diff --git a/agentops/session.py b/agentops/session.py
index 95d1fba15..ba4faa2e8 100644
--- a/agentops/session.py
+++ b/agentops/session.py
@@ -226,7 +226,9 @@ def __init__(
         self.host_env = host_env
         self.config = config
         self.jwt = None
+        self._event_queue = []
         self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._jwt_lock = threading.Lock()
         self._end_session_lock = threading.Lock()
         self.token_cost: Decimal = Decimal(0)
         self._session_url: str = ""
@@ -239,6 +241,12 @@ def __init__(
         }
         # self.session_url: Optional[str] = None
 
+        self.is_running = False  # Start as not running
+
+        # Start JWT fetch in the background
+        self._jwt_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._start_session_async)
+        self._jwt_thread.start()
+
         # Start session first to get JWT
         self.is_running = self._start_session()
         if not self.is_running:
@@ -351,6 +359,17 @@ def end_session(
                 )
                 logger.info(analytics)
 
+                def cleanup():
+                    try:
+                        if hasattr(self, "_span_processor"):
+                            self._span_processor.force_flush(timeout_millis=5000)
+                            self._span_processor.shutdown()
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        logger.warning(f"Error during cleanup: {e}")
+
+                cleanup_thread = threading.Thread(target=cleanup)
+                cleanup_thread.start()
+
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.exception(f"Error during session end: {e}")
             finally:
@@ -406,6 +425,12 @@ def record(self, event: Union[Event, ErrorEvent], flush_now=False):
         """Record an event using OpenTelemetry spans"""
         if not self.is_running:
             return
+        # Check if JWT is available
+        if self.jwt is None:
+            with self._jwt_lock:
+                if self.jwt is None:
+                    self._event_queue.append(event)
+                    return
 
         # Ensure event has all required base attributes
         if not hasattr(event, "id"):
@@ -508,6 +533,18 @@ def _reauthorize_jwt(self) -> Union[str, None]:
             self.jwt = jwt
             return jwt
 
+    def _start_session_async(self):
+        success = self._start_session()
+        if success:
+            self.is_running = True
+            # Process queued events
+            with self._jwt_lock:
+                for event in self._event_queue:
+                    self.record(event)
+                self._event_queue.clear()
+        else:
+            self.is_running = False
+
     def _start_session(self):
         with self._lock:
             payload = {"session": self.__dict__}