diff --git a/mastodon/Mastodon.py b/mastodon/Mastodon.py
index f073a66..a74f59a 100644
--- a/mastodon/Mastodon.py
+++ b/mastodon/Mastodon.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import dateutil
 import dateutil.parser
 import re
 import copy
+import threading
 
 
 class Mastodon:
@@ -110,9 +111,9 @@ class Mastodon:
         self._token_expired = datetime.datetime.now()
         self._refresh_token = None
 
-        self.ratelimit_limit = 300
+        self.ratelimit_limit = 150
         self.ratelimit_reset = time.time()
-        self.ratelimit_remaining = 300
+        self.ratelimit_remaining = 150
         self.ratelimit_lastcall = time.time()
         self.ratelimit_pacefactor = ratelimit_pacefactor
 
@@ -864,47 +865,59 @@ class Mastodon:
     ###
     # Streaming
     ###
-    def user_stream(self, listener):
+    def user_stream(self, listener, async=False):
         """
         Streams events that are relevant to the authorized user, i.e. home
         timeline and notifications. 'listener' should be a subclass of
-        StreamListener.
+        StreamListener which will receive callbacks for incoming events.
 
-        This method blocks forever, calling callbacks on 'listener' for
-        incoming events.
+        If async is False, this method blocks forever.
+
+        If async is True, 'listener' will listen on another thread and this method 
+        will return a handle corresponding to the open connection. The
+        connection may be closed at any time by calling its close() method.
         """
-        return self.__stream('/api/v1/streaming/user', listener)
+        return self.__stream('/api/v1/streaming/user', listener, async=async)
 
-    def public_stream(self, listener):
+    def public_stream(self, listener, async=False):
         """
-        Streams public events. 'listener' should be a subclass of
-        StreamListener.
+        Streams public events. 'listener' should be a subclass of StreamListener
+        which will receive callbacks for incoming events.
 
-        This method blocks forever, calling callbacks on 'listener' for
-        incoming events.
+        If async is False, this method blocks forever.
+
+        If async is True, 'listener' will listen on another thread and this method 
+        will return a handle corresponding to the open connection. The
+        connection may be closed at any time by calling its close() method.
         """
-        return self.__stream('/api/v1/streaming/public', listener)
+        return self.__stream('/api/v1/streaming/public', listener, async=async)
 
-    def local_stream(self, listener):
+    def local_stream(self, listener, async=False):
         """
-        Streams local events. 'listener' should be a subclass of
-        StreamListener.
+        Streams local events. 'listener' should be a subclass of StreamListener
+        which will receive callbacks for incoming events.
 
-        This method blocks forever, calling callbacks on 'listener' for
-        incoming events.
+        If async is False, this method blocks forever.
+
+        If async is True, 'listener' will listen on another thread and this method 
+        will return a handle corresponding to the open connection. The
+        connection may be closed at any time by calling its close() method.
         """
-        return self.__stream('/api/v1/streaming/public/local', listener)
+        return self.__stream('/api/v1/streaming/public/local', listener, async=async)
 
-    def hashtag_stream(self, tag, listener):
+    def hashtag_stream(self, tag, listener, async=False):
         """
         Returns all public statuses for the hashtag 'tag'. 'listener' should be
-        a subclass of StreamListener.
+        a subclass of StreamListener which will receive callbacks for incoming
+        events.
 
-        This method blocks forever, calling callbacks on 'listener' for
-        incoming events.
+        If async is False, this method blocks forever.
+
+        If async is True, 'listener' will listen on another thread and this method 
+        will return a handle corresponding to the open connection. The
+        connection may be closed at any time by calling its close() method.
         """
         return self.__stream("/api/v1/streaming/hashtag?tag={}".format(tag), listener)
-
     ###
     # Internal helpers, dragons probably
     ###
@@ -1080,18 +1093,47 @@ class Mastodon:
 
         return response
 
-    def __stream(self, endpoint, listener, params={}):
+    def __stream(self, endpoint, listener, params={}, async=False):
         """
         Internal streaming API helper.
+
+        Returns a handle to the open connection that the user can close if they
+        wish to terminate it.
         """
 
         headers = {}
         if self.access_token is not None:
             headers = {'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + self.access_token}
-
         url = self.api_base_url + endpoint
-        with closing(requests.get(url, headers=headers, data=params, stream=True)) as r:
-            listener.handle_stream(r.iter_lines())
+
+        connection = requests.get(url, headers = headers, data = params, stream = True)
+
+        class __stream_handle():
+            def __init__(self, connection):
+                self.connection = connection
+
+            def close(self):
+                self.connection.close()
+
+            def _threadproc(self):
+                with closing(connection) as r:
+                    try:
+                        listener.handle_stream(r.iter_lines())
+                    except AttributeError as e:
+                        # Eat AttributeError from requests if user closes early
+                        pass
+                return 0
+
+        handle = __stream_handle(connection)
+
+        if async:
+            t = threading.Thread(args=(), target=handle._threadproc)
+            t.start()
+            return handle
+        else:
+            # Blocking, never returns (can only leave via exception)
+            with closing(connection) as r:
+                listener.handle_stream(r.iter_lines())
 
     def __generate_params(self, params, exclude=[]):
         """