diff --git a/src/textual/message_pump.py b/src/textual/message_pump.py
index 8d80d8bab1..b869d9bd5c 100644
--- a/src/textual/message_pump.py
+++ b/src/textual/message_pump.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 import threading
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from asyncio import CancelledError, QueueEmpty, Task, create_task
-from collections import deque
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import partial
 from time import perf_counter
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@
     Callable,
     ClassVar,
     Generator,
-    Generic,
     Iterable,
     Type,
     TypeVar,
@@ -105,55 +103,26 @@ def call_after(self, pump: MessagePump, callback: Callable[[], object]) -> bool:
 QueueType = TypeVar("QueueType")
 
 
-class Queue(Generic[QueueType]):
-    """A cut-down asyncio.Queue: just enough to run a message pump, and whether it owes work."""
+class Queue(asyncio.Queue[QueueType]):
+    """asyncio's queue, plus a peek at its head and whether the pump owes work."""
 
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
-        self.values: deque[QueueType] = deque()
-        self.ready_event = asyncio.Event()
-        self.activity: QueueActivity = SETTLED
+    activity: QueueActivity = SETTLED
 
-    def put_nowait(self, value: QueueType) -> None:
-        self.values.append(value)
+    def _put(self, item: QueueType) -> None:
+        super()._put(item)
         self.activity = OWING
-        self.ready_event.set()
-
-    def qsize(self) -> int:
-        return len(self.values)
-
-    def empty(self) -> bool:
-        return not self.values
-
-    def task_done(self) -> None:
-        pass
 
     async def get(self) -> QueueType:
-        # An Event wakes every waiter; a synchronous consumer may also drain
-        # the item before an awakened task resumes. Notification is not a
-        # reservation, so recheck the queue after each wait.
-        while not self.values:
+        if self.empty():
             # Asking with none left: every value put before has been handled.
             self.activity = SETTLED
-            self.ready_event.clear()
-            await self.ready_event.wait()
-        value = self.values.popleft()
-        if not self.values:
-            self.ready_event.clear()
-        return value
+        return await super().get()
 
     def peek_nowait(self) -> QueueType:
         """Read the next value without taking it from a waiting consumer."""
-        if not self.values:
-            raise QueueEmpty()
-        return self.values[0]
-
-    def get_nowait(self) -> QueueType:
-        if not self.values:
+        if self.empty():
             raise QueueEmpty()
-        value = self.values.popleft()
-        if not self.values:
-            self.ready_event.clear()
-        return value
+        return self._queue[0]
 
 
 _MessagePumpMetaSub = TypeVar("_MessagePumpMetaSub", bound="_MessagePumpMeta")
diff --git a/tests/test_queue.py b/tests/test_queue.py
index f58b87c74c..2264dafd1c 100644
--- a/tests/test_queue.py
+++ b/tests/test_queue.py
@@ -2,59 +2,36 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from textual.message_pump import Queue
+from textual.message_pump import OWING, SETTLED, Queue
 
 
-async def test_get_rechecks_after_nowait_consumer_drains_wakeup():
+async def test_peek_leaves_the_head_for_a_waiting_consumer():
     queue = Queue()
     waiting = asyncio.create_task(queue.get())
     try:
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        queue.put_nowait("first")
-        assert queue.get_nowait() == "first"
-        await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        assert not waiting.done()
-        queue.put_nowait("second")
-        assert await asyncio.wait_for(waiting, 1) == "second"
+        with pytest.raises(asyncio.QueueEmpty):
+            queue.peek_nowait()
+        queue.put_nowait("head")
+        assert queue.peek_nowait() == "head"
+        assert await asyncio.wait_for(waiting, 1) == "head"
         assert queue.empty()
     finally:
         waiting.cancel()
         await asyncio.gather(waiting, return_exceptions=True)
 
 
-async def test_one_item_does_not_satisfy_two_waiting_consumers():
+async def test_owing_from_a_put_until_a_get_finds_none_left():
     queue = Queue()
-    first = asyncio.create_task(queue.get())
-    second = asyncio.create_task(queue.get())
-    try:
-        await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        queue.put_nowait("first")
-        assert await asyncio.wait_for(first, 1) == "first"
-        assert not second.done()
-        queue.put_nowait("second")
-        assert await asyncio.wait_for(second, 1) == "second"
-        assert queue.empty()
-    finally:
-        first.cancel()
-        second.cancel()
-        await asyncio.gather(first, second, return_exceptions=True)
-
-
-async def test_cancelled_waiter_does_not_lose_wakeup():
-    queue = Queue()
-    first = asyncio.create_task(queue.get())
-    second = asyncio.create_task(queue.get())
+    assert queue.activity is SETTLED
+    queue.put_nowait("message")
+    assert queue.activity is OWING
+    assert await queue.get() == "message"
+    assert queue.activity is OWING
+    waiting = asyncio.create_task(queue.get())
     try:
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        queue.put_nowait(None)
-        first.cancel()
-        with pytest.raises(asyncio.CancelledError):
-            await first
-        assert await asyncio.wait_for(second, 1) is None
-        with pytest.raises(asyncio.QueueEmpty):
-            queue.get_nowait()
-        assert not queue.ready_event.is_set()
+        assert queue.activity is SETTLED
     finally:
-        first.cancel()
-        second.cancel()
-        await asyncio.gather(first, second, return_exceptions=True)
+        waiting.cancel()
+        await asyncio.gather(waiting, return_exceptions=True)