diff --git a/pika_heartbeat/pika_heartbeat.py b/pika_heartbeat/pika_heartbeat.py
index 7f9514b..99c7819 100644
--- a/pika_heartbeat/pika_heartbeat.py
+++ b/pika_heartbeat/pika_heartbeat.py
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
 import argparse
 import logging
 import time
+import threading
 
 import pika
 
+from repeated_timer import RepeatedTimer
+
 DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_SECS = 60
 
 
 def connect(
     host="localhost",
     virtual_host="/",
-    username="guest",
-    password="guest",
+    username='guest',
+    password='guest',
     heartbeat=DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_SECS,
 ):
     param = pika.ConnectionParameters(
@@ -22,6 +25,17 @@ def connect(
     )
     return pika.BlockingConnection(parameters=param)
 
+def rabbit_sleep(lock, connection):
+    """
+        This is used to ensure that we are sending heartbeats to rabbitMQ
+    """
+    if lock.acquire(timeout=0):
+        try:
+            connection.sleep(0)
+        except:
+            print("Error calling rabbit connection sleep")
+        finally:
+            lock.release()
 
 def main():
     logging.basicConfig(
@@ -30,15 +44,23 @@ def main():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter
     )
+    lock = threading.Lock()
     parser.add_argument("--heartbeat", type=int, default=DEFAULT_HEARTBEAT_SECS)
+    parser.add_argument("--username", type=str, default='guest')
+    parser.add_argument("--password", type=str, default='guest')
     args = parser.parse_args()
     heartbeat_secs = args.heartbeat
     sleep_secs = heartbeat_secs * 5  # sleep enough so that broker closes connection
-    conn = connect(heartbeat=args.heartbeat)
+    conn = connect(username=args.username, password=args.password, heartbeat=args.heartbeat)
+    repeat_timer = RepeatedTimer(heartbeat_secs, rabbit_sleep, lock, conn)
     ch = conn.channel()
+    lock.acquire()
     ch.basic_publish("", "test", "")
+    lock.release()
     time.sleep(sleep_secs)
+    lock.acquire()
     ch.basic_publish("", "test", "")  # this is expected to fail
+    lock.release()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/pika_heartbeat/repeated_timer.py b/pika_heartbeat/repeated_timer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5610d71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pika_heartbeat/repeated_timer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+'''
+Creates background thread which runs task regularly
+'''
+from threading import Timer
+
+class RepeatedTimer(object):
+    '''
+    Class for repeat timer
+    '''
+    def __init__(self, interval, task, *args, **kwargs):
+        self._timer = None
+        self.interval = interval
+        self.task = task
+        self.args = args
+        self.kwargs = kwargs
+        self.is_running = False
+        self.start()
+
+    def _run(self):
+        '''
+        start the timer again and call the function
+        '''
+        self.is_running = False
+        self.start()
+        self.task(*self.args, **self.kwargs)
+
+    def start(self):
+        '''
+        start timer thread
+        '''
+        if not self.is_running:
+            self._timer = Timer(self.interval, self._run)
+            self._timer.daemon = True
+            self._timer.start()
+            self.is_running = True
+
+    def stop(self):
+        '''
+        stop timer thread
+        '''
+        self._timer.cancel()
+        self.is_running = False