diff --git a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.c b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.c
index b90071ff9..6dfd08683 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.c
+++ b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.c
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(ModPicoGraphics_update_obj, ModPicoGraphics_update);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(ModPicoGraphics_partial_update_obj, 5, 5, ModPicoGraphics_partial_update);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_2(ModPicoGraphics_set_backlight_obj, ModPicoGraphics_set_backlight);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_2(ModPicoGraphics_set_update_speed_obj, ModPicoGraphics_set_update_speed);
+MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_2(ModPicoGraphics_set_blocking_obj, ModPicoGraphics_set_blocking);
+MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(ModPicoGraphics_is_busy_obj, ModPicoGraphics_is_busy);
 
 // Palette management
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_VAR_BETWEEN(ModPicoGraphics_update_pen_obj, 5, 5, ModPicoGraphics_update_pen);
@@ -69,6 +71,10 @@ static const mp_rom_map_elem_t ModPicoGraphics_locals_dict_table[] = {
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_update), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_update_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_partial_update), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_partial_update_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_set_update_speed), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_set_update_speed_obj) },
+
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_set_blocking), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_set_blocking_obj) },
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_is_busy), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_is_busy_obj) },
+
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_set_clip), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_set_clip_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_get_clip), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_get_clip_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_remove_clip), MP_ROM_PTR(&ModPicoGraphics_remove_clip_obj) },
diff --git a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp
index 0253e075e..841e06cca 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp
+++ b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ typedef struct _ModPicoGraphics_obj_t {
     void *buffer;
     void *fontdata;
     _PimoroniI2C_obj_t *i2c;
+    bool blocking = true;
     //mp_obj_t scanline_callback; // Not really feasible in MicroPython
 } ModPicoGraphics_obj_t;
 
@@ -643,6 +644,17 @@ mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_set_scanline_callback(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t cb_in)
 }
 */
 
+mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_set_blocking(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t blocking_in) {
+    ModPicoGraphics_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, ModPicoGraphics_obj_t);
+    self->blocking = blocking_in == mp_const_true;
+    return mp_const_none;
+}
+
+mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_is_busy(mp_obj_t self_in) {
+    ModPicoGraphics_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, ModPicoGraphics_obj_t);
+    return self->display->is_busy() ? mp_const_true : mp_const_false;
+}
+
 mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_update(mp_obj_t self_in) {
     ModPicoGraphics_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, ModPicoGraphics_obj_t);
 /*
@@ -666,13 +678,15 @@ mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_update(mp_obj_t self_in) {
 
     self->display->update(self->graphics);
 
-    while(self->display->is_busy()) {
-    #ifdef mp_event_handle_nowait
-    mp_event_handle_nowait();
-    #endif
-    }
+    if(self->blocking) {
+        while(self->display->is_busy()) {
+        #ifdef mp_event_handle_nowait
+        mp_event_handle_nowait();
+        #endif
+        }
 
-    self->display->power_off();
+        self->display->power_off();
+    }
 
     return mp_const_none;
 }
@@ -695,10 +709,12 @@ mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_partial_update(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
         mp_obj_get_int(args[ARG_h])
     });
 
-    while(self->display->is_busy()) {
-    #ifdef mp_event_handle_nowait
-    mp_event_handle_nowait();
-    #endif
+    if(self->blocking) {
+        while(self->display->is_busy()) {
+        #ifdef mp_event_handle_nowait
+        mp_event_handle_nowait();
+        #endif
+        }
     }
 
     return mp_const_none;
diff --git a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.h b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.h
index 87225716d..f1313ff1b 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.h
+++ b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.h
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_partial_update(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *ar
 extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_set_backlight(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t brightness);
 extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_set_update_speed(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t update_speed);
 
+extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_set_blocking(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t blocking_in);
+extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_is_busy(mp_obj_t self_in);
+
 // Palette management
 extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_update_pen(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args);
 extern mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_reset_pen(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t pen);