diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3ec78a7..7741398 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ dependencies = ["blosc2",
         "numpy",
         "trogon",
         "unsync",
+        "wakepy>0.7",
         ]
 classifiers = [
         "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
diff --git a/src/ensembl_lite/cli.py b/src/ensembl_lite/cli.py
index 947744e..4684022 100644
--- a/src/ensembl_lite/cli.py
+++ b/src/ensembl_lite/cli.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 
 try:
-    import wakepy.keep.running as keep_running
+    from wakepy.keep import running as keep_running
 except ImportError:
     from ensembl_lite._util import fake_wake as keep_running
 
@@ -34,6 +34,15 @@
 from ensembl_lite._species import Species
 
 
+try:
+    # trap flaky behaviour on linux
+    with keep_running():
+        ...
+
+except NotImplementedError:
+    from ensembl_lite._util import fake_wake as keep_running
+
+
 def _get_installed_config_path(ctx, param, path) -> os.PathLike:
     """path to installed.cfg"""
     path = pathlib.Path(path)