diff --git a/freqtrade/freqai/freqai_interface.py b/freqtrade/freqai/freqai_interface.py
index 6a1d97470..2523cd561 100644
--- a/freqtrade/freqai/freqai_interface.py
+++ b/freqtrade/freqai/freqai_interface.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+# import contextlib
 import gc
 import logging
+# import sys
+import threading
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, Tuple
@@ -16,6 +19,24 @@ from freqtrade.strategy.interface import IStrategy
 pd.options.mode.chained_assignment = None
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# FIXME: suppress stdout for background training
+# class DummyFile(object):
+#     def write(self, x): pass
+
+
+# @contextlib.contextmanager
+# def nostdout():
+#     save_stdout = sys.stdout
+#     sys.stdout = DummyFile()
+#     yield
+#     sys.stdout = save_stdout
+
+
+def threaded(fn):
+    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+        threading.Thread(target=fn, args=args, kwargs=kwargs).start()
+    return wrapper
+
 
 class IFreqaiModel(ABC):
     """
@@ -39,6 +60,8 @@ class IFreqaiModel(ABC):
         self.current_time = None
         self.model = None
         self.predictions = None
+        self.training_on_separate_thread = False
+        self.retrain = False
 
     def start(self, dataframe: DataFrame, metadata: dict, strategy: IStrategy) -> DataFrame:
         """
@@ -122,25 +145,26 @@ class IFreqaiModel(ABC):
                                         training_timerange=self.freqai_info[
                                                            'live_trained_timerange'])
 
-        (retrain,
-         new_trained_timerange) = self.dh.check_if_new_training_required(self.freqai_info[
+        if not self.training_on_separate_thread:
+            # this will also prevent other pairs from trying to train simultaneously.
+            (self.retrain,
+             new_trained_timerange) = self.dh.check_if_new_training_required(self.freqai_info[
                                                                         'live_trained_timerange'],
-                                                                         metadata)
+                                                                        metadata)
+        else:
+            logger.info("FreqAI training a new model on background thread.")
+            self.retrain = False
 
-        if retrain or not file_exists:
-            self.dh.download_new_data_for_retraining(new_trained_timerange, metadata)
-            corr_dataframes, base_dataframes = self.dh.load_pairs_histories(new_trained_timerange,
-                                                                            metadata)
-
-            unfiltered_dataframe = self.dh.use_strategy_to_populate_indicators(strategy,
-                                                                               corr_dataframes,
-                                                                               base_dataframes,
-                                                                               metadata)
-
-            self.model = self.train(unfiltered_dataframe, metadata)
-            self.dh.save_data(self.model)
+        if self.retrain or not file_exists:
+            self.training_on_separate_thread = True  # acts like a lock
+            self.retrain_model_on_separate_thread(new_trained_timerange, metadata, strategy)
 
         self.model = self.dh.load_data()
+
+        strategy_provided_features = self.dh.find_features(dataframe)
+        if strategy_provided_features != self.dh.training_features_list:
+            self.train_model_in_series(new_trained_timerange, metadata, strategy)
+
         preds, do_preds = self.predict(dataframe, metadata)
         self.dh.append_predictions(preds, do_preds, len(dataframe))
 
@@ -206,3 +230,38 @@ class IFreqaiModel(ABC):
         else:
             logger.info("Could not find model at %s", self.dh.model_path / self.dh.model_filename)
         return file_exists
+
+    @threaded
+    def retrain_model_on_separate_thread(self, new_trained_timerange: str, metadata: dict,
+                                         strategy: IStrategy):
+
+        # with nostdout():
+        self.dh.download_new_data_for_retraining(new_trained_timerange, metadata)
+        corr_dataframes, base_dataframes = self.dh.load_pairs_histories(new_trained_timerange,
+                                                                        metadata)
+
+        unfiltered_dataframe = self.dh.use_strategy_to_populate_indicators(strategy,
+                                                                           corr_dataframes,
+                                                                           base_dataframes,
+                                                                           metadata)
+
+        self.model = self.train(unfiltered_dataframe, metadata)
+        self.dh.save_data(self.model)
+
+        self.training_on_separate_thread = False
+        self.retrain = False
+
+    def train_model_in_series(self, new_trained_timerange: str, metadata: dict,
+                              strategy: IStrategy):
+
+        self.dh.download_new_data_for_retraining(new_trained_timerange, metadata)
+        corr_dataframes, base_dataframes = self.dh.load_pairs_histories(new_trained_timerange,
+                                                                        metadata)
+
+        unfiltered_dataframe = self.dh.use_strategy_to_populate_indicators(strategy,
+                                                                           corr_dataframes,
+                                                                           base_dataframes,
+                                                                           metadata)
+
+        self.model = self.train(unfiltered_dataframe, metadata)
+        self.dh.save_data(self.model)
diff --git a/freqtrade/templates/FreqaiExampleStrategy.py b/freqtrade/templates/FreqaiExampleStrategy.py
index 6478ca167..c8befebcf 100644
--- a/freqtrade/templates/FreqaiExampleStrategy.py
+++ b/freqtrade/templates/FreqaiExampleStrategy.py
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ class FreqaiExampleStrategy(IStrategy):
         self.freqai_info = self.config["freqai"]
         self.pair = metadata['pair']
 
-        print("Populating indicators...")
-
         # the following loops are necessary for building the features
         # indicated by the user in the configuration file.
         for tf in self.freqai_info["timeframes"]: