diff --git a/ipc_unix/pubsub.py b/ipc_unix/pubsub.py
index fd2c072..13696e9 100644
--- a/ipc_unix/pubsub.py
+++ b/ipc_unix/pubsub.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import select
 import socket
+import threading
 
 import ujson
 from ipc_unix.utils import read_payload, socket_has_data
@@ -46,22 +47,42 @@ class Publisher:
         self.master_socket.bind(self.socket_path)
         self.master_socket.listen()
         self.connections = []
+        self.accepting_new_connections = threading.Event()
+        self.accepting_new_connections.set()
+        self.new_connections_thread = threading.Thread(
+            target=self._accept_new_connections
+        )
+
+    def start(self):
+        self.accepting_new_connections.set()
+        self.new_connections_thread.start()
 
     def close(self):
+        self.accepting_new_connections.clear()
+        if self.new_connections_thread.is_alive():
+            self.new_connections_thread.join()
         self.master_socket.close()
         for connection in self.connections:
             connection.close()
         self.connections.clear()
         os.remove(self.socket_path)
 
-    def accept_new_connection(self):
+    def accept_outstanding_connections(self):
+        if self.new_connections_thread.is_alive():
+            raise Exception(
+                "Cannot accept connections manually whilst thread is running"
+            )
         while socket_has_data(self.master_socket):
             new_socket, _ = self.master_socket.accept()
             self.connections.append(new_socket)
 
-    def write(self, message: dict):
-        self.accept_new_connection()
+    def _accept_new_connections(self):
+        while self.accepting_new_connections.is_set():
+            if socket_has_data(self.master_socket):
+                new_socket, _ = self.master_socket.accept()
+                self.connections.append(new_socket)
 
+    def write(self, message: dict):
         _, writable, errorable = select.select([], self.connections, [], 1)
 
         dead_sockets = []
diff --git a/tests/test_pubsub.py b/tests/test_pubsub.py
index 38e099f..ae17579 100644
--- a/tests/test_pubsub.py
+++ b/tests/test_pubsub.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class PubSubTestCase(TestCase):
         self.socket_path = get_temp_file_path()
         self.publisher = pubsub.Publisher(self.socket_path)
         self.subscriber = pubsub.Subscriber(self.socket_path)
+        self.publisher.accept_outstanding_connections()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.publisher.close()
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ class PubSubTestCase(TestCase):
 
     def test_multiple_subscribers(self):
         subscriber_2 = pubsub.Subscriber(self.socket_path)
+        self.publisher.accept_outstanding_connections()
         self.publisher.write({"foo": "bar"})
         self.assertEqual(self.subscriber.get_latest_message(), {"foo": "bar"})
         self.assertEqual(subscriber_2.get_latest_message(), {"foo": "bar"})
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ class PubSubTestCase(TestCase):
         subscribers = []
         for i in range(100):
             subscribers.append(pubsub.Subscriber(self.socket_path))
+        self.publisher.accept_outstanding_connections()
         self.publisher.write({"foo": "bar"})
         for subscriber in subscribers:
             self.assertEqual(subscriber.get_latest_message(), {"foo": "bar"})
@@ -55,3 +58,19 @@ class PubSubTestCase(TestCase):
     def test_no_subscribers(self):
         self.subscriber.close()
         self.publisher.write({"foo": "bar"})
+
+    def test_cant_accept_connections_with_thread_running(self):
+        self.publisher.start()
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception) as e:
+            self.publisher.accept_outstanding_connections()
+        self.assertIn(
+            "Cannot accept connections manually whilst thread is running",
+            str(e.exception),
+        )
+
+    def test_accepts_connections(self):
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.publisher.connections), 1)
+        pubsub.Subscriber(self.socket_path)
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.publisher.connections), 1)
+        self.publisher.accept_outstanding_connections()
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.publisher.connections), 2)