diff --git a/ucp/__init__.py b/ucp/__init__.py
index 2b338618a..f1d14fe7e 100644
--- a/ucp/__init__.py
+++ b/ucp/__init__.py
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@
 logger = get_ucxpy_logger()
 
 
+try:
+    import uvloop
+
+    uvloop.install()
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+
 __version__ = _get_versions()["version"]
 __ucx_version__ = "%d.%d.%d" % get_ucx_version()
 
diff --git a/ucp/continuous_ucx_progress.py b/ucp/continuous_ucx_progress.py
index 2bf27c85a..d7068a274 100644
--- a/ucp/continuous_ucx_progress.py
+++ b/ucp/continuous_ucx_progress.py
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ def _fd_reader_callback(self):
 
         # Notice, we can safely overwrite `self.dangling_arm_task`
         # since previous arm task is finished by now.
-        assert self.asyncio_task is None or self.asyncio_task.done()
+        if self.asyncio_task is None or self.asyncio_task.done():
+            return
         self.asyncio_task = self.event_loop.create_task(self._arm_worker())
 
     async def _arm_worker(self):