diff --git a/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py b/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py
index c065c0b..b00dae4 100644
--- a/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py
+++ b/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import json
 import urllib.parse, urllib.request
 import base64
 from doreah.logging import log
+from threading import Semaphore
 
 from ..globalconf import malojaconfig
 from .. import database
@@ -22,6 +23,11 @@ services = {
 	"metadata":[]
 }
 
+# have a limited number of worker threads so we don't completely hog the cpu with
+# these requests. they are mostly network bound, so python will happily open up 200 new
+# requests and then when all the responses come in we suddenly can't load pages anymore
+thirdpartylock = Semaphore(4)
+
 
 def import_scrobbles(identifier):
 	for service in services['import']:
@@ -34,27 +40,29 @@ def proxy_scrobble_all(artists,title,timestamp):
 		service.scrobble(artists,title,timestamp)
 
 def get_image_track_all(track):
-	for service in services["metadata"]:
-		try:
-			res = service.get_image_track(track)
-			if res is not None:
-				log("Got track image for " + str(track) + " from " + service.name)
-				return res
-			else:
-				log("Could not get track image for " + str(track) + " from " + service.name)
-		except Exception as e:
-			log("Error getting track image from " + service.name + ": " + repr(e))
+	with thirdpartylock:
+		for service in services["metadata"]:
+			try:
+				res = service.get_image_track(track)
+				if res is not None:
+					log("Got track image for " + str(track) + " from " + service.name)
+					return res
+				else:
+					log("Could not get track image for " + str(track) + " from " + service.name)
+			except Exception as e:
+				log("Error getting track image from " + service.name + ": " + repr(e))
 def get_image_artist_all(artist):
-	for service in services["metadata"]:
-		try:
-			res = service.get_image_artist(artist)
-			if res is not None:
-				log("Got artist image for " + str(artist) + " from " + service.name)
-				return res
-			else:
-				log("Could not get artist image for " + str(artist) + " from " + service.name)
-		except Exception as e:
-			log("Error getting artist image from " + service.name + ": " + repr(e))
+	with thirdpartylock:
+		for service in services["metadata"]:
+			try:
+				res = service.get_image_artist(artist)
+				if res is not None:
+					log("Got artist image for " + str(artist) + " from " + service.name)
+					return res
+				else:
+					log("Could not get artist image for " + str(artist) + " from " + service.name)
+			except Exception as e:
+				log("Error getting artist image from " + service.name + ": " + repr(e))