diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 788eb51..2ff42a7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ logs
 test.json
 elitebot
 .idea
-venv
\ No newline at end of file
+venv
+test.yaml
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index 7951be4..3b29084 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -156,12 +156,21 @@ class Bot:
             self.connected = False
             return
 
+    async def send_ping(self):
+        while True:
+            await asyncio.sleep(60)
+            await self.ircsend(f'PING :{self.config["Connection"].get("Hostname")}')
+            
     async def start(self):
+        ping_task = None
         while True:
             if not self.connected:
                 try:
                     await self.connect()
                     self.connected = True
+                    # Start the ping task after the bot has connected
+                    if ping_task is None or ping_task.done():
+                        ping_task = asyncio.create_task(self.send_ping())
                 except Exception as e:
                     self.logger.error(f'Connection error: {e}')
                     await asyncio.sleep(60)