diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d7ee0605..8ba2167b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ Options:
                                   GRANIAN_WORKERS; default: 1; x>=1]
   --threads INTEGER RANGE         Number of threads  [env var:
                                   GRANIAN_THREADS; default: 1; x>=1]
+  --blocking-threads INTEGER RANGE
+                                  Number of blocking threads  [env var:
+                                  GRANIAN_BLOCKING_THREADS; default: 1; x>=1]
   --threading-mode [runtime|workers]
                                   Threading mode to use  [env var:
                                   GRANIAN_THREADING_MODE; default: workers]
diff --git a/granian/cli.py b/granian/cli.py
index 05c24691..cda0aa6f 100644
--- a/granian/cli.py
+++ b/granian/cli.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def main(
     websockets: bool = typer.Option(True, '--ws/--no-ws', help='Enable websockets handling', show_default='enabled'),
     workers: int = typer.Option(1, min=1, help='Number of worker processes'),
     threads: int = typer.Option(1, min=1, help='Number of threads'),
+    blocking_threads: int = typer.Option(1, min=1, help='Number of blocking threads'),
     threading_mode: ThreadModes = typer.Option(ThreadModes.workers.value, help='Threading mode to use'),
     loop: Loops = typer.Option(Loops.auto.value, help='Event loop implementation'),
     loop_opt: bool = typer.Option(False, '--opt/--no-opt', help='Enable loop optimizations', show_default='disabled'),
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ def main(
         interface=interface,
         workers=workers,
         threads=threads,
-        pthreads=threads,
+        pthreads=blocking_threads,
         threading_mode=threading_mode,
         loop=loop,
         loop_opt=loop_opt,