diff --git a/brontide/listener.go b/brontide/listener.go
index 1cc171f66..603a6b1a8 100644
--- a/brontide/listener.go
+++ b/brontide/listener.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package brontide
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"time"
@@ -8,6 +9,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/roasbeef/btcd/btcec"
 )
 
+// defaultHandshakes is the maximum number of handshakes that can be done in
+// parallel.
+const defaultHandshakes = 1000
+
 // Listener is an implementation of a net.Conn which executes an authenticated
 // key exchange and message encryption protocol dubbed "Machine" after
 // initial connection acceptance. See the Machine struct for additional
@@ -17,6 +22,10 @@ type Listener struct {
 	localStatic *btcec.PrivateKey
 
 	tcp *net.TCPListener
+
+	handshakeSema chan struct{}
+	conns         chan maybeConn
+	quit          chan struct{}
 }
 
 // A compile-time assertion to ensure that Conn meets the net.Listener interface.
@@ -36,23 +45,57 @@ func NewListener(localStatic *btcec.PrivateKey, listenAddr string) (*Listener,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return &Listener{
-		localStatic: localStatic,
-		tcp:         l,
-	}, nil
+	brontideListener := &Listener{
+		localStatic:   localStatic,
+		tcp:           l,
+		handshakeSema: make(chan struct{}, defaultHandshakes),
+		conns:         make(chan maybeConn),
+		quit:          make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+
+	for i := 0; i < defaultHandshakes; i++ {
+		brontideListener.handshakeSema <- struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	go brontideListener.listen()
+
+	return brontideListener, nil
 }
 
-// Accept waits for and returns the next connection to the listener. All
-// incoming connections are authenticated via the three act Brontide
-// key-exchange scheme. This function will fail with a non-nil error in the
-// case that either the handshake breaks down, or the remote peer doesn't know
-// our static public key.
+// listen accepts connection from the underlying tcp conn, then performs
+// the brontinde handshake procedure asynchronously. A maximum of
+// defaultHandshakes will be active at any given time.
 //
-// Part of the net.Listener interface.
-func (l *Listener) Accept() (net.Conn, error) {
-	conn, err := l.tcp.Accept()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+// NOTE: This method must be run as a goroutine.
+func (l *Listener) listen() {
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-l.handshakeSema:
+		case <-l.quit:
+			return
+		}
+
+		conn, err := l.tcp.Accept()
+		if err != nil {
+			l.rejectConn(err)
+			l.handshakeSema <- struct{}{}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		go l.doHandshake(conn)
+	}
+}
+
+// doHandshake asynchronously performs the brontide handshake, so that it does
+// not block the main accept loop. This prevents peers that delay writing to the
+// connection from block other connection attempts.
+func (l *Listener) doHandshake(conn net.Conn) {
+	defer func() { l.handshakeSema <- struct{}{} }()
+
+	select {
+	case <-l.quit:
+		return
+	default:
 	}
 
 	brontideConn := &Conn{
@@ -71,11 +114,13 @@ func (l *Listener) Accept() (net.Conn, error) {
 	var actOne [ActOneSize]byte
 	if _, err := io.ReadFull(conn, actOne[:]); err != nil {
 		brontideConn.conn.Close()
-		return nil, err
+		l.rejectConn(err)
+		return
 	}
 	if err := brontideConn.noise.RecvActOne(actOne); err != nil {
 		brontideConn.conn.Close()
-		return nil, err
+		l.rejectConn(err)
+		return
 	}
 
 	// Next, progress the handshake processes by sending over our ephemeral
@@ -83,11 +128,19 @@ func (l *Listener) Accept() (net.Conn, error) {
 	actTwo, err := brontideConn.noise.GenActTwo()
 	if err != nil {
 		brontideConn.conn.Close()
-		return nil, err
+		l.rejectConn(err)
+		return
 	}
 	if _, err := conn.Write(actTwo[:]); err != nil {
 		brontideConn.conn.Close()
-		return nil, err
+		l.rejectConn(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case <-l.quit:
+		return
+	default:
 	}
 
 	// We'll ensure that we get ActTwo from the remote peer in a timely
@@ -101,18 +154,59 @@ func (l *Listener) Accept() (net.Conn, error) {
 	var actThree [ActThreeSize]byte
 	if _, err := io.ReadFull(conn, actThree[:]); err != nil {
 		brontideConn.conn.Close()
-		return nil, err
+		l.rejectConn(err)
+		return
 	}
 	if err := brontideConn.noise.RecvActThree(actThree); err != nil {
 		brontideConn.conn.Close()
-		return nil, err
+		l.rejectConn(err)
+		return
 	}
 
 	// We'll reset the deadline as it's no longer critical beyond the
 	// initial handshake.
 	conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Time{})
 
-	return brontideConn, nil
+	l.acceptConn(brontideConn)
+}
+
+// maybeConn holds either a brontide connection or an error returned from the
+// handshake.
+type maybeConn struct {
+	conn *Conn
+	err  error
+}
+
+// acceptConn returns a connection that successfully performed a handshake.
+func (l *Listener) acceptConn(conn *Conn) {
+	select {
+	case l.conns <- maybeConn{conn: conn}:
+	case <-l.quit:
+	}
+}
+
+// rejectConn returns any errors encountered during connection or handshake.
+func (l *Listener) rejectConn(err error) {
+	select {
+	case l.conns <- maybeConn{err: err}:
+	case <-l.quit:
+	}
+}
+
+// Accept waits for and returns the next connection to the listener. All
+// incoming connections are authenticated via the three act Brontide
+// key-exchange scheme. This function will fail with a non-nil error in the
+// case that either the handshake breaks down, or the remote peer doesn't know
+// our static public key.
+//
+// Part of the net.Listener interface.
+func (l *Listener) Accept() (net.Conn, error) {
+	select {
+	case result := <-l.conns:
+		return result.conn, result.err
+	case <-l.quit:
+		return nil, errors.New("brontide connection closed")
+	}
 }
 
 // Close closes the listener.  Any blocked Accept operations will be unblocked
@@ -120,6 +214,12 @@ func (l *Listener) Accept() (net.Conn, error) {
 //
 // Part of the net.Listener interface.
 func (l *Listener) Close() error {
+	select {
+	case <-l.quit:
+	default:
+		close(l.quit)
+	}
+
 	return l.tcp.Close()
 }
 
diff --git a/brontide/noise_test.go b/brontide/noise_test.go
index 5b0562c21..415659cad 100644
--- a/brontide/noise_test.go
+++ b/brontide/noise_test.go
@@ -13,16 +13,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/roasbeef/btcd/btcec"
 )
 
-func establishTestConnection() (net.Conn, net.Conn, func(), error) {
-	// First, generate the long-term private keys both ends of the
-	// connection within our test.
+type maybeNetConn struct {
+	conn net.Conn
+	err  error
+}
+
+func makeListener() (*Listener, *lnwire.NetAddress, error) {
+	// First, generate the long-term private keys for the brontide listener.
 	localPriv, err := btcec.NewPrivateKey(btcec.S256())
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
-	}
-	remotePriv, err := btcec.NewPrivateKey(btcec.S256())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	// Having a port of ":0" means a random port, and interface will be
@@ -32,56 +32,62 @@ func establishTestConnection() (net.Conn, net.Conn, func(), error) {
 	// Our listener will be local, and the connection remote.
 	listener, err := NewListener(localPriv, addr)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
-	defer listener.Close()
 
 	netAddr := &lnwire.NetAddress{
 		IdentityKey: localPriv.PubKey(),
 		Address:     listener.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr),
 	}
 
+	return listener, netAddr, nil
+}
+
+func establishTestConnection() (net.Conn, net.Conn, func(), error) {
+	listener, netAddr, err := makeListener()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	defer listener.Close()
+
+	// Nos, generate the long-term private keys remote end of the connection
+	// within our test.
+	remotePriv, err := btcec.NewPrivateKey(btcec.S256())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
+	}
+
 	// Initiate a connection with a separate goroutine, and listen with our
 	// main one. If both errors are nil, then encryption+auth was
 	// successful.
-	conErrChan := make(chan error, 1)
-	connChan := make(chan net.Conn, 1)
+	remoteConnChan := make(chan maybeNetConn, 1)
 	go func() {
-		conn, err := Dial(remotePriv, netAddr, net.Dial)
-
-		conErrChan <- err
-		connChan <- conn
+		remoteConn, err := Dial(remotePriv, netAddr, net.Dial)
+		remoteConnChan <- maybeNetConn{remoteConn, err}
 	}()
 
-	lisErrChan := make(chan error, 1)
-	lisChan := make(chan net.Conn, 1)
+	localConnChan := make(chan maybeNetConn, 1)
 	go func() {
-		localConn, listenErr := listener.Accept()
-
-		lisErrChan <- listenErr
-		lisChan <- localConn
+		localConn, err := listener.Accept()
+		localConnChan <- maybeNetConn{localConn, err}
 	}()
 
-	select {
-	case err := <-conErrChan:
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, nil, err
-		}
-	case err := <-lisErrChan:
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, nil, err
-		}
+	remote := <-remoteConnChan
+	if remote.err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	localConn := <-lisChan
-	remoteConn := <-connChan
+	local := <-localConnChan
+	if local.err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, nil, err
+	}
 
 	cleanUp := func() {
-		localConn.Close()
-		remoteConn.Close()
+		local.conn.Close()
+		remote.conn.Close()
 	}
 
-	return localConn, remoteConn, cleanUp, nil
+	return local.conn, remote.conn, cleanUp, nil
 }
 
 func TestConnectionCorrectness(t *testing.T) {
@@ -134,14 +140,84 @@ func TestConnectionCorrectness(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestConecurrentHandshakes verifies the listener's ability to not be blocked
+// by other pending handshakes. This is tested by opening multiple tcp
+// connections with the listener, without completing any of the brontide acts.
+// The test passes if real brontide dialer connects while the others are
+// stalled.
+func TestConcurrentHandshakes(t *testing.T) {
+	listener, netAddr, err := makeListener()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to create listener connection: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer listener.Close()
+
+	const nblocking = 5
+
+	// Open a handful of tcp connections, that do not complete any steps of
+	// the brontide handshake.
+	connChan := make(chan maybeNetConn)
+	for i := 0; i < nblocking; i++ {
+		go func() {
+			conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", listener.Addr().String())
+			connChan <- maybeNetConn{conn, err}
+		}()
+	}
+
+	// Receive all connections/errors from our blocking tcp dials. We make a
+	// pass to gather all connections and errors to make sure we defer the
+	// calls to Close() on all successful connections.
+	tcpErrs := make([]error, 0, nblocking)
+	for i := 0; i < nblocking; i++ {
+		result := <-connChan
+		if result.conn != nil {
+			defer result.conn.Close()
+		}
+		if result.err != nil {
+			tcpErrs = append(tcpErrs, result.err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, tcpErr := range tcpErrs {
+		if tcpErr != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("unable to tcp dial listener: %v", tcpErr)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Now, construct a new private key and use the brontide dialer to
+	// connect to the listener.
+	remotePriv, err := btcec.NewPrivateKey(btcec.S256())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to generate private key: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	go func() {
+		remoteConn, err := Dial(remotePriv, netAddr, net.Dial)
+		connChan <- maybeNetConn{remoteConn, err}
+	}()
+
+	// This connection should be accepted without error, as the brontide
+	// connection should bypass stalled tcp connections.
+	conn, err := listener.Accept()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to accept dial: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	result := <-connChan
+	if result.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unable to dial %v: %v", netAddr, result.err)
+	}
+	result.conn.Close()
+}
+
 func TestMaxPayloadLength(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	b := Machine{}
 	b.split()
 
-	// Create a payload that's only *slightly* above the maximum allotted payload
-	// length.
+	// Create a payload that's only *slightly* above the maximum allotted
+	// payload length.
 	payloadToReject := make([]byte, math.MaxUint16+1)
 
 	var buf bytes.Buffer