diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e43c0393..5c21aeab 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ __pycache__
 
 # python local dev
 venv
+.venv
 
 .DS_Store
 .idea
diff --git a/core/cat/looking_glass/cheshire_cat.py b/core/cat/looking_glass/cheshire_cat.py
index 4b43e270..4dc91968 100644
--- a/core/cat/looking_glass/cheshire_cat.py
+++ b/core/cat/looking_glass/cheshire_cat.py
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         # i.e. finished uploading a file
         self.ws_messages: Dict[str, asyncio.Queue] = {}
 
+        self._loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+
     def load_natural_language(self):
         """Load Natural Language related objects.
 
@@ -379,7 +381,7 @@ def send_ws_message(self, content: str, msg_type: MSG_TYPES = "notification", wo
             raise ValueError(f"The message type `{msg_type}` is not valid. Valid types: {', '.join(options)}")
 
         if msg_type == "error":
-            asyncio.run(
+            self._loop.create_task(
                 working_memory.ws_messages.put(
                     {
                         "type": msg_type,
@@ -389,7 +391,7 @@ def send_ws_message(self, content: str, msg_type: MSG_TYPES = "notification", wo
                 )
             )
         else:
-            asyncio.run(
+            self._loop.create_task(
                 working_memory.ws_messages.put(
                     {
                         "type": msg_type,