diff --git a/services/efs-guardian/src/simcore_service_efs_guardian/services/background_tasks_setup.py b/services/efs-guardian/src/simcore_service_efs_guardian/services/background_tasks_setup.py
index 2f42bc5d870d..e1480f84b205 100644
--- a/services/efs-guardian/src/simcore_service_efs_guardian/services/background_tasks_setup.py
+++ b/services/efs-guardian/src/simcore_service_efs_guardian/services/background_tasks_setup.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import logging
 from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
 from datetime import timedelta
-from typing import TypedDict
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from servicelib.async_utils import cancel_wait_task
@@ -12,44 +11,31 @@
 from .background_tasks import removal_policy_task
 from .modules.redis import get_redis_lock_client
 
-
-@exclusive_periodic(
-    get_redis_lock_client,
-    task_interval=timedelta(hours=1),
-    retry_after=timedelta(minutes=5),
-)
-async def periodic_removal_policy_task(app: FastAPI) -> None:
-    await removal_policy_task(app)
-
-
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class EfsGuardianBackgroundTask(TypedDict):
-    name: str
-    task_func: Callable
-
-
-_EFS_GUARDIAN_BACKGROUND_TASKS = [
-    EfsGuardianBackgroundTask(
-        name="efs_removal_policy_task", task_func=periodic_removal_policy_task
-    )
-]
-
-
 def _on_app_startup(app: FastAPI) -> Callable[[], Awaitable[None]]:
     async def _startup() -> None:
         with (
-            log_context(_logger, logging.INFO, msg="Efs Guardian startup.."),
+            log_context(_logger, logging.INFO, msg="Efs Guardian background task "),
             log_catch(_logger, reraise=False),
         ):
-            app.state.efs_guardian_background_tasks = []
+            app.state.efs_guardian_removal_policy_background_task = None
 
-            # Setup periodic tasks
-            for task in _EFS_GUARDIAN_BACKGROUND_TASKS:
-                app.state.efs_guardian_background_tasks.append(
-                    asyncio.create_task(task["task_func"](), name=task["name"])
-                )
+            _logger.info("starting efs guardian removal policy task")
+
+            @exclusive_periodic(
+                get_redis_lock_client(app),
+                task_interval=timedelta(hours=1),
+                retry_after=timedelta(minutes=5),
+            )
+            async def _periodic_removal_policy_task() -> None:
+                await removal_policy_task(app)
+
+            app.state.efs_guardian_removal_policy_background_task = asyncio.create_task(
+                _periodic_removal_policy_task(),
+                name=_periodic_removal_policy_task.__name__,
+            )
 
     return _startup
 
@@ -63,12 +49,9 @@ async def _stop() -> None:
             log_catch(_logger, reraise=False),
         ):
             assert _app  # nosec
-            if _app.state.efs_guardian_background_tasks:
-                await asyncio.gather(
-                    *[
-                        cancel_wait_task(task)
-                        for task in _app.state.efs_guardian_background_tasks
-                    ]
+            if _app.state.efs_guardian_removal_policy_background_task:
+                await cancel_wait_task(
+                    _app.state.efs_guardian_removal_policy_background_task
                 )
 
     return _stop