diff --git a/src/client.rs b/src/client.rs
index cc912191..9d4f4038 100644
--- a/src/client.rs
+++ b/src/client.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use crate::config::get_config;
 use crate::constants::*;
 use crate::errors::Error;
 use crate::messages::*;
-use crate::pool::{get_pool, ClientServerMap, ConnectionPool};
+use crate::pool::{get_pool, ClientServerMap};
 use crate::query_router::{Command, QueryRouter};
 use crate::server::Server;
 use crate::stats::{get_reporter, Reporter};
@@ -73,8 +73,13 @@ pub struct Client<S, T> {
     /// Last server process id we talked to.
     last_server_id: Option<i32>,
 
-    target_pool: ConnectionPool,
+    /// Name of the server pool for this client (This comes from the database name in the connection string)
+    target_pool_name: String,
 
+    /// Postgres user for this client (This comes from the user in the connection string)
+    target_user_name: String,
+
+    /// Used to notify clients about an impending shutdown
     shutdown_event_receiver: Receiver<()>,
 }
 
@@ -305,19 +310,19 @@ where
 
         trace!("Got StartupMessage");
         let parameters = parse_startup(bytes.clone())?;
-        let database = match parameters.get("database") {
+        let target_pool_name = match parameters.get("database") {
             Some(db) => db,
             None => return Err(Error::ClientError),
         };
 
-        let user = match parameters.get("user") {
+        let target_user_name = match parameters.get("user") {
             Some(user) => user,
             None => return Err(Error::ClientError),
         };
 
         let admin = ["pgcat", "pgbouncer"]
             .iter()
-            .filter(|db| *db == &database)
+            .filter(|db| *db == &target_pool_name)
             .count()
             == 1;
 
@@ -352,7 +357,7 @@ where
             Err(_) => return Err(Error::SocketError),
         };
 
-        let (target_pool, transaction_mode, server_info) = if admin {
+        let (transaction_mode, server_info) = if admin {
             let correct_user = config.general.admin_username.as_str();
             let correct_password = config.general.admin_password.as_str();
 
@@ -360,23 +365,20 @@ where
             let password_hash = md5_hash_password(correct_user, correct_password, &salt);
             if password_hash != password_response {
                 debug!("Password authentication failed");
-                wrong_password(&mut write, user).await?;
+                wrong_password(&mut write, target_user_name).await?;
                 return Err(Error::ClientError);
             }
-            (
-                ConnectionPool::default(),
-                false,
-                generate_server_info_for_admin(),
-            )
+
+            (false, generate_server_info_for_admin())
         } else {
-            let target_pool = match get_pool(database.clone(), user.clone()) {
+            let target_pool = match get_pool(target_pool_name.clone(), target_user_name.clone()) {
                 Some(pool) => pool,
                 None => {
                     error_response(
                         &mut write,
                         &format!(
                             "No pool configured for database: {:?}, user: {:?}",
-                            database, user
+                            target_pool_name, target_user_name
                         ),
                     )
                     .await?;
@@ -387,14 +389,14 @@ where
             let server_info = target_pool.server_info();
             // Compare server and client hashes.
             let correct_password = target_pool.settings.user.password.as_str();
-            let password_hash = md5_hash_password(user, correct_password, &salt);
+            let password_hash = md5_hash_password(&target_user_name, correct_password, &salt);
 
             if password_hash != password_response {
                 debug!("Password authentication failed");
-                wrong_password(&mut write, user).await?;
+                wrong_password(&mut write, &target_user_name).await?;
                 return Err(Error::ClientError);
             }
-            (target_pool, transaction_mode, server_info)
+            (transaction_mode, server_info)
         };
 
         debug!("Password authentication successful");
@@ -424,7 +426,8 @@ where
             admin: admin,
             last_address_id: None,
             last_server_id: None,
-            target_pool: target_pool,
+            target_pool_name: target_pool_name.clone(),
+            target_user_name: target_user_name.clone(),
             shutdown_event_receiver: shutdown_event_receiver,
         });
     }
@@ -455,7 +458,8 @@ where
             admin: false,
             last_address_id: None,
             last_server_id: None,
-            target_pool: ConnectionPool::default(),
+            target_pool_name: String::from("undefined"),
+            target_user_name: String::from("undefined"),
             shutdown_event_receiver: shutdown_event_receiver,
         });
     }
@@ -494,7 +498,7 @@ where
 
         // The query router determines where the query is going to go,
         // e.g. primary, replica, which shard.
-        let mut query_router = QueryRouter::new(self.target_pool.clone());
+        let mut query_router = QueryRouter::new();
         let mut round_robin = 0;
 
         // Our custom protocol loop.
@@ -520,11 +524,6 @@ where
                 message_result = read_message(&mut self.read) => message_result?
             };
 
-            // Get a pool instance referenced by the most up-to-date
-            // pointer. This ensures we always read the latest config
-            // when starting a query.
-            let mut pool = self.target_pool.clone();
-
             // Avoid taking a server if the client just wants to disconnect.
             if message[0] as char == 'X' {
                 debug!("Client disconnecting");
@@ -538,6 +537,25 @@ where
                 continue;
             }
 
+            // Get a pool instance referenced by the most up-to-date
+            // pointer. This ensures we always read the latest config
+            // when starting a query.
+            let mut pool =
+                match get_pool(self.target_pool_name.clone(), self.target_user_name.clone()) {
+                    Some(pool) => pool,
+                    None => {
+                        error_response(
+                            &mut self.write,
+                            &format!(
+                                "No pool configured for database: {:?}, user: {:?}",
+                                self.target_pool_name, self.target_user_name
+                            ),
+                        )
+                        .await?;
+                        return Err(Error::ClientError);
+                    }
+                };
+            query_router.update_pool_settings(pool.settings.clone());
             let current_shard = query_router.shard();
 
             // Handle all custom protocol commands, if any.
diff --git a/src/query_router.rs b/src/query_router.rs
index d597b81e..6b377684 100644
--- a/src/query_router.rs
+++ b/src/query_router.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use sqlparser::dialect::PostgreSqlDialect;
 use sqlparser::parser::Parser;
 
 use crate::config::Role;
-use crate::pool::{ConnectionPool, PoolSettings};
+use crate::pool::PoolSettings;
 use crate::sharding::{Sharder, ShardingFunction};
 
 /// Regexes used to parse custom commands.
@@ -91,16 +91,20 @@ impl QueryRouter {
     }
 
     /// Create a new instance of the query router. Each client gets its own.
-    pub fn new(target_pool: ConnectionPool) -> QueryRouter {
+    pub fn new() -> QueryRouter {
         QueryRouter {
             active_shard: None,
             active_role: None,
-            query_parser_enabled: target_pool.settings.query_parser_enabled,
-            primary_reads_enabled: target_pool.settings.primary_reads_enabled,
-            pool_settings: target_pool.settings,
+            query_parser_enabled: false,
+            primary_reads_enabled: false,
+            pool_settings: PoolSettings::default(),
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn update_pool_settings(&mut self, pool_settings: PoolSettings) {
+        self.pool_settings = pool_settings;
+    }
+
     /// Try to parse a command and execute it.
     pub fn try_execute_command(&mut self, mut buf: BytesMut) -> Option<(Command, String)> {
         let code = buf.get_u8() as char;
@@ -363,6 +367,8 @@ impl QueryRouter {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
+    use std::collections::HashMap;
+
     use super::*;
     use crate::messages::simple_query;
     use bytes::BufMut;
@@ -370,7 +376,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_defaults() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let qr = QueryRouter::new();
 
         assert_eq!(qr.role(), None);
     }
@@ -378,7 +384,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_infer_role_replica() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
         assert!(qr.try_execute_command(simple_query("SET SERVER ROLE TO 'auto'")) != None);
         assert_eq!(qr.query_parser_enabled(), true);
 
@@ -402,7 +408,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_infer_role_primary() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
 
         let queries = vec![
             simple_query("UPDATE items SET name = 'pumpkin' WHERE id = 5"),
@@ -421,7 +427,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_infer_role_primary_reads_enabled() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
         let query = simple_query("SELECT * FROM items WHERE id = 5");
         assert!(qr.try_execute_command(simple_query("SET PRIMARY READS TO on")) != None);
 
@@ -432,7 +438,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_infer_role_parse_prepared() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
         qr.try_execute_command(simple_query("SET SERVER ROLE TO 'auto'"));
         assert!(qr.try_execute_command(simple_query("SET PRIMARY READS TO off")) != None);
 
@@ -523,7 +529,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_try_execute_command() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
 
         // SetShardingKey
         let query = simple_query("SET SHARDING KEY TO 13");
@@ -600,7 +606,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_enable_query_parser() {
         QueryRouter::setup();
-        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new(ConnectionPool::default());
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
         let query = simple_query("SET SERVER ROLE TO 'auto'");
         assert!(qr.try_execute_command(simple_query("SET PRIMARY READS TO off")) != None);
 
@@ -621,4 +627,43 @@ mod test {
         assert!(qr.try_execute_command(query) != None);
         assert!(qr.query_parser_enabled());
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_update_from_pool_settings() {
+        QueryRouter::setup();
+
+        let pool_settings = PoolSettings {
+            pool_mode: "transaction".to_string(),
+            shards: HashMap::default(),
+            user: crate::config::User::default(),
+            default_role: Role::Replica.to_string(),
+            query_parser_enabled: true,
+            primary_reads_enabled: false,
+            sharding_function: "pg_bigint_hash".to_string(),
+        };
+        let mut qr = QueryRouter::new();
+        assert_eq!(qr.active_role, None);
+        assert_eq!(qr.active_shard, None);
+        assert_eq!(qr.query_parser_enabled, false);
+        assert_eq!(qr.primary_reads_enabled, false);
+
+        // Internal state must not be changed due to this, only defaults
+        qr.update_pool_settings(pool_settings.clone());
+
+        assert_eq!(qr.active_role, None);
+        assert_eq!(qr.active_shard, None);
+        assert_eq!(qr.query_parser_enabled, false);
+        assert_eq!(qr.primary_reads_enabled, false);
+
+        let q1 = simple_query("SET SERVER ROLE TO 'primary'");
+        assert!(qr.try_execute_command(q1) != None);
+        assert_eq!(qr.active_role.unwrap(), Role::Primary);
+
+        let q2 = simple_query("SET SERVER ROLE TO 'default'");
+        assert!(qr.try_execute_command(q2) != None);
+        assert_eq!(
+            qr.active_role.unwrap().to_string(),
+            pool_settings.clone().default_role
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ruby/.ruby-version b/tests/ruby/.ruby-version
index 860487ca..cf232b52 100644
--- a/tests/ruby/.ruby-version
+++ b/tests/ruby/.ruby-version
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-2.7.1
+3.0.0
+
diff --git a/tests/ruby/Gemfile b/tests/ruby/Gemfile
index 05684c98..7b019183 100644
--- a/tests/ruby/Gemfile
+++ b/tests/ruby/Gemfile
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ source "https://rubygems.org"
 gem "pg"
 gem "activerecord"
 gem "rubocop"
+gem "toml", "~> 0.3.0"
diff --git a/tests/ruby/Gemfile.lock b/tests/ruby/Gemfile.lock
index 607df18c..3fd03471 100644
--- a/tests/ruby/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/tests/ruby/Gemfile.lock
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ GEM
     parallel (1.22.1)
     parser (3.1.2.0)
       ast (~> 2.4.1)
+    parslet (2.0.0)
     pg (1.3.2)
     rainbow (3.1.1)
     regexp_parser (2.3.1)
@@ -35,17 +36,21 @@ GEM
     rubocop-ast (1.17.0)
       parser (>= 3.1.1.0)
     ruby-progressbar (1.11.0)
+    toml (0.3.0)
+      parslet (>= 1.8.0, < 3.0.0)
     tzinfo (2.0.4)
       concurrent-ruby (~> 1.0)
     unicode-display_width (2.1.0)
 
 PLATFORMS
+  arm64-darwin-21
   x86_64-linux
 
 DEPENDENCIES
   activerecord
   pg
   rubocop
+  toml (~> 0.3.0)
 
 BUNDLED WITH
    2.3.7
diff --git a/tests/ruby/tests.rb b/tests/ruby/tests.rb
index c5a55a7e..ba9476f4 100644
--- a/tests/ruby/tests.rb
+++ b/tests/ruby/tests.rb
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 require 'active_record'
 require 'pg'
+require 'toml'
 
 $stdout.sync = true
 
@@ -141,3 +142,62 @@ def test_server_parameters
 
   puts 'Server parameters ok'
 end
+
+
+class ConfigEditor
+  def initialize
+    @original_config_text = File.read('../../.circleci/pgcat.toml')
+    text_to_load = @original_config_text.gsub("5432", "\"5432\"")
+
+    @original_configs = TOML.load(text_to_load)
+  end
+
+  def original_configs
+    TOML.load(TOML::Generator.new(@original_configs).body)
+  end
+
+  def with_modified_configs(new_configs)
+    text_to_write = TOML::Generator.new(new_configs).body
+    text_to_write = text_to_write.gsub("\"5432\"", "5432")
+    File.write('../../.circleci/pgcat.toml', text_to_write)
+    yield
+  ensure
+    File.write('../../.circleci/pgcat.toml', @original_config_text)
+  end
+
+end
+
+
+def test_reload_pool_recycling
+  admin_conn = PG::connect("postgres://admin_user:admin_pass@127.0.0.1:6432/pgcat")
+  server_conn = PG::connect("postgres://sharding_user:sharding_user@127.0.0.1:6432/sharded_db?application_name=testing_pgcat")
+
+  server_conn.async_exec("BEGIN")
+  conf_editor = ConfigEditor.new
+  new_configs = conf_editor.original_configs
+
+  # swap shards
+  new_configs["pools"]["sharded_db"]["shards"]["0"]["database"] = "shard1"
+  new_configs["pools"]["sharded_db"]["shards"]["1"]["database"] = "shard0"
+
+  raise StandardError if server_conn.async_exec("SELECT current_database();")[0]["current_database"] != 'shard0'
+  conf_editor.with_modified_configs(new_configs) { admin_conn.async_exec("RELOAD") }
+  raise StandardError if server_conn.async_exec("SELECT current_database();")[0]["current_database"] != 'shard0'
+  server_conn.async_exec("COMMIT;")
+
+  # Transaction finished, client should get new configs
+  raise StandardError if server_conn.async_exec("SELECT current_database();")[0]["current_database"] != 'shard1'
+  server_conn.close()
+
+  # New connection should get new configs
+  server_conn = PG::connect("postgres://sharding_user:sharding_user@127.0.0.1:6432/sharded_db?application_name=testing_pgcat")
+  raise StandardError if server_conn.async_exec("SELECT current_database();")[0]["current_database"] != 'shard1'
+
+ensure
+  admin_conn.async_exec("RELOAD") # Go back to old state
+  admin_conn.close
+  server_conn.close
+  puts "Pool Recycling okay!"
+end
+
+test_reload_pool_recycling