diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DeviceState.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DeviceState.h
index 7e9ac3772f426..b87eae6e620c3 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DeviceState.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/DeviceState.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ typedef struct uv_loop_s uv_loop_t;
 typedef struct uv_timer_s uv_timer_t;
 typedef struct uv_poll_s uv_poll_t;
 typedef struct uv_signal_s uv_signal_t;
+typedef struct uv_async_s uv_async_t;
 
 namespace o2::framework
 {
@@ -78,6 +79,9 @@ struct DeviceState {
   std::vector<uv_poll_t*> activeOutputPollers;
   /// The list of active signal handlers
   std::vector<uv_signal_t*> activeSignals;
+
+  uv_async_t* awakeMainThread = nullptr;
+
   int loopReason = 0;
 };
 
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/DataProcessingDevice.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/DataProcessingDevice.cxx
index f3dea6416d523..b8c3d1ac8c60d 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/DataProcessingDevice.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/DataProcessingDevice.cxx
@@ -355,8 +355,22 @@ void handleRegionCallbacks(ServiceRegistry& registry, std::vector<FairMQRegionIn
   }
 }
 
+namespace
+{
+void on_awake_main_thread(uv_async_t* handle)
+{
+  DeviceState* state = (DeviceState*)handle->data;
+  state->loopReason |= DeviceState::ASYNC_NOTIFICATION;
+}
+} // namespace
 void DataProcessingDevice::InitTask()
 {
+  if (mState.awakeMainThread == nullptr) {
+    mState.awakeMainThread = (uv_async_t*)malloc(sizeof(uv_async_t));
+    mState.awakeMainThread->data = &mState;
+    uv_async_init(mState.loop, mState.awakeMainThread, on_awake_main_thread);
+  }
+
   for (auto& channel : fChannels) {
     channel.second.at(0).Transport()->SubscribeToRegionEvents([this,
                                                                &registry = mServiceRegistry,
@@ -372,6 +386,8 @@ void DataProcessingDevice::InitTask()
       // When not running we can handle the callbacks synchronously.
       if (this->GetCurrentState() != fair::mq::State::Running) {
         handleRegionCallbacks(registry, pendingRegionInfos);
+      } else {
+        uv_async_send(registry.get<DeviceState>().awakeMainThread);
       }
     });
   }