diff --git a/internal/cache/cache.go b/internal/cache/cache.go
index 88169f7..120496f 100644
--- a/internal/cache/cache.go
+++ b/internal/cache/cache.go
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ import (
 const (
 	pathsBucket      = "paths"
 	formattersBucket = "formatters"
+
+	readBatchSize = 1024
 )
 
 // Entry represents a cache entry, indicating the last size and modified time for a file path.
@@ -171,40 +173,64 @@ func putEntry(bucket *bolt.Bucket, path string, entry *Entry) error {
 // ChangeSet is used to walk a filesystem, starting at root, and outputting any new or changed paths using pathsCh.
 // It determines if a path is new or has changed by comparing against cache entries.
 func ChangeSet(ctx context.Context, root string, pathsCh chan<- string) error {
-	return db.Update(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
-		bucket := tx.Bucket([]byte(pathsBucket))
+	var tx *bolt.Tx
+	var bucket *bolt.Bucket
+	var processed int
 
-		return filepath.Walk(root, func(path string, info fs.FileInfo, err error) error {
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to walk path", err)
-			} else if ctx.Err() != nil {
-				return ctx.Err()
-			} else if info.IsDir() {
-				// todo what about symlinks?
-				return nil
-			}
+	defer func() {
+		// close any pending read tx
+		if tx != nil {
+			_ = tx.Rollback()
+		}
+	}()
 
-			if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink == os.ModeSymlink {
-				// skip symlinks
-				return nil
-			}
-
-			cached, err := getEntry(bucket, path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
-			changedOrNew := cached == nil || !(cached.Modified == info.ModTime() && cached.Size == info.Size())
-
-			if !changedOrNew {
-				// no change
-				return nil
-			}
-
-			// pass on the path
-			pathsCh <- path
+	return filepath.Walk(root, func(path string, info fs.FileInfo, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to walk path", err)
+		} else if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return ctx.Err()
+		} else if info.IsDir() {
+			// todo what about symlinks?
 			return nil
-		})
+		}
+
+		// ignore symlinks
+		if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink == os.ModeSymlink {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// open a new read tx if there isn't one in progress
+		// we have to periodically open a new read tx to prevent writes from being blocked
+		if tx == nil {
+			tx, err = db.Begin(false)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to open a new read tx", err)
+			}
+			bucket = tx.Bucket([]byte(pathsBucket))
+		}
+
+		cached, err := getEntry(bucket, path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		changedOrNew := cached == nil || !(cached.Modified == info.ModTime() && cached.Size == info.Size())
+
+		if !changedOrNew {
+			// no change
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// pass on the path
+		pathsCh <- path
+
+		// close the current tx if we have reached the batch size
+		processed += 1
+		if processed == readBatchSize {
+			return tx.Rollback()
+		}
+
+		return nil
 	})
 }