diff --git a/src/meshctrl/exceptions.py b/src/meshctrl/exceptions.py
index 43ae378..9ac3af2 100644
--- a/src/meshctrl/exceptions.py
+++ b/src/meshctrl/exceptions.py
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ class MeshCtrlError(Exception):
     """
     Base class for Meshctrl errors
     """
-    pass
+    def __init__(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.message = message
+        super().__init__(message, *args, **kwargs)
 
 class ServerError(MeshCtrlError):
     """
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@ class FileTransferError(MeshCtrlError):
     """
     def __init__(self, message, stats):
         self.stats = stats
+        super().__init__(message)
 
 class FileTransferCancelled(FileTransferError):
     """
diff --git a/src/meshctrl/util.py b/src/meshctrl/util.py
index fe36fc5..b245d59 100644
--- a/src/meshctrl/util.py
+++ b/src/meshctrl/util.py
@@ -140,17 +140,20 @@ def compare_dict(dict1, dict2):
         return False
 
 def _check_socket(f):
+    async def _check_errs(self):
+        if not self.alive and self._main_loop_error is not None:
+            raise self._main_loop_error
+        elif not self.alive and self.initialized.is_set():
+            raise exceptions.SocketError("Socket Closed")
+
     @functools.wraps(f)
     async def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
-            async with asyncio.TaskGroup() as tg:
-                tg.create_task(asyncio.wait_for(self.initialized.wait(), 10))
-                tg.create_task(asyncio.wait_for(self._socket_open.wait(), 10))
+            await asyncio.wait_for(self.initialized.wait(), 10)
+            await _check_errs(self)
+            await asyncio.wait_for(self._socket_open.wait(), 10)
         finally:
-            if not self.alive and self._main_loop_error is not None:
-                raise self._main_loop_error
-            elif not self.alive and self.initialized.is_set():
-                raise exceptions.SocketError("Socket Closed")
+            await _check_errs(self)
             return await f(self, *args, **kwargs)
     return wrapper