diff --git a/.eslintrc.js b/.eslintrc.js
index 5e059c377..4a95582df 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.js
+++ b/.eslintrc.js
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ var config = {
     env: {
         browser: false,
         node: true,
-        es6: false
+        es6: true
+    },
+    parserOptions: {
+        ecmaVersion: 2018
     },
     rules: {}
 };
@@ -124,7 +127,7 @@ if (!process.env.NO_LINT) {
 // stylistic.
 if (!process.env.NO_STYLE) {
     // Global
-    config.rules['max-len'] = [ERROR, { code: 80 }];
+    config.rules['max-len'] = [ERROR, { code: 80, ignoreComments: true }];
 
     // Prettier
     config.extends.push('prettier');
diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index a71ea2aea..98b7e4ea4 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 sudo: false
 language: node_js
 node_js:
-   - '8'
    - '10'
    - "lts/*"                # Active LTS release
    - "node"                 # Latest stable release
diff --git a/docs/guides/8to9guide.md b/docs/guides/8to9guide.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef8e2505c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/guides/8to9guide.md
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+---
+title: restify 8.x to 9.x migration guide
+permalink: /docs/8to9/
+---
+
+## Introduction
+
+restify `9.x` comes with `async/await` support!
+
+## Breaking Changes
+
+### Drops support for Node.js `8.x`
+
+Restify requires Node.js version `>=10.0.0`. 
+
+### Async/await support
+
+`async/await` basic support for `.pre()`, `.use()` and route handlers.
+
+#### Example
+
+```js
+const restify = require('restify');
+
+const server = restify.createServer({});
+
+server.use(async (req, res) => {
+  req.something = await doSomethingAsync();
+});
+
+server.get('/params', async (req, res) => {
+  const value = await asyncOperation(req.something);
+   res.send(value);
+});
+```
+
+#### Middleware API (`.pre()` and `.use()`)
+
+```js
+server.use(async (req, res) => {
+  req.something = await doSomethingAsync();
+});
+```
+- `fn.length === 2` (arity 2);
+- `fn instanceof AsyncFunction`;
+- if the async function resolves, it calls `next()`;
+- any value returned by the async function will be discarded;
+- if it rejects with an `Error` instance it calls `next(err)`;
+- if it rejects with anything else it wraps in a `AsyncError` and calls `next(err)`;
+
+#### Route handler API
+
+```js
+server.get('/something', async (req, res) => {
+  const someData = await fetchSomeDataAsync();
+  res.send({ data: someData });
+});
+```
+- `fn.length === 2` (arity 2);
+- `fn instanceof AsyncFunction`;
+- if the async function resolves without a value, it calls `next()`;
+- if the async function resolves with a string value, it calls `next(string)` (re-routes*);
+- if the async function resolves with a value other than string, it calls `next(any)`;
+- if it rejects with an `Error` instance it calls `next(err)`;
+- if it rejects with anything else it wraps in a `AsyncError` and calls `next(err)` (error-handing**);
+
+##### (*) Note about re-routing:
+The `8.x` API allows re-routing when calling `next()` with a string value. If the string matches a valid route,
+it will re-route to the given handler. The same is valid for resolving a async function. If the value returned by
+the async function is a string, it will try to re-route to the given handler.
+
+##### (**) Note about error handling:
+Although it is recommended to always reject with an instance of Error, in a async function it is possible to
+throw or reject without returning an `Error` instance or even anything at all. In such cases, the value rejected
+will be wrapped on a `AsyncError`.
+
+### Handler arity check
+Handlers expecting 2 or fewer parameters added to a `.pre()`, `.use()` or route chain must be async functions, as:
+
+```js
+server.use(async (req, res) => {
+  req.something = await doSomethingAsync();
+});
+```
+
+Handlers expecting more than 2 parameters shouldn't be async functions, as:
+
+````js
+// This middleware will be rejected and restify will throw
+server.use(async (req, res, next) => {
+  doSomethingAsync(function callback(val) {
+    req.something = val;
+    next();
+  });
+});
+````
diff --git a/lib/chain.js b/lib/chain.js
index 9bf718fa7..42f62d551 100644
--- a/lib/chain.js
+++ b/lib/chain.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 var assert = require('assert-plus');
 var once = require('once');
+var customErrorTypes = require('./errorTypes');
 
 module.exports = Chain;
 
@@ -71,6 +72,15 @@ Chain.prototype.getHandlers = function getHandlers() {
  * @returns {undefined} no return value
  */
 Chain.prototype.add = function add(handler) {
+    assert.func(handler);
+    if (handler.length <= 2) {
+        // arity <= 2, must be AsyncFunction
+        assert.equal(handler.constructor.name, 'AsyncFunction');
+    } else {
+        // otherwise shouldn't be AsyncFunction
+        assert.notEqual(handler.constructor.name, 'AsyncFunction');
+    }
+
     // _name is assigned in the server and router
     handler._name = handler._name || handler.name;
 
@@ -144,7 +154,6 @@ Chain.prototype.run = function run(req, res, done) {
  */
 function call(handler, err, req, res, _next) {
     var arity = handler.length;
-    var error = err;
     var hasError = err === false || Boolean(err);
 
     // Meassure handler timings
@@ -157,6 +166,32 @@ function call(handler, err, req, res, _next) {
         _next(nextErr, req, res);
     }
 
+    function resolve(value) {
+        if (value && req.log) {
+            // logs resolved value
+            req.log.debug({ value }, 'Async handler resolved with a value');
+        }
+
+        return next(value);
+    }
+
+    function reject(error) {
+        if (!(error instanceof Error)) {
+            error = new customErrorTypes.AsyncError(
+                {
+                    info: {
+                        cause: error,
+                        handler: handler._name,
+                        method: req.method,
+                        path: req.path ? req.path() : undefined
+                    }
+                },
+                'Async middleware rejected without an error'
+            );
+        }
+        return next(error);
+    }
+
     if (hasError && arity === 4) {
         // error-handling middleware
         handler(err, req, res, next);
@@ -164,12 +199,14 @@ function call(handler, err, req, res, _next) {
     } else if (!hasError && arity < 4) {
         // request-handling middleware
         process.nextTick(function nextTick() {
-            handler(req, res, next);
+            const result = handler(req, res, next);
+            if (result && typeof result.then === 'function') {
+                result.then(resolve, reject);
+            }
         });
         return;
     }
 
     // continue
-    next(error, req, res);
-    return;
+    next(err);
 }
diff --git a/lib/errorTypes.js b/lib/errorTypes.js
index 8a07d137b..22b6d4a1e 100644
--- a/lib/errorTypes.js
+++ b/lib/errorTypes.js
@@ -5,5 +5,6 @@ var errors = require('restify-errors');
 // This allows Restify to work with restify-errors v6+
 module.exports = {
     RequestCloseError: errors.makeConstructor('RequestCloseError'),
-    RouteMissingError: errors.makeConstructor('RouteMissingError')
+    RouteMissingError: errors.makeConstructor('RouteMissingError'),
+    AsyncError: errors.makeConstructor('AsyncError')
 };
diff --git a/lib/server.js b/lib/server.js
index 6ac5dab3f..65ab4869e 100644
--- a/lib/server.js
+++ b/lib/server.js
@@ -367,6 +367,13 @@ Server.prototype.close = function close(callback) {
  *    res.send({ hello: 'world' });
  *    next();
  * });
+ * @example
+ * <caption>using with async/await</caption>
+ * server.get('/', function (req, res) {
+ *    await somethingAsync();
+ *    res.send({ hello: 'world' });
+ *    next();
+ * }
  */
 Server.prototype.get = serverMethodFactory('GET');
 
@@ -474,9 +481,16 @@ Server.prototype.opts = serverMethodFactory('OPTIONS');
  *   return next();
  * });
  * @example
+ * <caption>using with async/await</caption>
+ * server.pre(async function(req, res) {
+ *   await somethingAsync();
+ *   somethingSync();
+ * }
+ * @example
  * <caption>For example, `pre()` can be used to deduplicate slashes in
  * URLs</caption>
  * server.pre(restify.pre.dedupeSlashes());
+ * @see {@link http://restify.com/docs/plugins-api/#serverpre-plugins|Restify pre() plugins}
  */
 Server.prototype.pre = function pre() {
     var self = this;
@@ -575,6 +589,22 @@ Server.prototype.first = function first() {
  * * and/or a
  * variable number of nested arrays of handler functions
  * @returns {Object} returns self
+ * @example
+ * server.use(function(req, res, next) {
+ *   // do something...
+ *   return next();
+ * });
+ * @example
+ * <caption>using with async/await</caption>
+ * server.use(async function(req, res) {
+ *   await somethingAsync();
+ *   somethingSync();
+ * }
+ * @example
+ * <caption>For example, `use()` can be used to attach a request logger
+ * </caption>
+ * server.pre(restify.plugins.requestLogger());
+ * @see {@link http://restify.com/docs/plugins-api/#serveruse-plugins|Restify use() plugins}
  */
 Server.prototype.use = function use() {
     var self = this;
@@ -596,12 +626,22 @@ Server.prototype.use = function use() {
  * new middleware function that only fires if the specified parameter exists
  * in req.params
  *
- * Exposes an API:
- *   server.param("user", function (req, res, next) {
- *     // load the user's information here, always making sure to call next()
+ * @example
+ * server.param("user", function (req, res, next) {
+ *   // load the user's information here, always making sure to call next()
+ *   fetchUserInformation(req, function callback(user) {
+ *     req.user = user;
+ *     next();
  *   });
+ * });
+ * @example
+ * <caption>using with async/await</caption>
+ * server.param("user", async function(req, res) {
+ *   req.user = await fetchUserInformation(req);
+ *   somethingSync();
+ * }
  *
- * @see http://expressjs.com/guide.html#route-param%20pre-conditions
+ * @see {@link http://expressjs.com/guide.html#route-param%20pre-conditions| Express route param pre-conditions}
  * @public
  * @memberof Server
  * @instance
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 05c1d1fc2..e4e1ae20b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
     "report-latency": "./bin/report-latency"
   },
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=8.3.0"
+    "node": ">=10.0.0"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "assert-plus": "^1.0.0",
diff --git a/test/chain.test.js b/test/chain.test.js
index a714b228d..77081a896 100644
--- a/test/chain.test.js
+++ b/test/chain.test.js
@@ -282,3 +282,150 @@ test('getHandlers returns with the array of handlers', function(t) {
     t.deepEqual(chain.getHandlers(), handlers);
     t.end();
 });
+
+test('waits async handlers', function(t) {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    let counter = 0;
+
+    chain.add(async function(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(50);
+        counter++;
+    });
+    chain.add(function(req, res, next) {
+        counter++;
+        next();
+    });
+    chain.run(
+        {
+            startHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            endHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            closed: function() {
+                return false;
+            }
+        },
+        {},
+        function() {
+            t.equal(counter, 2);
+            t.done();
+        }
+    );
+});
+
+test('abort with rejected promise', function(t) {
+    const myError = new Error('Foo');
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    let counter = 0;
+
+    chain.add(async function(req, res) {
+        counter++;
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        return Promise.reject(myError);
+    });
+    chain.add(function(req, res, next) {
+        counter++;
+        next();
+    });
+    chain.run(
+        {
+            startHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            endHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            closed: function() {
+                return false;
+            }
+        },
+        {},
+        function(err) {
+            t.deepEqual(err, myError);
+            t.equal(counter, 1);
+            t.done();
+        }
+    );
+});
+
+test('abort with rejected promise without error', function(t) {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    let counter = 0;
+
+    chain.add(async function(req, res) {
+        counter++;
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        return Promise.reject();
+    });
+    chain.add(function(req, res, next) {
+        counter++;
+        next();
+    });
+    chain.run(
+        {
+            startHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            endHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            closed: function() {
+                return false;
+            },
+            path: function() {
+                return '/';
+            }
+        },
+        {},
+        function(err) {
+            t.ok(typeof err === 'object');
+            t.equal(err.name, 'AsyncError');
+            t.equal(err.jse_info.cause, undefined);
+            t.equal(counter, 1);
+            t.done();
+        }
+    );
+});
+
+test('abort with throw inside async function', function(t) {
+    const myError = new Error('Foo');
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    let counter = 0;
+
+    chain.add(async function(req, res) {
+        counter++;
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        throw myError;
+    });
+    chain.add(function(req, res, next) {
+        counter++;
+        next();
+    });
+    chain.run(
+        {
+            startHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            endHandlerTimer: function() {},
+            closed: function() {
+                return false;
+            }
+        },
+        {},
+        function(err) {
+            t.deepEqual(err, myError);
+            t.equal(counter, 1);
+            t.done();
+        }
+    );
+});
+
+test('fails to add non async function with arity 2', function(t) {
+    var chain = new Chain();
+
+    t.throws(function() {
+        chain.add(function(req, res) {
+            res.send('ok');
+        });
+    }, Error);
+    t.end();
+});
+
+test('fails to add async function with arity 3', function(t) {
+    var chain = new Chain();
+
+    t.throws(function() {
+        chain.add(async function(req, res, next) {
+            res.send('ok');
+        });
+    }, Error);
+    t.end();
+});
diff --git a/test/lib/helper.js b/test/lib/helper.js
index 92fc2473d..53f6adb5f 100644
--- a/test/lib/helper.js
+++ b/test/lib/helper.js
@@ -85,5 +85,13 @@ module.exports = {
 
     get dtrace() {
         return true;
+    },
+
+    sleep: function sleep(timeInMs) {
+        return new Promise(function sleepPromise(resolve) {
+            setTimeout(function timeout() {
+                resolve();
+            }, timeInMs);
+        });
     }
 };
diff --git a/test/plugins/inflightRequestThrottle.test.js b/test/plugins/inflightRequestThrottle.test.js
index d3b363f2a..dcc15c895 100644
--- a/test/plugins/inflightRequestThrottle.test.js
+++ b/test/plugins/inflightRequestThrottle.test.js
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe('inlfightRequestThrottle', function() {
         var opts = { server: server, limit: 1, err: err };
         server.pre(inflightRequestThrottle(opts));
         var RES;
-        server.get('/foo', function(req, res) {
+        server.get('/foo', function(req, res, next) {
             if (RES) {
                 res.send(999);
             } else {
diff --git a/test/server.test.js b/test/server.test.js
index ddd313a95..c2bc3decc 100644
--- a/test/server.test.js
+++ b/test/server.test.js
@@ -2926,3 +2926,145 @@ test('inflightRequest accounting stable with firstChain', function(t) {
     CLIENT.get('/foobar', getDone);
     CLIENT.get('/foobar', getDone);
 });
+
+test('async prerouting chain with error', function(t) {
+    SERVER.pre(async function(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        throw new RestError({ statusCode: 400, restCode: 'BadRequest' }, 'bum');
+    });
+
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', function tester(req, res, next) {
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+        next();
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 400);
+        t.end();
+    });
+});
+
+test('async prerouting chain with empty rejection', function(t) {
+    SERVER.pre(async function(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        return Promise.reject();
+    });
+
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', function tester(req, res, next) {
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+        next();
+    });
+
+    SERVER.on('Async', function(req, res, err, callback) {
+        t.equal(err.jse_info.cause, undefined);
+        t.equal(err.jse_info.method, 'GET');
+        t.equal(err.jse_info.path, '/hello/mark');
+        callback();
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 500);
+        t.end();
+    });
+});
+
+test('async use chain with error', function(t) {
+    SERVER.use(async function(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        throw new RestError({ statusCode: 400, restCode: 'BadRequest' }, 'bum');
+    });
+
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', function tester(req, res, next) {
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+        next();
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 400);
+        t.end();
+    });
+});
+
+test('async handler with error', function(t) {
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', async function tester(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        throw new RestError({ statusCode: 400, restCode: 'BadRequest' }, 'bum');
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 400);
+        t.end();
+    });
+});
+
+test('async handler with error after send succeeds', function(t) {
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', async function tester(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+        throw new RestError({ statusCode: 400, restCode: 'BadRequest' }, 'bum');
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(!err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 200);
+        t.end();
+    });
+});
+
+test('async handler with error after send succeeds', function(t) {
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', async function tester(req, res) {
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+        await helper.sleep(20);
+        throw new RestError({ statusCode: 400, restCode: 'BadRequest' }, 'bum');
+    });
+
+    SERVER.on('after', function(req, res, route, error) {
+        t.ok(error);
+        t.end();
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(!err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 200);
+    });
+});
+
+test('async handler without next', function(t) {
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', async function tester(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+    });
+
+    SERVER.on('after', function(req, res, route, error) {
+        t.ok(!error);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 200);
+        t.end();
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(!err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 200);
+    });
+});
+
+test('async handler resolved with string should re-route', function(t) {
+    SERVER.get('/hello/:name', async function tester(req, res) {
+        await helper.sleep(10);
+        return 'getredirected';
+    });
+
+    SERVER.get('/redirected', async function tester(req, res) {
+        res.send(req.params.name);
+    });
+
+    CLIENT.get('/hello/mark', function(err, _, res) {
+        t.ok(!err);
+        t.equal(res.statusCode, 200);
+        t.equal(res.body, '"mark"');
+        t.end();
+    });
+});