hopefully this works

app.py

@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ def setup_paho_client(client, username, password, cloud, port, device_id):
 	client.on_message = on_message
 	client.loop_start()
 
+	while not client.is_connected():
+		pass
+
 def publish_and_wait(client, device_id, payload):
 	client.publish(device_id, payload=json.dumps(payload), qos=2)
 	try: