diff --git a/src/smt/smt_context.cpp b/src/smt/smt_context.cpp
index c0a2f3a4d..87878ab6e 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_context.cpp
+++ b/src/smt/smt_context.cpp
@@ -3617,15 +3617,15 @@ namespace smt {
        \remark A logical context can only be configured at scope level 0,
        and before internalizing any formulas.
     */
-    lbool context::setup_and_check(bool reset_cancel) {
+    lbool context::setup_and_check(bool reset_cancel, bool enable_parallel_param_tuning) {
         if (!check_preamble(reset_cancel)) return l_undef;
         SASSERT(m_scope_lvl == 0);
         SASSERT(!m_setup.already_configured());
         setup_context(m_fparams.m_auto_config);
 
         if (m_fparams.m_threads > 1 && !m.has_trace_stream()) {
-            parallel p(*this);
             expr_ref_vector asms(m);
+            parallel p(*this, enable_parallel_param_tuning);
             return p(asms);
         }
 
@@ -3685,14 +3685,15 @@ namespace smt {
         }
     }
 
-    lbool context::check(unsigned num_assumptions, expr * const * assumptions, bool reset_cancel) {
+    lbool context::check(unsigned num_assumptions, expr * const * assumptions, bool reset_cancel, bool enable_parallel_param_tuning) {
         if (!check_preamble(reset_cancel)) return l_undef;
         SASSERT(at_base_level());
         setup_context(false);
         search_completion sc(*this);
         if (m_fparams.m_threads > 1 && !m.has_trace_stream()) {            
             expr_ref_vector asms(m, num_assumptions, assumptions);
-            parallel p(*this);
+            IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << "Starting parallel check with " << asms.size() << " assumptions and param tuning enabled: " << enable_parallel_param_tuning << "\n");
+            parallel p(*this, enable_parallel_param_tuning);
             return p(asms);
         }
         lbool r = l_undef;
diff --git a/src/smt/smt_context.h b/src/smt/smt_context.h
index 0e4cdde44..a363548e4 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_context.h
+++ b/src/smt/smt_context.h
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ namespace smt {
         unsigned                    m_par_index = 0;
         bool                        m_internalizing_assertions = false;
         lbool                       m_internal_completed = l_undef;
+        bool                        m_in_parallel = false;
 
         scoped_ptr<dependent_expr_simplifier> m_simplifier;
         scoped_ptr<base_dependent_expr_state> m_fmls;
@@ -1689,7 +1690,7 @@ namespace smt {
 
         void pop(unsigned num_scopes);
 
-        lbool check(unsigned num_assumptions = 0, expr * const * assumptions = nullptr, bool reset_cancel = true);
+        lbool check(unsigned num_assumptions = 0, expr * const * assumptions = nullptr, bool reset_cancel = true, bool enable_parallel_param_tuning = true);
 
         lbool check(expr_ref_vector const& cube, vector<expr_ref_vector> const& clauses);
 
@@ -1699,7 +1700,7 @@ namespace smt {
 
         lbool preferred_sat(expr_ref_vector const& asms, vector<expr_ref_vector>& cores);
 
-        lbool setup_and_check(bool reset_cancel = true);
+        lbool setup_and_check(bool reset_cancel = true, bool enable_parallel_param_tuning = true);
 
         void reduce_assertions();
 
diff --git a/src/smt/smt_parallel.cpp b/src/smt/smt_parallel.cpp
index f6049405d..b88df8b8e 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_parallel.cpp
+++ b/src/smt/smt_parallel.cpp
@@ -66,13 +66,16 @@ namespace smt {
 namespace smt {
 
     lbool parallel::param_generator::run_prefix_step() {
-        IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " Param generator running prefix step\n");
+        if (m.limit().is_canceled())
+            return l_undef;
+        IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER running prefix step\n");
         ctx->get_fparams().m_max_conflicts = m_max_prefix_conflicts;
         m_recorded_cubes.reset();
         ctx->m_recorded_cubes = &m_recorded_cubes;
         lbool r = l_undef;
         try {
-            r = ctx->check();
+            r = ctx->check(0, nullptr, true, false);
+            IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER: prefix step result " << r << "\n");
         } 
         catch (z3_error &err) {
             b.set_exception(err.error_code());
@@ -93,8 +96,11 @@ namespace smt {
         bool found_better_params = false;
 
         for (unsigned i = 0; i <= N; ++i) {
-            IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER: replaying proof prefix in param probe context " << i << "\n");
+            if (m.limit().is_canceled())
+              return;
 
+            IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER: replaying proof prefix in param probe context " << i << "\n");
+            
             // copy prefix solver context to a new probe_ctx for next replay with candidate mutation
             smt_params smtp(m_p);
             scoped_ptr<context> probe_ctx = alloc(context, m, smtp, m_p);
@@ -112,8 +118,12 @@ namespace smt {
             probe_ctx->get_fparams().m_max_conflicts = conflict_budget;
 
             // replay the cube (negation of the clause)
+            IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER: begin replay of " << m_recorded_cubes.size() << " cubes\n");
             for (expr_ref_vector const& cube : m_recorded_cubes) {
-                lbool r = probe_ctx->check(cube.size(), cube.data());               
+                if (m.limit().is_canceled())
+                  return;
+                // the conflicts and decisions are cumulative over all cube replays inside the probe_ctx
+                lbool r = probe_ctx->check(cube.size(), cube.data(), true, false);               
                 IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER " << i << ": cube replay result " << r << "\n");                
             }
             unsigned conflicts = probe_ctx->m_stats.m_num_conflicts;
@@ -189,7 +199,8 @@ namespace smt {
             }
             std::get<unsigned_value>(param.second).value = new_value;
         }
-        IF_VERBOSE(0, 
+        IF_VERBOSE(1, 
+            verbose_stream() << "Mutating param: ";
             for (auto const &[name, val] : new_param_values) {
                 if (std::holds_alternative<bool>(val)) {
                     verbose_stream() << name << " = " << std::get<bool>(val) << "\n";
@@ -208,6 +219,9 @@ namespace smt {
         ctx->get_fparams().m_max_conflicts = m_max_prefix_conflicts;
         lbool r = run_prefix_step();
 
+        if (m.limit().is_canceled())
+            return;
+
         switch (r) {
             case l_undef: {
                 replay_proof_prefixes();
@@ -231,6 +245,11 @@ namespace smt {
         }
     }
 
+    void parallel::param_generator::cancel() {
+        IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << " PARAM TUNER cancelling\n");
+        m.limit().cancel();
+    }
+
     void parallel::worker::run() {
         search_tree::node<cube_config> *node = nullptr;
         expr_ref_vector cube(m);
@@ -252,7 +271,7 @@ namespace smt {
 
             lbool r = check_cube(cube);
 
-            if (!m.inc()) {
+            if (m.limit().is_canceled()) {
                 b.set_exception("context cancelled");
                 return;
             }
@@ -451,7 +470,7 @@ namespace smt {
         IF_VERBOSE(1, m_search_tree.display(verbose_stream() << bounded_pp_exprs(core) << "\n"););
         if (m_search_tree.is_closed()) {
             m_state = state::is_unsat;
-            cancel_workers();
+            cancel_background_threads();
         }
     }
 
@@ -517,7 +536,7 @@ namespace smt {
                                        << bounded_pp_exprs(cube)
                                        << "with max_conflicts: " << ctx->get_fparams().m_max_conflicts << "\n";);
         try {
-            r = ctx->check(asms.size(), asms.data());
+            r = ctx->check(asms.size(), asms.data(), true, false);
         } catch (z3_error &err) {
             b.set_exception(err.error_code());
         } catch (z3_exception &ex) {
@@ -562,7 +581,7 @@ namespace smt {
             return;
         m_state = state::is_sat;
         p.ctx.set_model(m.translate(l2g));
-        cancel_workers();
+        cancel_background_threads();
     }
 
     void parallel::batch_manager::set_unsat(ast_translation &l2g, expr_ref_vector const &unsat_core) {
@@ -576,7 +595,7 @@ namespace smt {
         SASSERT(p.ctx.m_unsat_core.empty());
         for (expr *e : unsat_core)
             p.ctx.m_unsat_core.push_back(l2g(e));
-        cancel_workers();
+        cancel_background_threads();
     }
 
     void parallel::batch_manager::set_exception(unsigned error_code) {
@@ -586,7 +605,7 @@ namespace smt {
             return;
         m_state = state::is_exception_code;
         m_exception_code = error_code;
-        cancel_workers();
+        cancel_background_threads();
     }
 
     void parallel::batch_manager::set_exception(std::string const &msg) {
@@ -596,7 +615,7 @@ namespace smt {
             return;
         m_state = state::is_exception_msg;
         m_exception_msg = msg;
-        cancel_workers();
+        cancel_background_threads();
     }
 
     lbool parallel::batch_manager::get_result() const {
@@ -676,6 +695,7 @@ namespace smt {
 
         m_batch_manager.initialize();
         m_workers.reset();
+        
         scoped_limits sl(m.limit());
         flet<unsigned> _nt(ctx.m_fparams.m_threads, 1);
         SASSERT(num_threads > 1);
@@ -685,15 +705,16 @@ namespace smt {
         for (auto w : m_workers)
             sl.push_child(&(w->limit()));
         
-        sl.push_child(&(m_param_generator.limit()));
+        sl.push_child(&(m_param_generator->limit()));
 
         // Launch threads
-        vector<std::thread> threads(num_threads + 1); // +1 for parameter generator
-        for (unsigned i = 0; i < num_threads - 1; ++i) {
+        vector<std::thread> threads(m_enable_param_tuner ? num_threads + 1 : num_threads); // +1 for param generator
+        for (unsigned i = 0; i < num_threads; ++i) {
             threads[i] = std::thread([&, i]() { m_workers[i]->run(); });
         }
         // the final thread runs the parameter generator
-        threads[num_threads - 1] = std::thread([&]() { m_param_generator.protocol_iteration(); });
+        if (m_enable_param_tuner)
+            threads[num_threads] = std::thread([&]() { m_param_generator->protocol_iteration(); });
 
         // Wait for all threads to finish
         for (auto &th : threads)
diff --git a/src/smt/smt_parallel.h b/src/smt/smt_parallel.h
index d5980e8c3..ea75fc498 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_parallel.h
+++ b/src/smt/smt_parallel.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace smt {
     class parallel {
         context& ctx;
         unsigned num_threads;
+        bool m_enable_param_tuner;
 
         struct shared_clause {
             unsigned source_worker_id;
@@ -57,7 +58,6 @@ namespace smt {
                 unsigned m_num_cubes = 0;
             };
 
-
             ast_manager& m;
             parallel& p;
             std::mutex mux;
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ namespace smt {
             vector<shared_clause> shared_clause_trail; // store all shared clauses with worker IDs
             obj_hashtable<expr> shared_clause_set; // for duplicate filtering on per-thread clause expressions
 
+            void cancel_background_threads() {
+                cancel_workers();
+                cancel_param_generator();
+            }
+
             // called from batch manager to cancel other workers if we've reached a verdict
             void cancel_workers() {
                 IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << "Canceling workers\n");
@@ -79,6 +84,11 @@ namespace smt {
                     w->cancel();
             }
 
+            void cancel_param_generator() {
+                IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << "Canceling param generator\n");
+                p.m_param_generator->cancel();
+            }
+
         public:
             batch_manager(ast_manager& m, parallel& p) : m(m), p(p), m_search_tree(expr_ref(m)) { }
 
@@ -88,7 +98,10 @@ namespace smt {
             void set_sat(ast_translation& l2g, model& m);
             void set_exception(std::string const& msg);
             void set_exception(unsigned error_code);
-            void set_param_state(params_ref const& p) { m_param_state.copy(p); }
+            void set_param_state(params_ref const& p) { 
+              m_param_state.copy(p); 
+              IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << "Batch manager updated param state\n");
+            }
             void get_param_state(params_ref &p);
             void collect_statistics(::statistics& st) const;            
 
@@ -140,6 +153,7 @@ namespace smt {
             lbool run_prefix_step();
             void protocol_iteration();
             void replay_proof_prefixes(unsigned max_conflicts_epsilon);
+            void cancel();
 
             reslimit &limit() {
                 return m.limit();
@@ -205,16 +219,17 @@ namespace smt {
 
         batch_manager m_batch_manager;
         scoped_ptr_vector<worker> m_workers;
-        param_generator m_param_generator;
+        scoped_ptr<param_generator> m_param_generator;
 
     public:
-        parallel(context& ctx) : 
+        parallel(context& ctx, bool enable_param_tuner = true) : 
             ctx(ctx),
             num_threads(std::min(
                 (unsigned)std::thread::hardware_concurrency(),
                 ctx.get_fparams().m_threads)),
+            m_enable_param_tuner(enable_param_tuner),
             m_batch_manager(ctx.m, *this),
-            m_param_generator(*this) {}
+            m_param_generator(enable_param_tuner ? alloc(param_generator, *this) : nullptr) {}
 
         lbool operator()(expr_ref_vector const& asms);
     };