diff --git a/ably/executer/eventloop.py b/ably/executer/eventloop.py
index 4be7b440..935a4a93 100644
--- a/ably/executer/eventloop.py
+++ b/ably/executer/eventloop.py
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ def __init__(self, loop, thread=None):
     @staticmethod
     def get_global() -> 'AppEventLoop':
         if AppEventLoop._global is None or not AppEventLoop._global.__is_active:
-            AppEventLoop._global = AppEventLoop.create(True)
+            AppEventLoop._global = AppEventLoop.create()
         return AppEventLoop._global
 
     @staticmethod
-    def create(background=False) -> 'AppEventLoop':
+    def create() -> 'AppEventLoop':
         loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
-        thread = threading.Thread(target=loop.run_forever, daemon=background)
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=loop.run_forever, daemon=True)
         thread.start()
         return AppEventLoop(loop, thread)
 
diff --git a/ably/rest/rest.py b/ably/rest/rest.py
index 1e126091..f59a5c1a 100644
--- a/ably/rest/rest.py
+++ b/ably/rest/rest.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def __init__(self, key: Optional[str] = None, token: Optional[str] = None,
         self.__sync_enabled = options.sync_enabled
         if self.__sync_enabled:
             if options.loop is None:
-                self.__app_loop = AppEventLoop.create(True)
+                self.__app_loop = AppEventLoop.create()
             else:
                 self.__app_loop = AppEventLoop(loop=options.loop)