diff --git a/strings/base_activation.h b/strings/base_activation.h
index 7f35e1a79..685d9f5c0 100644
--- a/strings/base_activation.h
+++ b/strings/base_activation.h
@@ -487,6 +487,12 @@ WINRT_EXPORT namespace winrt
         impl::get_factory_cache().clear();
     }
 
+    template <typename Interface>
+    auto try_create_instance(guid const& clsid, uint32_t context = 0x1 /*CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER*/, void* outer = nullptr)
+    {
+        return try_capture<Interface>(WINRT_IMPL_CoCreateInstance, clsid, outer, context);
+    }
+
     template <typename Interface>
     auto create_instance(guid const& clsid, uint32_t context = 0x1 /*CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER*/, void* outer = nullptr)
     {
diff --git a/strings/base_com_ptr.h b/strings/base_com_ptr.h
index 46867a73a..3ae9d88cd 100644
--- a/strings/base_com_ptr.h
+++ b/strings/base_com_ptr.h
@@ -153,6 +153,18 @@ WINRT_EXPORT namespace winrt
             *other = m_ptr;
         }
 
+        template <typename F, typename...Args>
+        bool try_capture(F function, Args&&...args)
+        {
+            return function(args..., guid_of<T>(), put_void()) >= 0;
+        }
+
+        template <typename O, typename M, typename...Args>
+        bool try_capture(com_ptr<O> const& object, M method, Args&&...args)
+        {
+            return (object.get()->*(method))(args..., guid_of<T>(), put_void()) >= 0;
+        }
+
         template <typename F, typename...Args>
         void capture(F function, Args&&...args)
         {
@@ -204,6 +216,21 @@ WINRT_EXPORT namespace winrt
         type* m_ptr{};
     };
 
+    template <typename T, typename F, typename...Args>
+    impl::com_ref<T> try_capture(F function, Args&& ...args)
+    {
+        void* result{};
+        function(args..., guid_of<T>(), &result);
+        return { result, take_ownership_from_abi };
+    }
+
+    template <typename T, typename O, typename M, typename...Args>
+    impl::com_ref<T> try_capture(com_ptr<O> const& object, M method, Args&& ...args)
+    {
+        void* result{};
+        (object.get()->*(method))(args..., guid_of<T>(), &result);
+        return { result, take_ownership_from_abi };
+    }
     template <typename T, typename F, typename...Args>
     impl::com_ref<T> capture(F function, Args&& ...args)
     {
diff --git a/strings/base_coroutine_foundation.h b/strings/base_coroutine_foundation.h
index fe4975b96..311522a6c 100644
--- a/strings/base_coroutine_foundation.h
+++ b/strings/base_coroutine_foundation.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace winrt::impl
     {
         // Note: A blocking wait on the UI thread for an asynchronous operation can cause a deadlock.
         // See https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/uwp/cpp-and-winrt-apis/concurrency#block-the-calling-thread
-        WINRT_ASSERT(!is_sta());
+        WINRT_ASSERT(!is_sta_thread());
     }
 
     template <typename T, typename H>
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ namespace winrt::impl
 
     private:
         std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> m_handle;
-        com_ptr<IContextCallback> m_context = apartment_context();
+        resume_apartment_context m_context;
 
         void Complete()
         {
diff --git a/strings/base_coroutine_threadpool.h b/strings/base_coroutine_threadpool.h
index 254840dc2..ae26677ef 100644
--- a/strings/base_coroutine_threadpool.h
+++ b/strings/base_coroutine_threadpool.h
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 
 namespace winrt::impl
 {
+    inline auto submit_threadpool_callback(void(__stdcall* callback)(void*, void* context), void* context)
+    {
+        if (!WINRT_IMPL_TrySubmitThreadpoolCallback(callback, context, nullptr))
+        {
+            throw_last_error();
+        }
+    }
+
     inline void __stdcall resume_background_callback(void*, void* context) noexcept
     {
         std::experimental::coroutine_handle<>::from_address(context)();
@@ -8,30 +16,43 @@ namespace winrt::impl
 
     inline auto resume_background(std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> handle)
     {
-        if (!WINRT_IMPL_TrySubmitThreadpoolCallback(resume_background_callback, handle.address(), nullptr))
-        {
-            throw_last_error();
-        }
+        submit_threadpool_callback(resume_background_callback, handle.address());
     }
 
-    inline bool is_sta() noexcept
+    inline std::pair<int32_t, int32_t> get_apartment_type() noexcept
     {
         int32_t aptType;
         int32_t aptTypeQualifier;
-        return (0 == WINRT_IMPL_CoGetApartmentType(&aptType, &aptTypeQualifier)) && ((aptType == 0 /*APTTYPE_STA*/) || (aptType == 3 /*APTTYPE_MAINSTA*/));
+        if (0 == WINRT_IMPL_CoGetApartmentType(&aptType, &aptTypeQualifier))
+        {
+            return { aptType, aptTypeQualifier };
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            return { 1 /* APTTYPE_MTA */, 1 /* APTTYPEQUALIFIER_IMPLICIT_MTA */ };
+        }
     }
 
-    inline bool requires_apartment_context() noexcept
+    inline bool is_sta_thread() noexcept
     {
-        int32_t aptType;
-        int32_t aptTypeQualifier;
-        return (0 == WINRT_IMPL_CoGetApartmentType(&aptType, &aptTypeQualifier)) && ((aptType == 0 /*APTTYPE_STA*/) || (aptType == 2 /*APTTYPE_NA*/) || (aptType == 3 /*APTTYPE_MAINSTA*/));
+        auto type = get_apartment_type();
+        switch (type.first)
+        {
+        case 0: /* APTTYPE_STA */
+        case 3: /* APTTYPE_MAINSTA */
+            return true;
+        case 2: /* APTTYPE_NA */
+            return type.second == 3 /* APTTYPEQUALIFIER_NA_ON_STA */ ||
+                type.second == 5 /* APTTYPEQUALIFIER_NA_ON_MAINSTA */;
+        }
+        return false;
     }
 
-    inline auto apartment_context()
+    struct resume_apartment_context
     {
-        return requires_apartment_context() ? capture<IContextCallback>(WINRT_IMPL_CoGetObjectContext) : nullptr;
-    }
+        com_ptr<IContextCallback> m_context = try_capture<IContextCallback>(WINRT_IMPL_CoGetObjectContext);
+        int32_t m_context_type = get_apartment_type().first;
+    };
 
     inline int32_t __stdcall resume_apartment_callback(com_callback_args* args) noexcept
     {
@@ -39,25 +60,49 @@ namespace winrt::impl
         return 0;
     };
 
-    inline auto resume_apartment(com_ptr<IContextCallback> const& context, std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> handle)
+    inline void resume_apartment_sync(com_ptr<IContextCallback> const& context, std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> handle)
+    {
+        com_callback_args args{};
+        args.data = handle.address();
+
+        check_hresult(context->ContextCallback(resume_apartment_callback, &args, guid_of<ICallbackWithNoReentrancyToApplicationSTA>(), 5, nullptr));
+    }
+
+    inline void resume_apartment_on_threadpool(com_ptr<IContextCallback> const& context, std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> handle)
     {
-        if (context)
+        struct threadpool_resume
         {
-            com_callback_args args{};
-            args.data = handle.address();
+            threadpool_resume(com_ptr<IContextCallback> const& context, std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> handle) :
+                m_context(context), m_handle(handle) { }
+            com_ptr<IContextCallback> m_context;
+            std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> m_handle;
+        };
+        auto state = std::make_unique<threadpool_resume>(context, handle);
+        submit_threadpool_callback([](void*, void* p)
+            {
+                std::unique_ptr<threadpool_resume> state{ static_cast<threadpool_resume*>(p) };
+                resume_apartment_sync(state->m_context, state->m_handle);
+            }, state.get());
+        state.release();
+    }
 
-            check_hresult(context->ContextCallback(resume_apartment_callback, &args, guid_of<ICallbackWithNoReentrancyToApplicationSTA>(), 5, nullptr));
+    inline auto resume_apartment(resume_apartment_context const& context, std::experimental::coroutine_handle<> handle)
+    {
+        if ((context.m_context == nullptr) || (context.m_context == try_capture<IContextCallback>(WINRT_IMPL_CoGetObjectContext)))
+        {
+            handle();
+        }
+        else if (context.m_context_type == 1 /* APTTYPE_MTA */)
+        {
+            resume_background(handle);
+        }
+        else if ((context.m_context_type == 2 /* APTTYPE_NTA */) && is_sta_thread())
+        {
+            resume_apartment_on_threadpool(context.m_context, handle);
         }
         else
         {
-            if (requires_apartment_context())
-            {
-                resume_background(handle);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                handle();
-            }
+            resume_apartment_sync(context.m_context, handle);
         }
     }
 
@@ -294,7 +339,7 @@ WINRT_EXPORT namespace winrt
             impl::resume_apartment(context, handle);
         }
 
-        com_ptr<impl::IContextCallback> context = impl::apartment_context();
+        impl::resume_apartment_context context;
     };
 
     [[nodiscard]] inline auto resume_after(Windows::Foundation::TimeSpan duration) noexcept
diff --git a/test/old_tests/UnitTests/apartment_context.cpp b/test/old_tests/UnitTests/apartment_context.cpp
index eab146973..ae3511698 100644
--- a/test/old_tests/UnitTests/apartment_context.cpp
+++ b/test/old_tests/UnitTests/apartment_context.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 #include "pch.h"
 #include "catch.hpp"
+#include <ctxtcall.h>
 
 using namespace winrt;
 using namespace Windows::Foundation;
+using namespace Windows::System;
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -12,9 +14,56 @@ namespace
 
         co_await context;
     }
+
+    template<typename TLambda>
+    void InvokeInContext(IContextCallback* context, TLambda&& lambda)
+    {
+        ComCallData data;
+        data.pUserDefined = &lambda;
+        check_hresult(context->ContextCallback([](ComCallData* data) -> HRESULT
+            {
+                auto& lambda = *reinterpret_cast<TLambda*>(data->pUserDefined);
+                lambda();
+                return S_OK;
+            }, &data, IID_ICallbackWithNoReentrancyToApplicationSTA, 5, nullptr));
+    }
+
+    auto get_winrt_apartment_context_for_com_context(com_ptr<::IContextCallback> const& com_context)
+    {
+        std::optional<decltype(apartment_context())> context;
+        InvokeInContext(com_context.get(), [&] {
+            context = apartment_context();
+            });
+        return context.value();
+    }
+
+    bool is_nta_on_mta()
+    {
+        APTTYPE type;
+        APTTYPEQUALIFIER qualifier;
+        check_hresult(CoGetApartmentType(&type, &qualifier));
+        return (type == APTTYPE_NA) && (qualifier == APTTYPEQUALIFIER_NA_ON_MTA || qualifier == APTTYPEQUALIFIER_NA_ON_IMPLICIT_MTA);
+    }
+
+    IAsyncAction TestNeutralApartmentContext()
+    {
+        auto controller = DispatcherQueueController::CreateOnDedicatedThread();
+        co_await resume_foreground(controller.DispatcherQueue());
+
+        // Entering neutral apartment from STA should resume on explicit background thread.
+        auto nta = get_winrt_apartment_context_for_com_context(capture<::IContextCallback>(CoGetDefaultContext, APTTYPE_NA));
+        co_await nta;
+
+        REQUIRE(is_nta_on_mta());
+    }
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("apartment_context coverage")
 {
     Async().get();
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("apartment_context nta")
+{
+    TestNeutralApartmentContext().get();
+}
diff --git a/test/old_tests/UnitTests/capture.cpp b/test/old_tests/UnitTests/capture.cpp
index e88a29056..d1c4e41de 100644
--- a/test/old_tests/UnitTests/capture.cpp
+++ b/test/old_tests/UnitTests/capture.cpp
@@ -58,3 +58,27 @@ TEST_CASE("capture")
     REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(capture<IDispatch>(a, &ICapture::CreateMemberCapture, 0), hresult_no_interface);
     REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(d.capture(a, &ICapture::CreateMemberCapture, 0), hresult_no_interface);
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("try_capture")
+{
+    // Identical to the "capture" test above, just with different
+    // error handling.
+    com_ptr<ICapture> a = try_capture<ICapture>(CreateCapture, 10);
+    REQUIRE(a->GetValue() == 10);
+    a = nullptr;
+    REQUIRE(a.try_capture(CreateCapture, 20));
+    REQUIRE(a->GetValue() == 20);
+
+    auto b = try_capture<ICapture>(a, &ICapture::CreateMemberCapture, 30);
+    REQUIRE(b->GetValue() == 30);
+    b = nullptr;
+    REQUIRE(b.try_capture(a, &ICapture::CreateMemberCapture, 40));
+    REQUIRE(b->GetValue() == 40);
+
+    com_ptr<IDispatch> d;
+
+    REQUIRE(!try_capture<IDispatch>(CreateCapture, 0));
+    REQUIRE(!d.try_capture(CreateCapture, 0));
+    REQUIRE(!try_capture<IDispatch>(a, &ICapture::CreateMemberCapture, 0));
+    REQUIRE(!d.try_capture(a, &ICapture::CreateMemberCapture, 0));
+}
diff --git a/test/old_tests/UnitTests/create_instance.cpp b/test/old_tests/UnitTests/create_instance.cpp
index 38f1bf031..fa1c2ee53 100644
--- a/test/old_tests/UnitTests/create_instance.cpp
+++ b/test/old_tests/UnitTests/create_instance.cpp
@@ -9,3 +9,12 @@ TEST_CASE("create_instance")
     com_ptr<IFileOpenDialog> dialog = create_instance<IFileOpenDialog>(guid_of<FileOpenDialog>());
     REQUIRE(dialog);
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("try_create_instance")
+{
+    com_ptr<IFileOpenDialog> dialog = try_create_instance<IFileOpenDialog>(guid_of<FileOpenDialog>());
+    REQUIRE(dialog);
+
+    dialog = try_create_instance<IFileOpenDialog>(CLSID_NULL);
+    REQUIRE(!dialog);
+}
diff --git a/test/test/await_adapter.cpp b/test/test/await_adapter.cpp
index 65018d33b..16575699b 100644
--- a/test/test/await_adapter.cpp
+++ b/test/test/await_adapter.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ using namespace Windows::System;
 
 namespace
 {
+    bool is_sta()
+    {
+        APTTYPE type;
+        APTTYPEQUALIFIER qualifier;
+        check_hresult(CoGetApartmentType(&type, &qualifier));
+        return (type == APTTYPE_STA) || (type == APTTYPE_MAINSTA);
+    }
+
     static handle signal{ CreateEventW(nullptr, false, false, nullptr) };
 
     IAsyncAction OtherForegroundAsync()
@@ -29,9 +37,9 @@ namespace
 
     IAsyncAction ForegroundAsync(DispatcherQueue dispatcher)
     {
-        REQUIRE(!impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(!is_sta());
         co_await resume_foreground(dispatcher);
-        REQUIRE(impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(is_sta());
 
         // This exercises one STA thread waiting on another thus one context callback
         // completing on another.
@@ -48,9 +56,9 @@ namespace
 
     fire_and_forget SignalFromForeground(DispatcherQueue dispatcher)
     {
-        REQUIRE(!impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(!is_sta());
         co_await resume_foreground(dispatcher);
-        REQUIRE(impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(is_sta());
 
         // Previously, this signal was never raised because the foreground thread
         // was always blocked waiting for ContextCallback to return.
@@ -61,19 +69,19 @@ namespace
     {
         // Switch to a background (MTA) thread.
         co_await resume_background();
-        REQUIRE(!impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(!is_sta());
 
         // This exercises one MTA thread waiting on another and just completing
         // directly without the overhead of a context switch.
         co_await OtherBackgroundAsync();
-        REQUIRE(!impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(!is_sta());
 
         // Wait for a coroutine that completes on a foreground (STA) thread.
         co_await ForegroundAsync(dispatcher);
 
         // Resumption should automatically switch to a background (MTA) thread
         // without blocking the Completed handler (which would in turn block the foreground thread).
-        REQUIRE(!impl::is_sta());
+        REQUIRE(!is_sta());
 
         // Attempt to signal from the foreground thread under the assumption
         // that the foreground thread is not blocked.