diff --git a/cmd/fleet/serve.go b/cmd/fleet/serve.go
index 802dd07694..3c931cf5d6 100644
--- a/cmd/fleet/serve.go
+++ b/cmd/fleet/serve.go
@@ -235,6 +235,20 @@ the way that the Fleet server works.
 				}
 			}()
 
+			// Flush seen hosts every second
+			go func() {
+				ticker := time.NewTicker(1 * time.Second)
+				for {
+					if err := svc.FlushSeenHosts(context.Background()); err != nil {
+						level.Info(logger).Log(
+							"err", err,
+							"msg", "failed to update host seen times",
+						)
+					}
+					<-ticker.C
+				}
+			}()
+
 			fieldKeys := []string{"method", "error"}
 			requestCount := kitprometheus.NewCounterFrom(prometheus.CounterOpts{
 				Namespace: "api",
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b3fe56ed2a..06ef252afe 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ services:
     image: mysql:5.7
     volumes:
       - mysql-persistent-volume:/tmp
-    command: mysqld --datadir=/tmp/mysqldata --slow_query_log=1 --log_output=TABLE --log-queries-not-using-indexes --event-scheduler=ON
+    command: mysqld --datadir=/tmp/mysqldata --event-scheduler=ON
     environment: &mysql-default-environment
       MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: toor
       MYSQL_DATABASE: fleet
diff --git a/server/datastore/datastore.go b/server/datastore/datastore.go
index f8f7b70ec2..0702b4ea50 100644
--- a/server/datastore/datastore.go
+++ b/server/datastore/datastore.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ var TestFunctions = [...]func(*testing.T, kolide.Datastore){
 	testAddLabelToPackTwice,
 	testGenerateHostStatusStatistics,
 	testMarkHostSeen,
+	testMarkHostsSeen,
 	testCleanupIncomingHosts,
 	testDuplicateNewQuery,
 	testChangeEmail,
diff --git a/server/datastore/datastore_hosts.go b/server/datastore/datastore_hosts.go
index c2415b8863..7d3c8ff5b8 100644
--- a/server/datastore/datastore_hosts.go
+++ b/server/datastore/datastore_hosts.go
@@ -564,6 +564,67 @@ func testMarkHostSeen(t *testing.T, ds kolide.Datastore) {
 	}
 }
 
+func testMarkHostsSeen(t *testing.T, ds kolide.Datastore) {
+	mockClock := clock.NewMockClock()
+
+	aSecondAgo := mockClock.Now().Add(-1 * time.Second).UTC()
+	anHourAgo := mockClock.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour).UTC()
+	aDayAgo := mockClock.Now().Add(-24 * time.Hour).UTC()
+
+	h1, err := ds.NewHost(&kolide.Host{
+		ID:               1,
+		OsqueryHostID:    "1",
+		UUID:             "1",
+		NodeKey:          "1",
+		DetailUpdateTime: aDayAgo,
+		LabelUpdateTime:  aDayAgo,
+		SeenTime:         aDayAgo,
+	})
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+
+	h2, err := ds.NewHost(&kolide.Host{
+		ID:               2,
+		OsqueryHostID:    "2",
+		UUID:             "2",
+		NodeKey:          "2",
+		DetailUpdateTime: aDayAgo,
+		LabelUpdateTime:  aDayAgo,
+		SeenTime:         aDayAgo,
+	})
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+
+	err = ds.MarkHostsSeen([]uint{h1.ID}, anHourAgo)
+	assert.Nil(t, err)
+
+	{
+		h1Verify, err := ds.Host(h1.ID)
+		assert.Nil(t, err)
+		require.NotNil(t, h1Verify)
+		assert.WithinDuration(t, anHourAgo, h1Verify.SeenTime, time.Second)
+
+		h2Verify, err := ds.Host(h2.ID)
+		assert.Nil(t, err)
+		require.NotNil(t, h2Verify)
+		assert.WithinDuration(t, aDayAgo, h2Verify.SeenTime, time.Second)
+	}
+
+	err = ds.MarkHostsSeen([]uint{h1.ID, h2.ID}, aSecondAgo)
+	assert.Nil(t, err)
+
+	{
+		h1Verify, err := ds.Host(h1.ID)
+		assert.Nil(t, err)
+		require.NotNil(t, h1Verify)
+		assert.WithinDuration(t, aSecondAgo, h1Verify.SeenTime, time.Second)
+
+		h2Verify, err := ds.Host(h2.ID)
+		assert.Nil(t, err)
+		require.NotNil(t, h2Verify)
+		assert.WithinDuration(t, aSecondAgo, h2Verify.SeenTime, time.Second)
+	}
+
+}
+
 func testCleanupIncomingHosts(t *testing.T, ds kolide.Datastore) {
 	mockClock := clock.NewMockClock()
 
diff --git a/server/datastore/mysql/hosts.go b/server/datastore/mysql/hosts.go
index 9a4b877896..e23ee4cb79 100644
--- a/server/datastore/mysql/hosts.go
+++ b/server/datastore/mysql/hosts.go
@@ -442,6 +442,34 @@ func (d *Datastore) MarkHostSeen(host *kolide.Host, t time.Time) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (d *Datastore) MarkHostsSeen(hostIDs []uint, t time.Time) error {
+	if len(hostIDs) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := d.withRetryTxx(func(tx *sqlx.Tx) error {
+		query := `
+		UPDATE hosts SET
+			seen_time = ?
+		WHERE id IN (?)
+	`
+		query, args, err := sqlx.In(query, t, hostIDs)
+		if err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "sqlx in")
+		}
+		query = d.db.Rebind(query)
+		if _, err := d.db.Exec(query, args...); err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "exec update")
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "MarkHostsSeen transaction")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (d *Datastore) searchHostsWithOmits(query string, omit ...uint) ([]*kolide.Host, error) {
 	hostQuery := transformQuery(query)
 	ipQuery := `"` + query + `"`
diff --git a/server/kolide/hosts.go b/server/kolide/hosts.go
index 1934fa504a..7bdc2ebad2 100644
--- a/server/kolide/hosts.go
+++ b/server/kolide/hosts.go
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ type HostStore interface {
 	// endpoints.
 	AuthenticateHost(nodeKey string) (*Host, error)
 	MarkHostSeen(host *Host, t time.Time) error
+	MarkHostsSeen(hostIDs []uint, t time.Time) error
 	SearchHosts(query string, omit ...uint) ([]*Host, error)
 	// CleanupIncomingHosts deletes hosts that have enrolled but never
 	// updated their status details. This clears dead "incoming hosts" that
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ type HostService interface {
 	// Possible matches can be on osquery_host_identifier, node_key, UUID, or
 	// hostname.
 	HostByIdentifier(ctx context.Context, identifier string) (*HostDetail, error)
+
+	FlushSeenHosts(ctx context.Context) error
 }
 
 type HostListOptions struct {
diff --git a/server/mock/datastore_hosts.go b/server/mock/datastore_hosts.go
index 8b20c5687a..3c76777d15 100644
--- a/server/mock/datastore_hosts.go
+++ b/server/mock/datastore_hosts.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ type AuthenticateHostFunc func(nodeKey string) (*kolide.Host, error)
 
 type MarkHostSeenFunc func(host *kolide.Host, t time.Time) error
 
+type MarkHostsSeenFunc func(hostIDs []uint, t time.Time) error
+
 type CleanupIncomingHostsFunc func(t time.Time) error
 
 type SearchHostsFunc func(query string, omit ...uint) ([]*kolide.Host, error)
@@ -66,6 +68,9 @@ type HostStore struct {
 	MarkHostSeenFunc        MarkHostSeenFunc
 	MarkHostSeenFuncInvoked bool
 
+	MarkHostsSeenFunc        MarkHostsSeenFunc
+	MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked bool
+
 	CleanupIncomingHostsFunc        CleanupIncomingHostsFunc
 	CleanupIncomingHostsFuncInvoked bool
 
@@ -127,6 +132,11 @@ func (s *HostStore) MarkHostSeen(host *kolide.Host, t time.Time) error {
 	return s.MarkHostSeenFunc(host, t)
 }
 
+func (s *HostStore) MarkHostsSeen(hostIDs []uint, t time.Time) error {
+	s.MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked = true
+	return s.MarkHostsSeenFunc(hostIDs, t)
+}
+
 func (s *HostStore) CleanupIncomingHosts(t time.Time) error {
 	s.CleanupIncomingHostsFuncInvoked = true
 	return s.CleanupIncomingHostsFunc(t)
diff --git a/server/service/service.go b/server/service/service.go
index eff796debf..c6fcf01fea 100644
--- a/server/service/service.go
+++ b/server/service/service.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"html/template"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/WatchBeam/clock"
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ func NewService(ds kolide.Datastore, resultStore kolide.QueryResultStore,
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "initializing osquery logging")
 	}
 
-	svc = service{
+	svc = &service{
 		ds:               ds,
 		carveStore:       carveStore,
 		resultStore:      resultStore,
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ func NewService(ds kolide.Datastore, resultStore kolide.QueryResultStore,
 		osqueryLogWriter: osqueryLogger,
 		mailService:      mailService,
 		ssoSessionStore:  sso,
+		seenHostSet:      newSeenHostSet(),
 		metaDataClient: &http.Client{
 			Timeout: 5 * time.Second,
 		},
@@ -62,6 +64,8 @@ type service struct {
 	mailService     kolide.MailService
 	ssoSessionStore sso.SessionStore
 	metaDataClient  *http.Client
+
+	seenHostSet *seenHostSet
 }
 
 func (s service) SendEmail(mail kolide.Email) error {
@@ -90,3 +94,36 @@ func getAssetURL() template.URL {
 
 	return template.URL("https://github.com/fleetdm/fleet/blob/" + tag)
 }
+
+// seenHostSet implements synchronized storage for the set of seen hosts.
+type seenHostSet struct {
+	mutex   sync.Mutex
+	hostIDs map[uint]bool
+}
+
+func newSeenHostSet() *seenHostSet {
+	return &seenHostSet{
+		mutex:   sync.Mutex{},
+		hostIDs: make(map[uint]bool),
+	}
+}
+
+// addHostID adds the host identified by ID to the set
+func (m *seenHostSet) addHostID(id uint) {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
+	m.hostIDs[id] = true
+}
+
+// getAndClearHostIDs gets the list of unique host IDs from the set and empties
+// the set.
+func (m *seenHostSet) getAndClearHostIDs() []uint {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
+	var ids []uint
+	for id, _ := range m.hostIDs {
+		ids = append(ids, id)
+	}
+	m.hostIDs = make(map[uint]bool)
+	return ids
+}
diff --git a/server/service/service_hosts.go b/server/service/service_hosts.go
index e0ecc8dd39..57b9658cd0 100644
--- a/server/service/service_hosts.go
+++ b/server/service/service_hosts.go
@@ -66,3 +66,8 @@ func (svc service) GetHostSummary(ctx context.Context) (*kolide.HostSummary, err
 func (svc service) DeleteHost(ctx context.Context, id uint) error {
 	return svc.ds.DeleteHost(id)
 }
+
+func (svc *service) FlushSeenHosts(ctx context.Context) error {
+	hostIDs := svc.seenHostSet.getAndClearHostIDs()
+	return svc.ds.MarkHostsSeen(hostIDs, svc.clock.Now())
+}
diff --git a/server/service/service_invites_test.go b/server/service/service_invites_test.go
index 087438321f..66c9689268 100644
--- a/server/service/service_invites_test.go
+++ b/server/service/service_invites_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func setupInviteTest(t *testing.T) (kolide.Service, *mock.Store, *mockMailServic
 		KolideServerURL: "https://acme.co",
 	})
 	mailer := &mockMailService{SendEmailFn: func(e kolide.Email) error { return nil }}
-	svc := validationMiddleware{service{
+	svc := validationMiddleware{&service{
 		ds:          ms,
 		config:      config.TestConfig(),
 		mailService: mailer,
diff --git a/server/service/service_osquery.go b/server/service/service_osquery.go
index 57d7f19683..c9cd4e4163 100644
--- a/server/service/service_osquery.go
+++ b/server/service/service_osquery.go
@@ -64,11 +64,14 @@ func (svc service) AuthenticateHost(ctx context.Context, nodeKey string) (*kolid
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Update the "seen" time used to calculate online status
-	err = svc.ds.MarkHostSeen(host, svc.clock.Now())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, osqueryError{message: "failed to mark host seen: " + err.Error()}
-	}
+	// Update the "seen" time used to calculate online status. These updates are
+	// batched for MySQL performance reasons. Because this is done
+	// asynchronously, it is possible for the server to shut down before
+	// updating the seen time for these hosts. This seems to be an acceptable
+	// tradeoff as an online host will continue to check in and quickly be
+	// marked online again.
+	svc.seenHostSet.addHostID(host.ID)
+	host.SeenTime = svc.clock.Now()
 
 	return host, nil
 }
diff --git a/server/service/service_osquery_test.go b/server/service/service_osquery_test.go
index e3323fe253..185afc05e4 100644
--- a/server/service/service_osquery_test.go
+++ b/server/service/service_osquery_test.go
@@ -114,23 +114,46 @@ func TestEnrollAgentDetails(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAuthenticateHost(t *testing.T) {
 	ds := new(mock.Store)
 	svc, err := newTestService(ds, nil, nil)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var gotKey string
-	host := kolide.Host{HostName: "foobar"}
+	host := kolide.Host{ID: 1, HostName: "foobar"}
 	ds.AuthenticateHostFunc = func(key string) (*kolide.Host, error) {
 		gotKey = key
 		return &host, nil
 	}
-	ds.MarkHostSeenFunc = func(host *kolide.Host, t time.Time) error {
+	var gotHostIDs []uint
+	ds.MarkHostsSeenFunc = func(hostIDs []uint, t time.Time) error {
+		gotHostIDs = hostIDs
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	h, err := svc.AuthenticateHost(context.Background(), "test")
+	_, err = svc.AuthenticateHost(context.Background(), "test")
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "test", gotKey)
-	assert.True(t, ds.MarkHostSeenFuncInvoked)
-	assert.Equal(t, host, *h)
+	assert.False(t, ds.MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked)
+
+	host = kolide.Host{ID: 7, HostName: "foobar"}
+	_, err = svc.AuthenticateHost(context.Background(), "floobar")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "floobar", gotKey)
+	assert.False(t, ds.MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked)
+	// Host checks in twice
+	host = kolide.Host{ID: 7, HostName: "foobar"}
+	_, err = svc.AuthenticateHost(context.Background(), "floobar")
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "floobar", gotKey)
+	assert.False(t, ds.MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked)
+
+	err = svc.FlushSeenHosts(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, ds.MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked)
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []uint{1, 7}, gotHostIDs)
+
+	err = svc.FlushSeenHosts(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, ds.MarkHostsSeenFuncInvoked)
+	assert.Len(t, gotHostIDs, 0)
 }
 
 func TestAuthenticateHostFailure(t *testing.T) {
@@ -161,7 +184,7 @@ func TestSubmitStatusLogs(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 
 	// Hack to get at the service internals and modify the writer
-	serv := ((svc.(validationMiddleware)).Service).(service)
+	serv := ((svc.(validationMiddleware)).Service).(*service)
 
 	testLogger := &testJSONLogger{}
 	serv.osqueryLogWriter = &logging.OsqueryLogger{Status: testLogger}
@@ -190,7 +213,7 @@ func TestSubmitResultLogs(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 
 	// Hack to get at the service internals and modify the writer
-	serv := ((svc.(validationMiddleware)).Service).(service)
+	serv := ((svc.(validationMiddleware)).Service).(*service)
 
 	testLogger := &testJSONLogger{}
 	serv.osqueryLogWriter = &logging.OsqueryLogger{Result: testLogger}
@@ -1527,15 +1550,18 @@ func TestAuthenticationErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	svc, err := newTestService(ms, nil, nil)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	_, err = svc.AuthenticateHost(ctx, "")
-	require.NotNil(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.True(t, err.(osqueryError).NodeInvalid())
 
+	ms.AuthenticateHostFunc = func(nodeKey string) (*kolide.Host, error) {
+		return &kolide.Host{ID: 1}, nil
+	}
 	_, err = svc.AuthenticateHost(ctx, "foo")
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// return not found error
 	ms.AuthenticateHostFunc = func(nodeKey string) (*kolide.Host, error) {
@@ -1543,7 +1569,7 @@ func TestAuthenticationErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	_, err = svc.AuthenticateHost(ctx, "foo")
-	require.NotNil(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.True(t, err.(osqueryError).NodeInvalid())
 
 	// return other error