diff --git a/src/cachier/core.py b/src/cachier/core.py
index 5a4bc4aa..30ccb15b 100644
--- a/src/cachier/core.py
+++ b/src/cachier/core.py
@@ -102,10 +102,20 @@ def _set_max_workers(max_workers):
     _get_executor(True)
 
 
-def _get_executor(reset=False):
-    if reset or not hasattr(_get_executor, "executor"):
-        _get_executor.executor = ThreadPoolExecutor(_max_workers())
-    return _get_executor.executor
+def _get_executor(reset: bool = False) -> ThreadPoolExecutor:
+    """Return the worker pool, retiring the previous pool after a reset.
+
+    Already submitted work is allowed to finish without blocking the caller.
+
+    """
+    executor_state: Any = _get_executor
+    if reset or not hasattr(executor_state, "executor"):
+        executor = ThreadPoolExecutor(_max_workers())
+        previous = getattr(executor_state, "executor", None)
+        executor_state.executor = executor
+        if previous is not None:
+            previous.shutdown(wait=False)
+    return executor_state.executor
 
 
 def _function_thread(core: _BaseCore, key, func, args, kwds):
diff --git a/tests/test_executor_reset.py b/tests/test_executor_reset.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f221e41e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_executor_reset.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+"""Regression tests for replacing background worker pools."""
+
+import threading
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
+
+import pytest
+
+from cachier.core import MAX_WORKERS_ENVAR_NAME, _get_executor
+
+
+def test_reset_retires_pool_without_dropping_pending_work(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    """Keep running and queued work alive while retiring the old pool.
+
+    The replacement must become usable before the old work completes.
+
+    """
+    previous = ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=1)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_get_executor, "executor", previous, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setenv(MAX_WORKERS_ENVAR_NAME, "1")
+    started = threading.Event()
+    release = threading.Event()
+
+    def blocked_work() -> str:
+        """Wait for the test to release the old worker.
+
+        A timeout bounds cleanup if an assertion fails.
+
+        """
+        started.set()
+        release.wait(timeout=5)
+        return "running"
+
+    running = previous.submit(blocked_work)
+    reset = threading.Thread(target=_get_executor, kwargs={"reset": True})
+    try:
+        assert started.wait(timeout=2)
+        queued = previous.submit(str, "queued")
+        reset.start()
+        reset.join(timeout=1)
+        assert not reset.is_alive()
+        replacement = _get_executor()
+        assert replacement is not previous
+        assert replacement.submit(str, "new").result(timeout=2) == "new"
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="shutdown"):
+            previous.submit(str, "rejected")
+        release.set()
+        assert running.result(timeout=2) == "running"
+        assert queued.result(timeout=2) == "queued"
+    finally:
+        release.set()
+        if reset.ident is not None:
+            reset.join(timeout=5)
+        previous.shutdown(wait=True)
+        _get_executor().shutdown(wait=True)
+
+
+def test_failed_reset_preserves_usable_pool(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    """Keep the existing pool available when replacement creation fails.
+
+    Invalid worker settings must not shut down a working executor.
+
+    """
+    with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=1) as previous:
+        monkeypatch.setattr(_get_executor, "executor", previous, raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.setenv(MAX_WORKERS_ENVAR_NAME, "0")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="max_workers"):
+            _get_executor(reset=True)
+        assert _get_executor() is previous
+        assert previous.submit(str, "still usable").result(timeout=2) == "still usable"