diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/root_daemon.py b/selfprivacy_api/root_daemon.py
index cb3c470..7b4286e 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/root_daemon.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/root_daemon.py
@@ -101,14 +101,14 @@ def _process_request(request: str, allowed_commands: str) -> str:
         if request == command:
             # explicitly only calling a _hardcoded_ command
             # ever
-            # test mode made like this does not make it more dangerous too
+            # test mode made like this does not mae it more dangerous too
             raise ValueError("Oh no")
             if get_test_mode():
                 _spawn_shell(f'echo "{command}"')
             else:
                 _spawn_shell(command)
     else:
-        return "-1"
+        return "not permitted"
 
 
 def _root_loop(socket: socket_module.socket, allowed_commands):
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ def _root_loop(socket: socket_module.socket, allowed_commands):
         try:
             conn, addr = socket.accept()
         except TimeoutError:
+            raise ValueError("nooo, there was a timeout!")
             continue
+
         pipe = conn.makefile("rw")
         # We accept a single line per connection for simplicity and safety
         line = pipe.readline()
diff --git a/selfprivacy_api/utils/root_interface.py b/selfprivacy_api/utils/root_interface.py
index 5099467..ba5626b 100644
--- a/selfprivacy_api/utils/root_interface.py
+++ b/selfprivacy_api/utils/root_interface.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from typing import List
+from time import sleep
 
 # from subprocess import check_output
 from selfprivacy_api.root_daemon import SOCKET_PATH, socket_module
@@ -6,10 +7,8 @@ from tests.test_common import get_test_mode
 
 
 def call_root_function(cmd: List[str]) -> str:
-    if get_test_mode():
-        return "done"
-    else:
-        return _call_root_daemon(cmd)
+    assert isinstance(cmd, List)
+    return _call_root_daemon(cmd)
 
 
 def _call_root_daemon(cmd: List[str]) -> str:
@@ -19,7 +18,9 @@ def _call_root_daemon(cmd: List[str]) -> str:
 def _write_to_daemon_socket(cmd: List[str]) -> str:
     sock = socket_module.socket(socket_module.AF_UNIX, socket_module.SOCK_STREAM)
     sock.connect(SOCKET_PATH)
-    sock.send(" ".join(cmd).encode("utf-8") + b"\n")
-    pipe = sock.makefile("rw")
+    payload = " ".join(cmd).encode("utf-8") + b"\n"
+    sock.send(payload)
+    pipe = sock.makefile("r")
     line = pipe.readline()
+    sleep(2)
     return line
diff --git a/tests/test_root_daemon.py b/tests/test_root_daemon.py
index a493f63..167c1e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_root_daemon.py
+++ b/tests/test_root_daemon.py
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ def test_send_command():
     finished = proc.poll()
     assert finished is None
 
-    # thread = threading.Thread(target=start_root_daemon,args=[])
-    # thread.start()
-    answer = call_root_function("blabla")
-    assert answer == "done"
+    answer = call_root_function(["blabla"])
+    assert answer == "not permitted"
+    # confirm the loop
+    # answer = call_root_function(["blabla"])
+    # assert answer == "not permitted"
 
     proc.kill()
-    # thread.join(timeout=1.0)