diff --git a/dispatcher/factories.py b/dispatcher/factories.py
index 64116717..ae9ddb2c 100644
--- a/dispatcher/factories.py
+++ b/dispatcher/factories.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import inspect
 from copy import deepcopy
-from typing import Iterable, Optional, Type, get_args, get_origin
+from typing import Iterable, Literal, Optional, Type, get_args, get_origin
 
 from . import producers
 from .brokers import get_broker
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
 from .config import LazySettings
 from .config import settings as global_settings
 from .control import Control
+from .service import process
 from .service.main import DispatcherMain
 from .service.pool import WorkerPool
-from .service.process import ProcessManager
 
 """
 Creates objects from settings,
@@ -21,10 +21,16 @@
 # ---- Service objects ----
 
 
+def process_manager_from_settings(settings: LazySettings = global_settings):
+    cls_name = settings.service.get('process_manager_cls', 'ForkServerManager')
+    process_manager_cls = getattr(process, cls_name)
+    return process_manager_cls()
+
+
 def pool_from_settings(settings: LazySettings = global_settings):
     kwargs = settings.service.get('pool_kwargs', {}).copy()
     kwargs['settings'] = settings
-    kwargs['process_manager'] = ProcessManager()  # TODO: use process_manager_cls from settings
+    kwargs['process_manager'] = process_manager_from_settings(settings=settings)
     return WorkerPool(**kwargs)
 
 
@@ -119,6 +125,11 @@ def generate_settings_schema(settings: LazySettings = global_settings) -> dict:
     ret = deepcopy(settings.serialize())
 
     ret['service']['pool_kwargs'] = schema_for_cls(WorkerPool)
+    ret['service']['process_manager_kwargs'] = {}
+    pm_classes = (process.ProcessManager, process.ForkServerManager)
+    for pm_cls in pm_classes:
+        ret['service']['process_manager_kwargs'].update(schema_for_cls(pm_cls))
+    ret['service']['process_manager_cls'] = str(Literal[tuple(pm_cls.__name__ for pm_cls in pm_classes)])
 
     for broker_name, broker_kwargs in settings.brokers.items():
         broker = get_broker(broker_name, broker_kwargs)
diff --git a/dispatcher/service/pool.py b/dispatcher/service/pool.py
index 94444047..ff1f59a8 100644
--- a/dispatcher/service/pool.py
+++ b/dispatcher/service/pool.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         self.work_cleared: asyncio.Event = asyncio.Event()  # Totally quiet, no blocked or queued messages, no busy workers
         self.management_event: asyncio.Event = asyncio.Event()  # Process spawning is backgrounded, so this is the kicker
         self.timeout_event: asyncio.Event = asyncio.Event()  # Anything that might affect the timeout watcher task
+        self.workers_ready: asyncio.Event = asyncio.Event()  # min workers have started and sent ready message
 
 
 class WorkerPool:
@@ -399,6 +400,8 @@ async def read_results_forever(self) -> None:
 
             if event == 'ready':
                 worker.status = 'ready'
+                if all(worker.status == 'ready' for worker in self.workers.values()):
+                    self.events.workers_ready.set()
                 await self.drain_queue()
 
             elif event == 'shutdown':
diff --git a/dispatcher/service/process.py b/dispatcher/service/process.py
index 868d6227..fec72f1d 100644
--- a/dispatcher/service/process.py
+++ b/dispatcher/service/process.py
@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
 import asyncio
 import multiprocessing
+from multiprocessing.context import BaseContext
+from types import ModuleType
 from typing import Callable, Iterable, Optional, Union
 
 from ..worker.task import work_loop
 
 
 class ProcessProxy:
-    def __init__(self, args: Iterable, finished_queue: multiprocessing.Queue, target: Callable = work_loop) -> None:
-        self.message_queue: multiprocessing.Queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
-        self._process = multiprocessing.Process(target=target, args=tuple(args) + (self.message_queue, finished_queue))
+    def __init__(
+        self, args: Iterable, finished_queue: multiprocessing.Queue, target: Callable = work_loop, ctx: Union[BaseContext, ModuleType] = multiprocessing
+    ) -> None:
+        self.message_queue: multiprocessing.Queue = ctx.Queue()
+        # This is intended use of multiprocessing context, but not available on BaseContext
+        self._process = ctx.Process(target=target, args=tuple(args) + (self.message_queue, finished_queue))  # type: ignore
 
     def start(self) -> None:
         self._process.start()
@@ -37,8 +42,11 @@ def terminate(self) -> None:
 
 
 class ProcessManager:
+    mp_context = 'fork'
+
     def __init__(self) -> None:
-        self.finished_queue: multiprocessing.Queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
+        self.ctx = multiprocessing.get_context(self.mp_context)
+        self.finished_queue: multiprocessing.Queue = self.ctx.Queue()
         self._loop = None
 
     def get_event_loop(self):
@@ -47,8 +55,16 @@ def get_event_loop(self):
         return self._loop
 
     def create_process(self, args: Iterable[int | str | dict], **kwargs) -> ProcessProxy:
-        return ProcessProxy(args, self.finished_queue, **kwargs)
+        return ProcessProxy(args, self.finished_queue, ctx=self.ctx, **kwargs)
 
     async def read_finished(self) -> dict[str, Union[str, int]]:
         message = await self.get_event_loop().run_in_executor(None, self.finished_queue.get)
         return message
+
+
+class ForkServerManager(ProcessManager):
+    mp_context = 'forkserver'
+
+    def __init__(self, preload_modules: Optional[list[str]] = None):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.ctx.set_forkserver_preload(preload_modules if preload_modules else [])
diff --git a/schema.json b/schema.json
index c4630614..b7015b53 100644
--- a/schema.json
+++ b/schema.json
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@
   "service": {
     "pool_kwargs": {
       "max_workers": "<class 'int'>"
-    }
+    },
+    "process_manager_kwargs": {
+      "preload_modules": "typing.Optional[list[str]]"
+    },
+    "process_manager_cls": "typing.Literal['ProcessManager', 'ForkServerManager']"
   },
   "publish": {
     "default_broker": "str"
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 6e003494..a864dc43 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from dispatcher.service.main import DispatcherMain
 from dispatcher.control import Control
 
-from dispatcher.brokers.pg_notify import Broker, create_connection, acreate_connection
+from dispatcher.brokers.pg_notify import Broker, acreate_connection, connection_save
 from dispatcher.registry import DispatcherMethodRegistry
 from dispatcher.config import DispatcherSettings
 from dispatcher.factories import from_settings, get_control_from_settings
@@ -56,6 +56,21 @@ async def aconnection_for_test():
             await conn.close()
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def clear_connection():
+    """Always close connections between tests
+
+    Tests will do a lot of unthoughtful forking, and connections can not
+    be shared accross processes.
+    """
+    if connection_save._connection:
+        connection_save._connection.close()
+        connection_save._connection = None
+    if connection_save._async_connection:
+        connection_save._async_connection.close()
+        connection_save._async_connection = None
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def conn_config():
     return {'conninfo': CONNECTION_STRING}
@@ -73,18 +88,28 @@ def pg_dispatcher() -> DispatcherMain:
 def test_settings():
     return DispatcherSettings(BASIC_CONFIG)
 
-
-@pytest_asyncio.fixture(loop_scope="function", scope="function")
-async def apg_dispatcher(test_settings) -> AsyncIterator[DispatcherMain]:
+@pytest_asyncio.fixture(
+    loop_scope="function",
+    scope="function",
+    params=['ProcessManager', 'ForkServerManager'],
+    ids=["fork", "forkserver"],
+)
+async def apg_dispatcher(request) -> AsyncIterator[DispatcherMain]:
     dispatcher = None
     try:
-        dispatcher = from_settings(settings=test_settings)
+        this_test_config = BASIC_CONFIG.copy()
+        this_test_config.setdefault('service', {})
+        this_test_config['service']['process_manager_cls'] = request.param
+        this_settings = DispatcherSettings(this_test_config)
+        dispatcher = from_settings(settings=this_settings)
 
         await dispatcher.connect_signals()
         await dispatcher.start_working()
         await dispatcher.wait_for_producers_ready()
+        await dispatcher.pool.events.workers_ready.wait()
 
         assert dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0  # sanity
+        assert dispatcher.control_count == 0
 
         yield dispatcher
     finally:
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_main.py b/tests/integration/test_main.py
index ae8c649b..93677a6d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_main.py
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ async def wait_to_receive(dispatcher, ct, timeout=5.0, interval=0.05):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_run_lambda_function(apg_dispatcher, pg_message):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     clearing_task = asyncio.create_task(apg_dispatcher.pool.events.work_cleared.wait(), name='test_lambda_clear_wait')
     await pg_message('lambda: "This worked!"')
     await asyncio.wait_for(clearing_task, timeout=3)
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ async def test_cancel_task(apg_dispatcher, pg_message, pg_control):
     await pg_message(msg)
 
     clearing_task = asyncio.create_task(apg_dispatcher.pool.events.work_cleared.wait())
-    await asyncio.sleep(0.04)
+    await asyncio.sleep(0.2)
     canceled_jobs = await asyncio.wait_for(pg_control.acontrol_with_reply('cancel', data={'uuid': 'foobar'}, timeout=1), timeout=5)
     worker_id, canceled_message = canceled_jobs[0][0]
     assert canceled_message['uuid'] == 'foobar'
@@ -125,8 +123,6 @@ async def test_message_with_delay(apg_dispatcher, pg_message, pg_control):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_cancel_delayed_task(apg_dispatcher, pg_message, pg_control):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     # Send message to run task with a delay
     msg = json.dumps({'task': 'lambda: print("This task should be canceled before start")', 'uuid': 'delay_task_will_cancel', 'delay': 0.8})
     await pg_message(msg)
@@ -146,8 +142,6 @@ async def test_cancel_delayed_task(apg_dispatcher, pg_message, pg_control):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_cancel_with_no_reply(apg_dispatcher, pg_message, pg_control):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     # Send message to run task with a delay
     msg = json.dumps({'task': 'lambda: print("This task should be canceled before start")', 'uuid': 'delay_task_will_cancel', 'delay': 2.0})
     await pg_message(msg)
@@ -164,8 +158,6 @@ async def test_cancel_with_no_reply(apg_dispatcher, pg_message, pg_control):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_alive_check(apg_dispatcher, pg_control):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.control_count == 0
-
     alive = await asyncio.wait_for(pg_control.acontrol_with_reply('alive', timeout=1), timeout=5)
     assert alive == [None]
 
@@ -174,8 +166,6 @@ async def test_alive_check(apg_dispatcher, pg_control):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_task_discard(apg_dispatcher, pg_message):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     messages = [
         json.dumps(
             {'task': 'lambda: __import__("time").sleep(9)', 'on_duplicate': 'discard', 'uuid': f'dscd-{i}'}
@@ -192,8 +182,6 @@ async def test_task_discard(apg_dispatcher, pg_message):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_task_discard_in_task_definition(apg_dispatcher, test_settings):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     for i in range(10):
         test_methods.sleep_discard.apply_async(args=[2], settings=test_settings)
 
@@ -205,8 +193,6 @@ async def test_task_discard_in_task_definition(apg_dispatcher, test_settings):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_tasks_in_serial(apg_dispatcher, test_settings):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     for i in range(10):
         test_methods.sleep_serial.apply_async(args=[2], settings=test_settings)
 
@@ -218,8 +204,6 @@ async def test_tasks_in_serial(apg_dispatcher, test_settings):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_tasks_queue_one(apg_dispatcher, test_settings):
-    assert apg_dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 0
-
     for i in range(10):
         test_methods.sleep_queue_one.apply_async(args=[2], settings=test_settings)
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_producers.py b/tests/integration/test_producers.py
index db393a46..7449ed7d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_producers.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_producers.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_on_start_tasks(caplog):
+    dispatcher = None
     try:
         settings = DispatcherSettings({
             'version': 2,
@@ -35,5 +36,6 @@ async def test_on_start_tasks(caplog):
         assert dispatcher.pool.finished_count == 1
         assert 'result: confirmation_of_run' not in caplog.text
     finally:
-        await dispatcher.shutdown()
-        await dispatcher.cancel_tasks()
+        if dispatcher:
+            await dispatcher.shutdown()
+            await dispatcher.cancel_tasks()
diff --git a/tests/unit/service/test_process.py b/tests/unit/service/test_process.py
index 533f069b..89a1a08d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/service/test_process.py
+++ b/tests/unit/service/test_process.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 from multiprocessing import Queue
+import os
 
-from dispatcher.service.process import ProcessManager, ProcessProxy
+import pytest
+
+from dispatcher.service.process import ProcessManager, ForkServerManager, ProcessProxy
 
 
 def test_pass_messages_to_worker():
@@ -17,15 +20,53 @@ def work_loop(a, b, c, in_q, out_q):
     assert msg == 'done 1 2 3 start'
 
 
-def test_pass_messages_via_process_manager():
-    def work_loop(var, in_q, out_q):
-        has_read = in_q.get()
-        out_q.put(f'done {var} {has_read}')
+def work_loop2(var, in_q, out_q):
+    """
+    Due to the mechanics of forkserver, this can not be defined in local variables,
+    it has to be importable, but this _is_ importable from the test module.
+    """
+    has_read = in_q.get()
+    out_q.put(f'done {var} {has_read}')
 
-    process_manager = ProcessManager()
-    process = process_manager.create_process(('value',), target=work_loop)
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('manager_cls', [ProcessManager, ForkServerManager])
+def test_pass_messages_via_process_manager(manager_cls):
+    process_manager = manager_cls()
+    process = process_manager.create_process(('value',), target=work_loop2)
     process.start()
 
     process.message_queue.put('msg1')
     msg = process_manager.finished_queue.get()
     assert msg == 'done value msg1'
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('manager_cls', [ProcessManager, ForkServerManager])
+def test_workers_have_different_pid(manager_cls):
+    process_manager = manager_cls()
+    processes = [process_manager.create_process((f'value{i}',), target=work_loop2) for i in range(2)]
+
+    for i in range(2):
+        process = processes[i]
+        process.start()
+        process.message_queue.put(f'msg{i}')
+
+    assert processes[0].pid != processes[1].pid  # title of test
+
+    msg1 = process_manager.finished_queue.get()
+    msg2 = process_manager.finished_queue.get()
+    assert set([msg1, msg2]) == set(['done value1 msg1', 'done value0 msg0'])
+
+
+
+def return_pid(in_q, out_q):
+    out_q.put(f'{os.getpid()}')
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('manager_cls', [ProcessManager, ForkServerManager])
+def test_pid_is_correct(manager_cls):
+    process_manager = manager_cls()
+    process = process_manager.create_process((), target=return_pid)
+    process.start()
+
+    msg = process_manager.finished_queue.get()
+    assert int(msg) == process.pid