diff --git a/poetry.lock b/poetry.lock
index 83e520f..621c67a 100644
--- a/poetry.lock
+++ b/poetry.lock
@@ -409,6 +409,14 @@ category = "dev"
 optional = false
 python-versions = ">=2.7, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, !=3.3.*"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "py-cpuinfo"
+version = "7.0.0"
+description = "Get CPU info with pure Python 2 & 3"
+category = "dev"
+optional = false
+python-versions = "*"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pygments"
 version = "2.5.2"
@@ -469,6 +477,25 @@ wcwidth = "*"
 [package.extras]
 testing = ["argcomplete", "hypothesis (>=3.56)", "nose", "requests", "mock"]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pytest-benchmark"
+version = "3.2.3"
+description = "A ``pytest`` fixture for benchmarking code. It will group the tests into rounds that are calibrated to the chosen timer. See calibration_ and FAQ_."
+category = "dev"
+optional = false
+python-versions = ">=2.7, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, !=3.3.*, !=3.4.*"
+
+[package.dependencies]
+pathlib2 = {version = "*", markers = "python_version < \"3.4\""}
+py-cpuinfo = "*"
+pytest = ">=3.8"
+statistics = {version = "*", markers = "python_version < \"3.4\""}
+
+[package.extras]
+aspect = ["aspectlib"]
+elasticsearch = ["elasticsearch"]
+histogram = ["pygal", "pygaljs"]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pytz"
 version = "2021.1"
@@ -659,6 +686,17 @@ python-versions = ">=3.5"
 lint = ["flake8", "mypy", "docutils-stubs"]
 test = ["pytest"]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "statistics"
+version = "1.0.3.5"
+description = "A Python 2.* port of 3.4 Statistics Module"
+category = "dev"
+optional = false
+python-versions = "*"
+
+[package.dependencies]
+docutils = ">=0.3"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "stevedore"
 version = "3.3.0"
@@ -764,7 +802,7 @@ testing = ["pathlib2", "unittest2", "jaraco.itertools", "func-timeout"]
 [metadata]
 lock-version = "1.1"
 python-versions = "~2.7 || ~=3.5"
-content-hash = "66b3b619f735c9504ddf521624a8f902b6fb71e0d577c662e943087d0a2d66b7"
+content-hash = "57946bea81d199e225e949dee5fce80d7777c2c688a0f0af4d4852f5014d827e"
 
 [metadata.files]
 alabaster = [
@@ -1000,6 +1038,9 @@ py = [
     {file = "py-1.10.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:3b80836aa6d1feeaa108e046da6423ab8f6ceda6468545ae8d02d9d58d18818a"},
     {file = "py-1.10.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:21b81bda15b66ef5e1a777a21c4dcd9c20ad3efd0b3f817e7a809035269e1bd3"},
 ]
+py-cpuinfo = [
+    {file = "py-cpuinfo-7.0.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:9aa2e49675114959697d25cf57fec41c29b55887bff3bc4809b44ac6f5730097"},
+]
 pygments = [
     {file = "Pygments-2.5.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:2a3fe295e54a20164a9df49c75fa58526d3be48e14aceba6d6b1e8ac0bfd6f1b"},
     {file = "Pygments-2.5.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:98c8aa5a9f778fcd1026a17361ddaf7330d1b7c62ae97c3bb0ae73e0b9b6b0fe"},
@@ -1020,6 +1061,10 @@ pytest = [
     {file = "pytest-4.6.11-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:a00a7d79cbbdfa9d21e7d0298392a8dd4123316bfac545075e6f8f24c94d8c97"},
     {file = "pytest-4.6.11.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:50fa82392f2120cc3ec2ca0a75ee615be4c479e66669789771f1758332be4353"},
 ]
+pytest-benchmark = [
+    {file = "pytest-benchmark-3.2.3.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:ad4314d093a3089701b24c80a05121994c7765ce373478c8f4ba8d23c9ba9528"},
+    {file = "pytest_benchmark-3.2.3-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:01f79d38d506f5a3a0a9ada22ded714537bbdfc8147a881a35c1655db07289d9"},
+]
 pytz = [
     {file = "pytz-2021.1-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:eb10ce3e7736052ed3623d49975ce333bcd712c7bb19a58b9e2089d4057d0798"},
     {file = "pytz-2021.1.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:83a4a90894bf38e243cf052c8b58f381bfe9a7a483f6a9cab140bc7f702ac4da"},
@@ -1151,6 +1196,9 @@ sphinxcontrib-serializinghtml = [
     {file = "sphinxcontrib-serializinghtml-1.1.4.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:eaa0eccc86e982a9b939b2b82d12cc5d013385ba5eadcc7e4fed23f4405f77bc"},
     {file = "sphinxcontrib_serializinghtml-1.1.4-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:f242a81d423f59617a8e5cf16f5d4d74e28ee9a66f9e5b637a18082991db5a9a"},
 ]
+statistics = [
+    {file = "statistics-1.0.3.5.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:2dc379b80b07bf2ddd5488cad06b2b9531da4dd31edb04dc9ec0dc226486c138"},
+]
 stevedore = [
     {file = "stevedore-3.3.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:50d7b78fbaf0d04cd62411188fa7eedcb03eb7f4c4b37005615ceebe582aa82a"},
     {file = "stevedore-3.3.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:3a5bbd0652bf552748871eaa73a4a8dc2899786bc497a2aa1fcb4dcdb0debeee"},
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fdcf2ce..a313737 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ sphinx-rtd-theme = {version = "~=0.5.1", python = "~=3.5"}
 vulture = {version = "~=2.3", python = "~=3.6"}
 bandit = {version = "~=1.7.0", python = "~=3.6"}
 pdbpp = "^0.10.2"
+pytest-benchmark = "^3.2.3"
 
 [build-system]
 requires = ["poetry-core>=1.0.0", "Cython", "setuptools"]
diff --git a/sysaudit/__init__.py b/sysaudit/__init__.py
index 24af53c..cae68e3 100644
--- a/sysaudit/__init__.py
+++ b/sysaudit/__init__.py
@@ -1,52 +1,98 @@
 __all__ = ["audit", "addaudithook", "subscribe", "Span"]
 
 import collections
+import os
 import sys
 
 # Python 3.8+
 # DEV: We could check `sys.version_info >= (3, 8)`, but if auditing ever gets
 #   back ported we want to take advantage of that
+std_audit = None
+std_addaudithook = None
 if hasattr(sys, "audit") and hasattr(sys, "addaudithook"):
-    audit = sys.audit
-    addaudithook = sys.addaudithook
-else:
-    try:
-        from ._csysaudit import audit, addaudithook
-    except ImportError:
-        _hooks = list()
-
-        def audit(event, *args):
-            global _hooks
-            # Grab a copy of hooks so we don't need to lock here
-            for hook in _hooks[:]:
-                hook(event, args)
-
-        def addaudithook(callback):
-            global _hooks
-
-            # https://docs.python.org/3.8/library/sys.html#sys.addaudithook
-            # Raise an auditing event `sys.addaudithook` with no arguments.
-            # If any existing hooks raise an exception derived from RuntimeError,
-            # the new hook will not be added and the exception suppressed.
-            # As a result, callers cannot assume that their hook has been added
-            # unless they control all existing hooks.
-            try:
-                audit("sys.addaudithook")
-            except RuntimeError:
-                return
-
-            if callback not in _hooks:
-                _hooks.append(callback)
+    std_audit = sys.audit
+    std_addaudithook = sys.addaudithook
+
+# Try to import Cython version
+csysaudit_audit = None
+csysaudit_addaudithook = None
+try:
+    from . import _csysaudit
+
+    csysaudit_audit = _csysaudit.audit
+    csysaudit_addaudithook = _csysaudit.addaudithook
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+
+# Pure-python implementation
+_hooks = list()
+
 
+def py_audit(event, *args):
+    global _hooks
 
+    for hook in _hooks:
+        hook(event, args)
+
+
+def py_addaudithook(callback):
+    global _hooks
+
+    # https://docs.python.org/3.8/library/sys.html#sys.addaudithook
+    # Raise an auditing event `sys.addaudithook` with no arguments.
+    # If any existing hooks raise an exception derived from RuntimeError,
+    # the new hook will not be added and the exception suppressed.
+    # As a result, callers cannot assume that their hook has been added
+    # unless they control all existing hooks.
+    try:
+        audit("sys.addaudithook")
+    except RuntimeError:
+        return
+
+    if callback not in _hooks:
+        _hooks.append(callback)
+
+
+# Choose the best implementation
+# DEV: We still import/create all of them
+#      so we can easily access each implementation
+#      for testing
+SYSAUDIT_IMPL = os.getenv("SYSAUDIT_IMPL")
+if SYSAUDIT_IMPL:
+    if SYSAUDIT_IMPL == "stdlib":
+        audit = std_audit
+        addaudithook = std_addaudithook
+    elif SYSAUDIT_IMPL == "csysaudit":
+        audit = csysaudit_audit
+        addaudithook = csysaudit_addaudithook
+    elif SYSAUDIT_IMPL == "pysysaudit":
+        audit = py_audit
+        addaudithook = py_addaudithook
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "SYSAUDIT_IMPL must be one of ('stdlib', 'csysaudit', 'pysysaudit')"
+        )
+else:
+    if std_audit and std_addaudithook:
+        audit = std_audit
+        addaudithook = std_addaudithook
+    elif csysaudit_audit and csysaudit_addaudithook:
+        audit = csysaudit_audit
+        addaudithook = csysaudit_addaudithook
+    else:
+        audit = py_audit
+        addaudithook = py_addaudithook
+
+
+# Subscriptions
 _subscriptions = collections.defaultdict(list)
 _subscription_hook_active = False
 
 
 def _subscription_hook(event, args):
     if event in _subscriptions:
-        # Grab a copy of hooks so we don't need to lock here
-        for hook in _subscriptions[event][:]:
+        for hook in _subscriptions[event]:
             hook(args)
 
 
diff --git a/sysaudit/__init__.pyi b/sysaudit/__init__.pyi
index e8e12ec..0d16475 100644
--- a/sysaudit/__init__.pyi
+++ b/sysaudit/__init__.pyi
@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ def audit(event: str, *args: typing.Any) -> None: ...
 def addaudithook(
     hook: typing.Callable[[str, typing.Tuple[typing.Any, ...]], None]
 ) -> None: ...
+
+_audit_fn = typing.Callable[[str, typing.Any], None]
+_addaudithook_fn = typing.Callable[
+    [typing.Callable[[str, typing.Tuple[typing.Any, ...]], None]], None
+]
+
+std_audit = typing.Optional[_audit_fn]
+std_addaudithook = typing.Optional[_addaudithook_fn]
+csysaudit_audit = typing.Optional[_audit_fn]
+csysaudit_addaudithook = typing.Optional[_addaudithook_fn]
+py_audit = typing.Optional[_audit_fn]
+py_addaudithook = typing.Optional[_addaudithook_fn]
+
 def _subscription_hook(event: str, args: typing.Tuple[typing.Any, ...]) -> None: ...
 def subscribe(
     event: str, hook: typing.Callable[[typing.Tuple[typing.Any, ...]], None]
diff --git a/sysaudit/_csysaudit.pyx b/sysaudit/_csysaudit.pyx
index 8a74c06..5ef0ef6 100644
--- a/sysaudit/_csysaudit.pyx
+++ b/sysaudit/_csysaudit.pyx
@@ -1,15 +1,24 @@
-_hooks = list()
+cdef list hooks = []
+cdef int has_hooks = 0
 
 
-def audit(event, *args):
-    global _hooks
-    # Grab a copy of hooks so we don't need to lock here
-    for hook in _hooks[:]:
+cdef void _audit(str event, tuple args) except *:
+    global hooks
+    for hook in hooks:
         hook(event, args)
 
 
-def addaudithook(callback):
-    global _hooks
+def audit(event, *args):
+    global has_hooks
+
+    if has_hooks == 0:
+        return
+    _audit(event, args)
+
+
+cpdef void addaudithook(callback) except *:
+    global hooks
+    global has_hooks
 
     # https://docs.python.org/3.8/library/sys.html#sys.addaudithook
     # Raise an auditing event `sys.addaudithook` with no arguments.
@@ -18,9 +27,9 @@ def addaudithook(callback):
     # As a result, callers cannot assume that their hook has been added
     # unless they control all existing hooks.
     try:
-        audit("sys.addaudithook")
+        _audit("sys.addaudithook", tuple())
     except RuntimeError:
         return
 
-    if callback not in _hooks:
-        _hooks.append(callback)
+    has_hooks = 1
+    hooks.append(callback)
diff --git a/tests/audit-tests.py b/tests/audit-tests.py
index 85dc781..dc74e1b 100644
--- a/tests/audit-tests.py
+++ b/tests/audit-tests.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ module with arguments identifying each test.
 
 import contextlib
 import typing
+import os
 import sys
 
 import sysaudit
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index ef9b87b..4e7359f 100644
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -2,15 +2,22 @@ import subprocess
 import sys
 import unittest
 
+if sys.version_info < (3, 8):
+    IMPLEMENTATIONS = ("csysaudit", "pysysaudit")
+else:
+    IMPLEMENTATIONS = ("stdlib", "csysaudit", "pysysaudit")
+
 
 class BaseTest(unittest.TestCase):
     TEST_FILE_PY = None  # type: str
 
-    def do_test(self, *args):
+    def _do_test(self, *args, **kwargs):
         popen_kwargs = dict(
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
         )
+        if "impl" in kwargs:
+            popen_kwargs["env"] = dict(SYSAUDIT_IMPL=kwargs["impl"])
         if sys.version_info >= (3, 6):
             popen_kwargs["encoding"] = "utf-8"
 
@@ -23,13 +30,19 @@ class BaseTest(unittest.TestCase):
         if p.returncode:
             self.fail("".join(p.stderr))
 
-    def run_python(self, *args):
+    def do_test(self, *args):
+        for impl in IMPLEMENTATIONS:
+            return self._do_test(*args, impl=impl)
+
+    def _run_python(self, *args, **kwargs):
         events = []
 
         popen_kwargs = dict(
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
         )
+        if "impl" in kwargs:
+            popen_kwargs["env"] = dict(SYSAUDIT_IMPL=kwargs["impl"])
         if sys.version_info >= (3, 6):
             popen_kwargs["encoding"] = "utf-8"
 
@@ -43,3 +56,7 @@ class BaseTest(unittest.TestCase):
             [line.strip().partition(" ") for line in p.stdout],
             "".join(p.stderr),
         )
+
+    def run_python(self, *args):
+        for impl in IMPLEMENTATIONS:
+            return self._run_python(*args, impl=impl)
diff --git a/tests/test_audit.py b/tests/test_audit.py
index a02e0ea..03c91ba 100644
--- a/tests/test_audit.py
+++ b/tests/test_audit.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import unittest
 
 from .base import BaseTest
 
-
 skip_old_py = unittest.skipIf(
     sys.version_info < (3, 8), "Skipping tests testing built-in events"
 )
diff --git a/tests/test_benchmark.py b/tests/test_benchmark.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f3646b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_benchmark.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import unittest
+
+import pytest
+
+import sysaudit
+
+
+def hook(event, args):
+    pass
+
+
+@pytest.mark.benchmark(group="audit")
+def test_csysaudit_audit(benchmark):
+    sysaudit.csysaudit_addaudithook(hook)
+
+    benchmark(sysaudit.csysaudit_audit, "event", 1, 2, 3)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.benchmark(group="audit")
+def test_std_audit(benchmark):
+    if not sysaudit.std_audit:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest("stdlib version not available")
+
+    sysaudit.std_addaudithook(hook)
+    benchmark(sysaudit.std_audit, "event", 1, 2, 3)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.benchmark(group="audit")
+def test_py_audit(benchmark):
+    sysaudit.py_addaudithook(hook)
+    benchmark(sysaudit.py_audit, "event", 1, 2, 3)
diff --git a/tests/test_import.py b/tests/test_import.py
index 7842bf5..c602172 100644
--- a/tests/test_import.py
+++ b/tests/test_import.py
@@ -4,9 +4,17 @@ import sysaudit
 
 
 def test_module():  # type: () -> None
+    assert sysaudit.audit is not None
+    assert sysaudit.addaudithook is not None
+
     if sys.version_info >= (3, 8, 0):
+        assert sysaudit.std_audit == sys.audit  # type: ignore
+        assert sysaudit.std_addaudithook == sys.addaudithook  # type: ignore
         assert sysaudit.audit == sys.audit  # type: ignore [attr-defined]
         assert sysaudit.addaudithook == sys.addaudithook  # type: ignore [attr-defined]
     else:
-        assert sysaudit.audit == sysaudit._csysaudit.audit
-        assert sysaudit.addaudithook == sysaudit._csysaudit.addaudithook
+        assert sysaudit.audit == sysaudit.csysaudit_audit
+        assert sysaudit.addaudithook == sysaudit.csysaudit_addaudithook
+
+    assert sysaudit.py_audit is not None
+    assert sysaudit.py_addaudithook is not None