diff --git a/src/rev_ai/streamingclient.py b/src/rev_ai/streamingclient.py
index e91cca5b..3ed01f7e 100644
--- a/src/rev_ai/streamingclient.py
+++ b/src/rev_ai/streamingclient.py
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ def start(self,
               start_ts=None,
               transcriber=None,
               language=None,
-              skip_postprocessing=None):
+              skip_postprocessing=None,
+              max_segment_duration_seconds=None):
         """Function to connect the websocket to the URL and start the response
             thread
         :param generator: generator object that yields binary audio data
@@ -124,6 +125,9 @@ def start(self,
         if skip_postprocessing:
             url += '&' + urlencode({'skip_postprocessing': 'true'})
 
+        if max_segment_duration_seconds:
+            url += '&' + urlencode({'max_segment_duration_seconds': max_segment_duration_seconds})
+
         try:
             self.client.connect(url)
         except Exception as e:
@@ -146,7 +150,7 @@ def _start_send_data_thread(self, generator):
             raise ValueError('generator must be provided')
 
         if hasattr(self, 'request_thread'):
-            if self.request_thread.isAlive():
+            if self.request_thread.is_alive():
                 raise RuntimeError("""Data is still being sent and will interfere
                     with the responses.""")