diff --git a/openhands/server/app.py b/openhands/server/app.py
index b168795978..6207ccf2eb 100644
--- a/openhands/server/app.py
+++ b/openhands/server/app.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import warnings
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 
 with warnings.catch_warnings():
     warnings.simplefilter('ignore')
@@ -21,10 +22,17 @@ from openhands.server.routes.feedback import app as feedback_api_router
 from openhands.server.routes.files import app as files_api_router
 from openhands.server.routes.public import app as public_api_router
 from openhands.server.routes.security import app as security_api_router
-from openhands.server.shared import config
+from openhands.server.shared import config, session_manager
 from openhands.utils.import_utils import get_impl
 
-app = FastAPI()
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def _lifespan(app: FastAPI):
+    async with session_manager:
+        yield
+
+
+app = FastAPI(lifespan=_lifespan)
 app.add_middleware(
     LocalhostCORSMiddleware,
     allow_credentials=True,
diff --git a/openhands/server/session/manager.py b/openhands/server/session/manager.py
index 10b34b5dd2..fbcf4eaa83 100644
--- a/openhands/server/session/manager.py
+++ b/openhands/server/session/manager.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class SessionManager:
         """
         We use a redis backchannel to send actions between server nodes
         """
+        logger.debug('_redis_subscribe')
         redis_client = self._get_redis_client()
         pubsub = redis_client.pubsub()
         await pubsub.subscribe('oh_event')
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ class SessionManager:
 
     async def _process_message(self, message: dict):
         data = json.loads(message['data'])
-        logger.info(f'got_published_message:{message}')
+        logger.debug(f'got_published_message:{message}')
         sid = data['sid']
         message_type = data['message_type']
         if message_type == 'event':
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ class SessionManager:
         elif message_type == 'session_closing':
             # Session closing event - We only get this in the event of graceful shutdown,
             # which can't be guaranteed - nodes can simply vanish unexpectedly!
-            logger.info(f'session_closing:{sid}')
+            logger.debug(f'session_closing:{sid}')
             for (
                 connection_id,
                 local_sid,
@@ -142,7 +143,9 @@ class SessionManager:
     async def detach_from_conversation(self, conversation: Conversation):
         await conversation.disconnect()
 
-    async def init_or_join_session(self, sid: str, connection_id: str, session_init_data: SessionInitData):
+    async def init_or_join_session(
+        self, sid: str, connection_id: str, session_init_data: SessionInitData
+    ):
         await self.sio.enter_room(connection_id, ROOM_KEY.format(sid=sid))
         self.local_connection_id_to_session_id[connection_id] = sid
 
@@ -165,6 +168,7 @@ class SessionManager:
         flag = asyncio.Event()
         self._session_is_running_flags[sid] = flag
         try:
+            logger.debug(f'publish:is_session_running:{sid}')
             await self._get_redis_client().publish(
                 'oh_event',
                 json.dumps(