diff --git a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/client.py b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/client.py
index 4cdad9a..79919c5 100644
--- a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/client.py
+++ b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/client.py
@@ -103,13 +103,18 @@
 
         return await self._send_wrapper(proc)
 
+    async def ping(self):
+        return await self.send_message(
+            {'ping': {}}
+        )
+
 
 class Client(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self.client = self._get_async_client()
         self.loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
 
-        self._add_methods('connect_tcp', 'close')
+        self._add_methods('connect_tcp', 'close', 'ping')
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def _get_async_client(self):
diff --git a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/serv.py b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/serv.py
index cb33846..ef20cb7 100644
--- a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/serv.py
+++ b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/asyncrpc/serv.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
         self.max_chunk = DEFAULT_MAX_CHUNK
         self.handlers = {
             'chunk-stream': self.handle_chunk,
+            'ping': self.handle_ping,
         }
         self.logger = logger
 
@@ -123,6 +124,10 @@
 
         await self.dispatch_message(msg)
 
+    async def handle_ping(self, request):
+        response = {'alive': True}
+        self.write_message(response)
+
 
 class AsyncServer(object):
     def __init__(self, logger, loop=None):
@@ -142,7 +147,7 @@
         )
 
         for s in self.server.sockets:
-            self.logger.info('Listening on %r' % (s.getsockname(),))
+            self.logger.debug('Listening on %r' % (s.getsockname(),))
             # Newer python does this automatically. Do it manually here for
             # maximum compatibility
             s.setsockopt(socket.SOL_TCP, socket.TCP_NODELAY, 1)
@@ -168,7 +173,7 @@
         finally:
             os.chdir(cwd)
 
-        self.logger.info('Listening on %r' % path)
+        self.logger.debug('Listening on %r' % path)
 
         self._cleanup_socket = cleanup
         self.address = "unix://%s" % os.path.abspath(path)
@@ -187,7 +192,7 @@
             self.logger.error('Error from client: %s' % str(e), exc_info=True)
             traceback.print_exc()
             writer.close()
-        self.logger.info('Client disconnected')
+        self.logger.debug('Client disconnected')
 
     def run_loop_forever(self):
         try:
@@ -207,7 +212,7 @@
             self.server.close()
 
             self.loop.run_until_complete(self.server.wait_closed())
-            self.logger.info('Server shutting down')
+            self.logger.debug('Server shutting down')
         finally:
             if self.close_loop:
                 if sys.version_info >= (3, 6):