diff --git a/bakta/features/t_rna.py b/bakta/features/t_rna.py
index 083fe28d..6174fb2e 100644
--- a/bakta/features/t_rna.py
+++ b/bakta/features/t_rna.py
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 import logging
-import subprocess as sp
+
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Sequence
 
 from Bio import SeqIO
 
 import bakta.config as cfg
 import bakta.constants as bc
+import bakta.io.fasta as fasta
 import bakta.so as so
 import bakta.utils as bu
 
@@ -47,27 +50,35 @@ def predict_t_rnas(data: dict, sequences_path: Path):
 
     txt_output_path = cfg.tmp_path.joinpath('trna.tsv')
     fasta_output_path = cfg.tmp_path.joinpath('trna.fasta')
-    cmd = [
-        'tRNAscan-SE',
-        '-B',
-        '--output', str(txt_output_path),
-        '--fasta', str(fasta_output_path),
-        '--thread', str(cfg.threads),
-        str(sequences_path)
-    ]
-    log.debug('cmd=%s', cmd)
-    proc = sp.run(
-        cmd,
-        cwd=str(cfg.tmp_path),
-        env=cfg.env,
-        stdout=sp.PIPE,
-        stderr=sp.PIPE,
-        universal_newlines=True
-    )
-    if(proc.returncode != 0):
-        log.debug('stdout=\'%s\', stderr=\'%s\'', proc.stdout, proc.stderr)
-        log.warning('tRNAs failed! tRNAscan-SE-error-code=%d', proc.returncode)
-        raise Exception(f'tRNAscan-SE error! error code: {proc.returncode}')
+    no_chunks = min(cfg.threads, len(data['sequences']))
+    threads = cfg.threads if no_chunks == 1 else 0
+    chunks = fasta.split_sequences(data['sequences'], no_chunks)
+    cmds, tsv_paths, fasta_paths = [], [], []
+    for i, chunk in enumerate(chunks):
+        tsv_paths.append(cfg.tmp_path.joinpath(f'trna.{i}.tsv'))
+        fasta_paths.append(cfg.tmp_path.joinpath(f'trna.{i}.fasta'))
+        chunk_path = sequences_path
+        if(no_chunks > 1):
+            chunk_path = cfg.tmp_path.joinpath(f'trna.{i}.fna')
+            fasta.export_sequences(chunk, chunk_path)
+        cmds.append([
+            'tRNAscan-SE',
+            '-B',
+            '--output', str(tsv_paths[i]),
+            '--fasta', str(fasta_paths[i]),
+            '--thread', str(threads),
+            str(chunk_path)
+        ])
+    log.debug('cmds=%s', cmds)
+    with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=len(cmds)) as tpe:
+        procs = list(tpe.map(bu.run_tool, cmds))
+    for proc in procs:
+        if(proc.returncode != 0):
+            log.debug('stdout=\'%s\', stderr=\'%s\'', proc.stdout, proc.stderr)
+            log.warning('tRNAs failed! tRNAscan-SE-error-code=%d', proc.returncode)
+            raise Exception(f'tRNAscan-SE error! error code: {proc.returncode}')
+    fasta.concat(tsv_paths, txt_output_path, skip=3)
+    fasta.concat(fasta_paths, fasta_output_path)
 
     trnas = {}
     sequences = {seq['id']: seq for seq in data['sequences']}
diff --git a/bakta/io/fasta.py b/bakta/io/fasta.py
index ed4ceed2..f2ecf35c 100644
--- a/bakta/io/fasta.py
+++ b/bakta/io/fasta.py
@@ -76,6 +76,31 @@ def export_sequences(sequences: Sequence[dict], fasta_path: Path, description: b
                 fh.write('\n')
 
 
+def split_sequences(sequences: Sequence[dict], no_chunks: int) -> Sequence[Sequence[dict]]:
+    """Split sequences into chunks of roughly equal size, keeping their order."""
+    target = sum([seq['length'] for seq in sequences]) / no_chunks
+    split, chunk, size = [], [], 0
+    for seq in sequences:
+        chunk.append(seq)
+        size += seq['length']
+        if(size >= target and len(split) < no_chunks - 1):
+            split.append(chunk)
+            chunk, size = [], 0
+    if(len(chunk) > 0):
+        split.append(chunk)
+    return split
+
+
+def concat(parts: Sequence[Path], path: Path, skip: int=0):
+    """Concatenate tool output files in order, keeping one copy of the header."""
+    with path.open('wt') as fh_out:
+        for i, part in enumerate(parts):
+            with part.open() as fh_in:
+                for j, line in enumerate(fh_in):
+                    if(i == 0 or j >= skip):
+                        fh_out.write(line)
+
+
 def wrap_sequence(sequence: str):
     lines = []
     for i in range(0, len(sequence), FASTA_LINE_WRAPPING):
diff --git a/bakta/utils.py b/bakta/utils.py
index 37e9e5e2..303077a1 100644
--- a/bakta/utils.py
+++ b/bakta/utils.py
@@ -209,6 +209,18 @@ def check_version(tool, min: int, max:int ) -> bool:
             return True
 
 
+def run_tool(cmd: Sequence[str]):
+    """Run one external tool process."""
+    return sp.run(
+        cmd,
+        cwd=str(cfg.tmp_path),
+        env=cfg.env,
+        stdout=sp.PIPE,
+        stderr=sp.PIPE,
+        universal_newlines=True
+    )
+
+
 def test_dependency(dependency):
     """Test the proper installation of the required 3rd party executable."""
     version = read_tool_output(dependency)