diff --git a/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.spec.ts b/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.spec.ts
index cb865d663..d3c040f08 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.spec.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test('startPlayground should fail if no provider', async () => {
 
 test('startPlayground should download image if not present then create container', async () => {
   mocks.postMessage.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
-  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockResolvedValue({
+  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockReturnValue({
     connection: {
       type: 'podman',
       status: () => 'started',
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ test('stopPlayground should fail if no playground is running', async () => {
 
 test('stopPlayground should stop a started playground', async () => {
   mocks.postMessage.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
-  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockResolvedValue({
+  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockReturnValue({
     connection: {
       type: 'podman',
       status: () => 'started',
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.ts b/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.ts
index 448efd866..9cbd280aa 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/managers/playground.ts
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ export class PlayGroundManager {
 
     this.setPlaygroundStatus(modelId, 'starting');
 
-    const connection = await getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
+    const connection = getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
     if (!connection) {
       const error = 'Unable to find an engine to start playground';
       this.setPlaygroundError(modelId, error);
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.spec.ts b/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.spec.ts
index 16d402bd7..015e4db31 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.spec.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ vi.mock('../utils/podman', () => {
 test('startupSubscribe should execute immediately if provider already registered', async () => {
   const manager = new PodmanConnection();
   // one provider is already registered
-  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockResolvedValue({
+  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockReturnValue({
     connection: {
       type: 'podman',
       status: () => 'started',
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test('startupSubscribe should execute immediately if provider already registered
   mocks.onDidRegisterContainerConnection.mockReturnValue({
     dispose: vi.fn,
   });
-  await manager.listenRegistration();
+  manager.listenRegistration();
   const handler = vi.fn();
   manager.startupSubscribe(handler);
   // the handler is called immediately
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test('startupSubscribe should execute  when provider is registered', async () =>
   const manager = new PodmanConnection();
 
   // no provider is already registered
-  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+  mocks.getFirstRunningPodmanConnectionMock.mockReturnValue(undefined);
   mocks.onDidRegisterContainerConnection.mockImplementation((f: (e: RegisterContainerConnectionEvent) => void) => {
     setTimeout(() => {
       f({
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ test('startupSubscribe should execute  when provider is registered', async () =>
       dispose: vi.fn(),
     };
   });
-  await manager.listenRegistration();
+  manager.listenRegistration();
   const handler = vi.fn();
   manager.startupSubscribe(handler);
   // the handler is not called immediately
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.ts b/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.ts
index 36f6dbefa..8b6be0641 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/managers/podmanConnection.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export class PodmanConnection implements Disposable {
   #onEventDisposable: Disposable | undefined;
 
   init(): void {
-    this.listenRegistration().catch((e: unknown) => console.error(String(e)));
+    this.listenRegistration();
     this.listenMachine();
     this.watchPods();
   }
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export class PodmanConnection implements Disposable {
     this.#onEventDisposable?.dispose();
   }
 
-  async listenRegistration() {
+  listenRegistration() {
     // In case the extension has not yet registered, we listen for new registrations
     // and retain the first started podman provider
     const disposable = provider.onDidRegisterContainerConnection((e: RegisterContainerConnectionEvent) => {
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export class PodmanConnection implements Disposable {
     });
 
     // In case at least one extension has already registered, we get one started podman provider
-    const engine = await getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
+    const engine = getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
     if (engine) {
       disposable.dispose();
       this.#firstFound = true;
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.spec.ts b/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.spec.ts
index 4f0d1a74f..04c6ff385 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.spec.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,15 @@ describe('canUpload', () => {
 });
 
 describe('upload', () => {
+  const machine2: utils.MachineJSON = {
+    Name: 'machine2',
+    CPUs: 2,
+    Memory: '2000',
+    DiskSize: '100',
+    Running: true,
+    Starting: false,
+    Default: true,
+  };
   vi.spyOn(utils, 'getPodmanCli').mockReturnValue('podman');
   vi.spyOn(utils, 'getFirstRunningPodmanConnection').mockResolvedValue({
     connection: {
@@ -73,18 +82,20 @@ describe('upload', () => {
     await expect(wslUploader.upload('')).rejects.toThrowError('invalid local path');
   });
   test('copy model if not exists on podman machine', async () => {
-    mocks.execMock.mockRejectedValueOnce('');
+    mocks.execMock.mockRejectedValueOnce('error');
+    vi.spyOn(utils, 'getFirstRunningMachine').mockResolvedValue(machine2);
     await wslUploader.upload('C:\\Users\\podman\\folder\\file');
-    expect(mocks.execMock).toBeCalledWith('podman', ['machine', 'ssh', 'test', 'stat', '/home/user/file']);
+    expect(mocks.execMock).toBeCalledWith('podman', ['machine', 'ssh', 'machine2', 'stat', '/home/user/file']);
   });
   test('do not copy model if it exists on podman machine', async () => {
     mocks.execMock.mockResolvedValue('');
+    vi.spyOn(utils, 'getFirstRunningMachine').mockResolvedValue(machine2);
     await wslUploader.upload('C:\\Users\\podman\\folder\\file');
-    expect(mocks.execMock).toBeCalledWith('podman', ['machine', 'ssh', 'test', 'stat', '/home/user/file']);
+    expect(mocks.execMock).toBeCalledWith('podman', ['machine', 'ssh', 'machine2', 'stat', '/home/user/file']);
     expect(mocks.execMock).toBeCalledWith('podman', [
       'machine',
       'ssh',
-      'test',
+      'machine2',
       'cp',
       '/mnt/c/Users/podman/folder/file',
       '/home/user/file',
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.ts b/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.ts
index f03845d3f..e70ec3124 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/models/WSLUploader.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 import path from 'node:path';
 import * as podmanDesktopApi from '@podman-desktop/api';
-import { getFirstRunningPodmanConnection, getPodmanCli } from '../utils/podman';
+import { getFirstRunningMachine, getPodmanCli } from '../utils/podman';
 import type { UploadWorker } from './uploader';
 
 export class WSLUploader implements UploadWorker {
@@ -36,17 +36,11 @@ export class WSLUploader implements UploadWorker {
       .replace(`${driveLetter}:\\`, `/mnt/${driveLetter.toLowerCase()}/`)
       .replace(/\\/g, '/');
     const remotePath = `/home/user/${path.basename(convertToMntPath)}`;
-    const connection = await getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
+    const machine = await getFirstRunningMachine();
     // check if model already loaded on the podman machine
     let existsRemote = true;
     try {
-      await podmanDesktopApi.process.exec(getPodmanCli(), [
-        'machine',
-        'ssh',
-        connection.connection.name,
-        'stat',
-        remotePath,
-      ]);
+      await podmanDesktopApi.process.exec(getPodmanCli(), ['machine', 'ssh', machine.Name, 'stat', remotePath]);
     } catch (e) {
       existsRemote = false;
     }
@@ -56,7 +50,7 @@ export class WSLUploader implements UploadWorker {
       await podmanDesktopApi.process.exec(getPodmanCli(), [
         'machine',
         'ssh',
-        connection.connection.name,
+        machine.Name,
         'cp',
         convertToMntPath,
         remotePath,
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.spec.ts b/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.spec.ts
index 0b856fa78..7a5a49251 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.spec.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import { beforeEach } from 'node:test';
 const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => {
   return {
     getConfigurationMock: vi.fn(),
-    execMock: vi.fn(),
     getContainerConnectionsMock: vi.fn(),
   };
 });
@@ -42,9 +41,6 @@ vi.mock('@podman-desktop/api', () => ({
   configuration: {
     getConfiguration: () => config,
   },
-  process: {
-    exec: mocks.execMock,
-  },
   provider: {
     getContainerConnections: mocks.getContainerConnectionsMock,
   },
@@ -75,63 +71,45 @@ describe('getPodmanCli', () => {
 });
 
 describe('getFirstRunningPodmanConnection', () => {
-  test('should return undefined if failing at retrieving machine list', async () => {
-    mocks.execMock.mockRejectedValue('error');
-    const result = await utils.getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
+  test('should return undefined if failing at retrieving connection', async () => {
+    mocks.getConfigurationMock.mockRejectedValue('error');
+    const result = utils.getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
     expect(result).toBeUndefined();
   });
   test('should return undefined if default podman machine is not running', async () => {
-    const machine = {
-      Name: 'machine',
-      CPUs: 2,
-      Memory: 2000,
-      DiskSize: '100',
-      Running: false,
-      Starting: false,
-      Default: true,
-    };
-    const machine2 = {
-      Name: 'machine2',
-      CPUs: 2,
-      Memory: 2000,
-      DiskSize: '100',
-      Running: true,
-      Starting: false,
-      Default: false,
-    };
-    mocks.execMock.mockResolvedValue({
-      stdout: JSON.stringify([machine2, machine]),
-    });
-    const result = await utils.getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
+    mocks.getContainerConnectionsMock.mockReturnValue([
+      {
+        connection: {
+          name: 'machine',
+          status: () => 'stopped',
+          endpoint: {
+            socketPath: '/endpoint.sock',
+          },
+          type: 'podman',
+        },
+        providerId: 'podman',
+      },
+      {
+        connection: {
+          name: 'machine2',
+          status: () => 'stopped',
+          endpoint: {
+            socketPath: '/endpoint.sock',
+          },
+          type: 'podman',
+        },
+        providerId: 'podman2',
+      },
+    ]);
+    const result = utils.getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
     expect(result).toBeUndefined();
   });
   test('should return default running podman connection', async () => {
-    const machine = {
-      Name: 'machine',
-      CPUs: 2,
-      Memory: 2000,
-      DiskSize: '100',
-      Running: false,
-      Starting: false,
-      Default: false,
-    };
-    const machine2 = {
-      Name: 'machine2',
-      CPUs: 2,
-      Memory: 2000,
-      DiskSize: '100',
-      Running: true,
-      Starting: false,
-      Default: true,
-    };
-    mocks.execMock.mockResolvedValue({
-      stdout: JSON.stringify([machine, machine2]),
-    });
     mocks.getContainerConnectionsMock.mockReturnValue([
       {
         connection: {
           name: 'machine',
-          status: vi.fn(),
+          status: () => 'stopped',
           endpoint: {
             socketPath: '/endpoint.sock',
           },
@@ -142,7 +120,7 @@ describe('getFirstRunningPodmanConnection', () => {
       {
         connection: {
           name: 'machine2',
-          status: vi.fn(),
+          status: () => 'started',
           endpoint: {
             socketPath: '/endpoint.sock',
           },
@@ -151,7 +129,7 @@ describe('getFirstRunningPodmanConnection', () => {
         providerId: 'podman2',
       },
     ]);
-    const result = await utils.getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
+    const result = utils.getFirstRunningPodmanConnection();
     expect(result.connection.name).equal('machine2');
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.ts b/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.ts
index b874a319b..10b989393 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/utils/podman.ts
@@ -53,18 +53,25 @@ async function getJSONMachineList(): Promise<string> {
   return stdout;
 }
 
-export async function getFirstRunningPodmanConnection(): Promise<ProviderContainerConnection | undefined> {
-  let engine: ProviderContainerConnection;
+export async function getFirstRunningMachine(): Promise<MachineJSON | undefined> {
   try {
     const machineListOutput = await getJSONMachineList();
     const machines = JSON.parse(machineListOutput) as MachineJSON[];
-    const machine = machines.find(machine => machine.Default && machine.Running);
-    if (machine) {
-      engine = provider
-        .getContainerConnections()
-        .filter(connection => connection.connection.type === 'podman')
-        .find(connection => connection.connection.name === machine.Name);
-    }
+    return machines.find(machine => machine.Default && machine.Running);
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.log(e);
+  }
+
+  return undefined;
+}
+
+export function getFirstRunningPodmanConnection(): ProviderContainerConnection | undefined {
+  let engine: ProviderContainerConnection;
+  try {
+    engine = provider
+      .getContainerConnections()
+      .filter(connection => connection.connection.type === 'podman')
+      .find(connection => connection.connection.status() === 'started');
   } catch (e) {
     console.log(e);
   }