diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b53704..cfaa47c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ The complete usage of the application can be shown using the `--help` command li
               --vc, --verboseconsole=VALUE
                                      the output of publisher is shown on the console.
                                        Default: False
+              --ns, --noshutdown=VALUE
+                                     publisher could not be stopped by pressing a key
+                                       on the console, but will run forever.
+                                       Default: False
               --ih, --iothubprotocol=VALUE
                                      the protocol to use for communication with Azure
                                        IoTHub (allowed values: Amqp, Http1, Amqp_
diff --git a/src/Diagnostics.cs b/src/Diagnostics.cs
index 2efb171..5ab5a4e 100644
--- a/src/Diagnostics.cs
+++ b/src/Diagnostics.cs
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
         {
             while (true)
             {
+                if (ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+                {
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 try
                 {
-
                     await Task.Delay((int)_diagnosticsInterval * 1000, ct);
-                    if (ct.IsCancellationRequested)
-                    {
-                        return;
-                    }
 
                     Trace("==========================================================================");
                     Trace($"OpcPublisher status @ {System.DateTime.UtcNow} (started @ {PublisherStartTime})");
diff --git a/src/IotHubMessaging.cs b/src/IotHubMessaging.cs
index 6d286ce..599218b 100644
--- a/src/IotHubMessaging.cs
+++ b/src/IotHubMessaging.cs
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
                             // if we are in shutdown do not wait, else wait infinite if send interval is not set
                             millisecondsTillNextSend = ct.IsCancellationRequested ? 0 : Timeout.Infinite;
                         }
-                        bool gotItem = _monitoredItemsDataQueue.TryTake(out messageData, (int)millisecondsTillNextSend);
+                        bool gotItem = _monitoredItemsDataQueue.TryTake(out messageData, (int)millisecondsTillNextSend, ct);
 
                         // the two commandline parameter --ms (message size) and --si (send interval) control when data is sent to IoTHub
                         // pls see detailed comments on performance and memory consumption at https://github.com/Azure/iot-edge-opc-publisher
@@ -629,7 +629,11 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
                 }
                 catch (Exception e)
                 {
-                    Trace(e, "Error while processing monitored item messages.");
+                    if (!(e is OperationCanceledException))
+                    {
+
+                        Trace(e, "Error while processing monitored item messages.");
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/Program.cs b/src/Program.cs
index 33a2bfd..c60162f 100644
--- a/src/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Program.cs
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
                     { "di|diagnosticsinterval=", $"shows publisher diagnostic info at the specified interval in seconds. 0 disables diagnostic output.\nDefault: {DiagnosticsInterval}", (uint u) => DiagnosticsInterval = u },
 
                     { "vc|verboseconsole=", $"the output of publisher is shown on the console.\nDefault: {VerboseConsole}", (bool b) => VerboseConsole = b },
+
+                    { "ns|noshutdown=", $"publisher could not be stopped by pressing a key on the console, but will run forever.\nDefault: {_noShutdown}", (bool b) => _noShutdown = b },
                     
                     // IoTHub specific options
                     { "ih|iothubprotocol=", $"the protocol to use for communication with Azure IoTHub (allowed values: {string.Join(", ", Enum.GetNames(IotHubProtocol.GetType()))}).\nDefault: {Enum.GetName(IotHubProtocol.GetType(), IotHubProtocol)}",
@@ -459,16 +461,26 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
                 // stop on user request
                 WriteLine("");
                 WriteLine("");
-                WriteLine("Publisher is running. Press any key to quit.");
-                try
+                if (_noShutdown)
                 {
-                    ReadKey(true);
-                }
-                catch
-                {
-                    // wait forever if there is no console
+                    // wait forever if asked to do so
+                    WriteLine("Publisher is running infinite...");
                     await Task.Delay(Timeout.Infinite);
                 }
+                else
+                {
+                    WriteLine("Publisher is running. Press any key to quit.");
+                    try
+                    {
+                        ReadKey(true);
+                    }
+                    catch
+                    {
+                        // wait forever if there is no console
+                        WriteLine("There is no console. Publisher is running infinite...");
+                        await Task.Delay(Timeout.Infinite);
+                    }
+                }
                 WriteLine("");
                 WriteLine("");
                 ShutdownTokenSource.Cancel();
@@ -543,7 +555,11 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
                 {
                     Trace(e, $"Failed to connect and monitor a disconnected server. {(e.InnerException != null ? e.InnerException.Message : "")}");
                 }
-                await Task.Delay(_publisherSessionConnectWaitSec * 1000, ct);
+                try
+                {
+                    await Task.Delay(_publisherSessionConnectWaitSec * 1000, ct);
+                }
+                catch { }
                 if (ct.IsCancellationRequested)
                 {
                     return;
@@ -681,5 +697,6 @@ namespace OpcPublisher
         private static PublisherServer _publisherServer;
         private static bool _opcTraceInitialized = false;
         private static int _publisherSessionConnectWaitSec = 10;
+        private static bool _noShutdown = false;
     }
 }