diff --git a/resources/fts_sqlite.sql b/resources/fts_sqlite.sql
index cfd503d654..f37b8a1ee7 100644
--- a/resources/fts_sqlite.sql
+++ b/resources/fts_sqlite.sql
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 CREATE TABLE fts_db.dirtied_formats ( id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
 	book INTEGER NOT NULL,
 	format TEXT NOT NULL COLLATE NOCASE,
+    in_progress INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
     UNIQUE(book, format)
 );
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/backend.py b/src/calibre/db/backend.py
index dc3604b44e..ae0256c82f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/backend.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/backend.py
@@ -937,6 +937,13 @@ class DB:
                 self.fts.dirty_existing()
         return self.fts
 
+    @property
+    def fts_enabled(self):
+        return getattr(self, 'fts', None) is not None
+
+    def get_next_fts_job(self):
+        return self.fts.get_next_fts_job()
+
     def get_connection(self):
         return self.conn
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index 9d468e0c22..d08402e798 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -429,6 +429,15 @@ class Cache:
 
     def enable_fts(self, enabled=True):
         return self.backend.enable_fts(weakref.ref(self) if enabled else None)
+
+    @write_api
+    def get_next_fts_job(self):
+        if not self.backend.fts_enabled:
+            return
+        book_id, fmt = self.backend.get_next_fts_job()
+        if book_id is None:
+            return
+
     # }}}
 
     # Cache Layer API {{{
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/fts/connect.py b/src/calibre/db/fts/connect.py
index a7e61d9ad4..3d10a714e3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/fts/connect.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/fts/connect.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class FTS:
         db = self.dbref()
         if db is None:
             raise RuntimeError('db has been garbage collected')
-        ans = db.backend.conn
+        ans = db.backend.get_connection()
         if ans.fts_dbpath is None:
             self.initialize(ans)
         return ans
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/fts/pool.py b/src/calibre/db/fts/pool.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a2ca9b0913
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/calibre/db/fts/pool.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2022, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+
+from threading import Thread
+from queue import Queue
+
+
+check_for_work = object()
+quit = object()
+
+
+class Worker(Thread):
+
+    def __init__(self, jobs_queue, supervise_queue):
+        super().__init__(name='FTSWorker', daemon=True)
+        self.currently_working = False
+        self.jobs_queue = jobs_queue
+        self.supervise_queue = supervise_queue
+
+    def run(self):
+        while True:
+            x = self.jobs_queue.get()
+            if x is quit:
+                break
+
+
+class Pool:
+
+    def __init__(self, dbref):
+        self.max_workers = 1
+        self.supervisor_thread = Thread(name='FTSSupervisor', daemon=True, target=self.supervise)
+        self.jobs_queue = Queue()
+        self.supervise_queue = Queue()
+        self.workers = []
+        self.initialized = False
+        self.dbref = dbref
+
+    def initialize(self):
+        if not self.initialized:
+            self.initialized = True
+            self.supervisor_thread.start()
+            self.expand_workers()
+
+    def expand_workers(self):
+        while len(self.workers) < self.max_workers:
+            w = Worker(self.jobs_queue, self.supervise_queue)
+            self.workers.append(w)
+            w.start()
+
+    def check_for_work(self):
+        self.initialize()
+        self.supervise_queue.put(check_for_work)
+
+    def supervise(self):
+        while True:
+            x = self.supervise_queue.get()
+            if x is check_for_work:
+                pass
+            elif x is quit:
+                break