diff --git a/common/signals.py b/common/signals.py
index 97f595b..1b47778 100644
--- a/common/signals.py
+++ b/common/signals.py
@@ -22,11 +22,20 @@ def signal_handler(*_):
     SHUTTING_DOWN = True
 
     # Run async unloads for model
-    asyncio.ensure_future(signal_handler_async())
+    # If an event loop doesn't exist (synchronous), exit.
+    try:
+        loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        loop.run_until_complete(signal_handler_async())
+    except RuntimeError:
+        sys.exit(0)
 
 
-async def signal_handler_async(*_):
-    """Internal signal handler. Runs all async code to shut down the program."""
+async def signal_handler_async():
+    """
+    Internal signal handler. Runs all async code to shut down the program.
+
+    asyncio.run will cancel all remaining tasks and close the event loop.
+    """
 
     if model.container:
         await model.unload_model(skip_wait=True, shutdown=True)
@@ -34,9 +43,6 @@ async def signal_handler_async(*_):
     if model.embeddings_container:
         await model.unload_embedding_model()
 
-    # Exit the program
-    sys.exit(0)
-
 
 def uvicorn_signal_handler(signal_event: signal.Signals):
     """Overrides uvicorn's signal handler."""
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 06db5d5..fd297ef 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import os
 import pathlib
 import platform
 import signal
+import time
 from loguru import logger
 from typing import Optional