diff --git a/hopper/watchdog.py b/hopper/watchdog.py
index 13a7b2c..9c45b7a 100644
--- a/hopper/watchdog.py
+++ b/hopper/watchdog.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import asyncio
 import datetime
 import logging
 import time
-from threading import Thread
+from threading import Thread, Event
 
 from hopper.models.player import PlayerList
 from hopper.ws_server import WSServer
@@ -15,14 +15,15 @@ class InactivityWatchdog(Thread):
     ) -> None:
         self.players = players
         self.ws_server = ws_server
-        self.stopped = False
+        self.stop_event = Event()
         super().__init__(daemon=True)
 
     def run(self) -> None:
         logging.info("Starting inactivity watchdog")
-        while not self.stopped:
+        while not self.stop_event.is_set():
             self.cleanup_players()
-            time.sleep(settings.inacivity_watchdog.TICK_INTERVAL)
+            if not self.stop_event.is_set():
+                time.sleep(settings.inacivity_watchdog.TICK_INTERVAL)
 
     def cleanup_players(self) -> None:
         now = datetime.datetime.now()
@@ -64,4 +65,4 @@ class InactivityWatchdog(Thread):
         asyncio.run(self.ws_server.send_game_dump())
 
     def stop(self) -> None:
-        self.stopped = True
+        self.stop_event.set()