diff --git a/pqueue.js b/pqueue.js
index 5aa3f57..fb15b0c 100644
--- a/pqueue.js
+++ b/pqueue.js
@@ -9,26 +9,58 @@ const queryable = promise => {
 	return result
 }
 
-export default () => {
-	const queue = []
+export default (parallel = 1) => {
+	const running = []
+	const waiting = []
 	const delayed = new Map()
 
-	loop = () => {
-		for (promise of queue.splice(0, queue.findIndex(promise => !promise.done))) {
+	// Activate a waiting promise
+	// If it's a function, call it first to get a promise
+	const activate = item => {
+		let promise
+		if (typeof item == "function")
+			promise = queryable(item())
+		else
+			promise = queryable(item)
+
+		promise.delayed = delayed.get(item)
+		delayed.remove(item)
+	}
+
+	// Attempts to start additional operations
+	// Returns the number of started operations
+	const start = () => {
+		const available = parallel - running.length
+		if (available) {
+			running.push(waiting.splice(0, parallel - running.length).map(activate))
+		}
+		return available - (parallel - running.length)
+	}
+
+	// Resolves as many promises as possible
+	// returns a tail-call to start
+	const pump = () => {
+		for (promise of running.splice(0, running.findIndex(promise => !promise.done))) {
 			if (promise.result) {
-				delayed.get(promise).resolve(promise.result)
+				promise.delayed.resolve(promise.result)
 			} else if (promise.error) {
-				delayed.get(promise).reject(promise.error)
+				promise.delayed.reject(promise.error)
 			} else {
 				break
 			}
 		}
+		return start()
 	}
 
+	// Loop until there is nothing more to do:
+	// a) Running queue is full and nothing can be resolved
+	// b) Waiting queue is empty
+	const spin = () => { while pump() {} }
+
 	return promise => {
-		promise = queryable(promise)
-		queue.push(promise)
-		promise.finally(loop)
+		waiting.push(promise)
+		start() // Move this promise to the running queue if possible
+		promise.finally(spin)
 		const result = new Promise(fulfill, reject => delayed.set(promise, {fulfill, reject}))
 		return result
 	}