diff --git a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
index 61cf0a3..431baa1 100644
--- a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
+++ b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
@@ -625,25 +625,38 @@
 
     printintervaldelta = 10 * 60 # 10 minutes
     printinterval = printintervaldelta
-    lastprint = time.time()
+    pinginterval = 1 * 60 # 1 minute
+    lastevent = lastprint = time.time()
 
     termfilter = tf(main, helper, console_handlers, params.options.quiet)
     atexit.register(termfilter.finish)
 
-    while True:
+    # shutdown levels
+    # 0 - normal operation
+    # 1 - no new task execution, let current running tasks finish
+    # 2 - interrupting currently executing tasks
+    # 3 - we're done, exit
+    while main.shutdown < 3:
         try:
             if (lastprint + printinterval) <= time.time():
                 termfilter.keepAlive(printinterval)
                 printinterval += printintervaldelta
             event = eventHandler.waitEvent(0)
             if event is None:
-                if main.shutdown > 1:
-                    break
+                if (lastevent + pinginterval) <= time.time():
+                    ret, error = server.runCommand(["ping"])
+                    if error or not ret:
+                        termfilter.clearFooter()
+                        print("No reply after pinging server (%s, %s), exiting." % (str(error), str(ret)))
+                        return_value = 3
+                        main.shutdown = 3
+                    lastevent = time.time()
                 if not parseprogress:
                     termfilter.updateFooter()
                 event = eventHandler.waitEvent(0.25)
                 if event is None:
                     continue
+            lastevent = time.time()
             helper.eventHandler(event)
             if isinstance(event, bb.runqueue.runQueueExitWait):
                 if not main.shutdown:
@@ -748,15 +761,15 @@
                 if event.error:
                     errors = errors + 1
                     logger.error(str(event))
-                main.shutdown = 2
+                main.shutdown = 3
                 continue
             if isinstance(event, bb.command.CommandExit):
                 if not return_value:
                     return_value = event.exitcode
-                main.shutdown = 2
+                main.shutdown = 3
                 continue
             if isinstance(event, (bb.command.CommandCompleted, bb.cooker.CookerExit)):
-                main.shutdown = 2
+                main.shutdown = 3
                 continue
             if isinstance(event, bb.event.MultipleProviders):
                 logger.info(str(event))
diff --git a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/uievent.py b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/uievent.py
index d595f17..adbe698 100644
--- a/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/uievent.py
+++ b/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/uievent.py
@@ -70,30 +70,22 @@
         self.t.start()
 
     def getEvent(self):
-
-        self.eventQueueLock.acquire()
-
-        if not self.eventQueue:
-            self.eventQueueLock.release()
-            return None
-
-        item = self.eventQueue.pop(0)
-
-        if not self.eventQueue:
-            self.eventQueueNotify.clear()
-
-        self.eventQueueLock.release()
-        return item
+        with bb.utils.lock_timeout(self.eventQueueLock):
+            if not self.eventQueue:
+                return None
+            item = self.eventQueue.pop(0)
+            if not self.eventQueue:
+                self.eventQueueNotify.clear()
+            return item
 
     def waitEvent(self, delay):
         self.eventQueueNotify.wait(delay)
         return self.getEvent()
 
     def queue_event(self, event):
-        self.eventQueueLock.acquire()
-        self.eventQueue.append(event)
-        self.eventQueueNotify.set()
-        self.eventQueueLock.release()
+        with bb.utils.lock_timeout(self.eventQueueLock):
+            self.eventQueue.append(event)
+            self.eventQueueNotify.set()
 
     def send_event(self, event):
         self.queue_event(pickle.loads(event))