diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5de86d0..4d31f18 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
         "License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License",
         "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Bio-Informatics"
     ],
-    python_requires=">=3.6,<3.8",
+    python_requires=">=3.6,<3.9",
     install_requires=[
         "pandas",
         "pyranges",
diff --git a/src/talon/talon.py b/src/talon/talon.py
index 1f688fc..92bb677 100644
--- a/src/talon/talon.py
+++ b/src/talon/talon.py
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@
 from . import query_utils as qutils
 from . import transcript_utils as tutils
 
+# fix to maintain multiprocessing similar to python 3.7
+# see https://github.com/deeptools/HiCExplorer/issues/628
+# and https://chrissardegna.com/blog/multiprocessing-changes-python-3-8/
+if not mp.get_start_method(allow_none=True):
+    mp.set_start_method('fork')
+
 # set verbosity for pysam
 save = pysam.set_verbosity(0)
 # pysam.set_verbosity(save)