diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bbdf73a..c38dccb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,6 +7,27 @@ To simply run the server, the command is as follows
 $ ./relay
 ```
 
+To learn about any other tasks, the `--help` flag can be passed
+```bash
+$ ./relay --help
+relay 0.1.0
+An activitypub relay
+
+USAGE:
+    relay [FLAGS] [OPTIONS]
+
+FLAGS:
+    -h, --help         Prints help information
+    -j, --jobs-only    Only process background jobs, do not start the relay server
+    -n, --no-jobs      Only run the relay server, do not process background jobs
+    -u, --undo         Undo whitelisting or blocking domains
+    -V, --version      Prints version information
+
+OPTIONS:
+    -b <blocks>...            A list of domains that should be blocked
+    -w <whitelists>...        A list of domains that should be whitelisted
+```
+
 To add domains to the blocklist, use the `-b` flag and pass a list of domains
 ```bash
 $ ./relay -b asonix.dog blimps.xyz
@@ -22,7 +43,12 @@ $ ./relay -uw asonix.dog blimps.xyz
 ```
 
 Whitelisted domains are only checked against incoming activities if `WHITELIST_MODE` is enabled.
-Blocks can be published in the nodeinfo metadata by settings `PUBLISH_BLOCKS` to true
+Blocks can be published in the nodeinfo metadata by setting `PUBLISH_BLOCKS` to true
+
+For advanced setups, it may be useful to run the relay API and the background tasks in separate
+processes, possibly on separate hosts. The `-j` and `-n` flags have been provided for this purpose.
+By passing `-n`, a relay can be spawned that handles no deliveries. By passing `-j`, a relay will
+not be spawned, but any deliveries existing in the database will be processed.
 
 ### Subscribing
 Mastodon admins can subscribe to this relay by adding the `/inbox` route to their relay settings.
diff --git a/src/args.rs b/src/args.rs
index 25c8dc9..952cd7a 100644
--- a/src/args.rs
+++ b/src/args.rs
@@ -9,8 +9,22 @@ pub struct Args {
     #[structopt(short, help = "A list of domains that should be whitelisted")]
     whitelists: Vec<String>,
 
-    #[structopt(short, help = "Undo whitelisting or blocking these domains")]
+    #[structopt(short, long, help = "Undo whitelisting or blocking domains")]
     undo: bool,
+
+    #[structopt(
+        short,
+        long,
+        help = "Only process background jobs, do not start the relay server"
+    )]
+    jobs_only: bool,
+
+    #[structopt(
+        short,
+        long,
+        help = "Only run the relay server, do not process background jobs"
+    )]
+    no_jobs: bool,
 }
 
 impl Args {
@@ -29,4 +43,12 @@ impl Args {
     pub fn undo(&self) -> bool {
         self.undo
     }
+
+    pub fn jobs_only(&self) -> bool {
+        self.jobs_only
+    }
+
+    pub fn no_jobs(&self) -> bool {
+        self.no_jobs
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index a9e8bf0..169d515 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use actix::Arbiter;
 use actix_web::{
     http::header::{ContentType, Expires},
     middleware::Logger,
@@ -92,6 +93,12 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), anyhow::Error> {
 
     let args = Args::new();
 
+    if args.jobs_only() && args.no_jobs() {
+        return Err(anyhow::Error::msg(
+            "Either the server or the jobs must be run",
+        ));
+    }
+
     if !args.blocks().is_empty() || !args.whitelists().is_empty() {
         if args.undo() {
             db.remove_blocks(args.blocks()).await?;
@@ -110,9 +117,26 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), anyhow::Error> {
 
     let job_server = create_server(db.clone());
 
+    if args.jobs_only() {
+        for _ in 0..num_cpus::get() {
+            let state = state.clone();
+            let job_server = job_server.clone();
+
+            Arbiter::new().exec_fn(move || {
+                create_workers(state, job_server);
+            });
+        }
+        actix_rt::signal::ctrl_c().await?;
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    let no_jobs = args.no_jobs();
+
     let bind_address = config.bind_address();
     HttpServer::new(move || {
-        create_workers(state.clone(), job_server.clone());
+        if !no_jobs {
+            create_workers(state.clone(), job_server.clone());
+        }
 
         App::new()
             .wrap(Logger::default())
diff --git a/src/notify.rs b/src/notify.rs
index 6db4ec6..e2f5da1 100644
--- a/src/notify.rs
+++ b/src/notify.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use futures::{
 use log::{debug, error, info, warn};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-async fn handle_notification(state: &State, notif: Notification) {
+async fn handle_notification(state: State, notif: Notification) {
     match notif.channel() {
         "new_blocks" => {
             info!("Caching block of {}", notif.payload());
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ pub fn spawn(state: State, config: &crate::config::Config) -> Result<(), MyError
             });
 
             while let Some(n) = stream.next().await {
-                handle_notification(&state, n).await;
+                actix::spawn(handle_notification(state.clone(), n));
             }
 
             drop(client);