diff --git a/lib/sqlite3.js b/lib/sqlite3.js
index cc7461a7a..36ee0438a 100644
--- a/lib/sqlite3.js
+++ b/lib/sqlite3.js
@@ -24,21 +24,21 @@ Database.prototype.prepare = function(sql) {
 // Database#run(sql, [bind1, bind2, ...], [callback])
 Database.prototype.run = function(sql) {
     var statement = new Statement(this, sql);
-    statement.run.apply(statement, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1));
+    statement.run.apply(statement, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1)).finalize();
     return this;
 }
 
 // Database#get(sql, [bind1, bind2, ...], [callback])
 Database.prototype.get = function(sql) {
     var statement = new Statement(this, sql);
-    statement.get.apply(statement, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1));
+    statement.get.apply(statement, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1)).finalize();
     return this;
 }
 
 // Database#all(sql, [bind1, bind2, ...], [callback])
 Database.prototype.all = function(sql) {
     var statement = new Statement(this, sql);
-    statement.all.apply(statement, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1));
+    statement.all.apply(statement, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1)).finalize();
     return this;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/database.cc b/src/database.cc
index 1ce00d3c1..3c70ce28d 100644
--- a/src/database.cc
+++ b/src/database.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ using namespace node_sqlite3;
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Database::constructor_template;
 
-void Database::Init(v8::Handle<Object> target) {
+void Database::Init(Handle<Object> target) {
     HandleScope scope;
 
     Local<FunctionTemplate> t = FunctionTemplate::New(New);
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ void Database::Init(v8::Handle<Object> target) {
     constructor_template->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("Database"));
 
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "close", Close);
+    NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "serialize", Serialize);
+    NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "parallelize", Parallelize);
 
-    target->Set(v8::String::NewSymbol("Database"),
-                constructor_template->GetFunction());
+    target->Set(String::NewSymbol("Database"),
+        constructor_template->GetFunction());
 }
 
 void Database::Process() {
@@ -57,20 +59,22 @@ void Database::Process() {
         return;
     }
 
-    while (open && !locked && !queue.empty()) {
+
+    while (open && (!locked || pending == 0) && !queue.empty()) {
         Call* call = queue.front();
 
         if (call->exclusive && pending > 0) {
             break;
         }
 
+        locked = call->exclusive;
         call->callback(call->baton);
         queue.pop();
         delete call;
     }
 }
 
-void Database::Schedule(EIO_Callback callback, Baton* baton, bool exclusive = false) {
+void Database::Schedule(EIO_Callback callback, Baton* baton, bool exclusive) {
     if (!open && locked) {
         EXCEPTION(String::New("Database is closed"), SQLITE_MISUSE, exception);
         if (!baton->callback.IsEmpty() && baton->callback->IsFunction()) {
@@ -84,10 +88,11 @@ void Database::Schedule(EIO_Callback callback, Baton* baton, bool exclusive = fa
         return;
     }
 
-    if (!open || locked || (exclusive && pending > 0)) {
-        queue.push(new Call(callback, baton, exclusive));
+    if (!open || ((locked || exclusive || serialize) && pending > 0)) {
+        queue.push(new Call(callback, baton, exclusive || serialize));
     }
     else {
+        locked = exclusive;
         callback(baton);
     }
 }
@@ -198,9 +203,7 @@ Handle<Value> Database::Close(const Arguments& args) {
 
 void Database::EIO_BeginClose(Baton* baton) {
     assert(baton->db->open);
-    assert(!baton->db->locked);
     assert(baton->db->pending == 0);
-    baton->db->locked = true;
     eio_custom(EIO_Close, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterClose, baton);
 }
 
@@ -255,6 +258,42 @@ int Database::EIO_AfterClose(eio_req *req) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+Handle<Value> Database::Serialize(const Arguments& args) {
+    HandleScope scope;
+    Database* db = ObjectWrap::Unwrap<Database>(args.This());
+    OPTIONAL_ARGUMENT_FUNCTION(0, callback);
+
+    bool before = db->serialize;
+    db->serialize = true;
+
+    if (!callback.IsEmpty() && callback->IsFunction()) {
+        TRY_CATCH_CALL(args.This(), callback, 0, NULL);
+        db->serialize = before;
+    }
+
+    db->Process();
+
+    return args.This();
+}
+
+Handle<Value> Database::Parallelize(const Arguments& args) {
+    HandleScope scope;
+    Database* db = ObjectWrap::Unwrap<Database>(args.This());
+    OPTIONAL_ARGUMENT_FUNCTION(0, callback);
+
+    bool before = db->serialize;
+    db->serialize = false;
+
+    if (!callback.IsEmpty() && callback->IsFunction()) {
+        TRY_CATCH_CALL(args.This(), callback, 0, NULL);
+        db->serialize = before;
+    }
+
+    db->Process();
+
+    return args.This();
+}
+
 /**
  * Override this so that we can properly close the database when this object
  * gets garbage collected.
diff --git a/src/database.h b/src/database.h
index 0d58d2357..a41ad8d62 100644
--- a/src/database.h
+++ b/src/database.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Database;
 class Database : public EventEmitter {
 public:
     static Persistent<FunctionTemplate> constructor_template;
-    static void Init(v8::Handle<Object> target);
+    static void Init(Handle<Object> target);
 
     static inline bool HasInstance(Handle<Value> val) {
         if (!val->IsObject()) return false;
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ class Database : public EventEmitter {
         handle(NULL),
         open(false),
         locked(false),
-        pending(0) {
+        pending(0),
+        serialize(false) {
 
     }
 
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ class Database : public EventEmitter {
     static int EIO_Open(eio_req *req);
     static int EIO_AfterOpen(eio_req *req);
 
-    void Schedule(EIO_Callback callback, Baton* baton, bool exclusive);
+    void Schedule(EIO_Callback callback, Baton* baton, bool exclusive = false);
     void Process();
 
     static Handle<Value> Close(const Arguments& args);
@@ -92,6 +93,9 @@ class Database : public EventEmitter {
     static int EIO_Close(eio_req *req);
     static int EIO_AfterClose(eio_req *req);
 
+    static Handle<Value> Serialize(const Arguments& args);
+    static Handle<Value> Parallelize(const Arguments& args);
+
     void Wrap (Handle<Object> handle);
     inline void MakeWeak();
     virtual void Unref();
@@ -106,6 +110,8 @@ class Database : public EventEmitter {
     bool locked;
     unsigned int pending;
 
+    bool serialize;
+
     std::queue<Call*> queue;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/macros.h b/src/macros.h
index f5b947f81..997ca37a6 100644
--- a/src/macros.h
+++ b/src/macros.h
@@ -135,13 +135,23 @@ const char* sqlite_code_string(int code);
     static int EIO_##name(eio_req *req);                                       \
     static int EIO_After##name(eio_req *req);
 
+#define STATEMENT_BEGIN(type)                                                  \
+    assert(!baton->stmt->locked);                                              \
+    assert(!baton->stmt->finalized);                                           \
+    assert(baton->stmt->prepared);                                             \
+    baton->stmt->locked = true;                                                \
+    baton->stmt->db->pending++;                                                \
+    eio_custom(EIO_##type, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_After##type, baton);
+
 #define STATEMENT_INIT(type)                                                   \
     type* baton = static_cast<type*>(req->data);                               \
     Statement* stmt = baton->stmt;
 
 #define STATEMENT_END()                                                        \
     stmt->locked = false;                                                      \
+    stmt->db->pending--;                                                       \
     stmt->Process();                                                           \
+    stmt->db->Process();                                                       \
     delete baton;
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/statement.cc b/src/statement.cc
index ea9e5056f..b02fa4076 100644
--- a/src/statement.cc
+++ b/src/statement.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ using namespace node_sqlite3;
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Statement::constructor_template;
 
-void Statement::Init(v8::Handle<Object> target) {
+void Statement::Init(Handle<Object> target) {
     HandleScope scope;
 
     Local<FunctionTemplate> t = FunctionTemplate::New(New);
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ void Statement::Init(v8::Handle<Object> target) {
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "reset", Reset);
     NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "finalize", Finalize);
 
-    target->Set(v8::String::NewSymbol("Statement"),
-                constructor_template->GetFunction());
+    target->Set(String::NewSymbol("Statement"),
+        constructor_template->GetFunction());
 }
 
 void Statement::Process() {
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::New(const Arguments& args) {
     stmt->Wrap(args.This());
     PrepareBaton* baton = new PrepareBaton(db, Local<Function>::Cast(args[2]), stmt);
     baton->sql = std::string(*String::Utf8Value(sql));
-    db->Schedule(EIO_BeginPrepare, baton, false);
+    db->Schedule(EIO_BeginPrepare, baton);
 
     return args.This();
 }
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::New(const Arguments& args) {
 
 void Statement::EIO_BeginPrepare(Database::Baton* baton) {
     assert(baton->db->open);
-    assert(!baton->db->locked);
+    baton->db->pending++;
     eio_custom(EIO_Prepare, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterPrepare, baton);
 }
 
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ int Statement::EIO_AfterPrepare(eio_req *req) {
     }
 
     STATEMENT_END();
-    baton->db->Process();
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -263,11 +262,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::Bind(const Arguments& args) {
 }
 
 void Statement::EIO_BeginBind(Baton* baton) {
-    assert(!baton->stmt->locked);
-    assert(!baton->stmt->finalized);
-    assert(baton->stmt->prepared);
-    baton->stmt->locked = true;
-    eio_custom(EIO_Bind, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterBind, baton);
+    STATEMENT_BEGIN(Bind);
 }
 
 int Statement::EIO_Bind(eio_req *req) {
@@ -313,11 +308,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::Get(const Arguments& args) {
 }
 
 void Statement::EIO_BeginGet(Baton* baton) {
-    assert(!baton->stmt->locked);
-    assert(!baton->stmt->finalized);
-    assert(baton->stmt->prepared);
-    baton->stmt->locked = true;
-    eio_custom(EIO_Get, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterGet, baton);
+    STATEMENT_BEGIN(Get);
 }
 
 int Statement::EIO_Get(eio_req *req) {
@@ -383,11 +374,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::Run(const Arguments& args) {
 }
 
 void Statement::EIO_BeginRun(Baton* baton) {
-    assert(!baton->stmt->locked);
-    assert(!baton->stmt->finalized);
-    assert(baton->stmt->prepared);
-    baton->stmt->locked = true;
-    eio_custom(EIO_Run, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterRun, baton);
+    STATEMENT_BEGIN(Run);
 }
 
 int Statement::EIO_Run(eio_req *req) {
@@ -444,11 +431,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::All(const Arguments& args) {
 }
 
 void Statement::EIO_BeginAll(Baton* baton) {
-    assert(!baton->stmt->locked);
-    assert(!baton->stmt->finalized);
-    assert(baton->stmt->prepared);
-    baton->stmt->locked = true;
-    eio_custom(EIO_All, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterAll, baton);
+    STATEMENT_BEGIN(All);
 }
 
 int Statement::EIO_All(eio_req *req) {
@@ -529,11 +512,7 @@ Handle<Value> Statement::Reset(const Arguments& args) {
 }
 
 void Statement::EIO_BeginReset(Baton* baton) {
-    assert(!baton->stmt->locked);
-    assert(!baton->stmt->finalized);
-    assert(baton->stmt->prepared);
-    baton->stmt->locked = true;
-    eio_custom(EIO_Reset, EIO_PRI_DEFAULT, EIO_AfterReset, baton);
+    STATEMENT_BEGIN(Reset);
 }
 
 int Statement::EIO_Reset(eio_req *req) {
@@ -649,8 +628,6 @@ void Statement::Finalize() {
     // error events in case those failed.
     sqlite3_finalize(handle);
     handle = NULL;
-    db->pending--;
-    db->Process();
     db->Unref();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/statement.h b/src/statement.h
index 78cb2a876..c54c51c48 100644
--- a/src/statement.h
+++ b/src/statement.h
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ class Statement : public EventEmitter {
         prepared(false),
         locked(false),
         finalized(false) {
-        db->pending++;
         db->Ref();
     }
 
diff --git a/test/serialization.test.js b/test/serialization.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e68aff5a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/serialization.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+var sqlite3 = require('sqlite3');
+var assert = require('assert');
+
+exports['test serialize() and parallelize()'] = function(beforeExit) {
+    var db = new sqlite3.Database(':memory:');
+
+    var inserted1 = 0;
+    var inserted2 = 0;
+    var retrieved = 0;
+
+    var count = 1000;
+
+    db.serialize();
+    db.run("CREATE TABLE foo (txt text, num int, flt float, blb blob)");
+    db.parallelize();
+
+    var stmt1 = db.prepare("INSERT INTO foo VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)");
+    var stmt2 = db.prepare("INSERT INTO foo VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)");
+    for (var i = 0; i < count; i++) {
+        stmt1.run('String ' + i, i, i * Math.PI, function(err) {
+            if (err) throw err;
+            inserted1++;
+            // Might sometimes fail, but should work fine most of the time.
+            assert.ok(inserted2 >= Math.floor(0.95 * inserted1));
+        });
+        i++;
+        stmt2.run('String ' + i, i, i * Math.PI, function(err) {
+            if (err) throw err;
+            inserted2++;
+            assert.ok(inserted1 >= Math.floor(0.95 * inserted2));
+        });
+    }
+    db.serialize();
+    db.all("SELECT txt, num, flt, blb FROM foo ORDER BY num", function(err, rows) {
+        if (err) throw err;
+        for (var i = 0; i < rows.length; i++) {
+            assert.equal(rows[i][0], 'String ' + i);
+            assert.equal(rows[i][1], i);
+            assert.equal(rows[i][2], i * Math.PI);
+            assert.equal(rows[i][3], null);
+            retrieved++;
+        }
+    });
+
+    beforeExit(function() {
+        assert.equal(count, inserted1 + inserted2, "Didn't insert all rows");
+        assert.equal(count, retrieved, "Didn't retrieve all rows");
+    });
+}
+
+exports['test serialize(fn)'] = function(beforeExit) {
+    var db = new sqlite3.Database(':memory:');
+
+    var inserted = 0;
+    var retrieved = 0;
+
+    var count = 1000;
+    db.serialize(function() {
+        db.run("CREATE TABLE foo (txt text, num int, flt float, blb blob)");
+
+        var stmt = db.prepare("INSERT INTO foo VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)");
+        for (var i = 0; i < count; i++) {
+            stmt.run('String ' + i, i, i * Math.PI, function(err) {
+                if (err) throw err;
+                inserted++;
+            });
+        }
+
+        db.all("SELECT txt, num, flt, blb FROM foo ORDER BY num", function(err, rows) {
+            if (err) throw err;
+            for (var i = 0; i < rows.length; i++) {
+                assert.equal(rows[i][0], 'String ' + i);
+                assert.equal(rows[i][1], i);
+                assert.equal(rows[i][2], i * Math.PI);
+                assert.equal(rows[i][3], null);
+                retrieved++;
+            }
+        });
+    });
+
+    beforeExit(function() {
+        assert.equal(count, inserted, "Didn't insert all rows");
+        assert.equal(count, retrieved, "Didn't retrieve all rows");
+    });
+}