diff --git a/python/idsse_common/idsse/common/rabbitmq_utils.py b/python/idsse_common/idsse/common/rabbitmq_utils.py
index 589723c6..a53ea79e 100644
--- a/python/idsse_common/idsse/common/rabbitmq_utils.py
+++ b/python/idsse_common/idsse/common/rabbitmq_utils.py
@@ -452,7 +452,8 @@ def __init__(
     def run(self):
         logger.info('Starting publisher')
         while self._is_running:
-            self.connection.process_data_events(time_limit=1)
+            if self.connection and self.connection.is_open:
+                self.connection.process_data_events(time_limit=1)
 
     def publish(self, message: bytes, properties: BasicProperties = None, route_key: str = None):
         """
@@ -500,8 +501,8 @@ def stop(self):
         logger.info("Stopping publisher")
         self._is_running = False
         # Wait until all the data events have been processed
-        self.connection.process_data_events(time_limit=1)
-        if self.connection.is_open:
+        if self.connection and self.connection.is_open:
+            self.connection.process_data_events(time_limit=1)
             threadsafe_call(self.channel,
                             self.channel.close,
                             self.connection.close)
@@ -533,7 +534,7 @@ def _publish(
                 route_key = self._exch.route_key
 
             self.channel.basic_publish(self._exch.name,
-                                       routing_key=route_key,
+                                       route_key if route_key else self._exch.route_key,
                                        body=message,
                                        properties=properties,
                                        mandatory=self._exch.mandatory)