diff --git a/docs/architecture.rst b/docs/architecture.rst
index 52bb8d9c..2d0170d2 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.rst
+++ b/docs/architecture.rst
@@ -108,10 +108,6 @@ when this bit of XML is received (with an assumed namespace of
    handlers <event handler>`. Each stanza/handler pair is then put into the
    event queue.
 
-   .. note::
-       It is possible to skip the event queue and process an event immediately
-       by using ``direct=True`` when raising the event.
-
    The code for :meth:`BaseXMPP._handle_message` follows this pattern, and
    raises a ``'message'`` event::
 
diff --git a/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py b/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py
index 632db189..52829dfa 100644
--- a/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py
+++ b/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class ComponentXMPP(BaseXMPP):
         """
         self.session_bind_event.set()
         self.session_started_event.set()
-        self.event('session_bind', self.boundjid, direct=True)
+        self.event('session_bind', self.boundjid)
         self.event('session_start')
 
     def _handle_probe(self, pres):
diff --git a/slixmpp/features/feature_bind/bind.py b/slixmpp/features/feature_bind/bind.py
index e26c3ce6..d41bbc3f 100644
--- a/slixmpp/features/feature_bind/bind.py
+++ b/slixmpp/features/feature_bind/bind.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class FeatureBind(BasePlugin):
     def _on_bind_response(self, response):
         self.xmpp.boundjid = JID(response['bind']['jid'], cache_lock=True)
         self.xmpp.bound = True
-        self.xmpp.event('session_bind', self.xmpp.boundjid, direct=True)
+        self.xmpp.event('session_bind', self.xmpp.boundjid)
         self.xmpp.session_bind_event.set()
 
         self.xmpp.features.add('bind')
diff --git a/slixmpp/features/feature_mechanisms/mechanisms.py b/slixmpp/features/feature_mechanisms/mechanisms.py
index ee7db41e..fe38fbd5 100644
--- a/slixmpp/features/feature_mechanisms/mechanisms.py
+++ b/slixmpp/features/feature_mechanisms/mechanisms.py
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ class FeatureMechanisms(BasePlugin):
                                     min_mech=self.min_mech)
         except sasl.SASLNoAppropriateMechanism:
             log.error("No appropriate login method.")
-            self.xmpp.event("no_auth", direct=True)
-            self.xmpp.event("failed_auth", direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event("no_auth")
+            self.xmpp.event("failed_auth")
             self.attempted_mechs = set()
             return self.xmpp.disconnect()
         except StringPrepError:
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class FeatureMechanisms(BasePlugin):
             self.attempted_mechs = set()
             self.xmpp.authenticated = True
             self.xmpp.features.add('mechanisms')
-            self.xmpp.event('auth_success', stanza, direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event('auth_success', stanza)
             # Restart the stream
             self.xmpp.init_parser()
             self.xmpp.send_raw(self.xmpp.stream_header)
@@ -241,6 +241,6 @@ class FeatureMechanisms(BasePlugin):
         """SASL authentication failed. Disconnect and shutdown."""
         self.attempted_mechs.add(self.mech.name)
         log.info("Authentication failed: %s", stanza['condition'])
-        self.xmpp.event("failed_auth", stanza, direct=True)
+        self.xmpp.event("failed_auth", stanza)
         self._send_auth()
         return True
diff --git a/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0077/register.py b/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0077/register.py
index d83ff1a7..7c6d99a0 100644
--- a/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0077/register.py
+++ b/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0077/register.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class XEP_0077(BasePlugin):
 
         if self.create_account and self.xmpp.event_handled('register'):
             form = self.get_registration()
-            self.xmpp.event('register', form, direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event('register', form)
             return True
         return False
 
diff --git a/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0078/legacyauth.py b/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0078/legacyauth.py
index 8d2ea230..eac1b57e 100644
--- a/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0078/legacyauth.py
+++ b/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0078/legacyauth.py
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ class XEP_0078(BasePlugin):
             resp = iq.send(now=True)
         except IqError as err:
             log.info("Authentication failed: %s", err.iq['error']['condition'])
-            self.xmpp.event('failed_auth', direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event('failed_auth')
             self.xmpp.disconnect()
             return True
         except IqTimeout:
             log.info("Authentication failed: %s", 'timeout')
-            self.xmpp.event('failed_auth', direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event('failed_auth')
             self.xmpp.disconnect()
             return True
 
@@ -123,11 +123,11 @@ class XEP_0078(BasePlugin):
             result = iq.send(now=True)
         except IqError as err:
             log.info("Authentication failed")
-            self.xmpp.event("failed_auth", direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event("failed_auth")
             self.xmpp.disconnect()
         except IqTimeout:
             log.info("Authentication failed")
-            self.xmpp.event("failed_auth", direct=True)
+            self.xmpp.event("failed_auth")
             self.xmpp.disconnect()
 
         self.xmpp.features.add('auth')
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class XEP_0078(BasePlugin):
         self.xmpp.boundjid = JID(self.xmpp.requested_jid,
                 resource=resource,
                 cache_lock=True)
-        self.xmpp.event('session_bind', self.xmpp.boundjid, direct=True)
+        self.xmpp.event('session_bind', self.xmpp.boundjid)
 
         log.debug("Established Session")
         self.xmpp.sessionstarted = True
diff --git a/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py b/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
index 838f3649..3df98862 100644
--- a/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
+++ b/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
@@ -612,16 +612,13 @@ class XMLStream(object):
         """
         return len(self.__event_handlers.get(name, []))
 
-    def event(self, name, data={}, direct=False):
+    def event(self, name, data={}):
         """Manually trigger a custom event.
 
         :param name: The name of the event to trigger.
         :param data: Data that will be passed to each event handler.
                      Defaults to an empty dictionary, but is usually
                      a stanza object.
-        :param direct: Runs the event directly if True, skipping the
-                       event queue. All event handlers will run in the
-                       same thread.
         """
         log.debug("Event triggered: " + name)
 
@@ -633,18 +630,13 @@ class XMLStream(object):
 
             out_data = copy.copy(data) if len(handlers) > 1 else data
             old_exception = getattr(data, 'exception', None)
-            if direct:
-                try:
-                    handler_callback(out_data)
-                except Exception as e:
-                    error_msg = 'Error processing event handler: %s'
-                    log.exception(error_msg,  str(handler_callback))
-                    if old_exception:
-                        old_exception(e)
-                    else:
-                        self.exception(e)
-            else:
-                self.run_event(('event', handler, out_data))
+            try:
+                handler_callback(out_data)
+            except Exception as e:
+                if old_exception:
+                    old_exception(e)
+                else:
+                    self.exception(e)
             if disposable:
                 # If the handler is disposable, we will go ahead and
                 # remove it now instead of waiting for it to be
@@ -687,11 +679,19 @@ class XMLStream(object):
         except KeyError:
             log.debug("Tried to cancel unscheduled event: %s" % (name,))
 
+    def _safe_cb_run(self, name, cb):
+        log.debug('Scheduled event: %s', name)
+        try:
+            cb()
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.exception('Error processing scheduled task')
+            self.exception(e)
+
     def _execute_and_reschedule(self, name, cb, seconds):
         """Simple method that calls the given callback, and then schedule itself to
         be called after the given number of seconds.
         """
-        cb()
+        self._safe_cb_run(name, cb)
         loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
         handle = loop.call_later(seconds, self._execute_and_reschedule,
                                  name, cb, seconds)
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ class XMLStream(object):
         """
         Execute the callback and remove the handler for it.
         """
-        cb()
+        self._safe_cb_run(name, cb)
         del self.scheduled_events[name]
 
     def incoming_filter(self, xml):
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ class XMLStream(object):
         # Match the stanza against registered handlers. Handlers marked
         # to run "in stream" will be executed immediately; the rest will
         # be queued.
-        unhandled = True
+        handled = False
         matched_handlers = [h for h in self.__handlers if h.match(stanza)]
         for handler in matched_handlers:
             if len(matched_handlers) > 1:
@@ -825,50 +825,20 @@ class XMLStream(object):
             else:
                 stanza_copy = stanza
             handler.prerun(stanza_copy)
-            self.run_event(('stanza', handler, stanza_copy))
             try:
-                if handler.check_delete():
-                    self.__handlers.remove(handler)
-            except:
-                pass  # not thread safe
-            unhandled = False
-
-        # Some stanzas require responses, such as Iq queries. A default
-        # handler will be executed immediately for this case.
-        if unhandled:
-            stanza.unhandled()
-
-    def run_event(self, event):
-        etype, handler = event[0:2]
-        args = event[2:]
-        orig = copy.copy(args[0])
-
-        if etype == 'stanza':
-            try:
-                handler.run(args[0])
+                handler.run(stanza_copy)
             except Exception as e:
                 error_msg = 'Error processing stream handler: %s'
                 log.exception(error_msg, handler.name)
-                orig.exception(e)
-        elif etype == 'schedule':
-            name = args[2]
-            try:
-                log.debug('Scheduled event: %s: %s', name, args[0])
-                handler(*args[0], **args[1])
-            except Exception as e:
-                log.exception('Error processing scheduled task')
-                self.exception(e)
-        elif etype == 'event':
-            func, disposable = handler
-            try:
-                func(*args)
-            except Exception as e:
-                error_msg = 'Error processing event handler: %s'
-                log.exception(error_msg, str(func))
-                if hasattr(orig, 'exception'):
-                    orig.exception(e)
-                else:
-                    self.exception(e)
+                stanza_copy.exception(e)
+            if handler.check_delete():
+                self.__handlers.remove(handler)
+            handled = True
+
+        # Some stanzas require responses, such as Iq queries. A default
+        # handler will be executed immediately for this case.
+        if not handled:
+            stanza.unhandled()
 
     def exception(self, exception):
         """Process an unknown exception.