diff --git a/epicardium/user_core/lifecycle.c b/epicardium/user_core/lifecycle.c
index 89d4dce4973ed9df3a11a0ba89dcad7d9878dcb8..5f3caddfdcae71851f47b0d014f295b2d23b6832 100644
--- a/epicardium/user_core/lifecycle.c
+++ b/epicardium/user_core/lifecycle.c
@@ -109,6 +109,9 @@ static int do_load(struct load_info *info)
 		return -EPERM;
 	}
 
+	/* Signal the dispatcher to return early from applicable API calls. */
+	xTaskNotifyGive(dispatcher_task_id);
+
 	mutex_lock(&api_mutex);
 
 	if (info->do_reset) {
@@ -126,9 +129,17 @@ static int do_load(struct load_info *info)
 	 * call.
 	 */
 	while (!core1_is_ready()) {
+		/*
+		 * Wake up the dispatcher task prematurely.  This is needed so
+		 * the second xTaskNotifyGive() below can then break out the
+		 * dispatcher from e.g. an epic_sleep() call.
+		 */
+		xTaskNotifyGive(dispatcher_task_id);
 		mutex_unlock(&api_mutex);
 		/* Sleep so the dispatcher task can take the lock. */
 		vTaskDelay(8);
+		/* Signal the dispatcher to return early from applicable API calls. */
+		xTaskNotifyGive(dispatcher_task_id);
 		mutex_lock(&api_mutex);
 	}