diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 451baa0..a40104a 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 # standard imports
 import asyncio
+import time
 
 # lib imports
 import dotenv
+import pytest
 import pytest_asyncio
 
 dotenv.load_dotenv(override=False)  # environment secrets take priority over .env file
@@ -12,25 +14,40 @@
 from src.discord import bot as d_bot  # noqa: E402
 
 
-@pytest_asyncio.fixture(loop_scope='function')
-async def discord_bot():
-    # event_loop fixture is deprecated
-    _loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-
-    bot = d_bot.Bot(loop=_loop)
-    future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(bot.start(token=bot.token), _loop)
-    await bot.wait_until_ready()  # Wait until the bot is ready
-
+# @pytest_asyncio.fixture(loop_scope='function')
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+def discord_bot():
+    # # event_loop fixture is deprecated
+    # _loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+    #
+    # bot = d_bot.Bot(loop=_loop)
+    # future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(bot.start(token=bot.token), _loop)
+    # await bot.wait_until_ready()  # Wait until the bot is ready
+    #
+    # globals.DISCORD_BOT = bot
+    #
+    # yield bot
+    # bot.stop(future=future)
+    #
+    # # wait for the bot to finish
+    # counter = 0
+    # while not future.done() and counter < 30:
+    #     await asyncio.sleep(1)
+    #     counter += 1
+    # future.cancel()  # Cancel the bot when the tests are done
+    #
+    # globals.DISCORD_BOT = None
+
+    # _loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+    # print(f'Using loop: {_loop}')
+    bot = d_bot.Bot()
+    bot.start_threaded()
     globals.DISCORD_BOT = bot
 
-    yield bot
-    bot.stop(future=future)
+    while not bot.is_ready():  # Wait until the bot is ready
+        time.sleep(1)
 
-    # wait for the bot to finish
-    counter = 0
-    while not future.done() and counter < 30:
-        await asyncio.sleep(1)
-        counter += 1
-    future.cancel()  # Cancel the bot when the tests are done
+    yield bot
 
+    bot.stop()
     globals.DISCORD_BOT = None
diff --git a/tests/unit/discord/test_discord_bot.py b/tests/unit/discord/test_discord_bot.py
index f51313e..61e8d08 100644
--- a/tests/unit/discord/test_discord_bot.py
+++ b/tests/unit/discord/test_discord_bot.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# standard imports
+import asyncio
+import os
+
 # lib imports
 import pytest
 
@@ -5,8 +9,8 @@
 from src.common import common
 
 
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_bot_on_ready(discord_bot):
+# @pytest.mark.asyncio
+def test_bot_on_ready(discord_bot):
     assert discord_bot is not None
     assert discord_bot.guilds
     assert discord_bot.guilds[0].name == "ReenigneArcher's test server"
@@ -15,4 +19,25 @@ async def test_bot_on_ready(discord_bot):
     assert discord_bot.user.avatar
 
     # compare the bot avatar to our intended avatar
-    assert await discord_bot.user.avatar.read() == common.get_avatar_bytes()
+    # assert await discord_bot.user.avatar.read() == common.get_avatar_bytes()
+    future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(discord_bot.user.avatar.read(), discord_bot.loop)
+    assert future.result() == common.get_avatar_bytes()
+
+
+def test_send_message(discord_bot):
+    channel_id = int(os.environ['DISCORD_REDDIT_CHANNEL_ID'])
+    message = "This is a test message."
+    embeds = None
+    message = discord_bot.send_message(channel_id=channel_id, message=message, embeds=embeds)
+    assert message.content == "This is a test message."
+    assert message.channel.id == channel_id
+    assert message.author.id == 939171917578002502
+    assert message.author.name == common.bot_name
+
+    avatar_future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(message.author.avatar.read(), discord_bot.loop)
+    assert avatar_future.result() == common.get_avatar_bytes()
+
+    assert message.author.display_name == common.bot_name
+    assert message.author.discriminator == "7085"
+    assert message.author.bot is True
+    assert message.author.system is False