diff --git a/baukit/workerpool.py b/baukit/workerpool.py
index e9d2bde..f2169d7 100644
--- a/baukit/workerpool.py
+++ b/baukit/workerpool.py
@@ -58,14 +58,16 @@ class WorkerBase(Process):
         # Do the work until None is dequeued
         while True:
             try:
-                work_batch = self.queue.get()
+                work = self.queue.get()
             except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
                 print('Exiting...')
                 break
-            if work_batch is None:
+            if work is None:
                 self.queue.put(None)  # for another worker
                 return
-            self.work(*work_batch)
+            else:
+                work_batch, work_kw = work
+            self.work(*work_batch, **work_kw)
 
     def setup(self, **initargs):
         '''
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ class WorkerBase(Process):
         '''
         pass
 
-    def work(self, *args):
+    def work(self, *args, **kwargs):
         '''
         Override this method for one-time initialization.
         Args are passed from WorkerPool.add() arguments.
@@ -113,16 +115,16 @@ class WorkerPool(object):
         # The main process should handle ctrl-C.  Restore this now.
         signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, original_sigint_handler)
 
-    def add(self, *work_batch):
+    def add(self, *work_batch, **work_kw):
         if self.queue is None:
             if hasattr(self, 'worker'):
-                self.worker.work(*work_batch)
+                self.worker.work(*work_batch, **work_kw)
             else:
                 print('WorkerPool shutting down.', file=sys.stderr)
         else:
             try:
                 # The queue can block if the work is so slow it gets full.
-                self.queue.put(work_batch)
+                self.queue.put([work_batch, work_kw])
             except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
                 # Handle ctrl-C if done while waiting for the queue.
                 self.early_terminate()