diff --git a/src/pr_reviewer/main.py b/src/pr_reviewer/main.py
index 53203ad..6ce05ec 100644
--- a/src/pr_reviewer/main.py
+++ b/src/pr_reviewer/main.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import os
 import hmac
 import hashlib
 import base64
-from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, Request
+from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, Request, BackgroundTasks
 from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
 import uvicorn
 from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional
@@ -89,8 +89,58 @@ def post_pr_comment(repo_full: str, pr_number: int, comment: str) -> None:
     logger.info(f"Posted review comment to PR #{pr_number} in {repo_full}")
 
 
+def _run_review_background(repo_full: str, pr_number: int, pr_title: str,
+                           pr_description: str, repo_url: str, branch: str,
+                           base_branch: str, files: List[Dict[str, Any]]) -> None:
+    converted_files = []
+    for f in files:
+        converted_files.append(FileInfo(
+            path=f["filename"],
+            content=f.get("content"),
+            status=f.get("status", "modified"),
+            additions=f.get("additions", 0),
+            deletions=f.get("deletions", 0),
+            patch=f.get("patch"),
+        ))
+
+    flow_inputs = {
+        "pr_id": str(pr_number),
+        "pr_title": pr_title,
+        "pr_description": pr_description,
+        "pr_url": f"{repo_url}/pull/{pr_number}",
+        "repo_name": repo_full,
+        "repo_url": repo_url,
+        "branch": branch,
+        "base_branch": base_branch,
+        "files": [f.dict() for f in converted_files],
+        "context_overrides": None,
+    }
+
+    flow = CodeReviewFlow()
+    try:
+        flow_result = flow.kickoff(inputs=flow_inputs)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Background review failed for PR #{pr_number}: {e}")
+        try:
+            post_pr_comment(repo_full, pr_number, f"**PR Review failed:** {e}")
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        return
+
+    if flow_result.get("error"):
+        logger.error(f"PR review failed for PR #{pr_number}: {flow_result['error']}")
+
+    try:
+        summary = flow_result.get("review_summary", "")
+        if summary:
+            comment = f"## PR Review Results\n\n{summary}"
+            post_pr_comment(repo_full, pr_number, comment)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"Failed to post review comment: {e}")
+
+
 @app.post("/api/v1/gitea-webhook")
-async def gitea_webhook(request: Request) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+async def gitea_webhook(request: Request, background_tasks: BackgroundTasks) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     body = await request.body()
     sig = request.headers.get("X-Gitea-Signature", "")
     if not verify_signature(body, sig):
@@ -107,7 +157,7 @@ async def gitea_webhook(request: Request) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         repo_full = repo["full_name"]
         repo_url = repo.get("html_url", f"{ACCESS_GITEA_URL}/{repo_full}")
 
-        if action not in ("opened", "synchronize", "reopened"):
+        if action not in ("opened", "synchronized", "reopened"):
             logger.info(f"Ignoring PR action: {action}")
             return {"status": "ignored", "reason": f"action '{action}' not processed"}
 
@@ -119,62 +169,24 @@ async def gitea_webhook(request: Request) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         except Exception as e:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Error fetching PR files: {e}")
 
-        converted_files = []
-        for f in files:
-            converted_files.append(FileInfo(
-                path=f["filename"],
-                content=f.get("content"),
-                status=f.get("status", "modified"),
-                additions=f.get("additions", 0),
-                deletions=f.get("deletions", 0),
-                patch=f.get("patch"),
-            ))
-
-        flow_inputs = {
-            "pr_id": str(pr_number),
-            "pr_title": pr["title"],
-            "pr_description": pr.get("body", ""),
-            "pr_url": f"{repo_url}/pull/{pr_number}",
-            "repo_name": repo_full,
-            "repo_url": repo_url,
-            "branch": pr["head"]["label"],
-            "base_branch": pr["base"]["label"],
-            "files": [f.dict() for f in converted_files],
-            "context_overrides": None,
-        }
-
-        flow = CodeReviewFlow()
-        loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-        with ThreadPoolExecutor() as pool:
-            try:
-                flow_result = await asyncio.wait_for(
-                    loop.run_in_executor(pool, lambda: flow.kickoff(inputs=flow_inputs)),
-                    timeout=TOTAL_FLOW_TIMEOUT,
-                )
-            except asyncio.TimeoutError:
-                logger.error(f"PR review timed out for PR #{pr_number}")
-                raise HTTPException(
-                    status_code=504,
-                    detail=f"PR review timed out after {TOTAL_FLOW_TIMEOUT} seconds",
-                )
-
-        if flow_result.get("error"):
-            logger.error(f"PR review failed for PR #{pr_number}: {flow_result['error']}")
-
         try:
-            summary = flow_result.get("review_summary", "")
-            if summary:
-                comment = f"## PR Review Results\n\n{summary}"
-                post_pr_comment(repo_full, pr_number, comment)
+            post_pr_comment(repo_full, pr_number, "PR received — starting review, sit tight :saluting_face:")
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Failed to post review comment: {e}")
+            logger.warning(f"Failed to post initial comment: {e}")
 
-        return {
-            "status": "completed" if not flow_result.get("error") else "failed",
-            "pr_number": pr_number,
-            "review_summary": flow_result.get("review_summary"),
-            "error": flow_result.get("error"),
-        }
+        background_tasks.add_task(
+            _run_review_background,
+            repo_full=repo_full,
+            pr_number=pr_number,
+            pr_title=pr["title"],
+            pr_description=pr.get("body", ""),
+            repo_url=repo_url,
+            branch=pr["head"]["label"],
+            base_branch=pr["base"]["label"],
+            files=files,
+        )
+
+        return {"status": "accepted", "pr_number": pr_number}
 
     return {"status": "ignored"}