diff --git a/src/ckdb.c b/src/ckdb.c
index 1b38ff00..76591c6c 100644
--- a/src/ckdb.c
+++ b/src/ckdb.c
@@ -14,6 +14,48 @@
  * Consider adding row level locking (a per kitem usage count) if needed
  */
 
+/* Thread layout
+ * -------------
+ * Any thread that manages a thread count will have 00 in it's name
+ *  and name each subsequent thread it creates, with the same name
+ *  but with 01, 02 etc, and then wait on them all before exiting
+ * The 2 digit 00 relates to THREAD_LIMIT which is 99
+ *	there's a limit of THREAD_LIMIT active threads per thread manager
+ * WARNING - however the total number of threads created is limited by the
+ *	LOCK_CHECK code which allows only MAX_THREADS total ckdb thread to
+ *	be created irrelevant of any being deleted
+ *
+ * The threads that can be managed have a command option to set them when
+ *  running ckdb and can also be changed via the cmd_threads socket command
+ *
+ * The main() 'ckdb' thread starts:
+ *	iomsgs() for filelog '_fiomsgs' and console '_ciomsgs'
+ *	listener() '_p00qproc'
+ *		which manages it's thread count in pqproc()
+ *
+ * listener() starts:
+ *	breakdown() for reload '_r00breaker' and cmd '_c00breaker'
+ *		each of which manage their thead counts
+ *	logger() '_logger'
+ *	socksetup() '_socksetup'
+ *	summariser() '_summarise'
+ *	marker() '_marker'
+ *  then calls setup_data() which calls reload()
+ *  then calls pqproc()
+ *	which manages the thread count
+ *
+ * socksetup() starts:
+ *	replier() for pool '_preplier' cmd '_creplier' and btc '_breplier'
+ *	listener_all() for cmd '_c00listen' and btc '_b00listen'
+ *		each of which manage their thead counts
+ *	process_socket() '_procsock'
+ *	sockrun() for ckpool '_psockrun' web '_wsockrun' and cmd '_csockrun'
+ *
+ * reload() starts:
+ *	process_reload() '_p00rload'
+ *		which manages it's thread count
+ */
+
 /* Startup
  * -------
  * During startup we load the DB and track where it is up to with
@@ -157,6 +199,11 @@ static int cmd_breakdown_threads = -1;
 int reload_breakdown_threads_delta = 0;
 int cmd_breakdown_threads_delta = 0;
 
+int cmd_listener_threads = 2;
+int btc_listener_threads = 2;
+int cmd_listener_threads_delta = 0;
+int btc_listener_threads_delta = 0;
+
 // Lock used to determine when the last breakdown thread exits
 static cklock_t breakdown_lock;
 
@@ -381,10 +428,10 @@ static uint64_t sock_acc[MAXSOCK], sock_recv[MAXSOCK];
 // breaker() summarised
 static tv_t break_reload_stt, break_cmd_stt, break_reload_fin;
 static uint64_t break_reload_processed, break_cmd_processed;
-// clistener()
+// listener_all()
+static cklock_t listener_all_lock;
 static double clis_us;
 static uint64_t clis_processed;
-// blistener()
 static double blis_us;
 static uint64_t blis_processed;
 
@@ -958,7 +1005,7 @@ static void ioprocess(IOQUEUE *io)
 			flock(logfd, LOCK_EX);
 			if (io->errn) {
 				fprintf(LOGFP, "%s%s with errno %d: %s\n",
-						stamp, io->msg, 
+						stamp, io->msg,
 						io->errn, strerror(io->errn));
 			} else
 				fprintf(LOGFP, "%s%s\n", stamp, io->msg);
@@ -3202,7 +3249,7 @@ static bool update_seq(enum seq_num seq, uint64_t n_seqcmd,
 				goto gotseqset;
 			}
 		}
-	} 
+	}
 
 	// Need to setup a new seqset
 	newseq = true;
@@ -3464,7 +3511,7 @@ gotseqset:
 					}
 				}
 				seqdata->seqbase++;
-			} 
+			}
 			seqdata->maxseq++;
 		}
 		// store n_seqcmd
@@ -4525,7 +4572,7 @@ static void *breaker(void *arg)
 	}
 	K_WUNLOCK(breakqueue_free);
 	while (!everyone_die) {
-		if (mythread && !breaker_running[typ][mythread]) 
+		if (mythread && !breaker_running[typ][mythread])
 			break;
 
 		K_WLOCK(breakqueue_free);
@@ -6051,37 +6098,163 @@ static void process_sockd(PGconn *conn, K_ITEM *wq_item, enum reply_type reply_t
 	tick();
 }
 
-static void *clistener(__maybe_unused void *arg)
+struct listener_setup {
+	int bc;
+	int thread;
+};
+
+#define BC_B 0
+#define BC_C 1
+
+static pthread_t listener_pt[2][THREAD_LIMIT];
+static struct listener_setup listener_setup[2][THREAD_LIMIT];
+
+static void *listener_all(void *arg)
 {
+	static bool running[2][THREAD_LIMIT];
+
+	struct listener_setup *setup;
 	PGconn *conn = NULL;
 	K_ITEM *wq_item;
 	tv_t now1, now2;
 	char buf[128];
 	time_t now;
 	ts_t when, when_add;
-	int ret;
+	int i, typ, mythread, done, tot, ret;
+	int listener_delta = 0;
 
-	pthread_detach(pthread_self());
+	setup = (struct listener_setup *)(arg);
+	typ = setup->bc;
+	mythread = setup->thread;
 
-	snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "db%s_%s", dbcode, __func__);
+	snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "db%s_%c%02d%s",
+		 dbcode, (typ == BC_B) ? 'b' : 'c', mythread, "listen");
 	LOCK_INIT(buf);
 	rename_proc(buf);
 
-	LOGNOTICE("%s() processing", __func__);
+	if (mythread == 0) {
+		pthread_detach(pthread_self());
+
+		for (i = 1; i < THREAD_LIMIT; i++) {
+			listener_setup[typ][i].thread = i;
+			listener_setup[typ][i].bc = typ;
+			running[typ][i] = false;
+		}
+		running[typ][0] = true;
+
+		if (typ == BC_B)
+			listener_delta = btc_listener_threads - 1;
+		else
+			listener_delta = cmd_listener_threads - 1;
+
+		LOGNOTICE("%s() %s initialised - delta %d",
+			  __func__, (typ == BC_B) ? "btc" : "cmd", listener_delta);
+	}
+	LOGNOTICE("%s() %s processing", __func__, buf);
 
 	when_add.tv_sec = CMD_QUEUE_SLEEP_MS / 1000;
 	when_add.tv_nsec = (CMD_QUEUE_SLEEP_MS % 1000) * 1000000;
 
-	clistener_using_data = true;
+	if (typ == BC_B)
+		blistener_using_data = true;
+	else
+		clistener_using_data = true;
 
 	conn = dbconnect();
 	now = time(NULL);
 
 	while (!everyone_die) {
+		if (mythread && !running[typ][mythread])
+			break;
+
+		wq_item = NULL;
 		K_WLOCK(workqueue_free);
-		wq_item = k_unlink_head(cmd_workqueue_store);
+		if (mythread == 0 && typ == BC_B &&
+		    btc_listener_threads_delta != 0) {
+			listener_delta = btc_listener_threads_delta;
+			btc_listener_threads_delta = 0;
+		} else if (mythread == 0 && typ == BC_C &&
+		    cmd_listener_threads_delta != 0) {
+			listener_delta = cmd_listener_threads_delta;
+			cmd_listener_threads_delta = 0;
+		} else {
+			if (typ == BC_B)
+				wq_item = k_unlink_head(btc_workqueue_store);
+			else
+				wq_item = k_unlink_head(cmd_workqueue_store);
+		}
 		K_WUNLOCK(workqueue_free);
 
+		// TODO: deal with thread creation/shutdown failure
+		if (listener_delta != 0) {
+			if (listener_delta > 0) {
+				// Add threads
+				tot = 1;
+				done = 0;
+				for (i = 1; i < THREAD_LIMIT; i++) {
+					if (!running[typ][i]) {
+						if (listener_delta > 0) {
+							listener_delta--;
+							running[typ][i] = true;
+							create_pthread(&(listener_pt[typ][i]),
+									listener_all,
+									&(listener_setup[typ][i]));
+							done++;
+							tot++;
+						}
+					} else
+						tot++;
+				}
+				LOGWARNING("%s() created %d %s thread%s total=%d"
+#if LOCK_CHECK
+					   " next_thread_id=%d"
+#endif
+					   , __func__,
+					   done,
+					   (typ == BC_B) ? "btc" : "cmd",
+					   (done == 1) ? EMPTY : "s",
+					   tot
+#if LOCK_CHECK
+					   , next_thread_id
+#endif
+					   );
+			} else {
+				// Notify and wait for each to exit
+				tot = 1;
+				done = 0;
+				for (i = THREAD_LIMIT - 1; i > 0; i--) {
+					if (running[typ][i]) {
+						if (listener_delta < 0) {
+							listener_delta++;
+							LOGNOTICE("%s() %s stopping %d",
+								  __func__,
+								  (typ == BC_B) ? "btc" : "cmd",
+								  i);
+							running[typ][i] = false;
+							join_pthread(listener_pt[typ][i]);
+							done++;
+						} else
+							tot++;
+					}
+				}
+				LOGWARNING("%s() stopped %d %s thread%s total=%d"
+#if LOCK_CHECK
+					   " next_thread_id=%d"
+#endif
+					   , __func__,
+					   done,
+					   (typ == BC_B) ? "btc" : "cmd",
+					   (done == 1) ? EMPTY : "s",
+					   tot
+#if LOCK_CHECK
+					   , next_thread_id
+#endif
+					   );
+			}
+			listener_delta = 0;
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		// Don't keep a connection for more than ~10s
 		if ((time(NULL) - now) > 10) {
 			PQfinish(conn);
@@ -6091,100 +6264,68 @@ static void *clistener(__maybe_unused void *arg)
 
 		if (wq_item) {
 			setnow(&now1);
-			process_sockd(conn, wq_item, REPLIER_CMD);
+			process_sockd(conn, wq_item,
+				      (typ == BC_B) ? REPLIER_BTC : REPLIER_CMD);
 			setnow(&now2);
-			clis_us += us_tvdiff(&now2, &now1);
-			clis_processed++;
+			ck_wlock(&listener_all_lock);
+			if (typ == BC_B) {
+				blis_us += us_tvdiff(&now2, &now1);
+				blis_processed++;
+			} else {
+				clis_us += us_tvdiff(&now2, &now1);
+				clis_processed++;
+			}
+			ck_wunlock(&listener_all_lock);
 		} else {
 			setnowts(&when);
 			timeraddspec(&when, &when_add);
 
-			mutex_lock(&wq_cmd_waitlock);
-			ret = cond_timedwait(&wq_cmd_waitcond,
-					     &wq_cmd_waitlock, &when);
-			if (ret == 0)
-				wq_cmd_wakes++;
-			else if (errno == ETIMEDOUT)
-				wq_cmd_timeouts++;
-			mutex_unlock(&wq_cmd_waitlock);
+			if (typ == BC_B) {
+				mutex_lock(&wq_btc_waitlock);
+				ret = cond_timedwait(&wq_btc_waitcond,
+						     &wq_btc_waitlock, &when);
+				if (ret == 0)
+					wq_btc_wakes++;
+				else if (errno == ETIMEDOUT)
+					wq_btc_timeouts++;
+				mutex_unlock(&wq_btc_waitlock);
+			} else {
+				mutex_lock(&wq_cmd_waitlock);
+				ret = cond_timedwait(&wq_cmd_waitcond,
+						     &wq_cmd_waitlock, &when);
+				if (ret == 0)
+					wq_cmd_wakes++;
+				else if (errno == ETIMEDOUT)
+					wq_cmd_timeouts++;
+				mutex_unlock(&wq_cmd_waitlock);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	LOGNOTICE("%s() exiting, processed %"PRIu64, __func__, clis_processed);
-
-	clistener_using_data = false;
-
 	if (conn)
 		PQfinish(conn);
 
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-static void *blistener(__maybe_unused void *arg)
-{
-	PGconn *conn = NULL;
-	K_ITEM *wq_item;
-	tv_t now1, now2;
-	char buf[128];
-	time_t now;
-	ts_t when, when_add;
-	int ret;
-
-	pthread_detach(pthread_self());
-
-	snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "db%s_%s", dbcode, __func__);
-	LOCK_INIT(buf);
-	rename_proc(buf);
-
-	LOGNOTICE("%s() processing", __func__);
-
-	when_add.tv_sec = CMD_QUEUE_SLEEP_MS / 1000;
-	when_add.tv_nsec = (CMD_QUEUE_SLEEP_MS % 1000) * 1000000;
-
-	blistener_using_data = true;
-
-	now = time(NULL);
-
-	while (!everyone_die) {
-		K_WLOCK(workqueue_free);
-		wq_item = k_unlink_head(btc_workqueue_store);
-		K_WUNLOCK(workqueue_free);
-
-		// Don't keep a connection for more than ~10s
-		if ((time(NULL) - now) > 10) {
-			PQfinish(conn);
-			conn = dbconnect();
-			now = time(NULL);
+	if (mythread != 0)
+		LOGNOTICE("%s() %s exiting", __func__, buf);
+	else {
+		for (i = 1; i < THREAD_LIMIT; i++) {
+			if (running[typ][i]) {
+				running[typ][i] = false;
+				LOGNOTICE("%s() %s waiting for %d",
+					  __func__, buf, i);
+				join_pthread(listener_pt[typ][i]);
+			}
 		}
 
-		if (wq_item) {
-			setnow(&now1);
-			process_sockd(conn, wq_item, REPLIER_BTC);
-			setnow(&now2);
-			blis_us += us_tvdiff(&now2, &now1);
-			blis_processed++;
+		if (typ == BC_B) {
+			LOGNOTICE("%s() %s exiting, processed %"PRIu64, __func__, buf, blis_processed);
+			blistener_using_data = false;
 		} else {
-			setnowts(&when);
-			timeraddspec(&when, &when_add);
-
-			mutex_lock(&wq_btc_waitlock);
-			ret = cond_timedwait(&wq_btc_waitcond,
-					     &wq_btc_waitlock, &when);
-			if (ret == 0)
-				wq_btc_wakes++;
-			else if (errno == ETIMEDOUT)
-				wq_btc_timeouts++;
-			mutex_unlock(&wq_btc_waitlock);
+			LOGNOTICE("%s() %s exiting, processed %"PRIu64, __func__, buf, clis_processed);
+			clistener_using_data = false;
 		}
 	}
 
-	LOGNOTICE("%s() exiting, processed %"PRIu64, __func__, blis_processed);
-
-	blistener_using_data = false;
-
-	if (conn)
-		PQfinish(conn);
-
 	return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -6841,7 +6982,7 @@ static void *socksetup(__maybe_unused void *arg)
 {
 	pthread_t prep_pt, crep_pt, brep_pt;
 	enum reply_type p_typ, c_typ, b_typ;
-	pthread_t clis_pt, blis_pt, proc_pt;
+	pthread_t proc_pt;
 	pthread_t psock_pt, wsock_pt, csock_pt;
 	char nbuf[64];
 
@@ -6868,9 +7009,15 @@ static void *socksetup(__maybe_unused void *arg)
 		LOGWARNING("%s() Start processing...", __func__);
 		socksetup_using_data = true;
 
-		create_pthread(&clis_pt, clistener, NULL);
+		listener_setup[BC_B][0].bc = BC_B;
+		listener_setup[BC_B][0].thread = 0;
+		create_pthread(&listener_pt[BC_B][0], listener_all,
+				&(listener_setup[BC_B][0]));
 
-		create_pthread(&blis_pt, blistener, NULL);
+		listener_setup[BC_C][0].bc = BC_C;
+		listener_setup[BC_C][0].thread = 0;
+		create_pthread(&listener_pt[BC_C][0], listener_all,
+				&(listener_setup[BC_C][0]));
 
 		create_pthread(&proc_pt, process_socket, NULL);
 
@@ -7429,7 +7576,7 @@ static bool reload_from(tv_t *start, const tv_t *finish)
 		 * Also since ckpool messages are not in order, we could be
 		 *  aborting early and not get the few slightly later out of
 		 *  order messages in the log file */
-		while (!everyone_die && 
+		while (!everyone_die &&
 			logline(reload_buf, MAX_READ, fp, filename)) {
 				reload_line(filename, reload_buf, ++count);
 
@@ -8995,6 +9142,7 @@ static struct option long_options[] = {
 	// override calculated value
 	{ "breakdown-threads",	required_argument,	0,	'B' },
 	{ "config",		required_argument,	0,	'c' },
+	{ "cmd-listener-threads", required_argument,	0,	'C' },
 	{ "dbname",		required_argument,	0,	'd' },
 	{ "minsdiff",		required_argument,	0,	'D' },
 	{ "free",		required_argument,	0,	'f' },
@@ -9077,7 +9225,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	memset(&ckpcmd, 0, sizeof(ckp));
 	ckp.loglevel = LOG_NOTICE;
 
-	while ((c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "a:Ab:B:c:d:D:f:ghi:IkK:l:L:mM:n:N:o:p:P:q:Q:r:R:s:S:t:Tu:U:vw:xXyY:", long_options, &i)) != -1) {
+	while ((c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "a:Ab:B:c:C:d:D:f:ghi:IkK:l:L:mM:n:N:o:p:P:q:Q:r:R:s:S:t:Tu:U:vw:xXyY:", long_options, &i)) != -1) {
 		switch(c) {
 			case '?':
 			case ':':
@@ -9120,6 +9268,18 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 			case 'c':
 				ckp.config = strdup(optarg);
 				break;
+			case 'C':
+				{
+					int cl = atoi(optarg);
+					if (cl < 1 || cl > THREAD_LIMIT) {
+						quit(1, "Invalid listener "
+						     "thread count %d "
+						     "- must be >0 and <=%d",
+						     cl, THREAD_LIMIT);
+					}
+					cmd_listener_threads = cl;
+				}
+				break;
 			case 'd':
 				db_name = strdup(optarg);
 				kill = optarg;
@@ -9467,6 +9627,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	cklock_init(&breakdown_lock);
 	cklock_init(&replier_lock);
+	cklock_init(&listener_all_lock);
 	cklock_init(&last_lock);
 	cklock_init(&btc_lock);
 	cklock_init(&poolinstance_lock);
diff --git a/src/ckdb.h b/src/ckdb.h
index 135494ce..73258212 100644
--- a/src/ckdb.h
+++ b/src/ckdb.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 
 #define DB_VLOCK "1"
 #define DB_VERSION "1.0.7"
-#define CKDB_VERSION DB_VERSION"-2.508"
+#define CKDB_VERSION DB_VERSION"-2.509"
 
 #define WHERE_FFL " - from %s %s() line %d"
 #define WHERE_FFL_HERE __FILE__, __func__, __LINE__
@@ -129,6 +129,11 @@ extern int proc_queue_threads_delta;
 extern int reload_breakdown_threads_delta;
 extern int cmd_breakdown_threads_delta;
 
+extern int cmd_listener_threads;
+extern int btc_listener_threads;
+extern int cmd_listener_threads_delta;
+extern int btc_listener_threads_delta;
+
 #define BLANK " "
 extern char *EMPTY;
 extern const char *nullstr;
diff --git a/src/ckdb_cmd.c b/src/ckdb_cmd.c
index 8754dddf..15727195 100644
--- a/src/ckdb_cmd.c
+++ b/src/ckdb_cmd.c
@@ -8463,6 +8463,22 @@ static char *cmd_threads(__maybe_unused PGconn *conn, char *cmd, char *id,
 		K_WUNLOCK(breakqueue_free);
 		snprintf(reply, siz, "ok.delta %d request sent", delta_value);
 		return strdup(reply);
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "cl") == 0 ||
+		   strcasecmp(name, "cmd_listener") == 0) {
+		K_WLOCK(workqueue_free);
+		// Just overwrite whatever's there
+		cmd_listener_threads_delta = delta_value;
+		K_WUNLOCK(workqueue_free);
+		snprintf(reply, siz, "ok.delta %d request sent", delta_value);
+		return strdup(reply);
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "bl") == 0 ||
+		   strcasecmp(name, "btc_listener") == 0) {
+		K_WLOCK(workqueue_free);
+		// Just overwrite whatever's there
+		btc_listener_threads_delta = delta_value;
+		K_WUNLOCK(workqueue_free);
+		snprintf(reply, siz, "ok.delta %d request sent", delta_value);
+		return strdup(reply);
 	} else {
 		snprintf(reply, siz, "unknown name '%s'", name);
 		LOGERR("%s() %s.%s", __func__, id, reply);