diff --git a/demo/runners/support/agent.py b/demo/runners/support/agent.py
index 06d1765eb0..c6c91e5b57 100644
--- a/demo/runners/support/agent.py
+++ b/demo/runners/support/agent.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 import asyncpg
 import base64
 import functools
@@ -185,6 +186,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.params = params
         self.proc = None
         self.client_session: ClientSession = ClientSession()
+        self.thread_pool_executor = ThreadPoolExecutor(20)
 
         if self.endorser_role and self.endorser_role == "author":
             seed = None
@@ -695,13 +697,13 @@ def _process(self, args, env, loop):
             close_fds=True,
         )
         loop.run_in_executor(
-            None,
+            self.thread_pool_executor,
             output_reader,
             proc.stdout,
             functools.partial(self.handle_output, source="stdout"),
         )
         loop.run_in_executor(
-            None,
+            self.thread_pool_executor,
             output_reader,
             proc.stderr,
             functools.partial(self.handle_output, source="stderr"),
@@ -726,7 +728,9 @@ async def start_process(self, python_path: str = None, wait: bool = True):
 
         # start agent sub-process
         loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-        future = loop.run_in_executor(None, self._process, agent_args, my_env, loop)
+        future = loop.run_in_executor(
+            self.thread_pool_executor, self._process, agent_args, my_env, loop
+        )
         self.proc = await asyncio.wait_for(future, 20, loop=loop)
         if wait:
             await asyncio.sleep(1.0)
@@ -753,7 +757,7 @@ async def terminate(self):
         # now shut down the agent
         loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
         if self.proc:
-            future = loop.run_in_executor(None, self._terminate)
+            future = loop.run_in_executor(self.thread_pool_executor, self._terminate)
             result = await asyncio.wait_for(future, 10, loop=loop)
 
     async def listen_webhooks(self, webhook_port):