diff --git a/src/hub/Server.py b/src/hub/Server.py
index 6a138fb..eeaf853 100644
--- a/src/hub/Server.py
+++ b/src/hub/Server.py
@@ -2237,7 +2237,8 @@ async def update_checker_loop(interval_hours: int = 1):
     while True:
         try:
             mgr: ServerUpdateManager = SERVER_STATE.get("update_manager") or UPDATE_MANAGER
-            mgr.check_upstream_updates(force=False, auto_download_clients=True)
+            loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+            await loop.run_in_executor(None, lambda: mgr.check_upstream_updates(force=False, auto_download_clients=True))
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"[!] Warning in update checker background loop: {e}")
         await asyncio.sleep(interval_hours * 3600)
diff --git a/tests/test_pipeline.py b/tests/test_pipeline.py
index 59f54dd..8106717 100644
--- a/tests/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/tests/test_pipeline.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def run_tests():
     
     # 1. Check current license status
     req_status_init = urllib.request.Request(f"http://{HERMES_HOST}:{HERMES_PORT}/api/license/status")
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_status_init, timeout=5) as resp:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_status_init, timeout=15) as resp:
         init_lic_stat = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
     
     if init_lic_stat.get("status") == "UNLICENSED":
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def run_tests():
             headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"}
         )
         try:
-            with urllib.request.urlopen(req_unlicensed, timeout=5):
+            with urllib.request.urlopen(req_unlicensed, timeout=15):
                 assert False, "Expected HTTP 403 on unlicensed server enrollment"
         except urllib.error.HTTPError as e:
             assert e.code == 403, f"Expected HTTP 403 on unlicensed server, got {e.code}"
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def run_tests():
         f"http://{HERMES_HOST}:{HERMES_PORT}/api/license/csr",
         headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {auth_token}"}
     )
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_csr, timeout=5) as resp:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_csr, timeout=15) as resp:
         assert resp.status == 200
         csr_data = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
         csr_pem = csr_data["csr"]
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def run_tests():
         data=json.dumps(import_payload).encode("utf-8"),
         headers={"Content-Type": "application/json", "Authorization": f"Bearer {auth_token}"}
     )
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_import, timeout=5) as resp:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_import, timeout=15) as resp:
         assert resp.status == 200
         import_res = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
         assert import_res["status"] == "success"
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def run_tests():
 
     # 5. Verify license status
     req_status = urllib.request.Request(f"http://{HERMES_HOST}:{HERMES_PORT}/api/license/status")
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_status, timeout=5) as resp:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_status, timeout=15) as resp:
         assert resp.status == 200
         lic_stat = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
         assert lic_stat["status"] == "ACTIVE"
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def run_tests():
         headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"}
     )
     try:
-        with urllib.request.urlopen(req_bad, timeout=5):
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(req_bad, timeout=15):
             assert False, "Expected HTTP 403 on invalid secret"
     except urllib.error.HTTPError as e:
         assert e.code == 403, f"Expected HTTP 403, got {e.code}"
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def run_tests():
         data=json.dumps(valid_enroll_payload).encode("utf-8"),
         headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"}
     )
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_valid, timeout=5) as resp:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req_valid, timeout=15) as resp:
         assert resp.status == 200, f"Expected 200, got {resp.status}"
         enroll_data = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
         assert "ca_cert" in enroll_data
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def run_tests():
     auth_tok = server_conf.get("auth_token") or client_conf.get("auth_token")
     client_headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {auth_tok}"} if auth_tok else {}
     clients_req = urllib.request.Request(f"http://{HERMES_HOST}:{HERMES_PORT}/api/clients", headers=client_headers)
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(clients_req, timeout=5) as resp:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(clients_req, timeout=15) as resp:
         clients_data = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
         assert clients_data["active_seats"] >= 1
         found_c = any(c["client_id"] == client_id for c in clients_data["clients"])
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ def run_tests():
     token = server_conf.get("auth_token") or client_conf.get("auth_token")
     headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"} if token else {}
     req = urllib.request.Request(f"http://{HERMES_HOST}:{HERMES_PORT}/api/hermes/report", headers=headers)
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=5) as response:
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=15) as response:
         assert response.status == 200, f"Expected 200, got {response.status}"
         hermes_data = json.loads(response.read().decode("utf-8"))