diff --git a/cmd/rc/rc.go b/cmd/rc/rc.go
index 2f95098b4..bea9df92d 100644
--- a/cmd/rc/rc.go
+++ b/cmd/rc/rc.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/config/flags"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/fshttp"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/rc"
+	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/rc/jobs"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 )
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ func doCall(ctx context.Context, path string, in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err
 		if call == nil {
 			return nil, errors.Errorf("method %q not found", path)
 		}
-		out, err = call.Fn(context.Background(), in)
+		_, out, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, call.Fn, in)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "loopback call failed")
 		}
diff --git a/fs/rc/jobs/job.go b/fs/rc/jobs/job.go
index 049f6ef6d..e5fdae076 100644
--- a/fs/rc/jobs/job.go
+++ b/fs/rc/jobs/job.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/accounting"
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/rc"
 )
@@ -174,32 +173,56 @@ func (jobs *Jobs) Get(ID int64) *Job {
 	return jobs.jobs[ID]
 }
 
-func getGroup(in rc.Params) string {
-	// Check to see if the group is set
+// Check to see if the group is set
+func getGroup(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params, id int64) (context.Context, string, error) {
 	group, err := in.GetString("_group")
 	if rc.NotErrParamNotFound(err) {
-		fs.Errorf(nil, "Can't get _group param %+v", err)
+		return ctx, "", err
 	}
 	delete(in, "_group")
-	return group
-}
-
-// NewJob creates a Job ready to be executed
-func (jobs *Jobs) NewJob(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (*Job, context.Context) {
-	id := atomic.AddInt64(&jobID, 1)
-
-	group := getGroup(in)
 	if group == "" {
 		group = fmt.Sprintf("job/%d", id)
 	}
 	ctx = accounting.WithStatsGroup(ctx, group)
+	return ctx, group, nil
+}
+
+// See if _async is set returning a boolean and a possible new context
+func getAsync(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (context.Context, bool, error) {
+	isAsync, err := in.GetBool("_async")
+	if rc.NotErrParamNotFound(err) {
+		return ctx, false, err
+	}
+	delete(in, "_async") // remove the async parameter after parsing
+	if isAsync {
+		// unlink this job from the current context
+		ctx = context.Background()
+	}
+	return ctx, isAsync, nil
+}
+
+// NewJob creates a Job and executes it, possibly in the background if _async is set
+func (jobs *Jobs) NewJob(ctx context.Context, fn rc.Func, in rc.Params) (job *Job, out rc.Params, err error) {
+	id := atomic.AddInt64(&jobID, 1)
+	in = in.Copy() // copy input so we can change it
+
+	ctx, isAsync, err := getAsync(ctx, in)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	ctx, group, err := getGroup(ctx, in, id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	stop := func() {
 		cancel()
 		// Wait for cancel to propagate before returning.
 		<-ctx.Done()
 	}
-	job := &Job{
+	job = &Job{
 		ID:        id,
 		Group:     group,
 		StartTime: time.Now(),
@@ -208,31 +231,23 @@ func (jobs *Jobs) NewJob(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (*Job, context.Conte
 	jobs.mu.Lock()
 	jobs.jobs[job.ID] = job
 	jobs.mu.Unlock()
-	return job, ctx
+	if isAsync {
+		go job.run(ctx, fn, in)
+		out = make(rc.Params)
+		out["jobid"] = job.ID
+		err = nil
+	} else {
+		job.run(ctx, fn, in)
+		out = job.Output
+		err = job.realErr
+	}
+	return job, out, err
 }
 
-// NewAsyncJob start a new asynchronous Job off
-func (jobs *Jobs) NewAsyncJob(fn rc.Func, in rc.Params) *Job {
-	job, ctx := jobs.NewJob(context.Background(), in)
-	go job.run(ctx, fn, in)
-	return job
-}
-
-// StartAsyncJob starts a new job asynchronously and returns a Param suitable
-// for output.
-func StartAsyncJob(fn rc.Func, in rc.Params) (rc.Params, error) {
-	job := running.NewAsyncJob(fn, in)
-	out := make(rc.Params)
-	out["jobid"] = job.ID
-	return out, nil
-}
-
-// ExecuteJob executes new job synchronously and returns a Param suitable for
-// output.
-func ExecuteJob(ctx context.Context, fn rc.Func, in rc.Params) (rc.Params, int64, error) {
-	job, ctx := running.NewJob(ctx, in)
-	job.run(ctx, fn, in)
-	return job.Output, job.ID, job.realErr
+// NewJob creates a Job and executes it on the global job queue,
+// possibly in the background if _async is set
+func NewJob(ctx context.Context, fn rc.Func, in rc.Params) (job *Job, out rc.Params, err error) {
+	return running.NewJob(ctx, fn, in)
 }
 
 // OnFinish adds listener to jobid that will be triggered when job is finished.
diff --git a/fs/rc/jobs/job_test.go b/fs/rc/jobs/job_test.go
index 4bcf40c28..6af2455b3 100644
--- a/fs/rc/jobs/job_test.go
+++ b/fs/rc/jobs/job_test.go
@@ -36,14 +36,17 @@ func TestJobsKickExpire(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestJobsExpire(t *testing.T) {
 	testy.SkipUnreliable(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	wait := make(chan struct{})
 	jobs := newJobs()
 	jobs.opt.JobExpireInterval = time.Millisecond
 	assert.Equal(t, false, jobs.expireRunning)
-	job := jobs.NewAsyncJob(func(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (rc.Params, error) {
+	job, out, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (rc.Params, error) {
 		defer close(wait)
 		return in, nil
-	}, rc.Params{})
+	}, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(out))
 	<-wait
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(jobs.jobs))
 	jobs.Expire()
@@ -66,9 +69,12 @@ var noopFn = func(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (rc.Params, error) {
 }
 
 func TestJobsIDs(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobs := newJobs()
-	job1 := jobs.NewAsyncJob(noopFn, rc.Params{})
-	job2 := jobs.NewAsyncJob(noopFn, rc.Params{})
+	job1, _, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, noopFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	job2, _, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, noopFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	wantIDs := []int64{job1.ID, job2.ID}
 	gotIDs := jobs.IDs()
 	require.Equal(t, 2, len(gotIDs))
@@ -79,8 +85,10 @@ func TestJobsIDs(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestJobsGet(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobs := newJobs()
-	job := jobs.NewAsyncJob(noopFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, noopFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, job, jobs.Get(job.ID))
 	assert.Nil(t, jobs.Get(123123123123))
 }
@@ -125,8 +133,10 @@ func sleepJob() {
 }
 
 func TestJobFinish(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobs := newJobs()
-	job := jobs.NewAsyncJob(longFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, longFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	sleepJob()
 
 	assert.Equal(t, true, job.EndTime.IsZero())
@@ -146,7 +156,8 @@ func TestJobFinish(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, true, job.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, true, job.Finished)
 
-	job = jobs.NewAsyncJob(longFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err = jobs.NewJob(ctx, longFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	sleepJob()
 	job.finish(nil, nil)
 
@@ -157,7 +168,8 @@ func TestJobFinish(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, true, job.Success)
 	assert.Equal(t, true, job.Finished)
 
-	job = jobs.NewAsyncJob(longFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err = jobs.NewJob(ctx, longFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	sleepJob()
 	job.finish(wantOut, errors.New("potato"))
 
@@ -172,6 +184,7 @@ func TestJobFinish(t *testing.T) {
 // We've tested the functionality of run() already as it is
 // part of NewJob, now just test the panic catching
 func TestJobRunPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	wait := make(chan struct{})
 	boom := func(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (rc.Params, error) {
 		sleepJob()
@@ -180,7 +193,8 @@ func TestJobRunPanic(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	jobs := newJobs()
-	job := jobs.NewAsyncJob(boom, rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, boom, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	<-wait
 	runtime.Gosched() // yield to make sure job is updated
 
@@ -206,42 +220,50 @@ func TestJobRunPanic(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestJobsNewJob(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobID = 0
 	jobs := newJobs()
-	job := jobs.NewAsyncJob(noopFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, out, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, noopFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), job.ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, rc.Params{"jobid": int64(1)}, out)
 	assert.Equal(t, job, jobs.Get(1))
 	assert.NotEmpty(t, job.Stop)
 }
 
 func TestStartJob(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobID = 0
-	out, err := StartAsyncJob(longFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, out, err := NewJob(ctx, longFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, rc.Params{"jobid": int64(1)}, out)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), job.ID)
 }
 
 func TestExecuteJob(t *testing.T) {
 	jobID = 0
-	_, id, err := ExecuteJob(context.Background(), shortFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, out, err := NewJob(context.Background(), shortFn, rc.Params{})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), id)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), job.ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, rc.Params{}, out)
 }
 
 func TestExecuteJobErrorPropagation(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobID = 0
 
 	testErr := errors.New("test error")
 	errorFn := func(ctx context.Context, in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err error) {
 		return nil, testErr
 	}
-	_, _, err := ExecuteJob(context.Background(), errorFn, rc.Params{})
+	_, _, err := NewJob(ctx, errorFn, rc.Params{})
 	assert.Equal(t, testErr, err)
 }
 
 func TestRcJobStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobID = 0
-	_, err := StartAsyncJob(longFn, rc.Params{})
+	_, _, err := NewJob(ctx, longFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	call := rc.Calls.Get("job/status")
@@ -267,8 +289,9 @@ func TestRcJobStatus(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRcJobList(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobID = 0
-	_, err := StartAsyncJob(longFn, rc.Params{})
+	_, _, err := NewJob(ctx, longFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	call := rc.Calls.Get("job/list")
@@ -281,8 +304,9 @@ func TestRcJobList(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRcAsyncJobStop(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
 	jobID = 0
-	_, err := StartAsyncJob(ctxFn, rc.Params{})
+	_, _, err := NewJob(ctx, ctxFn, rc.Params{"_async": true})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	call := rc.Calls.Get("job/stop")
@@ -320,9 +344,10 @@ func TestRcSyncJobStop(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	go func() {
 		jobID = 0
-		_, id, err := ExecuteJob(ctx, ctxFn, rc.Params{})
+		job, out, err := NewJob(ctx, ctxFn, rc.Params{})
 		assert.Error(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, int64(1), id)
+		assert.Equal(t, int64(1), job.ID)
+		assert.Equal(t, rc.Params{}, out)
 	}()
 
 	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
@@ -363,10 +388,10 @@ func TestOnFinish(t *testing.T) {
 	jobID = 0
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	_, err := StartAsyncJob(ctxParmFn(ctx, false), rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err := NewJob(ctx, ctxParmFn(ctx, false), rc.Params{"_async": true})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	stop, err := OnFinish(jobID, func() { close(done) })
+	stop, err := OnFinish(job.ID, func() { close(done) })
 	defer stop()
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -384,10 +409,10 @@ func TestOnFinishAlreadyFinished(t *testing.T) {
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
-	_, id, err := ExecuteJob(ctx, shortFn, rc.Params{})
+	job, _, err := NewJob(ctx, shortFn, rc.Params{})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	stop, err := OnFinish(id, func() { close(done) })
+	stop, err := OnFinish(job.ID, func() { close(done) })
 	defer stop()
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go b/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go
index 3c6945ebc..f72935846 100644
--- a/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go
+++ b/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ func (s *Server) handler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 }
 
 func (s *Server) handlePost(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, path string) {
+	ctx := r.Context()
 	contentType := r.Header.Get("Content-Type")
 
 	values := r.URL.Query()
@@ -282,22 +283,10 @@ func (s *Server) handlePost(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, path string)
 		in["_response"] = w
 	}
 
-	// Check to see if it is async or not
-	isAsync, err := in.GetBool("_async")
-	if rc.NotErrParamNotFound(err) {
-		writeError(path, inOrig, w, err, http.StatusBadRequest)
-		return
-	}
-	delete(in, "_async") // remove the async parameter after parsing so vfs operations don't get confused
-
 	fs.Debugf(nil, "rc: %q: with parameters %+v", path, in)
-	var out rc.Params
-	if isAsync {
-		out, err = jobs.StartAsyncJob(call.Fn, in)
-	} else {
-		var jobID int64
-		out, jobID, err = jobs.ExecuteJob(r.Context(), call.Fn, in)
-		w.Header().Add("x-rclone-jobid", fmt.Sprintf("%d", jobID))
+	job, out, err := jobs.NewJob(ctx, call.Fn, in)
+	if job != nil {
+		w.Header().Add("x-rclone-jobid", fmt.Sprintf("%d", job.ID))
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		writeError(path, inOrig, w, err, http.StatusInternalServerError)