diff --git a/websocket/client.go b/websocket/client.go
index 8703b51..8b64e21 100644
--- a/websocket/client.go
+++ b/websocket/client.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ type Client struct {
 	metricsCtx        context.Context
 	configNeedsSave   bool // Flag to track if config needs to be saved
 	serverVersion     string
-	configVersion     int64      // Latest config version received from server
+	configVersion     int64        // Latest config version received from server
 	configVersionMux  sync.RWMutex
+	processingMessage bool           // Flag to track if a message is currently being processed
+	processingMux     sync.RWMutex   // Protects processingMessage
+	processingWg      sync.WaitGroup // WaitGroup to wait for message processing to complete
 }
 
 type ClientOption func(*Client)
@@ -163,13 +166,11 @@ func (c *Client) GetConfigVersion() int64 {
 	return c.configVersion
 }
 
-// setConfigVersion updates the config version if the new version is higher
+// setConfigVersion updates the config version
 func (c *Client) setConfigVersion(version int64) {
 	c.configVersionMux.Lock()
 	defer c.configVersionMux.Unlock()
-	if version > c.configVersion {
-		c.configVersion = version
-	}
+	c.configVersion = version
 }
 
 // Connect establishes the WebSocket connection
@@ -672,12 +673,21 @@ func (c *Client) pingMonitor() {
 				return
 			}
 
+			// Skip ping if a message is currently being processed
+			c.processingMux.RLock()
+			isProcessing := c.processingMessage
+			c.processingMux.RUnlock()
+			if isProcessing {
+				logger.Debug("Skipping ping, message is being processed")
+				continue
+			}
+
 			c.configVersionMux.RLock()
 			configVersion := c.configVersion
 			c.configVersionMux.RUnlock()
 
 			pingMsg := WSMessage{
-				Type:          "ping",
+				Type:          "newt/ping",
 				Data:          map[string]interface{}{},
 				ConfigVersion: configVersion,
 			}
@@ -767,14 +777,24 @@ func (c *Client) readPumpWithDisconnectDetection(started time.Time) {
 				}
 			}
 
-			// Extract and update config version from message if present
-			if msg.ConfigVersion > 0 {
-				c.setConfigVersion(msg.ConfigVersion)
-			}
+			// Update config version from incoming message
+			c.setConfigVersion(msg.ConfigVersion)
 
 			c.handlersMux.RLock()
 			if handler, ok := c.handlers[msg.Type]; ok {
+				// Mark that we're processing a message
+				c.processingMux.Lock()
+				c.processingMessage = true
+				c.processingMux.Unlock()
+				c.processingWg.Add(1)
+
 				handler(msg)
+
+				// Mark that we're done processing
+				c.processingWg.Done()
+				c.processingMux.Lock()
+				c.processingMessage = false
+				c.processingMux.Unlock()
 			}
 			c.handlersMux.RUnlock()
 		}