diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 0.1.4
+
+* Expose mysql_thread_end() as `endThread`
+
 ## 0.1.3
 
 * Safer concurrency - see https://ro-che.info/articles/2015-04-17-safe-concurrent-mysql-haskell
diff --git a/Database/MySQL/Base.hs b/Database/MySQL/Base.hs
--- a/Database/MySQL/Base.hs
+++ b/Database/MySQL/Base.hs
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@
 --
 -- A low-level client library for the MySQL database, implemented as
 -- bindings to the C @mysqlclient@ API.
+--
+-- The C library is thread-safe, but uses thread-local state.  Therefore,
+-- if these bindings are used in a multi-threaded program, "bound" threads
+-- should be used (see "Control.Concurrent").  In addition, explicit calls
+-- to 'initLibrary', and possibly 'initThread' and 'endThread' may be needed
+-- in a multi-threaded program.
 
 module Database.MySQL.Base
     (
@@ -75,6 +81,7 @@
     -- * Concurrency
     , initLibrary
     , initThread
+    , endThread
     ) where
 
 import Control.Applicative ((<$>), (<*>))
@@ -554,7 +561,12 @@
 
 -- | Call @mysql_library_init@
 --
+-- A single-threaded program can rely on an implicit initialisation done
+-- when making the first connection, but a multi-threaded one should call
+-- 'initLibrary' separately, and it should be done before other threads
+-- might call into this library, since this function is not thread-safe.
 -- See <https://ro-che.info/articles/2015-04-17-safe-concurrent-mysql-haskell>
+-- and <https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/c-api-threaded-clients.html>
 -- for details.
 initLibrary :: IO ()
 initLibrary = do
@@ -566,7 +578,13 @@
 
 -- | Call @mysql_thread_init@
 --
+-- Again a single-threaded program does not need to call this explicitly.  Even
+-- in a multi-threaded one, if each connection is made, used, and destroyed
+-- in a single thread, it is sufficient to rely on the 'connect' call to do
+-- an implicit thread initialisation.  But in other cases, for example when
+-- using a connection pool, each thread requires explicit initialisation.
 -- See <https://ro-che.info/articles/2015-04-17-safe-concurrent-mysql-haskell>
+-- and <https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/c-api-threaded-clients.html>
 -- for details.
 initThread :: IO ()
 initThread = do
@@ -575,6 +593,21 @@
     then return ()
     else throw $ ConnectionError "initThread" (-1)
       "mysql_thread_init failed"
+
+-- | Call @mysql_thread_end@
+--
+-- This is needed at thread exit to avoid a memory leak, except when using
+-- a non-debug build of at least version 5.7.9 of the MySQL library.
+-- See <https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/mysql-thread-end.html>.
+-- The threads in question are the /OS threads/, so calling this function
+-- is likely to be important when using large numbers of bound threads (see
+-- "Control.Concurrent").  Unbound threads - those created with 'forkIO' and
+-- friends - share a small number of OS threads, so in those it is hard to
+-- call this function safely, and there is little benefit in doing so, but in
+-- any case using this library in unbound threads is not recommended  (see
+-- <https://ro-che.info/articles/2015-04-17-safe-concurrent-mysql-haskell>).
+endThread :: IO ()
+endThread = mysql_thread_end
 
 withRes :: String -> Result -> (Ptr MYSQL_RES -> IO a) -> IO a
 withRes func res act = do
diff --git a/Database/MySQL/Base/C.hsc b/Database/MySQL/Base/C.hsc
--- a/Database/MySQL/Base/C.hsc
+++ b/Database/MySQL/Base/C.hsc
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     -- * Concurrency
     , mysql_library_init
     , mysql_thread_init
+    , mysql_thread_end
     ) where
 
 #include "mysql_signals.h"
@@ -289,3 +290,6 @@
 
 foreign import ccall safe "mysql.h" mysql_thread_init
     :: IO MyBool
+
+foreign import ccall safe "mysql.h" mysql_thread_end
+    :: IO ()
diff --git a/mysql.cabal b/mysql.cabal
--- a/mysql.cabal
+++ b/mysql.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:           mysql
-version:        0.1.3
+version:        0.1.4
 homepage:       https://github.com/paul-rouse/mysql
 bug-reports:    https://github.com/paul-rouse/mysql/issues
 synopsis:       A low-level MySQL client library.