diff --git a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/actor/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/actor/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala
index 8c949f8776..46bf609c7a 100644
--- a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/actor/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/actor/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ object ActorModelSpec {
 
   case object Restart extends ActorModelMessage
 
+  case object DoubleStop extends ActorModelMessage
+
   case class ThrowException(e: Throwable) extends ActorModelMessage
 
   val Ping = "Ping"
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ object ActorModelSpec {
       case Restart                      ⇒ ack; busy.switchOff(); throw new Exception("Restart requested")
       case Interrupt                    ⇒ ack; sender ! Status.Failure(new ActorInterruptedException(new InterruptedException("Ping!"))); busy.switchOff(); throw new InterruptedException("Ping!")
       case ThrowException(e: Throwable) ⇒ ack; busy.switchOff(); throw e
+      case DoubleStop                   ⇒ ack; context.stop(self); context.stop(self); busy.switchOff
     }
   }
 
@@ -190,13 +193,13 @@ object ActorModelSpec {
   }
 
   def assertRef(actorRef: ActorRef, dispatcher: MessageDispatcher = null)(
-    suspensions: Long = statsFor(actorRef).suspensions.get(),
-    resumes: Long = statsFor(actorRef).resumes.get(),
-    registers: Long = statsFor(actorRef).registers.get(),
-    unregisters: Long = statsFor(actorRef).unregisters.get(),
-    msgsReceived: Long = statsFor(actorRef).msgsReceived.get(),
-    msgsProcessed: Long = statsFor(actorRef).msgsProcessed.get(),
-    restarts: Long = statsFor(actorRef).restarts.get())(implicit system: ActorSystem) {
+    suspensions: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).suspensions.get(),
+    resumes: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).resumes.get(),
+    registers: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).registers.get(),
+    unregisters: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).unregisters.get(),
+    msgsReceived: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).msgsReceived.get(),
+    msgsProcessed: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).msgsProcessed.get(),
+    restarts: Long = statsFor(actorRef, dispatcher).restarts.get())(implicit system: ActorSystem) {
     val stats = statsFor(actorRef, Option(dispatcher).getOrElse(actorRef.asInstanceOf[LocalActorRef].underlying.dispatcher))
     val deadline = System.currentTimeMillis + 1000
     try {
@@ -426,6 +429,14 @@ abstract class ActorModelSpec(config: String) extends AkkaSpec(config) with Defa
         assert(f5.value.isEmpty)
       }
     }
+
+    "not double-deregister" in {
+      implicit val dispatcher = interceptedDispatcher()
+      val a = newTestActor(dispatcher.id)
+      a ! DoubleStop
+      awaitCond(statsFor(a, dispatcher).registers.get == 1)
+      awaitCond(statsFor(a, dispatcher).unregisters.get == 1)
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/ResizerSpec.scala b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/ResizerSpec.scala
index 863922491b..2130afe107 100644
--- a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/ResizerSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/ResizerSpec.scala
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ object ResizerSpec {
         }
       }
     }
+    bal-disp {
+      type = BalancingDispatcher
+    }
     """
 
   class TestActor extends Actor {
@@ -133,7 +136,7 @@ class ResizerSpec extends AkkaSpec(ResizerSpec.config) with DefaultTimeout with
         pressureThreshold = 0,
         messagesPerResize = 1)
 
-      val router = system.actorOf(Props[BusyActor].withRouter(RoundRobinRouter(resizer = Some(resizer))))
+      val router = system.actorOf(Props[BusyActor].withRouter(RoundRobinRouter(resizer = Some(resizer))).withDispatcher("bal-disp"))
 
       val latch1 = new TestLatch(1)
       router ! (latch1, busy)
@@ -179,10 +182,10 @@ class ResizerSpec extends AkkaSpec(ResizerSpec.config) with DefaultTimeout with
       Await.result(router ? CurrentRoutees, 5 seconds).asInstanceOf[RouterRoutees].routees.size must be(2)
 
       def loop(loops: Int, t: Int, latch: TestLatch, count: AtomicInteger) = {
-        (10 millis).dilated.sleep
+        (100 millis).dilated.sleep
         for (m ← 0 until loops) {
           router.!((t, latch, count))
-          (10 millis).dilated.sleep
+          (100 millis).dilated.sleep
         }
       }
 
@@ -198,7 +201,7 @@ class ResizerSpec extends AkkaSpec(ResizerSpec.config) with DefaultTimeout with
       // a whole bunch should max it out
       val count2 = new AtomicInteger
       val latch2 = TestLatch(10)
-      loop(10, 200, latch2, count2)
+      loop(10, 500, latch2, count2)
       Await.ready(latch2, TestLatch.DefaultTimeout)
       count2.get must be(10)
 
@@ -238,7 +241,7 @@ class ResizerSpec extends AkkaSpec(ResizerSpec.config) with DefaultTimeout with
       // let it cool down
       for (m ← 0 to 3) {
         router ! 1
-        (200 millis).dilated.sleep
+        (500 millis).dilated.sleep
       }
 
       Await.result(router ? CurrentRoutees, 5 seconds).asInstanceOf[RouterRoutees].routees.size must be < (z)
diff --git a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/RoutingSpec.scala b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/RoutingSpec.scala
index 9de51bdabf..ad3702d556 100644
--- a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/RoutingSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/routing/RoutingSpec.scala
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import com.typesafe.config.ConfigFactory
 import akka.pattern.ask
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap
 import com.typesafe.config.Config
+import akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
 
 object RoutingSpec {
 
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ object RoutingSpec {
         case (sender, message) ⇒ Nil
       }
     }
+    def routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId
   }
 
 }
@@ -539,6 +541,8 @@ class RoutingSpec extends AkkaSpec(RoutingSpec.config) with DefaultTimeout with
     //#crRouter
     case class VoteCountRouter() extends RouterConfig {
 
+      def routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId
+
       //#crRoute
       def createRoute(routeeProps: Props, routeeProvider: RouteeProvider): Route = {
         val democratActor = routeeProvider.context.actorOf(Props(new DemocratActor()), "d")
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Future.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Future.scala
index 39e9f27d26..d6f4751d6e 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Future.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Future.scala
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import akka.event.Logging.Debug
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS
 import java.util.concurrent.{ ExecutionException, Callable, TimeoutException }
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.{ AtomicInteger, AtomicReferenceFieldUpdater }
+import akka.pattern.AskTimeoutException
 
 object Await {
 
@@ -823,8 +824,9 @@ class DefaultPromise[T](implicit val executor: ExecutionContext) extends Abstrac
 
   def result(atMost: Duration)(implicit permit: CanAwait): T =
     ready(atMost).value.get match {
-      case Left(e)  ⇒ throw e
-      case Right(r) ⇒ r
+      case Left(e: AskTimeoutException) ⇒ throw new AskTimeoutException(e.getMessage, e) // to get meaningful stack trace
+      case Left(e)                      ⇒ throw e
+      case Right(r)                     ⇒ r
     }
 
   def value: Option[Either[Throwable, T]] = getState match {
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Mailbox.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Mailbox.scala
index 27853b49db..cc15ae2173 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Mailbox.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Mailbox.scala
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ private[akka] abstract class Mailbox(val actor: ActorCell) extends MessageQueue
   final def processAllSystemMessages() {
     var nextMessage = systemDrain()
     try {
-      while (nextMessage ne null) {
+      while ((nextMessage ne null) && !isClosed) {
         if (debug) println(actor.self + " processing system message " + nextMessage + " with children " + actor.childrenRefs)
         actor systemInvoke nextMessage
         nextMessage = nextMessage.next
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala
index c200be0871..f83bca2db9 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala
@@ -9,15 +9,14 @@ import akka.util.duration._
 import akka.config.ConfigurationException
 import akka.pattern.pipe
 import akka.pattern.AskSupport
-
 import com.typesafe.config.Config
-
 import scala.collection.JavaConversions.iterableAsScalaIterable
-
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.{ AtomicLong, AtomicBoolean }
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
-
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock
 import akka.jsr166y.ThreadLocalRandom
+import akka.util.Unsafe
+import akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
 
 /**
  * A RoutedActorRef is an ActorRef that has a set of connected ActorRef and it uses a Router to
@@ -26,25 +25,88 @@ import akka.jsr166y.ThreadLocalRandom
 private[akka] class RoutedActorRef(_system: ActorSystemImpl, _props: Props, _supervisor: InternalActorRef, _path: ActorPath)
   extends LocalActorRef(
     _system,
-    _props.copy(creator = () ⇒ _props.routerConfig.createActor()),
+    _props.copy(creator = () ⇒ _props.routerConfig.createActor(), dispatcher = _props.routerConfig.routerDispatcher),
     _supervisor,
     _path) {
 
-  private val routeeProps = _props.copy(routerConfig = NoRouter)
-  private val resizeProgress = new AtomicBoolean
+  /*
+   * CAUTION: RoutedActorRef is PROBLEMATIC
+   * ======================================
+   * 
+   * We are constructing/assembling the children outside of the scope of the 
+   * Router actor, inserting them in its childrenRef list, which is not at all
+   * synchronized. This is done exactly once at start-up, all other accesses
+   * are done from the Router actor. This means that the only thing which is
+   * really hairy is making sure that the Router does not touch its childrenRefs
+   * before we are done with them: lock the monitor of the actor cell (hence the
+   * override of newActorCell) and use that to block the Router constructor for
+   * as long as it takes to setup the RoutedActorRef itself.
+   */
+  override def newActorCell(
+    system: ActorSystemImpl,
+    ref: InternalActorRef,
+    props: Props,
+    supervisor: InternalActorRef,
+    receiveTimeout: Option[Duration]): ActorCell =
+    {
+      val cell = super.newActorCell(system, ref, props, supervisor, receiveTimeout)
+      Unsafe.instance.monitorEnter(cell)
+      cell
+    }
+
+  private[akka] val routerConfig = _props.routerConfig
+  private[akka] val routeeProps = _props.copy(routerConfig = NoRouter)
+  private[akka] val resizeInProgress = new AtomicBoolean
   private val resizeCounter = new AtomicLong
 
   @volatile
   private var _routees: IndexedSeq[ActorRef] = IndexedSeq.empty[ActorRef] // this MUST be initialized during createRoute
   def routees = _routees
 
+  @volatile
+  private var _routeeProvider: RouteeProvider = _
+  def routeeProvider = _routeeProvider
+
+  val route =
+    try {
+      _routeeProvider = routerConfig.createRouteeProvider(actorContext)
+      val r = routerConfig.createRoute(routeeProps, routeeProvider)
+      // initial resize, before message send
+      routerConfig.resizer foreach { r ⇒
+        if (r.isTimeForResize(resizeCounter.getAndIncrement()))
+          r.resize(routeeProps, routeeProvider)
+      }
+      r
+    } finally {
+      assert(Thread.holdsLock(actorContext))
+      Unsafe.instance.monitorExit(actorContext) // unblock Router’s constructor
+    }
+
+  if (routerConfig.resizer.isEmpty && _routees.isEmpty)
+    throw new ActorInitializationException("router " + routerConfig + " did not register routees!")
+
+  /*
+   * end of construction
+   */
+
+  def applyRoute(sender: ActorRef, message: Any): Iterable[Destination] = message match {
+    case _: AutoReceivedMessage ⇒ Destination(this, this) :: Nil
+    case Terminated(_)          ⇒ Destination(this, this) :: Nil
+    case CurrentRoutees ⇒
+      sender ! RouterRoutees(_routees)
+      Nil
+    case _ ⇒
+      if (route.isDefinedAt(sender, message)) route(sender, message)
+      else Nil
+  }
+
   /**
    * Adds the routees to existing routees.
    * Adds death watch of the routees so that they are removed when terminated.
    * Not thread safe, but intended to be called from protected points, such as
    * `RouterConfig.createRoute` and `Resizer.resize`
    */
-  private[akka] def addRoutees(newRoutees: IndexedSeq[ActorRef]) {
+  private[akka] def addRoutees(newRoutees: IndexedSeq[ActorRef]): Unit = {
     _routees = _routees ++ newRoutees
     // subscribe to Terminated messages for all route destinations, to be handled by Router actor
     newRoutees foreach underlying.watch
@@ -56,34 +118,11 @@ private[akka] class RoutedActorRef(_system: ActorSystemImpl, _props: Props, _sup
    * Not thread safe, but intended to be called from protected points, such as
    * `Resizer.resize`
    */
-  private[akka] def removeRoutees(abandonedRoutees: IndexedSeq[ActorRef]) {
+  private[akka] def removeRoutees(abandonedRoutees: IndexedSeq[ActorRef]): Unit = {
     _routees = _routees diff abandonedRoutees
     abandonedRoutees foreach underlying.unwatch
   }
 
-  private val routeeProvider = _props.routerConfig.createRouteeProvider(actorContext)
-  val route = _props.routerConfig.createRoute(routeeProps, routeeProvider)
-  // initial resize, before message send
-  resize()
-
-  def applyRoute(sender: ActorRef, message: Any): Iterable[Destination] = message match {
-    case _: AutoReceivedMessage ⇒ Nil
-    case Terminated(_)          ⇒ Nil
-    case CurrentRoutees ⇒
-      sender ! RouterRoutees(_routees)
-      Nil
-    case _ ⇒
-      if (route.isDefinedAt(sender, message)) route(sender, message)
-      else Nil
-  }
-
-  if (_props.routerConfig.resizer.isEmpty && _routees.isEmpty)
-    throw new ActorInitializationException("router " + _props.routerConfig + " did not register routees!")
-
-  _routees match {
-    case x ⇒ _routees = x // volatile write to publish the route before sending messages
-  }
-
   override def !(message: Any)(implicit sender: ActorRef = null): Unit = {
     resize()
 
@@ -95,20 +134,15 @@ private[akka] class RoutedActorRef(_system: ActorSystemImpl, _props: Props, _sup
     }
 
     applyRoute(s, message) match {
-      case Nil  ⇒ super.!(message)(s)
-      case refs ⇒ refs foreach (p ⇒ p.recipient.!(msg)(p.sender))
+      case Destination(_, x) :: Nil if x eq this ⇒ super.!(message)(s)
+      case refs                                  ⇒ refs foreach (p ⇒ p.recipient.!(msg)(p.sender))
     }
   }
 
-  def resize() {
-    for (r ← _props.routerConfig.resizer) {
-      if (r.isTimeForResize(resizeCounter.getAndIncrement()) && resizeProgress.compareAndSet(false, true)) {
-        try {
-          r.resize(routeeProps, routeeProvider)
-        } finally {
-          resizeProgress.set(false)
-        }
-      }
+  def resize(): Unit = {
+    for (r ← routerConfig.resizer) {
+      if (r.isTimeForResize(resizeCounter.getAndIncrement()) && resizeInProgress.compareAndSet(false, true))
+        super.!(Router.Resize)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -139,6 +173,11 @@ trait RouterConfig {
 
   def createActor(): Router = new Router {}
 
+  /**
+   * Dispatcher ID to use for running the “head” actor, i.e. the [[akka.routing.Router]].
+   */
+  def routerDispatcher: String
+
   /**
    * Overridable merge strategy, by default completely prefers “this” (i.e. no merge).
    */
@@ -246,13 +285,20 @@ trait CustomRoute {
  */
 trait Router extends Actor {
 
-  val ref = self match {
-    case x: RoutedActorRef ⇒ x
-    case _                 ⇒ throw new ActorInitializationException("Router actor can only be used in RoutedActorRef")
+  // make sure that we synchronize properly to get the childrenRefs into our CPU cache
+  val ref = context.synchronized {
+    self match {
+      case x: RoutedActorRef ⇒ x
+      case _                 ⇒ throw new ActorInitializationException("Router actor can only be used in RoutedActorRef")
+    }
   }
 
   final def receive = ({
 
+    case Router.Resize ⇒
+      try ref.routerConfig.resizer foreach (_.resize(ref.routeeProps, ref.routeeProvider))
+      finally assert(ref.resizeInProgress.getAndSet(false))
+
     case Terminated(child) ⇒
       ref.removeRoutees(IndexedSeq(child))
       if (ref.routees.isEmpty) context.stop(self)
@@ -264,6 +310,10 @@ trait Router extends Actor {
   }
 }
 
+private object Router {
+  case object Resize
+}
+
 /**
  * Used to broadcast a message to all connections in a router; only the
  * contained message will be forwarded, i.e. the `Broadcast(...)`
@@ -302,6 +352,7 @@ case class Destination(sender: ActorRef, recipient: ActorRef)
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
 case object NoRouter extends RouterConfig {
   def createRoute(props: Props, routeeProvider: RouteeProvider): Route = null
+  def routerDispatcher: String = ""
   override def withFallback(other: RouterConfig): RouterConfig = other
 }
 
@@ -311,13 +362,17 @@ case object NoRouter extends RouterConfig {
 case object FromConfig extends RouterConfig {
   def createRoute(props: Props, routeeProvider: RouteeProvider): Route =
     throw new ConfigurationException("router " + routeeProvider.context.self + " needs external configuration from file (e.g. application.conf)")
+  def routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId
 }
 
 /**
  * Java API: Router configuration which has no default, i.e. external configuration is required.
+ *
+ * This can be used when the dispatcher to be used for the head Router needs to be configured
+ * (defaults to default-dispatcher).
  */
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
-case class FromConfig() extends RouterConfig {
+case class FromConfig(val routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId) extends RouterConfig {
   def createRoute(props: Props, routeeProvider: RouteeProvider): Route =
     throw new ConfigurationException("router " + routeeProvider.context.self + " needs external configuration from file (e.g. application.conf)")
 }
@@ -348,7 +403,8 @@ object RoundRobinRouter {
  *   using `actorFor` in [[akka.actor.ActorRefProvider]]
  */
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
-case class RoundRobinRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None)
+case class RoundRobinRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None,
+                            val routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId)
   extends RouterConfig with RoundRobinLike {
 
   /**
@@ -374,6 +430,11 @@ case class RoundRobinRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] =
    * Java API
    */
   def this(resizer: Resizer) = this(resizer = Some(resizer))
+
+  /**
+   * Java API for setting routerDispatcher
+   */
+  def withDispatcher(dispatcherId: String) = copy(routerDispatcher = dispatcherId)
 }
 
 trait RoundRobinLike { this: RouterConfig ⇒
@@ -428,7 +489,8 @@ object RandomRouter {
  *   using `actorFor` in [[akka.actor.ActorRefProvider]]
  */
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
-case class RandomRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None)
+case class RandomRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None,
+                        val routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId)
   extends RouterConfig with RandomLike {
 
   /**
@@ -454,6 +516,11 @@ case class RandomRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil,
    * Java API
    */
   def this(resizer: Resizer) = this(resizer = Some(resizer))
+
+  /**
+   * Java API for setting routerDispatcher
+   */
+  def withDispatcher(dispatcherId: String) = copy(routerDispatcher = dispatcherId)
 }
 
 trait RandomLike { this: RouterConfig ⇒
@@ -514,7 +581,8 @@ object SmallestMailboxRouter {
  *   using `actorFor` in [[akka.actor.ActorRefProvider]]
  */
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
-case class SmallestMailboxRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None)
+case class SmallestMailboxRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None,
+                                 val routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId)
   extends RouterConfig with SmallestMailboxLike {
 
   /**
@@ -540,6 +608,11 @@ case class SmallestMailboxRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[Strin
    * Java API
    */
   def this(resizer: Resizer) = this(resizer = Some(resizer))
+
+  /**
+   * Java API for setting routerDispatcher
+   */
+  def withDispatcher(dispatcherId: String) = copy(routerDispatcher = dispatcherId)
 }
 
 trait SmallestMailboxLike { this: RouterConfig ⇒
@@ -659,7 +732,8 @@ object BroadcastRouter {
  *   using `actorFor` in [[akka.actor.ActorRefProvider]]
  */
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
-case class BroadcastRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None)
+case class BroadcastRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None,
+                           val routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId)
   extends RouterConfig with BroadcastLike {
 
   /**
@@ -686,6 +760,10 @@ case class BroadcastRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = N
    */
   def this(resizer: Resizer) = this(resizer = Some(resizer))
 
+  /**
+   * Java API for setting routerDispatcher
+   */
+  def withDispatcher(dispatcherId: String) = copy(routerDispatcher = dispatcherId)
 }
 
 trait BroadcastLike { this: RouterConfig ⇒
@@ -732,7 +810,8 @@ object ScatterGatherFirstCompletedRouter {
  */
 //TODO add @SerialVersionUID(1L) when SI-4804 is fixed
 case class ScatterGatherFirstCompletedRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: Iterable[String] = Nil, within: Duration,
-                                             override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None)
+                                             override val resizer: Option[Resizer] = None,
+                                             val routerDispatcher: String = Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId)
   extends RouterConfig with ScatterGatherFirstCompletedLike {
 
   if (within <= Duration.Zero) throw new IllegalArgumentException(
@@ -761,6 +840,11 @@ case class ScatterGatherFirstCompletedRouter(nrOfInstances: Int = 0, routees: It
    * Java API
    */
   def this(resizer: Resizer, w: Duration) = this(resizer = Some(resizer), within = w)
+
+  /**
+   * Java API for setting routerDispatcher
+   */
+  def withDispatcher(dispatcherId: String) = copy(routerDispatcher = dispatcherId)
 }
 
 trait ScatterGatherFirstCompletedLike { this: RouterConfig ⇒
@@ -795,14 +879,22 @@ trait Resizer {
    * for the initial resize and continues with 1 for the first message. Make sure to perform
    * initial resize before first message (messageCounter == 0), because there is no guarantee
    * that resize will be done when concurrent messages are in play.
+   *
+   * CAUTION: this method is invoked from the thread which tries to send a
+   * message to the pool, i.e. the ActorRef.!() method, hence it may be called
+   * concurrently.
    */
   def isTimeForResize(messageCounter: Long): Boolean
+
   /**
    * Decide if the capacity of the router need to be changed. Will be invoked when `isTimeForResize`
    * returns true and no other resize is in progress.
    * Create and register more routees with `routeeProvider.registerRoutees(newRoutees)
    * or remove routees with `routeeProvider.unregisterRoutees(abandonedRoutees)` and
    * sending [[akka.actor.PoisonPill]] to them.
+   *
+   * This method is invoked only in the context of the Router actor in order to safely
+   * create/stop children.
    */
   def resize(props: Props, routeeProvider: RouteeProvider)
 }
diff --git a/akka-docs/java/code/akka/docs/jrouting/CustomRouterDocTestBase.java b/akka-docs/java/code/akka/docs/jrouting/CustomRouterDocTestBase.java
index 2a2e5c7f22..a20a351f06 100644
--- a/akka-docs/java/code/akka/docs/jrouting/CustomRouterDocTestBase.java
+++ b/akka-docs/java/code/akka/docs/jrouting/CustomRouterDocTestBase.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import akka.util.Duration;
 import akka.util.Timeout;
 import akka.dispatch.Await;
 import akka.dispatch.Future;
+import akka.dispatch.Dispatchers;
 import akka.testkit.AkkaSpec;
 import com.typesafe.config.ConfigFactory;
 import static akka.pattern.Patterns.ask;
@@ -38,6 +39,19 @@ public class CustomRouterDocTestBase {
   public void tearDown() {
     system.shutdown();
   }
+  
+  public static class MyActor extends UntypedActor {
+    @Override public void onReceive(Object o) {}
+  }
+  
+  @Test
+  public void demonstrateDispatchers() {
+    //#dispatchers
+    final ActorRef router = system.actorOf(new Props(MyActor.class)
+      .withRouter(new RoundRobinRouter(5).withDispatcher("head")) // “head” router runs on "head" dispatcher
+      .withDispatcher("workers")); // MyActor “workers” run on "workers" dispatcher
+    //#dispatchers
+  }
 
   //#crTest
   @Test
@@ -105,6 +119,10 @@ public class CustomRouterDocTestBase {
 
   //#crRouter
   public static class VoteCountRouter extends CustomRouterConfig {
+    
+    @Override public String routerDispatcher() {
+      return Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId();
+    }
 
     //#crRoute
     @Override
diff --git a/akka-docs/java/routing.rst b/akka-docs/java/routing.rst
index a422900440..265e31a984 100644
--- a/akka-docs/java/routing.rst
+++ b/akka-docs/java/routing.rst
@@ -8,11 +8,6 @@ Routing (Java)
 
    .. contents:: :local:
 
-Akka-core includes some building blocks to build more complex message flow handlers, they are listed and explained below:
-
-Router
-------
-
 A Router is an actor that routes incoming messages to outbound actors.
 The router routes the messages sent to it to its underlying actors called 'routees'.
 
@@ -249,6 +244,16 @@ This is an example of how to programatically create a resizable router:
 *It is also worth pointing out that if you define the ``router`` in the configuration file then this value
 will be used instead of any programmatically sent parameters.*
 
+.. note::
+
+  Resizing is triggered by sending messages to the actor pool, but it is not
+  completed synchronously; instead a message is sent to the “head”
+  :class:`Router` to perform the size change. Thus you cannot rely on resizing
+  to instantaneously create new workers when all others are busy, because the
+  message just sent will be queued to the mailbox of a busy actor. To remedy
+  this, configure the pool to use a balancing dispatcher, see `Configuring
+  Dispatchers`_ for more information.
+
 Custom Router
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
@@ -312,3 +317,23 @@ A router with dynamically resizable number of routees is implemented by providin
 in ``resizer`` method of the ``RouterConfig``. See ``akka.routing.DefaultResizer`` for inspiration
 of how to write your own resize strategy.
 
+Configuring Dispatchers
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+The dispatcher for created children of the router will be taken from
+:class:`Props` as described in :ref:`dispatchers-java`. For a dynamic pool it
+makes sense to configure the :class:`BalancingDispatcher` if the precise
+routing is not so important (i.e. no consistent hashing or round-robin is
+required); this enables newly created routees to pick up work immediately by
+stealing it from their siblings.
+
+The “head” router, of couse, cannot run on the same balancing dispatcher,
+because it does not process the same messages, hence this special actor does
+not use the dispatcher configured in :class:`Props`, but takes the
+``routerDispatcher`` from the :class:`RouterConfig` instead, which defaults to
+the actor system’s default dispatcher. All standard routers allow setting this
+property in their constructor or factory method, custom routers have to
+implement the method in a suitable way.
+
+.. includecode:: code/akka/docs/jrouting/CustomRouterDocTestBase.java#dispatchers
+
diff --git a/akka-docs/scala/code/akka/docs/routing/RouterDocSpec.scala b/akka-docs/scala/code/akka/docs/routing/RouterDocSpec.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..229c66f13e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-docs/scala/code/akka/docs/routing/RouterDocSpec.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2009-2012 Typesafe Inc. <http://www.typesafe.com>
+ */
+package akka.docs.routing
+
+import RouterDocSpec.MyActor
+import akka.actor.{ Props, Actor }
+import akka.testkit.AkkaSpec
+import akka.routing.RoundRobinRouter
+
+object RouterDocSpec {
+  class MyActor extends Actor {
+    def receive = {
+      case _ ⇒
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+class RouterDocSpec extends AkkaSpec {
+
+  import RouterDocSpec._
+
+  //#dispatchers
+  val router = system.actorOf(Props[MyActor]
+    .withRouter(RoundRobinRouter(5, routerDispatcher = "router")) // “head” will run on "router" dispatcher
+    .withDispatcher("workers")) // MyActor workers will run on "workers" dispatcher
+  //#dispatchers
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/akka-docs/scala/routing.rst b/akka-docs/scala/routing.rst
index f67841df2c..161ab88db9 100644
--- a/akka-docs/scala/routing.rst
+++ b/akka-docs/scala/routing.rst
@@ -8,11 +8,6 @@ Routing (Scala)
 
    .. contents:: :local:
 
-Akka-core includes some building blocks to build more complex message flow handlers, they are listed and explained below:
-
-Router
-------
-
 A Router is an actor that routes incoming messages to outbound actors.
 The router routes the messages sent to it to its underlying actors called 'routees'.
 
@@ -250,6 +245,16 @@ This is an example of how to programatically create a resizable router:
 *It is also worth pointing out that if you define the ``router`` in the configuration file then this value
 will be used instead of any programmatically sent parameters.*
 
+.. note::
+
+  Resizing is triggered by sending messages to the actor pool, but it is not
+  completed synchronously; instead a message is sent to the “head”
+  :class:`Router` to perform the size change. Thus you cannot rely on resizing
+  to instantaneously create new workers when all others are busy, because the
+  message just sent will be queued to the mailbox of a busy actor. To remedy
+  this, configure the pool to use a balancing dispatcher, see `Configuring
+  Dispatchers`_ for more information.
+
 Custom Router
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
@@ -311,3 +316,23 @@ A router with dynamically resizable number of routees is implemented by providin
 in ``resizer`` method of the ``RouterConfig``. See ``akka.routing.DefaultResizer`` for inspiration
 of how to write your own resize strategy.
 
+Configuring Dispatchers
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+The dispatcher for created children of the router will be taken from
+:class:`Props` as described in :ref:`dispatchers-scala`. For a dynamic pool it
+makes sense to configure the :class:`BalancingDispatcher` if the precise
+routing is not so important (i.e. no consistent hashing or round-robin is
+required); this enables newly created routees to pick up work immediately by
+stealing it from their siblings.
+
+The “head” router, of couse, cannot run on the same balancing dispatcher,
+because it does not process the same messages, hence this special actor does
+not use the dispatcher configured in :class:`Props`, but takes the
+``routerDispatcher`` from the :class:`RouterConfig` instead, which defaults to
+the actor system’s default dispatcher. All standard routers allow setting this
+property in their constructor or factory method, custom routers have to
+implement the method in a suitable way.
+
+.. includecode:: code/akka/docs/routing/RouterDocSpec.scala#dispatchers
+
diff --git a/akka-remote/src/main/scala/akka/routing/RemoteRouterConfig.scala b/akka-remote/src/main/scala/akka/routing/RemoteRouterConfig.scala
index 21f5c400b0..3b1791db8e 100644
--- a/akka-remote/src/main/scala/akka/routing/RemoteRouterConfig.scala
+++ b/akka-remote/src/main/scala/akka/routing/RemoteRouterConfig.scala
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ case class RemoteRouterConfig(local: RouterConfig, nodes: Iterable[String]) exte
 
   override def createActor(): Router = local.createActor()
 
+  override def routerDispatcher: String = local.routerDispatcher
+
   override def resizer: Option[Resizer] = local.resizer
 
   override def withFallback(other: RouterConfig): RouterConfig = other match {