diff --git a/statushandler.py b/statushandler.py
index 4b2e53f..326fc12 100644
--- a/statushandler.py
+++ b/statushandler.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class Module(object):
     def registered(self, status_handler):
         """Called when this module is registered with a status handler"""
 
-    def run(self):
+    def tick(self):
         """Only called if self.async == False. Called once per tick"""
 
 class I3statusHandler(object):
diff --git a/thunderbirdnewmail.py b/thunderbirdnewmail.py
index 96e5d53..d6171d3 100644
--- a/thunderbirdnewmail.py
+++ b/thunderbirdnewmail.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import dbus, gobject
 from dbus.mainloop.glib import DBusGMainLoop
 import json
 import threading
+import time
 
 class ThunderbirdMailChecker(object):
     """ 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(object):
     the dbus-sender extension for thunderbird. 
     """
 
-    async = False
+    async = True
     output = None
 
     unread = set()
@@ -36,8 +37,14 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(object):
         dbus.mainloop.glib.threads_init()
         self.context = loop.get_context()
 
-    def tick(self):
-        self.context.iteration(False)
+        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.mainloop)
+        self.thread.daemon = True
+        self.thread.start()
+
+    def mainloop(self):
+        while True:
+            self.context.iteration(False)
+            time.sleep(1)
 
     def new_msg(self, id, author, subject):
         if id not in self.unread: