diff --git a/PAMmodule.c b/PAMmodule.c
index 65a2797..bd9b2e4 100644
--- a/PAMmodule.c
+++ b/PAMmodule.c
@@ -179,7 +179,9 @@ static PyObject * PyPAM_authenticate(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         return NULL;
     }
     
+    Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
     result = pam_authenticate(_self->pamh, flags);
+    Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
     
     if (result != PAM_SUCCESS) {
         PyPAM_Err(_self, result);
@@ -223,7 +225,9 @@ static PyObject * PyPAM_acct_mgmt(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
         return NULL;
     }
     
+    Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
     result = pam_acct_mgmt(_self->pamh, flags);
+    Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
     
     if (result != PAM_SUCCESS) {
         PyPAM_Err(_self, result);
@@ -308,6 +312,7 @@ static PyObject * PyPAM_set_item(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     PyObject            *o_val;
     PyPAMObject         *_self = (PyPAMObject *) self;
     
+    Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
     if (PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "is", &item, &s_val)) {
         n_val = strdup(s_val);
         if (item == PAM_USER) _self->user = n_val;
@@ -332,6 +337,7 @@ static PyObject * PyPAM_set_item(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
             return NULL;
         }
     }
+    Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
 
     if (result != PAM_SUCCESS) {
         PyPAM_Err(_self, result);