diff --git a/api/v1/group_routes_test.go b/api/v1/group_routes_test.go
index 80142bcd5d8..69fec5dd25a 100644
--- a/api/v1/group_routes_test.go
+++ b/api/v1/group_routes_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"go.k6.io/k6/execution"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/testutils"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/testutils/minirunner"
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ func getTestRunState(tb testing.TB, options lib.Options, runner lib.Runner) *lib
 }
 
 func getControlSurface(tb testing.TB, testState *lib.TestRunState) *ControlSurface {
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(tb, err)
 
 	me, err := engine.NewMetricsEngine(testState.Registry, testState.Logger)
diff --git a/api/v1/setup_teardown_routes_test.go b/api/v1/setup_teardown_routes_test.go
index 6983abfd2c2..390e4ccba2a 100644
--- a/api/v1/setup_teardown_routes_test.go
+++ b/api/v1/setup_teardown_routes_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/guregu/null.v3"
 
 	"go.k6.io/k6/execution"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/js"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/types"
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ func TestSetupData(t *testing.T) {
 				TeardownTimeout: types.NullDurationFrom(5 * time.Second),
 			}, runner)
 
-			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testState)
+			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testState, local.NewController())
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			metricsEngine, err := engine.NewMetricsEngine(testState.Registry, testState.Logger)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
diff --git a/api/v1/status_routes_test.go b/api/v1/status_routes_test.go
index 27d8846d17c..71fc3616bc9 100644
--- a/api/v1/status_routes_test.go
+++ b/api/v1/status_routes_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/guregu/null.v3"
 
 	"go.k6.io/k6/execution"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/testutils/minirunner"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/metrics"
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ func TestPatchStatus(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			testState := getTestRunState(t, lib.Options{Scenarios: scenarios}, &minirunner.MiniRunner{})
-			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testState)
+			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testState, local.NewController())
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			metricsEngine, err := engine.NewMetricsEngine(testState.Registry, testState.Logger)
diff --git a/cmd/archive.go b/cmd/archive.go
index 24bddf5ff49..bb3dfbcb568 100644
--- a/cmd/archive.go
+++ b/cmd/archive.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type cmdArchive struct {
 }
 
 func (c *cmdArchive) run(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	test, err := loadAndConfigureTest(c.gs, cmd, args, getPartialConfig)
+	test, err := loadAndConfigureLocalTest(c.gs, cmd, args, getPartialConfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/cloud.go b/cmd/cloud.go
index edc124e69f1..9712d335b6e 100644
--- a/cmd/cloud.go
+++ b/cmd/cloud.go
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (c *cmdCloud) run(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	)
 	printBar(c.gs, progressBar)
 
-	test, err := loadAndConfigureTest(c.gs, cmd, args, getPartialConfig)
+	test, err := loadAndConfigureLocalTest(c.gs, cmd, args, getPartialConfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/inspect.go b/cmd/inspect.go
index 8d963633909..de646ab5440 100644
--- a/cmd/inspect.go
+++ b/cmd/inspect.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func getCmdInspect(gs *state.GlobalState) *cobra.Command {
 		Long:  `Inspect a script or archive.`,
 		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			test, err := loadTest(gs, cmd, args)
+			test, err := loadLocalTest(gs, cmd, args)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/run.go b/cmd/run.go
index 28a283e9990..953869912a6 100644
--- a/cmd/run.go
+++ b/cmd/run.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"go.k6.io/k6/errext/exitcodes"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/event"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/execution"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/js/common"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/consts"
@@ -39,6 +40,9 @@ import (
 // cmdRun handles the `k6 run` sub-command
 type cmdRun struct {
 	gs *state.GlobalState
+
+	// TODO: figure out something more elegant?
+	loadConfiguredTest func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (*loadedAndConfiguredTest, execution.Controller, error)
 }
 
 const (
@@ -100,7 +104,7 @@ func (c *cmdRun) run(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
 		c.gs.Events.UnsubscribeAll()
 	}()
 
-	test, err := loadAndConfigureTest(c.gs, cmd, args, getConfig)
+	test, controller, err := c.loadConfiguredTest(cmd, args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -132,7 +136,7 @@ func (c *cmdRun) run(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (err error) {
 
 	// Create a local execution scheduler wrapping the runner.
 	logger.Debug("Initializing the execution scheduler...")
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, controller)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -459,6 +463,10 @@ func (c *cmdRun) setupTracerProvider(ctx context.Context, test *loadedAndConfigu
 func getCmdRun(gs *state.GlobalState) *cobra.Command {
 	c := &cmdRun{
 		gs: gs,
+		loadConfiguredTest: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (*loadedAndConfiguredTest, execution.Controller, error) {
+			test, err := loadAndConfigureLocalTest(gs, cmd, args, getConfig)
+			return test, local.NewController(), err
+		},
 	}
 
 	exampleText := getExampleText(gs, `
diff --git a/cmd/test_load.go b/cmd/test_load.go
index 6dd1d6b6665..86e1d815b2c 100644
--- a/cmd/test_load.go
+++ b/cmd/test_load.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ type loadedTest struct {
 	keyLogger      io.Closer
 }
 
-func loadTest(gs *state.GlobalState, cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (*loadedTest, error) {
+func loadLocalTest(gs *state.GlobalState, cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (*loadedTest, error) {
 	if len(args) < 1 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("k6 needs at least one argument to load the test")
 	}
@@ -236,11 +236,11 @@ type loadedAndConfiguredTest struct {
 	derivedConfig      Config
 }
 
-func loadAndConfigureTest(
+func loadAndConfigureLocalTest(
 	gs *state.GlobalState, cmd *cobra.Command, args []string,
 	cliConfigGetter func(flags *pflag.FlagSet) (Config, error),
 ) (*loadedAndConfiguredTest, error) {
-	test, err := loadTest(gs, cmd, args)
+	test, err := loadLocalTest(gs, cmd, args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/execution/controller.go b/execution/controller.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..83a7e73fe4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/execution/controller.go
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package execution
+
+// Controller implementations are used to control the k6 execution of a test or
+// test suite, either locally or in a distributed environment.
+type Controller interface {
+	// GetOrCreateData requests the data chunk with the given ID, if it already
+	// exists. If it doesn't (i.e. this was the first time this function was
+	// called with that ID), the given callback is called and its result and
+	// error are saved for the ID and returned for all other calls with it.
+	//
+	// This is an atomic and single-flight function, so any calls to it while the callback is
+	// being executed the the same ID will wait for the first call to to finish
+	// and receive its result.
+	//
+	// TODO: split apart into `Once()`, `SetData(), `GetData()` and implement
+	// the GetOrCreateData() behavior in a helper like the ones below?
+	GetOrCreateData(ID string, callback func() ([]byte, error)) ([]byte, error)
+
+	// Signal is used to notify that the current instance has reached the given
+	// event ID, or that it has had an error.
+	Signal(eventID string, err error) error
+
+	// Subscribe creates a listener for the specified event ID and returns a
+	// callback that can wait until all other instances have reached it.
+	Subscribe(eventID string) (wait func() error)
+}
+
+// SignalAndWait implements a rendezvous point / barrier, a way for all
+// instances to reach the same execution point and wait for each other, before
+// they all ~simultaneously continue with the execution.
+//
+// It subscribes for the given event ID, signals that the current instance has
+// reached it without an error, and then waits until all other instances have
+// reached it or until there is an error in one of them.
+func SignalAndWait(c Controller, eventID string) error {
+	wait := c.Subscribe(eventID)
+
+	if err := c.Signal(eventID, nil); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return wait()
+}
+
+// SignalErrorOrWait is a helper method that either immediately signals the
+// given error and returns it, or it signals nominal completion and waits for
+// all other instances to do the same (or signal an error themselves).
+func SignalErrorOrWait(c Controller, eventID string, err error) error {
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = c.Signal(eventID, err)
+		return err // return the same error we got
+	}
+	return SignalAndWait(c, eventID)
+}
diff --git a/execution/local/controller.go b/execution/local/controller.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..33b2b9123e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/execution/local/controller.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// Package local implements the execution.Controller interface for local
+// (single-machine) k6 execution.
+package local
+
+// Controller "controls" local tests. It doesn't actually do anything, it just
+// implements the execution.Controller interface with no-op operations. The
+// methods don't do anything because local tests have only a single instance.
+//
+// However, for test suites (https://github.com/grafana/k6/issues/1342) in the
+// future, we will probably need to actually implement some of these methods and
+// introduce simple synchronization primitives even for a single machine...
+type Controller struct{}
+
+// NewController creates a new local execution Controller.
+func NewController() *Controller {
+	return &Controller{}
+}
+
+// GetOrCreateData immediately calls the given callback and returns its results.
+func (c *Controller) GetOrCreateData(_ string, callback func() ([]byte, error)) ([]byte, error) {
+	return callback()
+}
+
+// Subscribe is a no-op, it doesn't actually wait for anything, because there is
+// nothing to wait on - we only have one instance in local tests.
+//
+// TODO: actually use waitgroups, since this may actually matter for test
+// suites, even for local test runs. That's because multiple tests might be
+// executed even by a single instance, and if we have complicated flows (e.g.
+// "test C is executed only after test A and test B finish"), the easiest way
+// would be for different tests in the suite to reuse this Controller API *both*
+// local and distributed runs.
+func (c *Controller) Subscribe(_ string) func() error {
+	return func() error {
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+// Signal is a no-op, it doesn't actually do anything for local test runs.
+//
+// TODO: similar to Wait() above, this might actually be required for
+// complex/branching test suites, even during local non-distributed execution.
+func (c *Controller) Signal(_ string, _ error) error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/execution/scheduler.go b/execution/scheduler.go
index 5469e452d6c..b4a010bd9b6 100644
--- a/execution/scheduler.go
+++ b/execution/scheduler.go
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import (
 // executors, running setup() and teardown(), and actually starting the
 // executors for the different scenarios at the appropriate times.
 type Scheduler struct {
+	controller Controller
+
 	initProgress    *pb.ProgressBar
 	executorConfigs []lib.ExecutorConfig // sorted by (startTime, ID)
 	executors       []lib.Executor       // sorted by (startTime, ID), excludes executors with no work
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ type Scheduler struct {
 // initializing it beyond the bare minimum. Specifically, it creates the needed
 // executor instances and a lot of state placeholders, but it doesn't initialize
 // the executors and it doesn't initialize or run VUs.
-func NewScheduler(trs *lib.TestRunState) (*Scheduler, error) {
+func NewScheduler(trs *lib.TestRunState, controller Controller) (*Scheduler, error) {
 	options := trs.Options
 	et, err := lib.NewExecutionTuple(options.ExecutionSegment, options.ExecutionSegmentSequence)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ func NewScheduler(trs *lib.TestRunState) (*Scheduler, error) {
 		maxDuration:     maxDuration,
 		maxPossibleVUs:  maxPossibleVUs,
 		state:           executionState,
+		controller:      controller,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -380,6 +383,13 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Init(
 ) (stopVUEmission func(), initErr error) {
 	logger := e.state.Test.Logger.WithField("phase", "execution-scheduler-init")
 
+	if err := SignalAndWait(e.controller, "scheduler-init-start"); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		initErr = SignalErrorOrWait(e.controller, "scheduler-init-done", initErr)
+	}()
+
 	execSchedRunCtx, execSchedRunCancel := context.WithCancel(runCtx)
 	waitForVUsMetricPush := e.emitVUsAndVUsMax(execSchedRunCtx, samplesOut)
 	stopVUEmission = func() {
@@ -409,12 +419,16 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Init(
 func (e *Scheduler) Run(globalCtx, runCtx context.Context, samplesOut chan<- metrics.SampleContainer) (runErr error) {
 	logger := e.state.Test.Logger.WithField("phase", "execution-scheduler-run")
 
+	if err := SignalAndWait(e.controller, "scheduler-run-start"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	defer func() {
 		if interruptErr := GetCancelReasonIfTestAborted(runCtx); interruptErr != nil {
 			logger.Debugf("The test run was interrupted, returning '%s' instead of '%s'", interruptErr, runErr)
 			e.state.SetExecutionStatus(lib.ExecutionStatusInterrupted)
 			runErr = interruptErr
 		}
+		runErr = SignalErrorOrWait(e.controller, "scheduler-run-done", runErr)
 	}()
 
 	e.initProgress.Modify(pb.WithConstLeft("Run"))
@@ -430,6 +444,10 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Run(globalCtx, runCtx context.Context, samplesOut chan<- met
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := SignalAndWait(e.controller, "test-ready-to-run-setup"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	e.initProgress.Modify(pb.WithConstProgress(1, "Starting test..."))
 	e.state.MarkStarted()
 	defer e.state.MarkEnded()
@@ -449,11 +467,27 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Run(globalCtx, runCtx context.Context, samplesOut chan<- met
 	if !e.state.Test.Options.NoSetup.Bool {
 		e.state.SetExecutionStatus(lib.ExecutionStatusSetup)
 		e.initProgress.Modify(pb.WithConstProgress(1, "setup()"))
-		if err := e.state.Test.Runner.Setup(withExecStateCtx, samplesOut); err != nil {
-			logger.WithField("error", err).Debug("setup() aborted by error")
+		actuallyRanSetup := false
+		data, err := e.controller.GetOrCreateData("setup", func() ([]byte, error) {
+			actuallyRanSetup = true
+			if err := e.state.Test.Runner.Setup(withExecStateCtx, samplesOut); err != nil {
+				logger.WithField("error", err).Debug("setup() aborted by error")
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return e.state.Test.Runner.GetSetupData(), nil
+		})
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if !actuallyRanSetup {
+			e.state.Test.Runner.SetSetupData(data)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := SignalAndWait(e.controller, "setup-done"); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
+
 	e.initProgress.Modify(pb.WithHijack(e.getRunStats))
 
 	// Start all executors at their particular startTime in a separate goroutine...
@@ -469,6 +503,8 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Run(globalCtx, runCtx context.Context, samplesOut chan<- met
 	// Wait for all executors to finish
 	var firstErr error
 	for range e.executors {
+		// TODO: add logic to abort the test early if there was an error from
+		// the controller (e.g. some other instance for this test died)
 		err := <-runResults
 		if err != nil && firstErr == nil {
 			logger.WithError(err).Debug("Executor returned with an error, cancelling test run...")
@@ -477,6 +513,10 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Run(globalCtx, runCtx context.Context, samplesOut chan<- met
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := SignalAndWait(e.controller, "execution-done"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Run teardown() after all executors are done, if it's not disabled
 	if !e.state.Test.Options.NoTeardown.Bool {
 		e.state.SetExecutionStatus(lib.ExecutionStatusTeardown)
@@ -484,12 +524,23 @@ func (e *Scheduler) Run(globalCtx, runCtx context.Context, samplesOut chan<- met
 
 		// We run teardown() with the global context, so it isn't interrupted by
 		// thresholds or test.abort() or even Ctrl+C (unless used twice).
-		if err := e.state.Test.Runner.Teardown(globalCtx, samplesOut); err != nil {
-			logger.WithField("error", err).Debug("teardown() aborted by error")
+		// TODO: add a `sync.Once` equivalent?
+		_, err := e.controller.GetOrCreateData("teardown", func() ([]byte, error) {
+			if err := e.state.Test.Runner.Teardown(globalCtx, samplesOut); err != nil {
+				logger.WithField("error", err).Debug("teardown() aborted by error")
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return nil, nil
+		})
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := SignalAndWait(e.controller, "teardown-done"); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	return firstErr
 }
 
diff --git a/execution/scheduler_ext_test.go b/execution/scheduler_ext_test.go
index 46ceb2e206a..73796319403 100644
--- a/execution/scheduler_ext_test.go
+++ b/execution/scheduler_ext_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/guregu/null.v3"
 
 	"go.k6.io/k6/execution"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/js"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/executor"
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func newTestScheduler(
 		testRunState.Logger = logger
 	}
 
-	execScheduler, err = execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err = execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	samples = make(chan metrics.SampleContainer, newOpts.MetricSamplesBufferSize.Int64)
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ func TestSchedulerRunNonDefault(t *testing.T) {
 
 			testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, runner.GetOptions(), runner)
 
-			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
@@ -258,7 +259,7 @@ func TestSchedulerRunEnv(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, runner.GetOptions(), runner)
-			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ func TestSchedulerSystemTags(t *testing.T) {
 	})))
 
 	testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, runner.GetOptions(), runner)
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 3*time.Second)
@@ -468,7 +469,7 @@ func TestSchedulerRunCustomTags(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, runner.GetOptions(), runner)
-			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 3*time.Second)
@@ -637,7 +638,7 @@ func TestSchedulerRunCustomConfigNoCrossover(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, runner.GetOptions(), runner)
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
@@ -978,7 +979,7 @@ func TestSchedulerEndIterations(t *testing.T) {
 	defer cancel()
 
 	testRunState := getTestRunState(t, getTestPreInitState(t), runner.GetOptions(), runner)
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	samples := make(chan metrics.SampleContainer, 300)
@@ -1190,7 +1191,7 @@ func TestRealTimeAndSetupTeardownMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, options, runner)
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
@@ -1362,7 +1363,7 @@ func TestNewSchedulerHasWork(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	testRunState := getTestRunState(t, piState, runner.GetOptions(), runner)
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	assert.Len(t, execScheduler.GetExecutors(), 2)
diff --git a/execution/scheduler_int_test.go b/execution/scheduler_int_test.go
index c0451ad7e63..455e4f198e2 100644
--- a/execution/scheduler_int_test.go
+++ b/execution/scheduler_int_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/testutils"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/lib/testutils/minirunner"
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ func TestSetPaused(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("second pause is an error", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 		testRunState := getBogusTestRunState(t)
-		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState)
+		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		sched.executors = []lib.Executor{pausableExecutor{err: nil}}
 
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ func TestSetPaused(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("unpause at the start is an error", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 		testRunState := getBogusTestRunState(t)
-		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState)
+		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		sched.executors = []lib.Executor{pausableExecutor{err: nil}}
 		err = sched.SetPaused(false)
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ func TestSetPaused(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("second unpause is an error", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 		testRunState := getBogusTestRunState(t)
-		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState)
+		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		sched.executors = []lib.Executor{pausableExecutor{err: nil}}
 		require.NoError(t, sched.SetPaused(true))
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ func TestSetPaused(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("an error on pausing is propagated", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 		testRunState := getBogusTestRunState(t)
-		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState)
+		sched, err := NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		expectedErr := errors.New("testing pausable executor error")
 		sched.executors = []lib.Executor{pausableExecutor{err: expectedErr}}
diff --git a/js/runner_test.go b/js/runner_test.go
index ce4b8f78f84..64840da83cc 100644
--- a/js/runner_test.go
+++ b/js/runner_test.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 
 	"go.k6.io/k6/errext"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/execution"
+	"go.k6.io/k6/execution/local"
 	"go.k6.io/k6/js/modules/k6"
 	k6http "go.k6.io/k6/js/modules/k6/http"
 	k6metrics "go.k6.io/k6/js/modules/k6/metrics"
@@ -383,7 +384,7 @@ func TestDataIsolation(t *testing.T) {
 		RunTags:          runner.preInitState.Registry.RootTagSet().WithTagsFromMap(options.RunTags),
 	}
 
-	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+	execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	globalCtx, globalCancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
@@ -2697,7 +2698,7 @@ func TestExecutionInfo(t *testing.T) {
 				Runner:           r,
 			}
 
-			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState)
+			execScheduler, err := execution.NewScheduler(testRunState, local.NewController())
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			ctx = lib.WithExecutionState(ctx, execScheduler.GetState())