diff --git a/awslambdaric/runtime_client.cpp b/awslambdaric/runtime_client.cpp
index 4650b9a..66252bf 100644
--- a/awslambdaric/runtime_client.cpp
+++ b/awslambdaric/runtime_client.cpp
@@ -25,18 +25,25 @@ static PyObject *method_initialize_client(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
 }
 
 static PyObject *method_next(PyObject *self) {
-    if (CLIENT == nullptr) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError, "Client not yet initalized");
-        return NULL;
-    }
+    aws::lambda_runtime::invocation_request response;
+
+    // Release GIL and save thread state
+    // ref: https://docs.python.org/3/c-api/init.html#thread-state-and-the-global-interpreter-lock
+    PyThreadState *_save;
+    _save = PyEval_SaveThread();
 
     auto outcome = CLIENT->get_next();
     if (!outcome.is_success()) {
+        // Reacquire GIL before exiting
+        PyEval_RestoreThread(_save);
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError, "Failed to get next");
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    auto response = outcome.get_result();
+    response = outcome.get_result();
+    // Reacquire GIL before constructing return object
+    PyEval_RestoreThread(_save);
+
     auto payload = response.payload;
     auto request_id = response.request_id.c_str();
     auto trace_id = response.xray_trace_id.c_str();
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8aa17a1..5151dcc 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def get_curl_extra_linker_flags():
 def get_runtime_client_extension():
     if platform.system() != "Linux" and os.getenv("BUILD") != "true":
         print(
-            "The native runtime_client only builds in Linux. Skiping its compilation."
+            "The native runtime_client only builds on Linux. Skipping its compilation."
         )
         return []