diff --git a/autojump b/autojump
index 04bb856..5542697 100755
--- a/autojump
+++ b/autojump
@@ -66,9 +66,13 @@ try:
 except IOError:
     path_dict={}
 
-if ('-a','') in optlist:
-    dicadd(path_dict,args[-1])
-    save(path_dict,dic_file)
+if ('-a','') in optlist: #this can be done in the background
+    os.nice(10)
+    pid=os.fork()
+    if not pid:
+        os.setsid()
+        dicadd(path_dict,args[-1])
+        save(path_dict,dic_file)
 elif ('--stat','') in optlist:
     a=path_dict.items()
     a.sort(key=lambda e:e[1])