diff --git a/src/Application.hpp b/src/Application.hpp
index 8fda2ebba..558ae7b73 100644
--- a/src/Application.hpp
+++ b/src/Application.hpp
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ public:
 
     friend void test();
 
-    [[deprecated("use getSettings() instead")]] Settings *settings = nullptr;
-    [[deprecated("use getPaths() instead")]] Paths *paths = nullptr;
+    Settings *settings = nullptr;
+    Paths *paths = nullptr;
 
     Theme *themes = nullptr;
     WindowManager *windows = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/common/NetworkData.cpp b/src/common/NetworkData.cpp
index 878bda409..12aec944d 100644
--- a/src/common/NetworkData.cpp
+++ b/src/common/NetworkData.cpp
@@ -2,12 +2,23 @@
 
 #include "Application.hpp"
 #include "singletons/Paths.hpp"
+#include "util/DebugCount.hpp"
 
 #include <QCryptographicHash>
 #include <QFile>
 
 namespace chatterino {
 
+NetworkData::NetworkData()
+{
+    DebugCount::increase("NetworkData");
+}
+
+NetworkData::~NetworkData()
+{
+    DebugCount::decrease("NetworkData");
+}
+
 QString NetworkData::getHash()
 {
     if (this->hash_.isEmpty()) {
diff --git a/src/common/NetworkData.hpp b/src/common/NetworkData.hpp
index d3cecc046..d7fbf84ba 100644
--- a/src/common/NetworkData.hpp
+++ b/src/common/NetworkData.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ namespace chatterino {
 class NetworkResult;
 
 struct NetworkData {
+    NetworkData();
+    ~NetworkData();
+
     QNetworkRequest request_;
     const QObject *caller_ = nullptr;
     bool useQuickLoadCache_{};
diff --git a/src/common/NetworkRequest.cpp b/src/common/NetworkRequest.cpp
index 62929fe2a..69c636128 100644
--- a/src/common/NetworkRequest.cpp
+++ b/src/common/NetworkRequest.cpp
@@ -167,20 +167,21 @@ void NetworkRequest::doRequest()
     this->timer->start();
 
     auto onUrlRequested = [data = this->data, timer = this->timer, worker]() mutable {
-        QNetworkReply *reply = nullptr;
-        switch (data->requestType_) {
-            case NetworkRequestType::Get: {
-                reply = NetworkManager::NaM.get(data->request_);
-            } break;
+        auto reply = [&]() -> QNetworkReply * {
+            switch (data->requestType_) {
+                case NetworkRequestType::Get:
+                    return NetworkManager::NaM.get(data->request_);
 
-            case NetworkRequestType::Put: {
-                reply = NetworkManager::NaM.put(data->request_, data->payload_);
-            } break;
+                case NetworkRequestType::Put:
+                    return NetworkManager::NaM.put(data->request_, data->payload_);
 
-            case NetworkRequestType::Delete: {
-                reply = NetworkManager::NaM.deleteResource(data->request_);
-            } break;
-        }
+                case NetworkRequestType::Delete:
+                    return NetworkManager::NaM.deleteResource(data->request_);
+
+                default:
+                    return nullptr;
+            }
+        }();
 
         if (reply == nullptr) {
             Log("Unhandled request type");
@@ -201,8 +202,6 @@ void NetworkRequest::doRequest()
             data->onReplyCreated_(reply);
         }
 
-        bool directAction = (data->caller_ == nullptr);
-
         auto handleReply = [data, timer, reply]() mutable {
             // TODO(pajlada): A reply was received, kill the timeout timer
             if (reply->error() != QNetworkReply::NetworkError::NoError) {
@@ -222,8 +221,7 @@ void NetworkRequest::doRequest()
         };
 
         if (data->caller_ != nullptr) {
-            QObject::connect(worker, &NetworkWorker::doneUrl, data->caller_,
-                             std::move(handleReply));
+            QObject::connect(worker, &NetworkWorker::doneUrl, data->caller_, handleReply);
             QObject::connect(reply, &QNetworkReply::finished, worker, [worker]() mutable {
                 emit worker->doneUrl();
 
@@ -231,7 +229,7 @@ void NetworkRequest::doRequest()
             });
         } else {
             QObject::connect(reply, &QNetworkReply::finished, worker,
-                             [handleReply = std::move(handleReply), worker]() mutable {
+                             [handleReply, worker]() mutable {
                                  handleReply();
 
                                  delete worker;
diff --git a/src/controllers/commands/CommandController.cpp b/src/controllers/commands/CommandController.cpp
index c558ec376..47c4e25db 100644
--- a/src/controllers/commands/CommandController.cpp
+++ b/src/controllers/commands/CommandController.cpp
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ QString CommandController::execCommand(const QString &text, ChannelPtr channel,
 
                 app->twitch.server->whispersChannel->addMessage(b.getMessage());
 
-                app->twitch.server->getWriteConnection()->sendRaw("PRIVMSG #jtv :" + text + "\r\n");
+                app->twitch.server->sendMessage("jtv", text);
 
                 if (getSettings()->inlineWhispers) {
                     app->twitch.server->forEachChannel(
diff --git a/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.cpp b/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.cpp
index 592ce4ff1..fcbd306ae 100644
--- a/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.cpp
@@ -35,26 +35,18 @@ AbstractIrcServer::AbstractIrcServer()
     //    this->writeConnection->reconnectRequested.connect([this] { this->connect(); });
 }
 
-IrcConnection *AbstractIrcServer::getReadConnection() const
-{
-    return this->readConnection_.get();
-}
-
-IrcConnection *AbstractIrcServer::getWriteConnection() const
-{
-    return this->writeConnection_.get();
-}
-
 void AbstractIrcServer::connect()
 {
     this->disconnect();
 
-    //    if (this->hasSeparateWriteConnection()) {
-    this->initializeConnection(this->writeConnection_.get(), false, true);
-    this->initializeConnection(this->readConnection_.get(), true, false);
-    //    } else {
-    //        this->initializeConnection(this->readConnection.get(), true, true);
-    //    }
+    bool separateWriteConnection = this->hasSeparateWriteConnection();
+
+    if (separateWriteConnection) {
+        this->initializeConnection(this->writeConnection_.get(), false, true);
+        this->initializeConnection(this->readConnection_.get(), true, false);
+    } else {
+        this->initializeConnection(this->readConnection_.get(), true, true);
+    }
 
     // fourtf: this should be asynchronous
     {
@@ -67,7 +59,6 @@ void AbstractIrcServer::connect()
                 continue;
             }
 
-            this->writeConnection_->sendRaw("JOIN #" + chan->name);
             this->readConnection_->sendRaw("JOIN #" + chan->name);
         }
 
@@ -88,13 +79,18 @@ void AbstractIrcServer::disconnect()
 }
 
 void AbstractIrcServer::sendMessage(const QString &channelName, const QString &message)
+{
+    this->sendRawMessage("PRIVMSG #" + channelName + " :" + message);
+}
+
+void AbstractIrcServer::sendRawMessage(const QString &rawMessage)
 {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> locker(this->connectionMutex_);
 
-    // fourtf: trim the message if it's sent from twitch chat
-
-    if (this->writeConnection_) {
-        this->writeConnection_->sendRaw("PRIVMSG #" + channelName + " :" + message);
+    if (this->hasSeparateWriteConnection()) {
+        this->writeConnection_->sendRaw(rawMessage);
+    } else {
+        this->readConnection_->sendRaw(rawMessage);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.hpp b/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.hpp
index 9e2723c39..734be1d87 100644
--- a/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.hpp
+++ b/src/providers/irc/AbstractIrcServer.hpp
@@ -17,13 +17,11 @@ public:
     virtual ~AbstractIrcServer() = default;
 
     // connection
-    IrcConnection *getReadConnection() const;
-    IrcConnection *getWriteConnection() const;
-
     void connect();
     void disconnect();
 
     void sendMessage(const QString &channelName, const QString &message);
+    void sendRawMessage(const QString &rawMessage);
 
     // channels
     std::shared_ptr<Channel> getOrAddChannel(const QString &dirtyChannelName);
@@ -54,6 +52,7 @@ protected:
 
     virtual std::shared_ptr<Channel> getCustomChannel(const QString &channelName);
 
+    virtual bool hasSeparateWriteConnection() const = 0;
     virtual QString cleanChannelName(const QString &dirtyChannelName);
 
     QMap<QString, std::weak_ptr<Channel>> channels;
diff --git a/src/providers/irc/IrcConnection2.cpp b/src/providers/irc/IrcConnection2.cpp
index 82d0d1797..b1d28c20b 100644
--- a/src/providers/irc/IrcConnection2.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/irc/IrcConnection2.cpp
@@ -9,18 +9,23 @@ IrcConnection::IrcConnection(QObject *parent)
     this->pingTimer_.setInterval(5000);
     this->pingTimer_.start();
     QObject::connect(&this->pingTimer_, &QTimer::timeout, [this] {
-        if (!this->recentlyReceivedMessage_.load()) {
-            this->sendRaw("PING");
-            this->reconnectTimer_.start();
+        if (this->isConnected()) {
+            if (!this->recentlyReceivedMessage_.load()) {
+                this->sendRaw("PING");
+                this->reconnectTimer_.start();
+            }
+            this->recentlyReceivedMessage_ = false;
         }
-        this->recentlyReceivedMessage_ = false;
     });
 
     // reconnect after x seconds without receiving a message
     this->reconnectTimer_.setInterval(5000);
     this->reconnectTimer_.setSingleShot(true);
-    QObject::connect(&this->reconnectTimer_, &QTimer::timeout,
-                     [this] { reconnectRequested.invoke(); });
+    QObject::connect(&this->reconnectTimer_, &QTimer::timeout, [this] {
+        if (this->isConnected()) {
+            reconnectRequested.invoke();
+        }
+    });
 
     QObject::connect(this, &Communi::IrcConnection::messageReceived, [this](Communi::IrcMessage *) {
         this->recentlyReceivedMessage_ = true;
diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.cpp b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.cpp
index 97af4d729..6a77a3e89 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 namespace chatterino {
 
-TwitchChannel::TwitchChannel(const QString &channelName, Communi::IrcConnection *readConnection)
+TwitchChannel::TwitchChannel(const QString &channelName)
     : Channel(channelName, Channel::Type::Twitch)
     , bttvEmotes_(new EmoteMap)
     , ffzEmotes_(new EmoteMap)
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ TwitchChannel::TwitchChannel(const QString &channelName, Communi::IrcConnection
     , channelUrl_("https://twitch.tv/" + name)
     , popoutPlayerUrl_("https://player.twitch.tv/?channel=" + name)
     , mod_(false)
-    , readConnection_(readConnection)
 {
     Log("[TwitchChannel:{}] Opened", this->name);
 
@@ -420,7 +419,9 @@ bool TwitchChannel::parseRecentMessages(const QJsonObject &jsonRoot)
 
     for (const auto jsonMessage : jsonMessages) {
         auto content = jsonMessage.toString().toUtf8();
-        auto message = Communi::IrcMessage::fromData(content, this->readConnection_);
+        // passing nullptr as the channel makes the message invalid but we don't check for that
+        // anyways
+        auto message = Communi::IrcMessage::fromData(content, nullptr);
         auto privMsg = dynamic_cast<Communi::IrcPrivateMessage *>(message);
         assert(privMsg);
 
diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.hpp b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.hpp
index b46b59f9f..c2986029d 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.hpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchChannel.hpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ private:
         QString localizedName;
     };
 
-    explicit TwitchChannel(const QString &channelName, Communi::IrcConnection *readConnection);
+    explicit TwitchChannel(const QString &channelName);
 
     // Methods
     void refreshLiveStatus();
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ private:
     QObject lifetimeGuard_;
     QTimer liveStatusTimer_;
     QTimer chattersListTimer_;
-    Communi::IrcConnection *readConnection_ = nullptr;
 
     friend class TwitchServer;
 };
diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.cpp b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.cpp
index 39df1cc64..8649a955f 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ TwitchServer::TwitchServer()
     qDebug() << "init TwitchServer";
 
     this->pubsub = new PubSub;
+
+    getSettings()->twitchSeperateWriteConnection.connect([this](auto, auto) { this->connect(); },
+                                                         this->signalHolder_, false);
 }
 
 void TwitchServer::initialize(Application &app)
@@ -42,12 +45,13 @@ void TwitchServer::initializeConnection(IrcConnection *connection, bool isRead,
 {
     assert(this->app);
 
+    this->singleConnection_ = isRead == isWrite;
+
     std::shared_ptr<TwitchAccount> account = getApp()->accounts->twitch.getCurrent();
 
     qDebug() << "logging in as" << account->getUserName();
 
     QString username = account->getUserName();
-    //    QString oauthClient = account->getOAuthClient();
     QString oauthToken = account->getOAuthToken();
 
     if (!oauthToken.startsWith("oauth:")) {
@@ -60,9 +64,6 @@ void TwitchServer::initializeConnection(IrcConnection *connection, bool isRead,
 
     if (!account->isAnon()) {
         connection->setPassword(oauthToken);
-
-        // fourtf: ignored users
-        //        this->refreshIgnoredUsers(username, oauthClient, oauthToken);
     }
 
     connection->sendCommand(Communi::IrcCommand::createCapability("REQ", "twitch.tv/membership"));
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ void TwitchServer::initializeConnection(IrcConnection *connection, bool isRead,
 
 std::shared_ptr<Channel> TwitchServer::createChannel(const QString &channelName)
 {
-    TwitchChannel *channel = new TwitchChannel(channelName, this->getReadConnection());
+    TwitchChannel *channel = new TwitchChannel(channelName);
 
     channel->sendMessageSignal.connect([this, channel](auto &chan, auto &msg, bool &sent) {
         this->onMessageSendRequested(channel, msg, sent);
@@ -91,6 +92,8 @@ void TwitchServer::privateMessageReceived(Communi::IrcPrivateMessage *message)
 
 void TwitchServer::messageReceived(Communi::IrcMessage *message)
 {
+    qDebug() << message->toData();
+
     //    this->readConnection
     if (message->type() == Communi::IrcMessage::Type::Private) {
         // We already have a handler for private messages
@@ -179,6 +182,12 @@ QString TwitchServer::cleanChannelName(const QString &dirtyChannelName)
     return dirtyChannelName.toLower();
 }
 
+bool TwitchServer::hasSeparateWriteConnection() const
+{
+    return true;
+    // return getSettings()->twitchSeperateWriteConnection;
+}
+
 void TwitchServer::onMessageSendRequested(TwitchChannel *channel, const QString &message,
                                           bool &sent)
 {
diff --git a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.hpp b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.hpp
index 4587d0d87..97f0859fe 100644
--- a/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.hpp
+++ b/src/providers/twitch/TwitchServer.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ public:
 
     virtual void initialize(Application &app) override;
 
-    // fourtf: ugh
     void forEachChannelAndSpecialChannels(std::function<void(ChannelPtr)> func);
 
     std::shared_ptr<Channel> getChannelOrEmptyByID(const QString &channelID);
@@ -36,16 +35,18 @@ public:
     PubSub *pubsub;
 
 protected:
-    void initializeConnection(IrcConnection *connection, bool isRead, bool isWrite) override;
-    std::shared_ptr<Channel> createChannel(const QString &channelName) override;
+    virtual void initializeConnection(IrcConnection *connection, bool isRead,
+                                      bool isWrite) override;
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Channel> createChannel(const QString &channelName) override;
 
-    void privateMessageReceived(Communi::IrcPrivateMessage *message) override;
-    void messageReceived(Communi::IrcMessage *message) override;
-    void writeConnectionMessageReceived(Communi::IrcMessage *message) override;
+    virtual void privateMessageReceived(Communi::IrcPrivateMessage *message) override;
+    virtual void messageReceived(Communi::IrcMessage *message) override;
+    virtual void writeConnectionMessageReceived(Communi::IrcMessage *message) override;
 
-    std::shared_ptr<Channel> getCustomChannel(const QString &channelname) override;
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Channel> getCustomChannel(const QString &channelname) override;
 
-    QString cleanChannelName(const QString &dirtyChannelName) override;
+    virtual QString cleanChannelName(const QString &dirtyChannelName) override;
+    virtual bool hasSeparateWriteConnection() const override;
 
 private:
     void onMessageSendRequested(TwitchChannel *channel, const QString &message, bool &sent);
@@ -57,6 +58,10 @@ private:
     std::queue<std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point> lastMessageMod_;
     std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point lastErrorTimeSpeed_;
     std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point lastErrorTimeAmount_;
+
+    bool singleConnection_ = false;
+
+    pajlada::Signals::SignalHolder signalHolder_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace chatterino
diff --git a/src/singletons/Settings.hpp b/src/singletons/Settings.hpp
index 1eda0e815..a785df395 100644
--- a/src/singletons/Settings.hpp
+++ b/src/singletons/Settings.hpp
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ public:
     BoolSetting showJoins = {"/behaviour/showJoins", false};
     BoolSetting showParts = {"/behaviour/showParts", false};
     FloatSetting mouseScrollMultiplier = {"/behaviour/mouseScrollMultiplier", 1.0};
+    // BoolSetting twitchSeperateWriteConnection = {"/behaviour/twitchSeperateWriteConnection",
+    // false};
 
     // Auto-completion
     BoolSetting onlyFetchChattersForSmallerStreamers = {
diff --git a/src/util/DebugCount.cpp b/src/util/DebugCount.cpp
index 1f6d28a74..81be6250b 100644
--- a/src/util/DebugCount.cpp
+++ b/src/util/DebugCount.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 namespace chatterino {
 
-QMap<QString, int64_t> DebugCount::counts_;
-std::mutex DebugCount::mut_;
+UniqueAccess<QMap<QString, int64_t>> DebugCount::counts_;
 
 }  // namespace chatterino
diff --git a/src/util/DebugCount.hpp b/src/util/DebugCount.hpp
index 7e78641d1..46bfb83a1 100644
--- a/src/util/DebugCount.hpp
+++ b/src/util/DebugCount.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <common/UniqueAccess.hpp>
+
 #include <mutex>
 #include <typeinfo>
 
@@ -13,11 +15,11 @@ class DebugCount
 public:
     static void increase(const QString &name)
     {
-        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mut_);
+        auto counts = counts_.access();
 
-        auto it = counts_.find(name);
-        if (it == counts_.end()) {
-            counts_.insert(name, 1);
+        auto it = counts->find(name);
+        if (it == counts->end()) {
+            counts->insert(name, 1);
         } else {
             reinterpret_cast<int64_t &>(it.value())++;
         }
@@ -25,11 +27,11 @@ public:
 
     static void decrease(const QString &name)
     {
-        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mut_);
+        auto counts = counts_.access();
 
-        auto it = counts_.find(name);
-        if (it == counts_.end()) {
-            counts_.insert(name, -1);
+        auto it = counts->find(name);
+        if (it == counts->end()) {
+            counts->insert(name, -1);
         } else {
             reinterpret_cast<int64_t &>(it.value())--;
         }
@@ -37,10 +39,10 @@ public:
 
     static QString getDebugText()
     {
-        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mut_);
+        auto counts = counts_.access();
 
         QString text;
-        for (auto it = counts_.begin(); it != counts_.end(); it++) {
+        for (auto it = counts->begin(); it != counts->end(); it++) {
             text += it.key() + ": " + QString::number(it.value()) + "\n";
         }
         return text;
@@ -52,8 +54,7 @@ public:
     }
 
 private:
-    static QMap<QString, int64_t> counts_;
-    static std::mutex mut_;
+    static UniqueAccess<QMap<QString, int64_t>> counts_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace chatterino
diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.cpp b/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.cpp
index 31162c2eb..c3bb13801 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DebugPopup::DebugPopup()
     auto *text = new QLabel(this);
     auto *timer = new QTimer(this);
 
-    timer->setInterval(1000);
+    timer->setInterval(300);
     QObject::connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout,
                      [text] { text->setText(DebugCount::getDebugText()); });
     timer->start();
diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.hpp b/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.hpp
index b70c97d57..ec0c2bcdd 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.hpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/DebugPopup.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <QWindow>
+#include <QWidget>
 
 namespace chatterino {
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/settingspages/FeelPage.cpp b/src/widgets/settingspages/FeelPage.cpp
index 455eca9f8..83e86f2f8 100644
--- a/src/widgets/settingspages/FeelPage.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/settingspages/FeelPage.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ FeelPage::FeelPage()
 
     auto layout = layoutCreator.setLayoutType<QVBoxLayout>();
 
+    // layout.append(this->createCheckBox("Use a seperate write connection.",
+    //                                    getSettings()->twitchSeperateWriteConnection));
     layout.append(this->createCheckBox(SCROLL_SMOOTH, getSettings()->enableSmoothScrolling));
     layout.append(
         this->createCheckBox(SCROLL_NEWMSG, getSettings()->enableSmoothScrollingNewMessages));