diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38b13d7..a60a0ff 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ Compression example:
 ```python
 import zipfile_zstd as zipfile
 
-zf = zipfile.ZipFile('/tmp/test.zip', 'w', zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD, compresslevel=19)
+zf = zipfile.ZipFile('/tmp/test.zip', 'w', zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD, compresslevel=19, threads = -1)
 zf.write('large_file.img')
 ```
 
-Dictionaries and advanced compression parameters are not supported, sorry.
+Set `threads=-1` to automatically detect and use all available logical cores, or set the number of desired threads.
+The default is to use **half** of the available logical threads/cores.
 
+Dictionaries and other advanced compression parameters are not yet supported.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/zipfile_zstd/__init__.py b/zipfile_zstd/__init__.py
index 61f10fd..07c243d 100644
--- a/zipfile_zstd/__init__.py
+++ b/zipfile_zstd/__init__.py
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@
 from zipfile import (
     ZIP_ZSTANDARD,
     ZSTANDARD_VERSION,
+    ZSTANDARD_THREADS
 )
 
diff --git a/zipfile_zstd/_zipfile.py b/zipfile_zstd/_zipfile.py
index 7896156..33e4d74 100644
--- a/zipfile_zstd/_zipfile.py
+++ b/zipfile_zstd/_zipfile.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import zstandard as zstd
 import threading
 import inspect
+import os
 
 from ._patcher import patch
 
@@ -10,8 +11,15 @@
 zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD = 93
 zipfile.compressor_names[zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD] = 'zstandard'
 zipfile.ZSTANDARD_VERSION = 20
-
-
+zipfile.ZSTANDARD_THREADS = (os.cpu_count()+1)//2   # default = half of the available cores
+ 
+@patch(zipfile, 'ZipFile')
+def zstd_constructor(*args, **kwargs):
+    if kwargs and 'threads' in kwargs:
+        zipfile.ZSTANDARD_THREADS = kwargs.get('threads')
+        del kwargs['threads']
+    return patch.originals['ZipFile'](*args, **kwargs)
+    
 @patch(zipfile, '_check_compression')
 def zstd_check_compression(compression):
     if compression == zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD:
@@ -44,7 +52,7 @@ def zstd_get_compressor(compress_type, compresslevel=None):
         if compress_type == zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD:
             if compresslevel is None:
                 compresslevel = 3
-            return zstd.ZstdCompressor(level=compresslevel, threads=12).compressobj()
+            return zstd.ZstdCompressor(level=compresslevel, threads=zipfile.ZSTANDARD_THREADS).compressobj()
         else:
             return patch.originals['_get_compressor'](compress_type, compresslevel=compresslevel)
 else:
@@ -53,7 +61,7 @@ def zstd_get_compressor(compress_type, compresslevel=None):
         if compress_type == zipfile.ZIP_ZSTANDARD:
             if compresslevel is None:
                 compresslevel = 3
-            return zstd.ZstdCompressor(level=compresslevel, threads=12).compressobj()
+            return zstd.ZstdCompressor(level=compresslevel, threads=zipfile.ZSTANDARD_THREADS).compressobj()
         else:
             return patch.originals['_get_compressor'](compress_type)