diff --git a/api/responder.py b/api/responder.py
index eaf6f39..93c3c52 100644
--- a/api/responder.py
+++ b/api/responder.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import aiohttp
 import asyncio
 import starlette
 
+from typing import Any, Coroutine, Set
 from rich import print
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
@@ -23,6 +24,19 @@ CRITICAL_API_ERRORS = ['invalid_api_key', 'account_deactivated']
 
 keymanager = providerkeys.manager
 
+background_tasks: Set[asyncio.Task[Any]] = set()
+
+
+def create_background_task(coro: Coroutine[Any, Any, Any]) -> None:
+    """asyncio.create_task, which prevents the task from being garbage collected.
+
+    https://docs.python.org/3/library/asyncio-task.html#asyncio.create_task
+    """
+    task = asyncio.create_task(coro)
+    background_tasks.add(task)
+    task.add_done_callback(background_tasks.discard)
+
+
 async def respond(
     path: str='/v1/chat/completions',
     user: dict=None,
@@ -182,7 +196,7 @@ async def respond(
     if (not is_stream) and server_json_response:
         yield json.dumps(server_json_response)
 
-    asyncio.create_task(
+    create_background_task(
         after_request.after_request(
             incoming_request=incoming_request,
             target_request=target_request,