diff --git a/pigz_python/pigz_python.py b/pigz_python/pigz_python.py
index 4da266a..c061a1d 100644
--- a/pigz_python/pigz_python.py
+++ b/pigz_python/pigz_python.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 Functions and classes to speed up compression of files by utilizing
 multiple cores on a system.
 """
+
 import os
 import sys
 import time
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@
 
 
 class PigzFile:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
-    """ Class to implement Pigz functionality in Python """
+    """Class to implement Pigz functionality in Python"""
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -128,25 +129,25 @@ def _write_header_id(self):
         self.output_file.write((0x8B).to_bytes(1, sys.byteorder))
 
     def _write_header_cm(self):
-        """ Write the CM (compression method) to file header """
+        """Write the CM (compression method) to file header"""
         self.output_file.write((8).to_bytes(1, sys.byteorder))
 
     def _write_header_flg(self, flags):
-        """ Write FLG (FLaGs) """
+        """Write FLG (FLaGs)"""
         self.output_file.write((flags).to_bytes(1, sys.byteorder))
 
     def _write_header_mtime(self):
-        """ Write MTIME (Modification time) """
+        """Write MTIME (Modification time)"""
         mtime = self._determine_mtime()
         self.output_file.write((mtime).to_bytes(4, sys.byteorder))
 
     def _write_header_xfl(self):
-        """ Write XFL (eXtra FLags) """
+        """Write XFL (eXtra FLags)"""
         extra_flags = self._determine_extra_flags(self.compression_level)
         self.output_file.write((extra_flags).to_bytes(1, sys.byteorder))
 
     def _write_header_os(self):
-        """ Write OS """
+        """Write OS"""
         os_number = self._determine_operating_system()
         self.output_file.write((os_number).to_bytes(1, sys.byteorder))
 
@@ -235,27 +236,30 @@ def _read_file(self):
         # Initialize this to 0 so our increment sets first chunk to 1
         chunk_num = 0
         with open(self.compression_target, "rb") as input_file:
-            while True:
-                chunk = input_file.read(self.blocksize)
-                # Break out of the loop if we didn't read anything
-                if not chunk:
+            chunk = input_file.read(self.blocksize)
+            while chunk:
+                self.input_size += len(chunk)
+                chunk_num += 1
+
+                # Peek ahead to determine if this is the last chunk
+                next_chunk = input_file.read(self.blocksize)
+                is_last = not next_chunk
+
+                if is_last:
                     with self._last_chunk_lock:
                         self._last_chunk = chunk_num
-                    break
 
-                self.input_size += len(chunk)
-                chunk_num += 1
-                # Apply this chunk to the pool
-                self.pool.apply_async(self._process_chunk, (chunk_num, chunk))
+                # Pass is_last directly to avoid race condition
+                self.pool.apply_async(self._process_chunk, (chunk_num, chunk, is_last))
+
+                chunk = next_chunk
 
-    def _process_chunk(self, chunk_num: int, chunk: bytes):
+    def _process_chunk(self, chunk_num: int, chunk: bytes, is_last: bool):
         """
         Overall method to handle the chunk and pass it back to the write thread.
         This method is run on the pool.
         """
-        with self._last_chunk_lock:
-            last_chunk = chunk_num == self._last_chunk
-        compressed_chunk = self._compress_chunk(chunk, last_chunk)
+        compressed_chunk = self._compress_chunk(chunk, is_last)
         self.chunk_queue.put((chunk_num, chunk, compressed_chunk))
 
     def _compress_chunk(self, chunk: bytes, is_last_chunk: bool):
@@ -355,6 +359,6 @@ def compress_file(
     blocksize=DEFAULT_BLOCK_SIZE_KB,
     workers=CPU_COUNT,
 ):
-    """ Helper function to call underlying class and compression method """
+    """Helper function to call underlying class and compression method"""
     pigz_file = PigzFile(source_file, compresslevel, blocksize, workers)
     pigz_file.process_compression_target()
diff --git a/tests/test_pigz_python.py b/tests/test_pigz_python.py
index edb6732..c721edd 100644
--- a/tests/test_pigz_python.py
+++ b/tests/test_pigz_python.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 Unit tests for Pigz Python
 """
+
 import sys
 import unittest
 import zlib
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@
 
 # pylint: disable=protected-access, too-many-public-methods
 class TestPigzPython(unittest.TestCase):
-    """ Unit tests for PigzPython class """
+    """Unit tests for PigzPython class"""
 
     def setUp(self):
         """
@@ -422,11 +423,12 @@ def test_process_chunk(self):
         chunk = b"What can I do? I can't take up and down like this no more, babe I need to find out where I am Before I reach the stars Yeah, before I step on Mars"  # noqa; pylint: disable=line-too-long
         compressed_chunk = b"Jamiroquai"
         self.pigz_file._last_chunk = chunk_num
+        is_last = True
         self.pigz_file._compress_chunk = MagicMock()
         self.pigz_file._compress_chunk.return_value = compressed_chunk
         self.pigz_file.chunk_queue = MagicMock()
 
-        self.pigz_file._process_chunk(chunk_num, chunk)
+        self.pigz_file._process_chunk(chunk_num, chunk, is_last)
 
         # Second arg is True since we've setup the test data as last chunk
         self.pigz_file._compress_chunk.assert_called_with(chunk, True)