diff --git a/python/src/lib.rs b/python/src/lib.rs
index 30d8e44..96ebb77 100644
--- a/python/src/lib.rs
+++ b/python/src/lib.rs
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ impl Context {
     #[pyo3(signature = (uri, *, storage_options=None))]
     fn create(
         _cls: &Bound<'_, PyType>,
+        py: Python<'_>,
         uri: &str,
         storage_options: Option<&Bound<'_, PyDict>>,
     ) -> PyResult<Self> {
@@ -80,9 +81,10 @@ impl Context {
             storage_options: storage_options_from_dict(storage_options)?,
         };
 
-        let store = runtime
-            .block_on(ContextStore::open_with_options(uri, options))
-            .map_err(to_py_err)?;
+        let store_res = py.allow_threads(|| {
+            runtime.block_on(ContextStore::open_with_options(uri, options))
+        });
+        let store = store_res.map_err(to_py_err)?;
         let run_id = new_run_id();
         Ok(Self {
             inner: RustContext::new(uri),
@@ -111,6 +113,7 @@ impl Context {
     #[pyo3(signature = (role, content, data_type = None))]
     fn add(
         &mut self,
+        py: Python<'_>,
         role: &str,
         content: &Bound<'_, PyAny>,
         data_type: Option<&str>,
@@ -147,9 +150,11 @@ impl Context {
             embedding: None,
         };
 
-        self.runtime
-            .block_on(self.store.add(std::slice::from_ref(&record)))
-            .map_err(to_py_err)?;
+        let add_res = py.allow_threads(|| {
+            self.runtime
+                .block_on(self.store.add(std::slice::from_ref(&record)))
+        });
+        add_res.map_err(to_py_err)?;
         self.inner.add(role, &inner_content, data_type);
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -168,10 +173,9 @@ impl Context {
         }
     }
 
-    fn checkout(&mut self, version_id: u64) -> PyResult<()> {
-        self.runtime
-            .block_on(self.store.checkout(version_id))
-            .map_err(to_py_err)?;
+    fn checkout(&mut self, py: Python<'_>, version_id: u64) -> PyResult<()> {
+        let res = py.allow_threads(|| self.runtime.block_on(self.store.checkout(version_id)));
+        res.map_err(to_py_err)?;
         self.run_id = new_run_id();
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -183,10 +187,11 @@ impl Context {
         query: Vec<f32>,
         limit: Option<usize>,
     ) -> PyResult<Vec<PyObject>> {
-        let hits = self
-            .runtime
-            .block_on(self.store.search(&query, limit))
-            .map_err(to_py_err)?;
+        let hits_res = py.allow_threads(|| {
+            self.runtime
+                .block_on(self.store.search(&query, limit))
+        });
+        let hits = hits_res.map_err(to_py_err)?;
         hits.into_iter()
             .map(|hit| search_hit_to_py(py, hit))
             .collect()