diff --git a/include/crucible/progress.h b/include/crucible/progress.h
index b16b7b6..a9fd003 100644
--- a/include/crucible/progress.h
+++ b/include/crucible/progress.h
@@ -4,13 +4,20 @@
 #include "crucible/error.h"
 
 #include <functional>
-#include <map>
 #include <memory>
 #include <mutex>
+#include <set>
+
+#include <cassert>
 
 namespace crucible {
 	using namespace std;
 
+	/// A class to track progress of multiple workers using only two points:
+	/// the first and last incomplete state.  The first incomplete
+	/// state can be recorded as a checkpoint to resume later on.
+	/// The last completed state is the starting point for workers that
+	/// need something to do.
 	template <class T>
 	class ProgressTracker {
 		struct ProgressTrackerState;
@@ -19,8 +26,16 @@ namespace crucible {
 		using value_type = T;
 		using ProgressHolder = shared_ptr<ProgressHolderState>;
 
+		/// Create ProgressTracker with initial begin and end state 'v'.
 		ProgressTracker(const value_type &v);
+
+		/// The first incomplete state.  This is not "sticky",
+		/// it will revert to the end state if there are no
+		/// items in progress.
 		value_type begin() const;
+
+		/// The last incomplete state.  This is "sticky",
+		/// it can only increase and never decrease.
 		value_type end() const;
 
 		ProgressHolder hold(const value_type &v);
@@ -31,7 +46,7 @@ namespace crucible {
 		struct ProgressTrackerState {
 			using key_type = pair<value_type, ProgressHolderState *>;
 			mutex			m_mutex;
-			map<key_type, bool>	m_in_progress;
+			set<key_type>		m_in_progress;
 			value_type		m_begin;
 			value_type		m_end;
 		};
@@ -39,6 +54,7 @@ namespace crucible {
 		class ProgressHolderState {
 			shared_ptr<ProgressTrackerState>	m_state;
 			const value_type			m_value;
+			using key_type = typename ProgressTrackerState::key_type;
 		public:
 			ProgressHolderState(shared_ptr<ProgressTrackerState> state, const value_type &v);
 			~ProgressHolderState();
@@ -86,7 +102,11 @@ namespace crucible {
 		m_value(v)
 	{
 		unique_lock<mutex> lock(m_state->m_mutex);
-		m_state->m_in_progress[make_pair(m_value, this)] = true;
+		const auto rv = m_state->m_in_progress.insert(key_type(m_value, this));
+		THROW_CHECK1(runtime_error, m_value, rv.second);
+		// Set the beginning to the first existing in-progress item
+		m_state->m_begin = m_state->m_in_progress.begin()->first;
+		// If this value is past the end, move the end, but don't go backwards
 		if (m_state->m_end < m_value) {
 			m_state->m_end = m_value;
 		}
@@ -96,17 +116,15 @@ namespace crucible {
 	ProgressTracker<T>::ProgressHolderState::~ProgressHolderState()
 	{
 		unique_lock<mutex> lock(m_state->m_mutex);
-		m_state->m_in_progress[make_pair(m_value, this)] = false;
-		auto p = m_state->m_in_progress.begin();
-		while (p != m_state->m_in_progress.end()) {
-			if (p->second) {
-				break;
-			}
-			if (m_state->m_begin < p->first.first) {
-				m_state->m_begin = p->first.first;
-			}
-			m_state->m_in_progress.erase(p);
-			p = m_state->m_in_progress.begin();
+		const auto rv = m_state->m_in_progress.erase(key_type(m_value, this));
+		// THROW_CHECK2(runtime_error, m_value, rv, rv == 1);
+		assert(rv == 1);
+		if (m_state->m_in_progress.empty()) {
+			// If we made the list empty, then m_begin == m_end
+			m_state->m_begin = m_state->m_end;
+		} else {
+			// If we deleted the first element, then m_begin = current first element
+			m_state->m_begin = m_state->m_in_progress.begin()->first;
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/progress.cc b/test/progress.cc
index 51f1efc..c3d8967 100644
--- a/test/progress.cc
+++ b/test/progress.cc
@@ -12,23 +12,49 @@ using namespace std;
 void
 test_progress()
 {
+	// On create, begin == end == constructor argument
 	ProgressTracker<uint64_t> pt(123);
-	auto hold = pt.hold(234);
-	auto hold2 = pt.hold(345);
 	assert(pt.begin() == 123);
-	assert(pt.end() == 345);
-	auto hold3 = pt.hold(456);
-	assert(pt.begin() == 123);
-	assert(pt.end() == 456);
-	hold2.reset();
-	assert(pt.begin() == 123);
-	assert(pt.end() == 456);
-	hold.reset();
+	assert(pt.end() == 123);
+
+	// Holding a position past the end increases the end (and moves begin to match)
+	auto hold345 = pt.hold(345);
 	assert(pt.begin() == 345);
+	assert(pt.end() == 345);
+
+	// Holding a position before begin reduces begin, without changing end
+	auto hold234 = pt.hold(234);
+	assert(pt.begin() == 234);
+	assert(pt.end() == 345);
+
+	// Holding a position past the end increases the end, without affecting begin
+	auto hold456 = pt.hold(456);
+	assert(pt.begin() == 234);
 	assert(pt.end() == 456);
-	hold3.reset();
+
+	// Releasing a position in the middle affects neither begin nor end
+	hold345.reset();
+	assert(pt.begin() == 234);
+	assert(pt.end() == 456);
+
+	// Hold another position in the middle to test begin moving forward
+	auto hold400 = pt.hold(400);
+
+	// Releasing a position at the beginning moves begin forward
+	hold234.reset();
+	assert(pt.begin() == 400);
+	assert(pt.end() == 456);
+
+	// Releasing a position at the end doesn't move end backward
+	hold456.reset();
+	assert(pt.begin() == 400);
+	assert(pt.end() == 456);
+
+	// Releasing a position in the middle doesn't move end backward but does move begin forward
+	hold400.reset();
 	assert(pt.begin() == 456);
 	assert(pt.end() == 456);
+
 }
 
 int