diff --git a/src/amcrest2mqtt/interface.py b/src/amcrest2mqtt/interface.py
index 63f48f8..19c02cb 100644
--- a/src/amcrest2mqtt/interface.py
+++ b/src/amcrest2mqtt/interface.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class AmcrestServiceProtocol(Protocol):
     async def device_loop(self) -> None: ...
     async def get_events_from_device(self, device_id: str) -> None: ...
     async def get_snapshot_from_device(self, device_id: str) -> str | None: ...
+    async def heartbeat(self) -> None: ...
     async def main_loop(self) -> None: ...
     async def process_device_event(self, device_id: str, code: str, payload: Any) -> None: ...
     async def refresh_all_devices(self) -> None: ...
@@ -92,10 +93,12 @@ class AmcrestServiceProtocol(Protocol):
     def get_storage_stats(self, device_id: str) -> dict[str, str | float]: ...
     def handle_device_command(self, device_id: str, handler: str, message: str) -> None: ...
     def handle_service_command(self, handler: str, message: str) -> None: ...
+    def heartbeat_ready(self) -> None: ...
     def is_discovered(self, device_id: str) -> bool: ...
     def is_ipv4(self, string: str) -> bool: ...
     def is_rate_limited(self) -> bool: ...
     def load_config(self, config_arg: Any | None) -> dict[str, Any]: ...
+    def mark_ready(self) -> None: ...
     def mb_to_b(self, total: int) -> int: ...
     def mqtt_on_connect(
         self, client: Client, userdata: dict[str, Any], flags: ConnectFlags, reason_code: ReasonCode, properties: Properties | None
diff --git a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py
index 153ae37..9df2d8e 100644
--- a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py
+++ b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/helpers.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from deepmerge.merger import Merger
 import ipaddress
 import logging
 import os
+import pathlib
 import signal
 import socket
 import threading
@@ -85,6 +86,12 @@ class HelpersMixin:
 
     # Utility functions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    def mark_ready(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
+        pathlib.Path(READY_FILE).touch()
+
+    def heartbeat_ready(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
+        pathlib.Path(READY_FILE).touch()
+
     def read_file(self: Amcrest2Mqtt, file_name: str) -> str:
         with open(file_name, "r") as file:
             data = file.read().replace("\n", "")
diff --git a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py
index 185e7a4..75cc33a 100644
--- a/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py
+++ b/src/amcrest2mqtt/mixins/loops.py
@@ -45,6 +45,15 @@ class LoopsMixin:
                 self.logger.debug("collect_snapshots_loop cancelled during sleep")
                 break
 
+    async def heartbeat(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
+        while self.running:
+            try:
+                await asyncio.sleep(60)
+                self.heartbeat_ready()
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                self.logger.debug("heartbeat cancelled during sleep")
+                break
+
     # main loop
     async def main_loop(self: Amcrest2Mqtt) -> None:
         await self.setup_device_list()
@@ -57,12 +66,14 @@ class LoopsMixin:
                 self.logger.debug(f"Cannot install handler for {sig}")
 
         self.running = True
+        self.mark_ready()
 
         tasks = [
             asyncio.create_task(self.device_loop(), name="device_loop"),
             asyncio.create_task(self.collect_events_loop(), name="collect events loop"),
             asyncio.create_task(self.check_event_queue_loop(), name="check events queue loop"),
             asyncio.create_task(self.collect_snapshots_loop(), name="collect snapshot loop"),
+            asyncio.create_task(self.heartbeat(), name="heartbeat"),
         ]
 
         try: