diff --git a/nio_llm/client.py b/nio_llm/client.py
index 7ab4ce3..888b430 100644
--- a/nio_llm/client.py
+++ b/nio_llm/client.py
@@ -23,7 +23,16 @@ class LLMClient(AsyncClient):
         ggml_path: Path,
         room: str,
     ):
-        """Create a new LLMClient instance."""
+        """Create a new LLMClient instance.
+
+        Args:
+            username (`str`): The username to log in as.
+            homeserver (`str`): The homeserver to connect to.
+            device_id (`str`): The device ID to use.
+            preprompt (`str`): The preprompt to use.
+            ggml_path (`Path`): The path to the GGML model.
+            room (`str`): The room to join.
+        """
         self.uid = f"@{username}:{homeserver.removeprefix('https://')}"
         self.spawn_time = time.time() * 1000
         self.username = username
@@ -50,8 +59,13 @@ class LLMClient(AsyncClient):
         # add callbacks
         self.add_event_callback(self.message_callback, RoomMessageText)  # type: ignore
 
-    async def message_callback(self, room: MatrixRoom, event: RoomMessageText):
-        """Process new messages as they come in."""
+    async def message_callback(self, room: MatrixRoom, event: RoomMessageText) -> None:
+        """Process new messages as they come in.
+
+        Args:
+            room (`MatrixRoom`): The room the message was sent in.
+            event (`RoomMessageText`): The message event.
+        """
         logger.debug(f"New RoomMessageText: {event.source}")
 
         # ignore messages pre-dating our spawn time
@@ -148,3 +162,19 @@ class LLMClient(AsyncClient):
                 "body": output,
             },
         )
+
+    async def start(self, password, sync_timeout=30000):
+        """Start the client.
+
+        Args:
+            password (`str`): The password to log in with.
+            sync_timeout (`int`, default `30000`): The sync timeout in milliseconds.
+        """
+        # Login to the homeserver
+        logger.debug(await self.login(password))
+
+        # Join the room, if not already joined
+        logger.debug(await self.join(self.room))
+
+        # Sync with the server forever
+        await self.sync_forever(timeout=sync_timeout)
diff --git a/nio_llm/main.py b/nio_llm/main.py
index 819b9fa..629253a 100644
--- a/nio_llm/main.py
+++ b/nio_llm/main.py
@@ -66,6 +66,13 @@ logger = logging.getLogger("nio-llm.main")
     default="stable-vicuna-13B.ggmlv3.q5_1.bin",
     show_default=True,
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--sync-timeout",
+    "-s",
+    help="The timeout to use when syncing with the homeserver.",
+    default=30000,
+    show_default=True,
+)
 def main(
     *,
     room: str,
@@ -76,6 +83,7 @@ def main(
     homeserver: str,
     ggml_repoid: str,
     ggml_filename: str,
+    sync_timeout: int,
 ) -> None:
     """Run the main program.
 
@@ -89,34 +97,6 @@ def main(
         ),
     )
 
-    # start the async loop
-    asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(
-        _main(
-            room=room,
-            password=password,
-            username=username,
-            device_id=device_id,
-            ggml_path=ggml_path,
-            preprompt=preprompt,
-            homeserver=homeserver,
-        ),
-    )
-
-
-async def _main(
-    *,
-    room: str,
-    password: str,
-    username: str,
-    device_id: str,
-    preprompt: str,
-    ggml_path: Path,
-    homeserver: str,
-) -> None:
-    """Run the async main program.
-
-    Create the client, login, join the room, and sync forever.
-    """
     # create the client
     client = LLMClient(
         room=room,
@@ -127,14 +107,13 @@ async def _main(
         homeserver=homeserver,
     )
 
-    # Login to the homeserver
-    logger.debug(await client.login(password))
-
-    # Join the room, if not already joined
-    logger.debug(await client.join(room))
-
-    # Sync with the server forever
-    await client.sync_forever(timeout=30000)
+    # start the client
+    asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(
+        client.start(
+            password=password,
+            sync_timeout=sync_timeout,
+        ),
+    )
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":