diff --git a/GameState.py b/GameState.py
index 8440848..a92999e 100644
--- a/GameState.py
+++ b/GameState.py
@@ -5,13 +5,15 @@ from lamps.Lamp import CREDIT
 from itertools import cycle
 from lamps.LampGroup import *
 import asyncio
+import threading
 
 class GameState:
     players = None
     credits = config.BALLS_PER_GAME
     isPlaying = False
     isStarted = False
-    isIdle = asyncio.Event()
+    isIdle = True
+    idleThread = None
 
     def __init__(self, playerStateFactory, highscore, specialDisplay, currentPlayerID = 0):
         CREDIT.activate()
@@ -45,13 +47,17 @@ class GameState:
 
     def startIdleLoop(self):
         logging.info("Starting Idle Loop")
-        asyncio.run(self.idleLoop())
+        self.isIdle = True
+        self.idleThread = threading.Thread(target=self.idleLoop)
+        self.idleThread.start()
         pass
 
     def stopIdleLoop(self):
         logging.info("Stopping Idle Loop")
-        self.isIdle.set()
+        self.isIdle = False
+        self.idleThread.join()
         self.deactivate_all()
+
         pass
 
     def deactivate_all(self):