diff --git a/mitmaddon/littlesnitch.py b/mitmaddon/littlesnitch.py
index 76a1f8d..94c6a17 100644
--- a/mitmaddon/littlesnitch.py
+++ b/mitmaddon/littlesnitch.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 import pdb
 from mitmproxy import ctx
 import threading
-from queue import Queue
+from queue import Queue, Empty
 import time
 import zmq
 import json
 
-NO_MSG {"msg": None}
+NO_MSG = {"msg": None}
 INIT_MSG = {"msg": "init"}
 ACK_MSG = {"msg": "ack"}
 PING_MSG = {"msg": "ping"}
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def get_msg(socket):
                 if msg:
                         return json.loads(msg)
         except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                print("malformed message received '{msg}'")
+                print(f"malformed message received {msg}")
 
         return NO_MSG
 
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ def networking(q):
                                 timer = time.monotonic()
 
                         if not a:
-                                a = q.get(block=False)
+                                try:
+                                        a = q.get(block=False)
+                                except Empty:
+                                        pass
                         if a:
                                 send_msg(a, socket)
                                 msg = get_msg(socket)
diff --git a/networkthread.cpp b/networkthread.cpp
index 55a82ad..9216749 100644
--- a/networkthread.cpp
+++ b/networkthread.cpp
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ void NetworkThread::process() {
 
 	while(true){
 		bool connected = false;
-		while(!connected) {
-			sock.send(zmq::str_buffer("{'type': 'init'}"), zmq::send_flags::dontwait);
+        while(!connected) {
+            sock.send(zmq::buffer(INIT_MSG_STR.c_str(), INIT_MSG_STR.length()), zmq::send_flags::dontwait);
 			zmq::message_t msg;
 			const auto ret = sock.recv(msg, zmq::recv_flags::dontwait);
 			if(ret) {
-				if(msg.to_string() == "{'type': 'ack'}") {
+                if(msg.to_string() == ACK_MSG_STR) {
 					connected = true;
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/networkthread.h b/networkthread.h
index d0b6d93..2985179 100644
--- a/networkthread.h
+++ b/networkthread.h
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 #include <QObject>
 #include <includes.h>
 
-const auto INIT_MSG = R"({"msg": "init"})"_json;
+const std::string INIT_MSG_STR = R"({"msg": "init"})";
+const std::string ACK_MSG_STR = R"({"msg": "ack"})";
 
 class NetworkThread : public QObject
 {