diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/account.py b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
index 9cb620c15..44b9cac22 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/account.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from .cutil import as_dc_charpointer, from_dc_charpointer, iter_array, DCLot
 from .chat import Chat
 from .message import Message, map_system_message
 from .contact import Contact
-from .tracker import ImexTracker
+from .tracker import ImexTracker, ConfigureTracker
 from . import hookspec, iothreads
 from .eventlogger import FFIEvent, FFIEventLogger
 
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class Account(object):
 
         :returns: True if account is configured.
         """
-        return bool(lib.dc_is_configured(self._dc_context))
+        return True if lib.dc_is_configured(self._dc_context) else False
 
     def set_avatar(self, img_path):
         """Set self avatar.
@@ -576,7 +576,9 @@ class Account(object):
         if not self.is_configured():
             if not self.get_config("addr") or not self.get_config("mail_pw"):
                 raise MissingCredentials("addr or mail_pwd not set in config")
-            lib.dc_configure(self._dc_context)
+            with self.temp_plugin(ConfigureTracker()) as config_tracker:
+                lib.dc_configure(self._dc_context)
+                config_tracker.wait_finish()
         lib.dc_context_run(self._dc_context)
 
     def is_started(self):
@@ -586,6 +588,11 @@ class Account(object):
         """ wait until shutdown of this account has completed. """
         self._shutdown_event.wait()
 
+    def stop_scheduler(self):
+        """ stop core scheduler if it is running. """
+        self.ac_log_line("context_shutdown (stop core scheduler)")
+        lib.dc_context_shutdown(self._dc_context)
+
     def shutdown(self, wait=True):
         """ shutdown account, stop threads and close and remove
         underlying dc_context."""
@@ -593,13 +600,13 @@ class Account(object):
         if dc_context is None:
             return
 
+        self.stop_ongoing()
         if self._threads.is_started():
-            self.stop_ongoing()
             self.ac_log_line("stop threads")
             self._threads.stop(wait=False)
 
-        self.ac_log_line("context shutdown")
-        lib.dc_context_shutdown(dc_context)
+        self.stop_scheduler()
+
         self.ac_log_line("dc_close")
         lib.dc_close(dc_context)
         self.ac_log_line("wait threads for real")
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/iothreads.py b/python/src/deltachat/iothreads.py
index ce9fd8b16..62792b133 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/iothreads.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/iothreads.py
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ class IOThreads:
                 except StopIteration:
                     break
                 self.account.ac_log_line("calling hook name={} kwargs={}".format(ev.name, ev.kwargs))
-                ev.call_hook()
+                try:
+                    ev.call_hook()
+                except Exception:
+                    # don't bother logging this error
+                    # because dc_close() was concurrently called
+                    # and core API starts failing after that.
+                    if not self._thread_quitflag:
+                        raise
+
 
 
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 6034534af..3387163bb 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -473,8 +473,17 @@ class TestOfflineChat:
         num_contacts = len(chat.get_contacts())
         assert num_contacts == 11
 
-        # perform plugin hooks
-        ac1._handle_current_events()
+        # let's make sure the events perform plugin hooks
+        def wait_events(cond):
+            now = time.time()
+            while time.time() < now + 5:
+                if cond():
+                    break
+                time.sleep(0.1)
+            else:
+                pytest.fail("failed to get events")
+
+        wait_events(lambda: len(in_list) == 10)
 
         assert len(in_list) == 10
         chat_contacts = chat.get_contacts()
@@ -493,7 +502,7 @@ class TestOfflineChat:
         chat.remove_contact(contacts[3])
         assert len(chat.get_contacts()) == 9
 
-        ac1._handle_current_events()
+        wait_events(lambda: len(in_list) == 2)
         assert len(in_list) == 2
         assert in_list[0][0] == "removed"
         assert in_list[0][1] == chat
diff --git a/python/x.py b/python/x.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ad780bc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/x.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+
+import deltachat
+import os
+import shutil
+from deltachat.capi import lib
+
+try:
+    os.remove("/tmp/db")
+except:
+    pass
+try:
+    shutil.rmtree("/tmp/db-blobs")
+except:
+    pass
+
+
+acc = deltachat.Account("/tmp/db", logging=True)
+acc.set_config("addr", "tmp.hjfcq@five.chat")
+acc.set_config("mail_pw", "aihWNtLuRJgV")
+acc.start()  # lib.dc_configure + lib.dc_context_run
+assert acc.is_configured()
+acc.stop_scheduler()
+
+while 1:
+    print("starting scheduler")
+    acc.start()
+    print("stopping scheduler")
+    acc.stop_scheduler()
+
+contact = acc.create_contact("holger@deltachat.de")
+chat = acc.create_chat_by_contact(contact)
+chat.send_text("hello")