diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index c3af759b..b0f99ce6 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@
     }
   ],
   "configurations": [
+    {
+      "name": "Python: Attach using Process Id",
+      "type": "python",
+      "request": "attach",
+      "processId": "${command:pickProcess}",
+      "justMyCode": true
+    },
     {
       "type": "lldb",
       "request": "attach",
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py b/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py
index e69de29b..e26f2d5f 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import pytest
+pytest_plugins = ('pytest_asyncio',)
+
+import os
+
+##################################################################
+VEILID_SERVER = os.getenv("VEILID_SERVER")
+if VEILID_SERVER is not None:
+    vsparts = VEILID_SERVER.split(":") 
+    VEILID_SERVER = vsparts[0]
+    if len(vsparts) == 2:
+        VEILID_SERVER_PORT = int(vsparts[1])
+    else:
+        VEILID_SERVER_PORT = 5959
+else:
+    VEILID_SERVER = "localhost"
+    VEILID_SERVER_PORT = 5959
+
+##################################################################
+
+async def simple_update_callback(update):
+    print("VeilidUpdate: {}".format(update))
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py
index 80443727..d74b25b2 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -2,42 +2,24 @@
 
 import veilid_python
 import pytest
-import os
-
-pytest_plugins = ('pytest_asyncio',)
+from . import *
 
 ##################################################################
-VEILID_SERVER = os.getenv("VEILID_SERVER")
-if VEILID_SERVER is not None:
-    vsparts = VEILID_SERVER.split(":") 
-    VEILID_SERVER = vsparts[0]
-    if len(vsparts) == 2:
-        VEILID_SERVER_PORT = int(vsparts[1])
-    else:
-        VEILID_SERVER_PORT = 5959
-else:
-    VEILID_SERVER = "localhost"
-    VEILID_SERVER_PORT = 5959
-
-##################################################################
-
-async def _simple_update_callback(update):
-    print("VeilidUpdate: {}".format(update))
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_connect():
-    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, _simple_update_callback) as api:
+    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, simple_update_callback) as api:
         pass
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_fail_connect():
     with pytest.raises(Exception):
-        async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect("fuahwelifuh32luhwafluehawea", 1, _simple_update_callback) as api:
+        async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect("fuahwelifuh32luhwafluehawea", 1, simple_update_callback) as api:
             pass
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_version():
-    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, _simple_update_callback) as api:
+    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, simple_update_callback) as api:
         v = await api.veilid_version()
         print("veilid_version: {}".format(v.__dict__))
         vstr = await api.veilid_version_string()
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ceb993f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Crypto veilid_python tests
+
+import veilid_python
+import pytest
+from . import *
+
+##################################################################
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_best_crypto_system():
+    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, simple_update_callback) as api:
+        bcs = await api.best_crypto_system()
+        # let handle dangle for test
+        # del bcs
+        
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_crypto_system():
+    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, simple_update_callback) as api:
+        cs = await api.get_crypto_system(veilid_python.CryptoKind.CRYPTO_KIND_VLD0)
+        # clean up handle early
+        del cs
+        
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_crypto_system_invalid():
+    async with await veilid_python.json_api_connect(VEILID_SERVER, VEILID_SERVER_PORT, simple_update_callback) as api:
+        with pytest.raises(veilid_python.VeilidAPIError):
+            cs = await api.get_crypto_system(veilid_python.CryptoKind.CRYPTO_KIND_NONE)
+
diff --git a/veilid-python/veilid_python/json_api.py b/veilid-python/veilid_python/json_api.py
index 4bffc670..7ec5fff8 100644
--- a/veilid-python/veilid_python/json_api.py
+++ b/veilid-python/veilid_python/json_api.py
@@ -59,16 +59,34 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
 
     async def __aexit__(self, *excinfo):
         await self.close()
-        
-    async def close(self):
-        if self.handle_recv_messages_task is not None:
-            self.handle_recv_messages_task.cancel()
-            try:
-                await self.handle_recv_messages_task
-            except asyncio.CancelledError:
-                pass
 
-    
+    async def _cleanup_close(self):
+        await self.lock.acquire()
+        try:
+            self.reader = None
+            self.writer.close()
+            await self.writer.wait_closed()
+            self.writer = None
+        finally:
+            self.lock.release()
+
+    async def close(self):
+        # Take the task
+        await self.lock.acquire()
+        try:
+            if self.handle_recv_messages_task is None:
+                return
+            handle_recv_messages_task = self.handle_recv_messages_task
+            self.handle_recv_messages_task = None 
+        finally:
+            self.lock.release()
+        # Cancel it
+        handle_recv_messages_task.cancel()
+        try:
+            await handle_recv_messages_task
+        except asyncio.CancelledError:
+            pass
+
     @staticmethod
     async def connect(host: str, port: int, update_callback: Callable[[VeilidUpdate], Awaitable]) -> Self:
         reader, writer = await asyncio.open_connection(host, port)
@@ -109,11 +127,7 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
         except:
             pass
         finally:
-            self.reader = None
-            self.writer.close()
-            await self.writer.wait_closed()
-            self.writer = None
-            self.handle_recv_messages_task = None
+            await self._cleanup_close()
             
     async def allocate_request_future(self, id: int) -> asyncio.Future:
         reqfuture = asyncio.get_running_loop().create_future()
@@ -135,6 +149,10 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
             self.lock.release()
 
     def send_one_way_ndjson_request(self, op: Operation, **kwargs):
+        
+        if self.writer is None:
+            return
+        
         # Make NDJSON string for request
         # Always use id 0 because no reply will be received for one-way requests
         req = { "id": 0, "op": op }
@@ -156,6 +174,7 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
         try:
             id = self.next_id
             self.next_id += 1
+            writer = self.writer    
         finally:
             self.lock.release()
 
@@ -174,8 +193,8 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
 
         # Send to socket
         try:
-            self.writer.write(reqbytes)
-            await self.writer.drain()
+            writer.write(reqbytes)
+            await writer.drain()
         except:
             # Send failed, release future
             await self.cancel_request_future(id)
diff --git a/veilid-server/src/client_api.rs b/veilid-server/src/client_api.rs
index 821d06ef..6b2f9d55 100644
--- a/veilid-server/src/client_api.rs
+++ b/veilid-server/src/client_api.rs
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
         };
         trace!("ClientApi::stop: waiting for stop");
         if let Err(err) = jh.await {
-            error!("{}", err);
+            eprintln!("{}", err);
         }
         trace!("ClientApi::stop: stopped");
     }
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
         // Marshal json + newline => NDJSON
         let response_string = serialize_json(json_api::RecvMessage::Response(response)) + "\n";
         if let Err(e) = responses_tx.send_async(response_string).await {
-            warn!("response not sent: {}", e)
+            eprintln!("response not sent: {}", e)
         }
         VeilidAPIResult::Ok(None)
     }
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
                 responses_tx: responses_tx.clone(),
             };
             if let Err(e) = requests_tx.send_async(Some(request_line)).await {
-                error!("failed to enqueue request: {}", e);
+                eprintln!("failed to enqueue request: {}", e);
                 break;
             }
         }
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
     ) -> VeilidAPIResult<Option<RequestLine>> {
         while let Ok(resp) = responses_rx.recv_async().await {
             if let Err(e) = writer.write_all(resp.as_bytes()).await {
-                error!("failed to write response: {}", e)
+                eprintln!("failed to write response: {}", e)
             }
         }
         VeilidAPIResult::Ok(None)
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
         let peer_addr = match stream.peer_addr() {
             Ok(v) => v,
             Err(e) => {
-                error!("can't get peer address: {}", e);
+                eprintln!("can't get peer address: {}", e);
                 return;
             }
         };
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
         let local_addr = match stream.local_addr() {
             Ok(v) => v,
             Err(e) => {
-                error!("can't get local address: {}", e);
+                eprintln!("can't get local address: {}", e);
                 return;
             }
         };
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ impl ClientApi {
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
                     // Connection processing failure, abort
-                    error!("Connection processing failure: {}", e);
+                    eprintln!("Connection processing failure: {}", e);
                     break;
                 }
             };