diff --git a/BREAKING_CHANGES.md b/BREAKING_CHANGES.md
index 52fc3ff4..acb7cafd 100644
--- a/BREAKING_CHANGES.md
+++ b/BREAKING_CHANGES.md
@@ -8,6 +8,17 @@ code then it will not be listed here.
 
 ## [2022-10-21]
 
+- NIH-plug has gained support for asynchronously running background tasks in a
+  simple, type-safe, and realtime-safe way. This sadly does mean that every
+  `Plugin` instance now needs to define an `AsyncExecutor` type definition and
+  constructor function as Rust does not yet support defaults for associated
+  types (Rust issue [#29661](https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/29661)):
+
+  ```rust
+  type AsyncExecutor = ();
+  fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+  ```
+
 - The `Editor` trait and the `ParentWindowHandle` struct have been moved from
   `nih_plug::plugin` to a new `nih_plug::editor` module.
 
diff --git a/plugins/crisp/src/lib.rs b/plugins/crisp/src/lib.rs
index 4a93c6ee..d9e4fbf8 100644
--- a/plugins/crisp/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/crisp/src/lib.rs
@@ -307,6 +307,9 @@ impl Plugin for Crisp {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/crossover/src/lib.rs b/plugins/crossover/src/lib.rs
index c83c16a9..fec11adf 100644
--- a/plugins/crossover/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/crossover/src/lib.rs
@@ -183,6 +183,9 @@ impl Plugin for Crossover {
         aux_outputs: Some(&["Band 1", "Band 2", "Band 3", "Band 4", "Band 5"]),
     };
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/diopser/src/lib.rs b/plugins/diopser/src/lib.rs
index 0b768f88..54f8e66a 100644
--- a/plugins/diopser/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/diopser/src/lib.rs
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@ impl Plugin for Diopser {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/gain/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/gain/src/lib.rs
index 32a35569..80b9687b 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/gain/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/gain/src/lib.rs
@@ -132,6 +132,12 @@ impl Plugin for Gain {
     // splits.
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    // More advanced plugins can use this to run expensive background tasks. See the `AsyncExecutor`
+    // trait's documentation for more information. `()` means that the plugin does not have any
+    // background tasks.
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/gain_gui_egui/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/gain_gui_egui/src/lib.rs
index e97926c4..952941b1 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/gain_gui_egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/gain_gui_egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ impl Plugin for Gain {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/gain_gui_iced/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/gain_gui_iced/src/lib.rs
index 86dfe97a..4698b61f 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/gain_gui_iced/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/gain_gui_iced/src/lib.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ impl Plugin for Gain {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/gain_gui_vizia/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/gain_gui_vizia/src/lib.rs
index 8bb2ea13..c15d443b 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/gain_gui_vizia/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/gain_gui_vizia/src/lib.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ impl Plugin for Gain {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/midi_inverter/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/midi_inverter/src/lib.rs
index 4bc0733a..e00ee8c9 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/midi_inverter/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/midi_inverter/src/lib.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ impl Plugin for MidiInverter {
     const MIDI_OUTPUT: MidiConfig = MidiConfig::MidiCCs;
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/poly_mod_synth/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/poly_mod_synth/src/lib.rs
index eb994432..429bbb6f 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/poly_mod_synth/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/poly_mod_synth/src/lib.rs
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ impl Plugin for PolyModSynth {
     const MIDI_INPUT: MidiConfig = MidiConfig::Basic;
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/sine/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/sine/src/lib.rs
index 9a1eacb2..6ff2e573 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/sine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/sine/src/lib.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ impl Plugin for Sine {
     const MIDI_INPUT: MidiConfig = MidiConfig::Basic;
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/examples/stft/src/lib.rs b/plugins/examples/stft/src/lib.rs
index bec9aec6..9e5cf7e9 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/stft/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/examples/stft/src/lib.rs
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ impl Plugin for Stft {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/loudness_war_winner/src/lib.rs b/plugins/loudness_war_winner/src/lib.rs
index 8cf44617..46da3a52 100644
--- a/plugins/loudness_war_winner/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/loudness_war_winner/src/lib.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ impl Plugin for LoudnessWarWinner {
     const DEFAULT_INPUT_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
     const DEFAULT_OUTPUT_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/puberty_simulator/src/lib.rs b/plugins/puberty_simulator/src/lib.rs
index 043cefaa..94f0c828 100644
--- a/plugins/puberty_simulator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/puberty_simulator/src/lib.rs
@@ -168,6 +168,9 @@ impl Plugin for PubertySimulator {
     const DEFAULT_INPUT_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
     const DEFAULT_OUTPUT_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/safety_limiter/src/lib.rs b/plugins/safety_limiter/src/lib.rs
index 3c984c19..5339ed20 100644
--- a/plugins/safety_limiter/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/safety_limiter/src/lib.rs
@@ -157,6 +157,9 @@ impl Plugin for SafetyLimiter {
     const DEFAULT_INPUT_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
     const DEFAULT_OUTPUT_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/plugins/spectral_compressor/src/lib.rs b/plugins/spectral_compressor/src/lib.rs
index e6a71ff2..e60490d8 100644
--- a/plugins/spectral_compressor/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/spectral_compressor/src/lib.rs
@@ -272,6 +272,9 @@ impl Plugin for SpectralCompressor {
 
     const SAMPLE_ACCURATE_AUTOMATION: bool = true;
 
+    type AsyncExecutor = ();
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor {}
+
     fn params(&self) -> Arc<dyn Params> {
         self.params.clone()
     }
diff --git a/src/plugin.rs b/src/plugin.rs
index b82ab5cd..39a53da8 100644
--- a/src/plugin.rs
+++ b/src/plugin.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
+use crate::async_executor::AsyncExecutor;
 use crate::buffer::Buffer;
 use crate::context::{InitContext, ProcessContext};
 use crate::editor::Editor;
@@ -89,6 +90,20 @@ pub trait Plugin: Default + Send + 'static {
     /// to do offline processing.
     const HARD_REALTIME_ONLY: bool = false;
 
+    /// The plugin's [`AsyncExecutor`] type. Use `()` if the plugin does not need to perform
+    /// expensive background tasks.
+    //
+    // This needs to be an associated type so we can have a nice type safe interface in the
+    // `*Context` traits.
+    //
+    // NOTE: Sadly it's not yet possible to default this and the `async_executor()` function to
+    //       `()`: https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/29661
+    type AsyncExecutor: AsyncExecutor;
+
+    /// The plugin's background task executor. Use `()` if the plugin does not need this
+    /// functinlality.
+    fn async_executor(&self) -> Self::AsyncExecutor;
+
     /// The plugin's parameters. The host will update the parameter values before calling
     /// `process()`. These parameters are identified by strings that should never change when the
     /// plugin receives an update.