diff --git a/llmstudio/engine/__init__.py b/llmstudio/engine/__init__.py
index 3f503ae3..d541f775 100644
--- a/llmstudio/engine/__init__.py
+++ b/llmstudio/engine/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
+from threading import Event
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union
 
 import uvicorn
@@ -78,7 +79,9 @@ def _merge_configs(config1, config2):
         raise RuntimeError(f"Error in configuration data: {e}")
 
 
-def create_engine_app(config: EngineConfig = _load_engine_config()) -> FastAPI:
+def create_engine_app(
+    started_event: Event, config: EngineConfig = _load_engine_config()
+) -> FastAPI:
     app = FastAPI(
         title=ENGINE_TITLE,
         description=ENGINE_DESCRIPTION,
@@ -162,14 +165,15 @@ async def export(request: Request):
 
     @app.on_event("startup")
     async def startup_event():
+        started_event.set()
         print(f"Running LLMstudio Engine on http://{ENGINE_HOST}:{ENGINE_PORT} ")
 
     return app
 
 
-def run_engine_app():
+def run_engine_app(started_event: Event):
     try:
-        engine = create_engine_app()
+        engine = create_engine_app(started_event)
         uvicorn.run(
             engine,
             host=ENGINE_HOST,
diff --git a/llmstudio/engine/providers/azure.py b/llmstudio/engine/providers/azure.py
index 1bb61516..0f6b711d 100644
--- a/llmstudio/engine/providers/azure.py
+++ b/llmstudio/engine/providers/azure.py
@@ -120,13 +120,17 @@ async def generate_client(
                 **function_args,
                 **request.parameters.model_dump(),
             }
-
             # Perform the asynchronous call
             return await asyncio.to_thread(
                 client.chat.completions.create, **combined_args
             )
 
-        except openai._exceptions.APIError as e:
+        except openai._exceptions.APIConnectionError as e:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=404, detail=f"There was an error reaching the endpoint: {e}"
+            )
+
+        except openai._exceptions.APIStatusError as e:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=e.status_code, detail=e.response.json())
 
     def prepare_messages(self, request: AzureRequest):
diff --git a/llmstudio/server.py b/llmstudio/server.py
index e9643d73..c69a5b96 100644
--- a/llmstudio/server.py
+++ b/llmstudio/server.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import threading
+from threading import Event
 
 import requests
 
@@ -29,8 +30,10 @@ def is_server_running(host, port, path="/health"):
 
 def start_server_component(host, port, run_func, server_name):
     if not is_server_running(host, port):
-        thread = threading.Thread(target=run_func, daemon=True)
+        started_event = Event()
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=run_func, daemon=True, args=(started_event,))
         thread.start()
+        started_event.wait()  # wait for startup, this assumes the event is set somewhere
         return thread
     else:
         print(f"{server_name} server already running on {host}:{port}")
@@ -53,7 +56,6 @@ def setup_servers(engine, tracking, ui):
             TRACKING_HOST, TRACKING_PORT, run_tracking_app, "Tracking"
         )
 
-    ui_thread = None
     if ui:
         ui_thread = start_server_component(UI_HOST, UI_PORT, run_ui_app, "UI")
 
diff --git a/llmstudio/tracking/__init__.py b/llmstudio/tracking/__init__.py
index 31a7fbe8..d32bc768 100644
--- a/llmstudio/tracking/__init__.py
+++ b/llmstudio/tracking/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from threading import Event
+
 import uvicorn
 from fastapi import APIRouter, FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
@@ -15,7 +17,7 @@
 
 
 ## Tracking
-def create_tracking_app() -> FastAPI:
+def create_tracking_app(started_event: Event) -> FastAPI:
     app = FastAPI(
         title=TRACKING_TITLE,
         description=TRACKING_DESCRIPTION,
@@ -43,14 +45,15 @@ def health_check():
 
     @app.on_event("startup")
     async def startup_event():
+        started_event.set()
         print(f"Running LLMstudio Tracking on http://{TRACKING_HOST}:{TRACKING_PORT} ")
 
     return app
 
 
-def run_tracking_app():
+def run_tracking_app(started_event: Event):
     try:
-        tracking = create_tracking_app()
+        tracking = create_tracking_app(started_event)
         uvicorn.run(
             tracking,
             host=TRACKING_HOST,
diff --git a/llmstudio/ui/__init__.py b/llmstudio/ui/__init__.py
index c2a15c22..1569aa6f 100644
--- a/llmstudio/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/llmstudio/ui/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import subprocess
 from pathlib import Path
 import threading
-import webbrowser
+from threading import Event
 
 from llmstudio.config import UI_PORT
 
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ def run_bun_in_thread():
         print(f"Error running LLMstudio UI: {e}")
 
 
-def run_ui_app():
+def run_ui_app(started_event: Event):
     thread = threading.Thread(target=run_bun_in_thread)
     thread.start()
+    started_event.set() #just here for compatibility