diff --git a/src/ssb.js.c b/src/ssb.js.c
index 417fe72c..3cdc970e 100644
--- a/src/ssb.js.c
+++ b/src/ssb.js.c
@@ -1529,7 +1529,9 @@ typedef struct _following_t
 static void _tf_ssb_following_work(uv_work_t* work)
 {
 	following_t* following = work->data;
+	tf_ssb_record_thread_busy(following->ssb, true);
 	following->out_following = tf_ssb_db_following_deep(following->ssb, following->ids, following->ids_count, following->depth);
+	tf_ssb_record_thread_busy(following->ssb, false);
 }
 
 static void _tf_ssb_following_after_work(uv_work_t* work, int status)