diff --git a/include/boost/thread/executors/serial_executor_cont.hpp b/include/boost/thread/executors/serial_executor_cont.hpp
index b360c947..d6b2238c 100644
--- a/include/boost/thread/executors/serial_executor_cont.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/thread/executors/serial_executor_cont.hpp
@@ -31,41 +31,57 @@ namespace executors
     typedef  executors::work work;
   private:
 
-    /// the thread safe work queue
-    concurrent::sync_queue<work > work_queue;
-    generic_executor_ref ex;
-    future<void> fut;
+    generic_executor_ref ex_;
+    future<void> fut_; // protected by mtx_
+    bool closed_; // protected by mtx_
+    mutex mtx_;
 
     struct continuation {
       work task;
-      continuation(work&& tsk)
+      template <class X>
+      struct result {
+        typedef void type;
+      };
+      continuation(BOOST_THREAD_RV_REF(work) tsk)
       : task(boost::move(tsk)) {}
       void operator()(future<void> f)
       {
         try {
           task();
         } catch (...)  {
+          std::terminate();
         }
       }
     };
+
+    bool closed(lock_guard<mutex>&) const
+    {
+      return closed_;
+    }
   public:
     /**
      * \par Returns
      * The underlying executor wrapped on a generic executor reference.
      */
-    generic_executor_ref& underlying_executor() BOOST_NOEXCEPT { return ex; }
+    generic_executor_ref& underlying_executor() BOOST_NOEXCEPT { return ex_; }
 
     /// serial_executor is not copyable.
     BOOST_THREAD_NO_COPYABLE(serial_executor)
 
     /**
-     * \b Effects: creates a thread pool that runs closures using one of its closure-executing methods.
+     * \b Effects: creates a serial executor that runs closures in fifo order using one the associated executor.
      *
      * \b Throws: Whatever exception is thrown while initializing the needed resources.
+     *
+     * \b Notes:
+     * * The lifetime of the associated executor must outlive the serial executor.
+     * * The current implementation doesn't support submission from synchronous continuation, that is,
+     *     - the executor must execute the continuation asynchronously or
+     *     - the continuation can not submit to this serial executor.
      */
     template <class Executor>
     serial_executor(Executor& ex)
-    : ex(ex), fut(make_ready_future())
+    : ex_(ex), fut_(make_ready_future()), closed_(false)
     {
     }
     /**
@@ -85,7 +101,8 @@ namespace executors
      */
     void close()
     {
-      work_queue.close();
+      lock_guard<mutex> lk(mtx_);
+      closed_ = true;;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -93,37 +110,54 @@ namespace executors
      */
     bool closed()
     {
-      return work_queue.closed();
+      lock_guard<mutex> lk(mtx_);
+      return closed(lk);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Effects: none.
+     * Returns: always false.
+     * Throws: No.
+     * Remark: A serial executor can not execute one of its pending tasks as the tasks depends on the other tasks.
+     */
+    bool try_executing_one()
+    {
+      return false;
     }
 
     /**
      * \b Requires: \c Closure is a model of \c Callable(void()) and a model of \c CopyConstructible/MoveConstructible.
      *
-     * \b Effects: The specified \c closure will be scheduled for execution at some point in the future.
-     * If invoked closure throws an exception the \c serial_executor will call \c std::terminate, as is the case with threads.
+     * \b Effects: The specified \c closure will be scheduled for execution after the last submitted closure finish.
+     * If the invoked closure throws an exception the \c serial_executor will call \c std::terminate, as is the case with threads.
      *
-     * \b Synchronization: completion of \c closure on a particular thread happens before destruction of thread's thread local variables.
-     *
-     * \b Throws: \c sync_queue_is_closed if the thread pool is closed.
+     * \b Throws: \c sync_queue_is_closed if the executor is closed.
      * Whatever exception that can be throw while storing the closure.
+     *
      */
 
 #if defined(BOOST_NO_CXX11_RVALUE_REFERENCES)
     template <typename Closure>
     void submit(Closure & closure)
     {
-      fut = fut.then(ex, continuation(work(closure)));
+      lock_guard<mutex> lk(mtx_);
+      if (closed(lk))       BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION( sync_queue_is_closed() );
+      fut_ = fut_.then(ex_, continuation(work(closure)));
     }
 #endif
     void submit(void (*closure)())
     {
-      fut = fut.then(ex, continuation(work(closure)));
+      lock_guard<mutex> lk(mtx_);
+      if (closed(lk))       BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION( sync_queue_is_closed() );
+      fut_ = fut_.then(ex_, continuation(work(closure)));
     }
 
     template <typename Closure>
     void submit(BOOST_THREAD_RV_REF(Closure) closure)
     {
-      fut = fut.then(ex, continuation(work(boost::forward<Closure>(closure))));
+      lock_guard<mutex> lk(mtx_);
+      if (closed(lk))       BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION( sync_queue_is_closed() );
+      fut_ = fut_.then(ex_, continuation(work(boost::forward<Closure>(closure))));
     }
 
   };