduler::spawn_internal(Function &&lambda) {
   }
 }
 
+template<typename Function>
+void scheduler::serial_internal(Function &&lambda) {
+  if (thread_state::is_scheduler_active()) {
+    thread_state &spawning_state = thread_state::get();
+    base_task *active_task = spawning_state.get_active_task();
+
+    if (active_task->is_serial_section_) {
+      lambda();
+    } else {
+      active_task->is_serial_section_ = true;
+      context_switcher::enter_context(spawning_state.get_serial_call_stack(),
+                                      spawning_state.get_serial_call_stack_size(),
+                                      [&](auto cont) {
+                                        lambda();
+                                        return cont;
+                                      });
+      active_task->is_serial_section_ = false;
+    }
+  } else {
+    lambda();
+  }
+}
+
 }
 
 #endif //PLS_SCHEDULER_IMPL_H
diff --git a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/strain_local_resource.h b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/strain_local_resource.h
index 8d971d8..27f62d6 100644
--- a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/strain_local_resource.h
+++ b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/strain_local_resource.h
@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ struct PLS_CACHE_ALIGN strain_resource {
 };
 
 class strain_local_resource {
+  struct local_item {
+    local_item(strain_local_resource *strain_local_resource, unsigned index, unsigned depth) :
+        initial_resource_{std::make_unique<strain_resource>(strain_local_resource, index, depth)},
+        resource_{initial_resource_.get()} {}
+
+    std::unique_ptr<strain_resource> initial_resource_;
+    strain_resource *resource_;
+  };
+ public:
   // Handle to a stack-like resource (index of it).
   // MUST be handled in a RAII like manner on the stack
   // and must not be copied or moved for this to work.
@@ -42,19 +51,14 @@ class strain_local_resource {
     explicit item_handle(strain_resource *resource) : resource_{resource} {}
     ~item_handle();
 
+    unsigned get_strain_index() {
+      return resource_->index_;
+    }
+
    private:
     strain_resource *resource_;
   };
 
-  struct local_item {
-    local_item(strain_local_resource *strain_local_resource, unsigned index, unsigned depth) :
-        initial_resource_{std::make_unique<strain_resource>(strain_local_resource, index, depth)},
-        resource_{initial_resource_.get()} {}
-
-    std::unique_ptr<strain_resource> initial_resource_;
-    strain_resource *resource_;
-  };
- public:
   strain_local_resource(unsigned num_threads,
                         unsigned depth) : local_items_() {
     local_items_.reserve(num_threads);
diff --git a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/thread_state.h b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/thread_state.h
index 8c7dcf3..b46b5d2 100644
--- a/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/thread_state.h
+++ b/lib/pls/include/pls/internal/scheduling/thread_state.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 #include "pls/internal/base/system_details.h"
 #include "pls/internal/data_structures/stamped_integer.h"
+#include "pls/internal/base/stack_allocator.h"
 
 #include "pls/internal/scheduling/base_task.h"
 #include "pls/internal/scheduling/task_manager.h"
@@ -46,6 +47,10 @@ struct PLS_CACHE_ALIGN thread_state {
 
   static thread_local bool is_scheduler_active_;
 
+  std::shared_ptr<base::stack_allocator> stack_allocator_;
+  char *serial_call_stack_;
+  size_t serial_call_stack_size_;
+
 #if PLS_SLEEP_WORKERS_ON_EMPTY
   PLS_CACHE_ALIGN std::atomic<data_structures::stamped_integer> queue_empty_{EMPTY_QUEUE_STATE::QUEUE_NON_EMPTY};
 #endif
@@ -53,12 +58,22 @@ struct PLS_CACHE_ALIGN thread_state {
  public:
   explicit thread_state(scheduler &scheduler,
                         unsigned thread_id,
-                        task_manager &task_manager) :
+                        task_manager &task_manager,
+                        std::shared_ptr<base::stack_allocator> &stack_allocator,
+                        size_t serial_call_stack_size) :
       thread_id_{thread_id},
       scheduler_{scheduler},
       task_manager_{task_manager},
       random_{static_cast<unsigned long>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch().count()) + thread_id},
-      active_task_{task_manager.get_task(0)} {};
+      active_task_{task_manager.get_task(0)},
+      stack_allocator_{stack_allocator},
+      serial_call_stack_size_{serial_call_stack_size} {
+    serial_call_stack_ = stack_allocator->allocate_stack(serial_call_stack_size_);
+  };
+
+  ~thread_state() {
+    stack_allocator_->free_stack(serial_call_stack_size_, serial_call_stack_);
+  }
 
   // Do not allow accidental copy/move operations.
   thread_state(const thread_state &) = delete;
@@ -97,7 +112,10 @@ struct PLS_CACHE_ALIGN thread_state {
   }
 
   void set_active_task(base_task *active_task) { active_task_ = active_task; }
-  base_task *get_active_task() const { return active_task_; }
+  [[nodiscard]] base_task *get_active_task() const { return active_task_; }
+
+  char *get_serial_call_stack() { return serial_call_stack_; }
+  [[nodiscard]] size_t get_serial_call_stack_size() const { return serial_call_stack_size_; }
 
 #if PLS_SLEEP_WORKERS_ON_EMPTY
   [[nodiscard]] std::atomic<data_structures::stamped_integer> &get_queue_empty_flag() {
diff --git a/lib/pls/include/pls/pls.h b/lib/pls/include/pls/pls.h
index daff79d..645d65f 100644
--- a/lib/pls/include/pls/pls.h
+++ b/lib/pls/include/pls/pls.h
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ static void spawn(Function &&function) {
 static void sync() {
   scheduler::sync();
 }
+template<typename Function>
+static void serial(Function &&function) {
+  scheduler::serial(std::forward<Function>(function));
+}
 
 // general helpers that can be handy when using PLS
 template<class C, typename R, typename ...ARGS>
diff --git a/lib/pls/src/internal/scheduling/scheduler.cpp b/lib/pls/src/internal/scheduling/scheduler.cpp
index 8f896a5..b797131 100644
--- a/lib/pls/src/internal/scheduling/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/lib/pls/src/internal/scheduling/scheduler.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 #include "pls/internal/scheduling/strain_local_resource.h"
 #include "pls/internal/build_flavour.h"
-#include "pls/internal/base/futex_wrapper.h"
 #include "pls/internal/base/error_handling.h"
 
 #include <thread>
@@ -14,11 +13,13 @@ namespace pls::internal::scheduling {
 scheduler::scheduler(unsigned int num_threads,
                      size_t computation_depth,
                      size_t stack_size,
-                     bool reuse_thread) : scheduler(num_threads,
-                                                    computation_depth,
-                                                    stack_size,
-                                                    reuse_thread,
-                                                    base::mmap_stack_allocator{}) {}
+                     bool reuse_thread,
+                     size_t serial_stack_size) : scheduler(num_threads,
+                                                           computation_depth,
+                                                           stack_size,
+                                                           reuse_thread,
+                                                           serial_stack_size,
+                                                           base::mmap_stack_allocator{}) {}
 
 scheduler::~scheduler() {
   terminate();