diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 707f7d93..dda3c635 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -107,26 +107,28 @@ get_config_path(void)
 }
 
 static bool
-str_to_color(const char *s, uint32_t *color, const char *path, int lineno)
+str_to_ulong(const char *s, int base, unsigned long *res)
 {
     if (s == NULL)
         return false;
 
     errno = 0;
     char *end = NULL;
-    unsigned long res = strtoul(s, &end, 16);
 
-    if (errno != 0) {
+    *res = strtoul(s, &end, base);
+    return errno == 0 && *end == '\0';
+}
+
+static bool
+str_to_color(const char *s, uint32_t *color, const char *path, int lineno)
+{
+    unsigned long value;
+    if (!str_to_ulong(s, 16, &value)) {
         LOG_ERRNO("%s:%d: invalid color: %s", path, lineno, s);
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (*end != '\0') {
-        LOG_ERR("%s:%d: invalid color: %s", path, lineno, s);
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    *color = res & 0xffffff;
+    *color = value & 0xffffff;
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -149,6 +151,15 @@ parse_section_main(const char *key, const char *value, struct config *conf,
         conf->font = strdup(value);
     }
 
+    else if (strcmp(key, "workers") == 0) {
+        unsigned long count;
+        if (!str_to_ulong(value, 10, &count)) {
+            LOG_ERR("%s:%d: expected an integer: %s", path, lineno, value);
+            return false;
+        }
+        conf->render_worker_count = count;
+    }
+
     else {
         LOG_WARN("%s:%u: invalid key: %s", path, lineno, key);
         return false;
@@ -427,6 +438,8 @@ config_load(struct config *conf)
                 .cursor = 0,
             },
         },
+
+        .render_worker_count = sysconf(_SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN),
     };
 
     char *path = get_config_path();
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 68d6f0a1..e965f142 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ struct config {
             uint32_t cursor;
         } color;
     } cursor;
+
+    size_t render_worker_count;
 };
 
 bool config_load(struct config *conf);
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 7d0fa355..0368c687 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 
 #include <sys/timerfd.h>
+#include <sys/sysinfo.h>
 
 #include <freetype/tttables.h>
-#include <cairo-ft.h>
 #include <wayland-client.h>
 #include <wayland-cursor.h>
 #include <xdg-shell.h>
@@ -388,8 +388,18 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
         .normal = {.damage = tll_init(), .scroll_damage = tll_init()},
         .alt = {.damage = tll_init(), .scroll_damage = tll_init()},
         .grid = &term.normal,
+        .render = {
+            .workers = {
+                .count = conf.render_worker_count,
+                .queue = tll_init(),
+            },
+        },
     };
 
+    LOG_INFO("using %zu rendering threads", term.render.workers.count);
+
+    struct render_worker_context worker_context[term.render.workers.count];
+
     /* Initialize 'current' colors from the default colors */
     term.colors.fg = term.colors.default_fg;
     term.colors.bg = term.colors.default_bg;
@@ -409,6 +419,18 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
     thrd_t keyboard_repeater_id;
     thrd_create(&keyboard_repeater_id, &keyboard_repeater, &term);
 
+    sem_init(&term.render.workers.start, 0, 0);
+    sem_init(&term.render.workers.done, 0, 0);
+    mtx_init(&term.render.workers.lock, mtx_plain);
+    cnd_init(&term.render.workers.cond);
+
+    term.render.workers.threads = calloc(term.render.workers.count, sizeof(term.render.workers.threads[0]));
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < term.render.workers.count; i++) {
+        worker_context[i].term = &term;
+        worker_context[i].my_id = 1 + i;
+        thrd_create(&term.render.workers.threads[i], &render_worker_thread, &worker_context[i]);
+    }
+
     if (!font_from_name(conf.font, &term.fonts[0]))
         goto out;
 
@@ -827,6 +849,15 @@ out:
     cnd_signal(&term.kbd.repeat.cond);
     mtx_unlock(&term.kbd.repeat.mutex);
 
+    mtx_lock(&term.render.workers.lock);
+    assert(tll_length(term.render.workers.queue) == 0);
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < term.render.workers.count; i++) {
+        sem_post(&term.render.workers.start);
+        tll_push_back(term.render.workers.queue, -2);
+    }
+    cnd_broadcast(&term.render.workers.cond);
+    mtx_unlock(&term.render.workers.lock);
+
     shm_fini();
     if (term.render.frame_callback != NULL)
         wl_callback_destroy(term.render.frame_callback);
@@ -910,6 +941,17 @@ out:
     thrd_join(keyboard_repeater_id, NULL);
     cnd_destroy(&term.kbd.repeat.cond);
     mtx_destroy(&term.kbd.repeat.mutex);
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < term.render.workers.count; i++)
+        thrd_join(term.render.workers.threads[i], NULL);
+    free(term.render.workers.threads);
+    cnd_destroy(&term.render.workers.cond);
+    mtx_destroy(&term.render.workers.lock);
+    sem_destroy(&term.render.workers.start);
+    sem_destroy(&term.render.workers.done);
+    assert(tll_length(term.render.workers.queue) == 0);
+    tll_free(term.render.workers.queue);
+
     close(term.kbd.repeat.pipe_read_fd);
     close(term.kbd.repeat.pipe_write_fd);
 
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index cf6c013e..123e5593 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -76,45 +76,52 @@ gseq_flush(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf)
 }
 
 static void
-draw_underline(const struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf,
+draw_underline(const struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, size_t buf_idx,
                const struct font *font, struct rgb color, double x, double y)
 {
     //const struct font *font = attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs);
     double baseline = y + term->fextents.height - term->fextents.descent;
     double width = font->underline.thickness;
     double y_under = baseline - font->underline.position - width / 2.;
+    cairo_t *cr = buf->cairo[buf_idx];
 
-    cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, color.r, color.g, color.b);
-    cairo_set_line_width(buf->cairo, width);
-    cairo_move_to(buf->cairo, x, round(y_under) + 0.5);
-    cairo_rel_line_to(buf->cairo, term->cell_width, 0);
-    cairo_stroke(buf->cairo);
+    cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
+    cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, color.r, color.g, color.b);
+    cairo_set_line_width(cr, width);
+    cairo_move_to(cr, x, round(y_under) + 0.5);
+    cairo_rel_line_to(cr, term->cell_width, 0);
+    cairo_stroke(cr);
 }
 
 static void
-draw_bar(const struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, struct rgb color,
-         double x, double y)
+draw_bar(const struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, size_t buf_idx,
+         struct rgb color, double x, double y)
 {
-    cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, color.r, color.g, color.b);
-    cairo_set_line_width(buf->cairo, 1.0);
-    cairo_move_to(buf->cairo, x + 0.5, y);
-    cairo_rel_line_to(buf->cairo, 0, term->cell_height);
-    cairo_stroke(buf->cairo);
+    cairo_t *cr = buf->cairo[buf_idx];
+
+    cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
+    cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, color.r, color.g, color.b);
+    cairo_set_line_width(cr, 1.0);
+    cairo_move_to(cr, x + 0.5, y);
+    cairo_rel_line_to(cr, 0, term->cell_height);
+    cairo_stroke(cr);
 }
 
 static void
-draw_strikeout(const struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf,
+draw_strikeout(const struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, size_t buf_idx,
                const struct font *font, struct rgb color, double x, double y)
 {
     double baseline = y + term->fextents.height - term->fextents.descent;
     double width = font->strikeout.thickness;
     double y_strike = baseline - font->strikeout.position - width / 2.;
+    cairo_t *cr = buf->cairo[buf_idx];
 
-    cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, color.r, color.g, color.b);
-    cairo_set_line_width(buf->cairo, width);
-    cairo_move_to(buf->cairo, x, round(y_strike) + 0.5);
-    cairo_rel_line_to(buf->cairo, term->cell_width, 0);
-    cairo_stroke(buf->cairo);
+    cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
+    cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, color.r, color.g, color.b);
+    cairo_set_line_width(cr, width);
+    cairo_move_to(cr, x, round(y_strike) + 0.5);
+    cairo_rel_line_to(cr, term->cell_width, 0);
+    cairo_stroke(cr);
 }
 
 static bool
@@ -166,9 +173,10 @@ arm_blink_timer(struct terminal *term)
 }
 
 static void
-render_cell(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, const struct cell *cell,
-            int col, int row, bool has_cursor)
+render_cell(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, size_t buf_idx,
+            const struct cell *cell, int col, int row, bool has_cursor)
 {
+    cairo_t *cr = buf->cairo[buf_idx];
     double width = term->cell_width;
     double height = term->cell_height;
     double x = col * width;
@@ -208,18 +216,19 @@ render_cell(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, const struct cell *cell,
     }
 
     /* Background */
-    cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, bg.r, bg.g, bg.b);
-    cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo, x, y, width, height);
-    cairo_fill(buf->cairo);
+    cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
+    cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, bg.r, bg.g, bg.b);
+    cairo_rectangle(cr, x, y, width, height);
+    cairo_fill(cr);
 
     /* Non-block cursors */
     if (has_cursor) {
         struct rgb cursor_color = color_hex_to_rgb(term->cursor_color.cursor);
         if (term->cursor_style == CURSOR_BAR)
-            draw_bar(term, buf, cursor_color, x, y);
+            draw_bar(term, buf, buf_idx, cursor_color, x, y);
         else if (term->cursor_style == CURSOR_UNDERLINE)
             draw_underline(
-                term, buf, attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs), cursor_color, x, y);
+                term, buf, buf_idx, attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs), cursor_color, x, y);
     }
 
     if (cell->attrs.blink && !term->blink.active) {
@@ -232,10 +241,10 @@ render_cell(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, const struct cell *cell,
 
     /* Underline */
     if (cell->attrs.underline)
-        draw_underline(term, buf, attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs), fg, x, y);
+        draw_underline(term, buf, buf_idx, attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs), fg, x, y);
 
     if (cell->attrs.strikethrough)
-        draw_strikeout(term, buf, attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs), fg, x, y);
+        draw_strikeout(term, buf, buf_idx, attrs_to_font(term, &cell->attrs), fg, x, y);
 
     /*
      * cairo_show_glyphs() apparently works *much* faster when
@@ -268,15 +277,25 @@ render_cell(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, const struct cell *cell,
 
     struct glyph _glyph;
     if (glyph == NULL) {
-        if (!font_glyph_for_utf8(font, cell->c, &_glyph))
+        if (!font_glyph_for_utf8(font, cell->c, &_glyph)) {
+            LOG_ERR("FAILED: %.4s", cell->c);
             return;
+        }
         glyph = &_glyph;
     }
 
     assert(glyph != NULL);
-    cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, fg.r, fg.g, fg.b);
-    cairo_set_operator(buf->cairo, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
-    cairo_mask_surface(buf->cairo, glyph->surf, x + glyph->left, y + term->fextents.ascent - glyph->top);
+    cairo_set_operator(cr, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
+    cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, fg.r, fg.g, fg.b);
+
+#if 0
+    cairo_surface_t *surf = cairo_image_surface_create_for_data(
+        glyph->data, glyph->format, glyph->width, glyph->height, glyph->stride);
+    cairo_mask_surface(cr, surf, x + glyph->left, y + term->fextents.ascent - glyph->top);
+    cairo_surface_destroy(surf);
+#else
+    cairo_mask_surface(cr, glyph->surf, x + glyph->left, y + term->fextents.ascent - glyph->top);
+#endif
 
     if (glyph == &_glyph) {
         cairo_surface_destroy(_glyph.surf);
@@ -303,11 +322,11 @@ grid_render_scroll(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf,
             buf->size);
 
     if (height > 0) {
-        cairo_surface_flush(buf->cairo_surface);
-        uint8_t *raw = cairo_image_surface_get_data(buf->cairo_surface);
+        cairo_surface_flush(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
+        uint8_t *raw = cairo_image_surface_get_data(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
 
         memmove(raw + dst_y * stride, raw + src_y * stride, height * stride);
-        cairo_surface_mark_dirty(buf->cairo_surface);
+        cairo_surface_mark_dirty(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
 
         wl_surface_damage_buffer(term->wl.surface, 0, dst_y, width, height);
     }
@@ -332,26 +351,74 @@ grid_render_scroll_reverse(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf,
             buf->size);
 
     if (height > 0) {
-        cairo_surface_flush(buf->cairo_surface);
-        uint8_t *raw = cairo_image_surface_get_data(buf->cairo_surface);
+        cairo_surface_flush(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
+        uint8_t *raw = cairo_image_surface_get_data(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
 
         memmove(raw + dst_y * stride, raw + src_y * stride, height * stride);
-        cairo_surface_mark_dirty(buf->cairo_surface);
+        cairo_surface_mark_dirty(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
 
         wl_surface_damage_buffer(term->wl.surface, 0, dst_y, width, height);
     }
 }
 
 static void
-render_row(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, struct row *row, int row_no)
+render_row(struct terminal *term, struct buffer *buf, size_t buf_idx, struct row *row, int row_no)
 {
     for (int col = 0; col < term->cols; col++)
-        render_cell(term, buf, &row->cells[col], col, row_no, false);
+        render_cell(term, buf, buf_idx, &row->cells[col], col, row_no, false);
 
+#if 0
     wl_surface_damage_buffer(
         term->wl.surface,
         0, row_no * term->cell_height,
         term->width, term->cell_height);
+#endif
+}
+
+int
+render_worker_thread(void *_ctx)
+{
+    struct render_worker_context *ctx = _ctx;
+    struct terminal *term = ctx->term;
+    const int my_id = ctx->my_id;
+
+    sem_t *start = &term->render.workers.start;
+    sem_t *done = &term->render.workers.done;
+    mtx_t *lock = &term->render.workers.lock;
+    cnd_t *cond = &term->render.workers.cond;
+
+    while (true) {
+        sem_wait(start);
+
+        struct buffer *buf = term->render.workers.buf;
+        bool frame_done = false;
+
+        while (!frame_done) {
+            mtx_lock(lock);
+            while (tll_length(term->render.workers.queue) == 0)
+                cnd_wait(cond, lock);
+
+            int row_no = tll_pop_front(term->render.workers.queue);
+            mtx_unlock(lock);
+
+            switch (row_no) {
+            default:
+                assert(buf != NULL);
+                render_row(term, buf, my_id, grid_row_in_view(term->grid, row_no), row_no);
+                break;
+
+            case -1:
+                frame_done = true;
+                sem_post(done);
+                break;
+
+            case -2:
+                return 0;
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    return -1;
 }
 
 static void frame_callback(
@@ -374,8 +441,8 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
     assert(term->width > 0);
     assert(term->height > 0);
 
-    struct buffer *buf = shm_get_buffer(term->wl.shm, term->width, term->height);
-    cairo_set_operator(buf->cairo, CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
+    struct buffer *buf = shm_get_buffer(term->wl.shm, term->width, term->height, 1 + term->render.workers.count);
+    cairo_set_operator(buf->cairo[0], CAIRO_OPERATOR_SOURCE);
 
     gseq.g = gseq.glyphs;
     gseq.count = 0;
@@ -385,7 +452,7 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
     /* Erase old cursor (if we rendered a cursor last time) */
     if (term->render.last_cursor.cell != NULL) {
         render_cell(
-            term, buf,
+            term, buf, 0,
             term->render.last_cursor.cell,
             term->render.last_cursor.in_view.col,
             term->render.last_cursor.in_view.row, false);
@@ -424,11 +491,11 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
 
         uint32_t _bg = !term->reverse ? term->colors.bg : term->colors.fg;
         struct rgb bg = color_hex_to_rgb(_bg);
-        cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo, bg.r, bg.g, bg.b);
+        cairo_set_source_rgb(buf->cairo[0], bg.r, bg.g, bg.b);
 
-        cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo, rmargin, 0, rmargin_width, term->height);
-        cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo, 0, bmargin, term->width, bmargin_height);
-        cairo_fill(buf->cairo);
+        cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo[0], rmargin, 0, rmargin_width, term->height);
+        cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo[0], 0, bmargin, term->width, bmargin_height);
+        cairo_fill(buf->cairo[0]);
 
         wl_surface_damage_buffer(
             term->wl.surface, rmargin, 0, rmargin_width, term->height);
@@ -456,20 +523,38 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
         tll_remove(term->grid->scroll_damage, it);
     }
 
+    term->render.workers.buf = buf;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < term->render.workers.count; i++)
+        sem_post(&term->render.workers.start);
+
+    assert(tll_length(term->render.workers.queue) == 0);
+
     for (int r = 0; r < term->rows; r++) {
         struct row *row = grid_row_in_view(term->grid, r);
 
         if (!row->dirty)
             continue;
 
-        //LOG_WARN("rendering line: %d", r);
+        mtx_lock(&term->render.workers.lock);
+        tll_push_back(term->render.workers.queue, r);
+        cnd_signal(&term->render.workers.cond);
+        mtx_unlock(&term->render.workers.lock);
 
         row->dirty = false;
         all_clean = false;
 
-        render_row(term, buf, row, r);
+        wl_surface_damage_buffer(
+            term->wl.surface,
+            0, r * term->cell_height,
+            term->width, term->cell_height);
     }
 
+    mtx_lock(&term->render.workers.lock);
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < term->render.workers.count; i++)
+        tll_push_back(term->render.workers.queue, -1);
+    cnd_broadcast(&term->render.workers.cond);
+    mtx_unlock(&term->render.workers.lock);
+
     if (term->blink.active) {
         /* Check if there are still any visible blinking cells */
         bool none_is_blinking = true;
@@ -516,6 +601,10 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
             cursor_is_visible = true;
     }
 
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < term->render.workers.count; i++)
+        sem_wait(&term->render.workers.done);
+    term->render.workers.buf = NULL;
+
     if (cursor_is_visible && !term->hide_cursor) {
         /* Remember cursor coordinates so that we can erase it next
          * time. Note that we need to re-align it against the view. */
@@ -531,7 +620,7 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
 
         term->render.last_cursor.cell = &row->cells[term->cursor.col];
         render_cell(
-            term, buf, term->render.last_cursor.cell,
+            term, buf, 0, term->render.last_cursor.cell,
             term->cursor.col, view_aligned_row, true);
 
         wl_surface_damage_buffer(
@@ -549,10 +638,10 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
     }
 
     if (term->flash.active) {
-        cairo_set_source_rgba(buf->cairo, 1.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.5);
-        cairo_set_operator(buf->cairo, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
-        cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo, 0, 0, term->width, term->height);
-        cairo_fill(buf->cairo);
+        cairo_set_source_rgba(buf->cairo[0], 1.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.5);
+        cairo_set_operator(buf->cairo[0], CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
+        cairo_rectangle(buf->cairo[0], 0, 0, term->width, term->height);
+        cairo_fill(buf->cairo[0]);
 
         wl_surface_damage_buffer(
             term->wl.surface, 0, 0, term->width, term->height);
@@ -561,7 +650,7 @@ grid_render(struct terminal *term)
     assert(term->grid->offset >= 0 && term->grid->offset < term->grid->num_rows);
     assert(term->grid->view >= 0 && term->grid->view < term->grid->num_rows);
 
-    cairo_surface_flush(buf->cairo_surface);
+    cairo_surface_flush(buf->cairo_surface[0]);
     wl_surface_attach(term->wl.surface, buf->wl_buf, 0, 0);
 
     assert(term->render.frame_callback == NULL);
diff --git a/render.h b/render.h
index fd923e7d..0b7a40ca 100644
--- a/render.h
+++ b/render.h
@@ -10,3 +10,9 @@ void render_resize(struct terminal *term, int width, int height);
 void render_set_title(struct terminal *term, const char *title);
 void render_update_cursor_surface(struct terminal *term);
 void render_refresh(struct terminal *term);
+
+struct render_worker_context {
+    int my_id;
+    struct terminal *term;
+};
+int render_worker_thread(void *_ctx);
diff --git a/shm.c b/shm.c
index dd85ef3f..ca078544 100644
--- a/shm.c
+++ b/shm.c
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ static const struct wl_buffer_listener buffer_listener = {
 };
 
 struct buffer *
-shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height)
+shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height, size_t copies)
 {
+    assert(copies >= 1);
+
     tll_foreach(buffers, it) {
         if (it->item.width != width || it->item.height != height)
             continue;
@@ -57,8 +59,8 @@ shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height)
     struct wl_shm_pool *pool = NULL;
     struct wl_buffer *buf = NULL;
 
-    cairo_surface_t *cairo_surface = NULL;
-    cairo_t *cairo = NULL;
+    cairo_surface_t **cairo_surface = NULL;
+    cairo_t **cairo = NULL;
 
     /* Backing memory for SHM */
     pool_fd = memfd_create("f00sel-wayland-shm-buffer-pool", MFD_CLOEXEC);
@@ -99,19 +101,25 @@ shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height)
     close(pool_fd); pool_fd = -1;
 
     /* Create a cairo surface around the mmapped memory */
-    cairo_surface = cairo_image_surface_create_for_data(
-        mmapped, CAIRO_FORMAT_ARGB32, width, height, stride);
-    if (cairo_surface_status(cairo_surface) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
-        LOG_ERR("failed to create cairo surface: %s",
-                cairo_status_to_string(cairo_surface_status(cairo_surface)));
-        goto err;
-    }
+    cairo_surface = calloc(copies, sizeof(cairo_surface[0]));
+    cairo = calloc(copies, sizeof(cairo[0]));
 
-    cairo = cairo_create(cairo_surface);
-    if (cairo_status(cairo) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
-        LOG_ERR("failed to create cairo context: %s",
-                cairo_status_to_string(cairo_status(cairo)));
-        goto err;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < copies; i++) {
+        cairo_surface[i] = cairo_image_surface_create_for_data(
+            mmapped, CAIRO_FORMAT_ARGB32, width, height, stride);
+
+        if (cairo_surface_status(cairo_surface[i]) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+            LOG_ERR("failed to create cairo surface: %s",
+                    cairo_status_to_string(cairo_surface_status(cairo_surface[i])));
+            goto err;
+        }
+
+        cairo[i] = cairo_create(cairo_surface[i]);
+        if (cairo_status(cairo[i]) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+            LOG_ERR("failed to create cairo context: %s",
+                    cairo_status_to_string(cairo_status(cairo[i])));
+            goto err;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Push to list of available buffers, but marked as 'busy' */
@@ -124,6 +132,7 @@ shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height)
             .size = size,
             .mmapped = mmapped,
             .wl_buf = buf,
+            .copies = copies,
             .cairo_surface = cairo_surface,
             .cairo = cairo}
             )
@@ -134,10 +143,18 @@ shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height)
     return ret;
 
 err:
-    if (cairo != NULL)
-        cairo_destroy(cairo);
-    if (cairo_surface != NULL)
-        cairo_surface_destroy(cairo_surface);
+    if (cairo != NULL) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < copies; i++)
+            if (cairo[i] != NULL)
+                cairo_destroy(cairo[i]);
+        free(cairo);
+    }
+    if (cairo_surface != NULL) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < copies; i++)
+            if (cairo_surface[i] != NULL)
+                cairo_surface_destroy(cairo_surface[i]);
+        free(cairo_surface);
+    }
     if (buf != NULL)
         wl_buffer_destroy(buf);
     if (pool != NULL)
@@ -156,8 +173,18 @@ shm_fini(void)
     tll_foreach(buffers, it) {
         struct buffer *buf = &it->item;
 
-        cairo_destroy(buf->cairo);
-        cairo_surface_destroy(buf->cairo_surface);
+        if (buf->cairo != NULL) {
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < buf->copies; i++)
+                if (buf->cairo[i] != NULL)
+                    cairo_destroy(buf->cairo[i]);
+            free(buf->cairo);
+        }
+        if (buf->cairo_surface != NULL) {
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < buf->copies; i++)
+                if (buf->cairo_surface[i] != NULL)
+                    cairo_surface_destroy(buf->cairo_surface[i]);
+            free(buf->cairo_surface);
+        }
         wl_buffer_destroy(buf->wl_buf);
         munmap(buf->mmapped, buf->size);
 
diff --git a/shm.h b/shm.h
index 35360db6..9982cb8d 100644
--- a/shm.h
+++ b/shm.h
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@ struct buffer {
 
     struct wl_buffer *wl_buf;
 
-    cairo_surface_t *cairo_surface;
-    cairo_t *cairo;
+    size_t copies;
+    cairo_surface_t **cairo_surface;
+    cairo_t **cairo;
 };
 
-struct buffer *shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height);
+struct buffer *shm_get_buffer(struct wl_shm *shm, int width, int height, size_t copies);
 void shm_fini(void);
diff --git a/terminal.h b/terminal.h
index 86b92d17..de359576 100644
--- a/terminal.h
+++ b/terminal.h
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@
 #include <stddef.h>
 
 #include <threads.h>
+#include <semaphore.h>
 
 #include <ft2build.h>
 #include FT_FREETYPE_H
+#include FT_LCD_FILTER_H
 
 #include <cairo.h>
 #include <wayland-client.h>
@@ -211,6 +213,11 @@ struct glyph {
     cairo_surface_t *surf;
     int left;
     int top;
+
+    int format;
+    int width;
+    int height;
+    int stride;
 };
 
 struct font {
@@ -341,6 +348,17 @@ struct terminal {
     struct {
         struct wl_callback *frame_callback;
 
+        struct {
+            size_t count;
+            sem_t start;
+            sem_t done;
+            cnd_t cond;
+            mtx_t lock;
+            tll(int) queue;
+            thrd_t *threads;
+            struct buffer *buf;
+        } workers;
+
         /* Last rendered cursor position */
         struct {
             struct coord actual;     /* Absolute */