diff --git a/hbd/server/notify.py b/hbd/server/notify.py
index 98ebfb1..e53aa1c 100644
--- a/hbd/server/notify.py
+++ b/hbd/server/notify.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def eventlog(host, lvl, m, service=None):
 
 def _journal_event(msg: dict):
     """Schedule an async write of *msg* to the events journal (no-op without a loop)."""
-    if _loop is None:
+    if _loop is None or not _loop.is_running():
         return
     from . import journal as journal_mod
     ej = journal_mod.get_events_journal()