diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 467b3fa..484db05 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ byteorder = "1.4.2"
 clap = { version = "2.33.3", default-features = false, features = ["wrap_help"] }
 clockpro-cache = "0.1.10"
 coarsetime = "0.1.18"
+daemonize-simple = "0.1.5"
 derivative = "2.2.0"
 dnsstamps = "0.1.6"
 env_logger = { version = "0.8.3", default-features = false, features = ["humantime"] }
diff --git a/example-encrypted-dns.toml b/example-encrypted-dns.toml
index ab12063..24237dd 100644
--- a/example-encrypted-dns.toml
+++ b/example-encrypted-dns.toml
@@ -90,6 +90,16 @@ cache_ttl_error = 600
 client_ttl_holdon = 60
 
 
+## Run as a background process
+
+daemonize = false
+
+
+## Log file, when running as a background process
+
+# log_file = "/tmp/encrypted-dns.log"
+
+
 ## PID file
 
 # pid_file = "/tmp/encrypted-dns.pid"
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 9d54adf..f3c9776 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub filtering: FilteringConfig,
     pub dnscrypt: DNSCryptConfig,
     pub tls: TLSConfig,
+    pub daemonize: bool,
     pub pid_file: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub log_file: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub my_ip: Option<String>,
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index feb73ee..7389ff2 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -466,6 +466,9 @@ fn bind_listeners(
 }
 
 fn privdrop(config: &Config) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    if config.daemonize && config.metrics.is_some() {
+        bail!("Metrics are incompatible with daemonization - set 'daemonize = false' in the configuration file if you need metrics.");
+    }
     let mut pd = PrivDrop::default();
     if let Some(user) = &config.user {
         pd = pd.user(user);
@@ -474,12 +477,27 @@ fn privdrop(config: &Config) -> Result<(), Error> {
         pd = pd.group(group);
     }
     if let Some(chroot) = &config.chroot {
-        pd = pd.chroot(chroot);
+        if !config.daemonize {
+            pd = pd.chroot(chroot);
+        }
     }
     if config.user.is_some() || config.group.is_some() || config.chroot.is_some() {
         info!("Dropping privileges");
         pd.apply()?;
     }
+    if config.daemonize {
+        let mut daemon = daemonize_simple::Daemonize::default();
+        daemon.stdout_file = config.log_file.clone();
+        daemon.stderr_file = config.log_file.clone();
+        daemon.pid_file = config.pid_file.clone();
+        if let Some(chroot) = &config.chroot {
+            daemon.chdir = Some(chroot.into());
+            daemon.chroot = true;
+        }
+        daemon
+            .doit()
+            .map_err(|e| anyhow!("Unable to daemonize: [{}]", e))?;
+    }
     Ok(())
 }