diff --git a/hc/api/management/commands/sendalerts.py b/hc/api/management/commands/sendalerts.py
index 2577568d..7abd122c 100644
--- a/hc/api/management/commands/sendalerts.py
+++ b/hc/api/management/commands/sendalerts.py
@@ -35,7 +35,15 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             help='Do not keep running indefinitely in a 2 second wait loop',
         )
 
-    def handle_one(self):
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '--no-threads',
+            action='store_false',
+            dest='use_threads',
+            default=False,
+            help='Send alerts synchronously, without using threads',
+        )
+
+    def handle_one(self, use_threads=True):
         """ Process a single check.  """
 
         now = timezone.now()
@@ -65,15 +73,20 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             if num_updated == 1:
                 # Send notifications only if status update succeeded
                 # (no other sendalerts process got there first)
-                notify_on_thread(check.id, self.stdout)
+                if use_threads:
+                    notify_on_thread(check.id, self.stdout)
+                else:
+                    notify(check.id, self.stdout)
+
                 return True
 
         return False
 
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
+        use_threads = options["use_threads"]
         if not options["loop"]:
             x = 0
-            while self.handle_one():
+            while self.handle_one(use_threads):
                 # returns True when there are more alerts to send.
                 x += 1
             return "Sent %d alert(s)" % x
@@ -83,7 +96,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         ticks = 0
         while True:
 
-            while self.handle_one():
+            while self.handle_one(use_threads):
                 ticks = 0
 
             ticks += 1
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py b/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
index 5136a487..fc64bb7e 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from datetime import timedelta
 from mock import patch
 
+from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.utils import timezone
 from hc.api.management.commands.sendalerts import Command
 from hc.api.models import Check
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         check.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertEqual(check.status, "down")
 
-        # It should call `notify`
+        # It should call `notify_on_thread`
         self.assertTrue(mock_notify.called)
 
     @patch("hc.api.management.commands.sendalerts.notify_on_thread")
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         check.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertEqual(check.status, "up")
 
-        # It should call `notify`
+        # It should call `notify_on_thread`
         self.assertTrue(mock_notify.called)
 
         # alert_after now should be set
@@ -78,5 +79,17 @@ class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         # alert_after should have been increased
         self.assertTrue(check.alert_after > check.last_ping)
 
-        # notify should *not* have been called
+        # notify_on_thread should *not* have been called
         self.assertFalse(mock_notify.called)
+
+    @patch("hc.api.management.commands.sendalerts.notify")
+    def test_it_works_synchronously(self, mock_notify):
+        check = Check(user=self.alice, status="up")
+        check.last_ping = timezone.now() - timedelta(days=2)
+        check.alert_after = check.get_alert_after()
+        check.save()
+
+        call_command("sendalerts", loop=False, use_threads=False)
+
+        # It should call `notify` instead of `notify_on_thread`
+        self.assertTrue(mock_notify.called)