diff --git a/src/meshcore/ble_cx.py b/src/meshcore/ble_cx.py
index 0ce06d9..86df64d 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/ble_cx.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/ble_cx.py
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ class BLEConnection:
         self.pin = pin
         self.rx_char = None
         self._disconnect_callback = None
+        self._background_tasks: set[asyncio.Task] = set()
+
+    def _spawn_background(self, coro) -> asyncio.Task:
+        """Create a tracked background task (prevents GC of fire-and-forget tasks)."""
+        task = asyncio.create_task(coro)
+        self._background_tasks.add(task)
+        task.add_done_callback(self._background_tasks.discard)
+        return task
 
     async def connect(self):
         """
@@ -155,7 +163,7 @@ class BLEConnection:
         self.device = self._user_provided_device
 
         if self._disconnect_callback:
-            asyncio.create_task(self._disconnect_callback("ble_disconnect"))
+            self._spawn_background(self._disconnect_callback("ble_disconnect"))
 
     def set_disconnect_callback(self, callback):
         """Set callback to handle disconnections."""
@@ -166,7 +174,7 @@ class BLEConnection:
 
     def handle_rx(self, _: BleakGATTCharacteristic, data: bytearray):
         if self.reader is not None:
-            asyncio.create_task(self.reader.handle_rx(data))
+            self._spawn_background(self.reader.handle_rx(data))
 
     async def send(self, data):
         if not self.client:
diff --git a/src/meshcore/commands/base.py b/src/meshcore/commands/base.py
index 9e0f00e..8983eed 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/commands/base.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/commands/base.py
@@ -58,17 +58,32 @@ def _validate_destination(dst: DestinationType, prefix_length: int = 6) -> bytes
 
 
 class CommandHandlerBase:
+    """Base class for command handlers.
+
+    .. note::
+        The internal ``asyncio.Lock`` is created lazily on first access
+        so that it binds to the correct running event loop (required for
+        Python 3.9/3.10 compatibility).
+    """
+
     DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 5.0
 
     def __init__(self, default_timeout: Optional[float] = None):
         self._sender_func: Optional[Callable[[bytes], Coroutine[Any, Any, None]]] = None
         self._reader: Optional[MessageReader] = None
         self.dispatcher: Optional[EventDispatcher] = None
-        self._mesh_request_lock = asyncio.Lock()
+        self.__mesh_request_lock: Optional[asyncio.Lock] = None
         self.default_timeout = (
             default_timeout if default_timeout is not None else self.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
         )
 
+    @property
+    def _mesh_request_lock(self) -> asyncio.Lock:
+        """Lazy-init lock so it binds to the running loop, not import-time."""
+        if self.__mesh_request_lock is None:
+            self.__mesh_request_lock = asyncio.Lock()
+        return self.__mesh_request_lock
+
     def set_connection(self, connection: Any) -> None:
         async def sender(data: bytes) -> None:
             await connection.send(data)
@@ -170,7 +185,7 @@ class CommandHandlerBase:
             futures: List[asyncio.Future] = []
             subscriptions = []
 
-            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+            loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
             for event_type in expected_events:
                 future = loop.create_future()
 
diff --git a/src/meshcore/events.py b/src/meshcore/events.py
index f8a7521..c9c0b6a 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/events.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/events.py
@@ -129,11 +129,28 @@ class Subscription:
 
 
 class EventDispatcher:
+    """Event dispatch engine.
+
+    .. note::
+        ``start()`` must be called before dispatching or processing events.
+        The internal ``asyncio.Queue`` is created lazily inside ``start()``
+        so that it binds to the correct running event loop (required for
+        Python 3.9/3.10 compatibility).
+    """
+
     def __init__(self):
-        self.queue: asyncio.Queue[Event] = asyncio.Queue()
+        self.queue: Optional[asyncio.Queue[Event]] = None
         self.subscriptions: List[Subscription] = []
         self.running = False
         self._task = None
+        self._background_tasks: set[asyncio.Task] = set()
+
+    def _spawn_background(self, coro) -> asyncio.Task:
+        """Create a tracked background task (prevents GC of fire-and-forget tasks)."""
+        task = asyncio.create_task(coro)
+        self._background_tasks.add(task)
+        task.add_done_callback(self._background_tasks.discard)
+        return task
 
     def subscribe(
         self,
@@ -166,6 +183,10 @@ class EventDispatcher:
             self.subscriptions.remove(subscription)
 
     async def dispatch(self, event: Event):
+        if self.queue is None:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "EventDispatcher.start() must be called before dispatching events"
+            )
         await self.queue.put(event)
 
     async def _process_events(self):
@@ -197,7 +218,7 @@ class EventDispatcher:
                     # returns - avoids the race where create_task schedules the callback after
                     # the waiter has already timed out with done=set().
                     if asyncio.iscoroutinefunction(subscription.callback):
-                        asyncio.create_task(self._execute_callback(subscription.callback, event.clone()))
+                        self._spawn_background(self._execute_callback(subscription.callback, event.clone()))
                     else:
                         try:
                             subscription.callback(event.clone())
@@ -220,6 +241,8 @@ class EventDispatcher:
 
     async def start(self):
         if not self.running:
+            if self.queue is None:
+                self.queue = asyncio.Queue()
             self.running = True
             self._task = asyncio.create_task(self._process_events())
 
@@ -227,7 +250,12 @@ class EventDispatcher:
         if self.running:
             self.running = False
             if self._task:
-                await self.queue.join()
+                if self.queue is not None:
+                    await self.queue.join()
+                # Wait for any in-flight async callbacks to complete before
+                # tearing down (F07: task_done fires before callbacks finish).
+                if self._background_tasks:
+                    await asyncio.gather(*self._background_tasks, return_exceptions=True)
                 self._task.cancel()
                 try:
                     await self._task
diff --git a/src/meshcore/serial_cx.py b/src/meshcore/serial_cx.py
index 61163bd..91d65d6 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/serial_cx.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/serial_cx.py
@@ -20,11 +20,19 @@ class SerialConnection:
         self._disconnect_callback = None
         self.cx_dly = cx_dly
         self._connected_event = asyncio.Event()
+        self._background_tasks: set[asyncio.Task] = set()
 
         self.frame_expected_size = 0
         self.inframe = b""
         self.header = b""
 
+    def _spawn_background(self, coro) -> asyncio.Task:
+        """Create a tracked background task (prevents GC of fire-and-forget tasks)."""
+        task = asyncio.create_task(coro)
+        self._background_tasks.add(task)
+        task.add_done_callback(self._background_tasks.discard)
+        return task
+
     class MCSerialClientProtocol(asyncio.Protocol):
         def __init__(self, cx):
             self.cx = cx
@@ -44,7 +52,7 @@ class SerialConnection:
             self.cx._connected_event.clear()
 
             if self.cx._disconnect_callback:
-                asyncio.create_task(self.cx._disconnect_callback("serial_disconnect"))
+                self.cx._spawn_background(self.cx._disconnect_callback("serial_disconnect"))
 
         def pause_writing(self):
             logger.debug("pause writing")
@@ -114,7 +122,7 @@ class SerialConnection:
         data = data[upbound:]
         if self.reader is not None:
             # feed meshcore reader
-            asyncio.create_task(self.reader.handle_rx(self.inframe))
+            self._spawn_background(self.reader.handle_rx(self.inframe))
         # reset inframe
         self.inframe = b""
         self.header = b""
diff --git a/src/meshcore/tcp_cx.py b/src/meshcore/tcp_cx.py
index 497c3b2..ad9b9cb 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/tcp_cx.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/tcp_cx.py
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ class TCPConnection:
         self.frame_expected_size = 0
         self.header = b""
         self.inframe = b""
+        self._background_tasks: set[asyncio.Task] = set()
+
+    def _spawn_background(self, coro) -> asyncio.Task:
+        """Create a tracked background task (prevents GC of fire-and-forget tasks)."""
+        task = asyncio.create_task(coro)
+        self._background_tasks.add(task)
+        task.add_done_callback(self._background_tasks.discard)
+        return task
 
     class MCClientProtocol(asyncio.Protocol):
         def __init__(self, cx):
@@ -47,7 +55,7 @@ class TCPConnection:
         def connection_lost(self, exc):
             logger.debug("TCP server closed the connection")
             if self.cx._disconnect_callback:
-                asyncio.create_task(self.cx._disconnect_callback("tcp_disconnect"))
+                self.cx._spawn_background(self.cx._disconnect_callback("tcp_disconnect"))
 
     async def connect(self):
         """
@@ -108,7 +116,7 @@ class TCPConnection:
         data = data[upbound:]
         if self.reader is not None:
             # feed meshcore reader
-            asyncio.create_task(self.reader.handle_rx(self.inframe))
+            self._spawn_background(self.reader.handle_rx(self.inframe))
         # reset inframe
         self.inframe = b""
         self.header = b""
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_asyncio_lifecycle.py b/tests/unit/test_asyncio_lifecycle.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f70f2f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_asyncio_lifecycle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+"""
+Verification tests for asyncio lifecycle fixes.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import gc
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+from meshcore.events import Event, EventDispatcher, EventType
+from meshcore.tcp_cx import TCPConnection
+from meshcore.serial_cx import SerialConnection
+from meshcore.commands.base import CommandHandlerBase
+
+
+class TestBackgroundTaskTracking(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Fire-and-forget create_task calls must be tracked to prevent GC."""
+
+    def test_tcp_spawn_background_retains_task(self):
+        """TCP _spawn_background adds the task to _background_tasks."""
+        async def _run():
+            cx = TCPConnection("127.0.0.1", 5555)
+            completed = asyncio.Event()
+
+            async def dummy():
+                completed.set()
+
+            task = cx._spawn_background(dummy())
+            assert task in cx._background_tasks
+            await completed.wait()
+            # After completion, done_callback should have discarded it
+            await asyncio.sleep(0)  # let done callback fire
+            assert task not in cx._background_tasks
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_serial_spawn_background_retains_task(self):
+        """Serial _spawn_background adds the task to _background_tasks."""
+        async def _run():
+            with patch("meshcore.serial_cx.asyncio.Event") as mock_event:
+                mock_event.return_value = MagicMock()
+                cx = SerialConnection("/dev/null", 115200)
+            completed = asyncio.Event()
+
+            async def dummy():
+                completed.set()
+
+            task = cx._spawn_background(dummy())
+            assert task in cx._background_tasks
+            await completed.wait()
+            await asyncio.sleep(0)
+            assert task not in cx._background_tasks
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_event_dispatcher_spawn_background_retains_task(self):
+        """EventDispatcher _spawn_background adds task to _background_tasks."""
+        async def _run():
+            dispatcher = EventDispatcher()
+            completed = asyncio.Event()
+
+            async def dummy():
+                completed.set()
+
+            task = dispatcher._spawn_background(dummy())
+            assert task in dispatcher._background_tasks
+            await completed.wait()
+            await asyncio.sleep(0)
+            assert task not in dispatcher._background_tasks
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_tcp_handle_rx_uses_tracked_task(self):
+        """TCP handle_rx dispatches reader.handle_rx via _spawn_background."""
+        async def _run():
+            cx = TCPConnection("127.0.0.1", 5555)
+            reader = AsyncMock()
+            reader.handle_rx = AsyncMock()
+            cx.set_reader(reader)
+
+            # Build a minimal valid frame: 0x3e + 2-byte LE size + payload
+            payload = b"\x01\x02\x03"
+            size = len(payload).to_bytes(2, "little")
+            frame = b"\x3e" + size + payload
+
+            cx.handle_rx(frame)
+            # Task should be tracked
+            assert len(cx._background_tasks) == 1
+            # Let task complete
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+            reader.handle_rx.assert_awaited_once_with(payload)
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_tcp_connection_lost_uses_tracked_task(self):
+        """TCP connection_lost dispatches disconnect callback via _spawn_background."""
+        async def _run():
+            cx = TCPConnection("127.0.0.1", 5555)
+            callback = AsyncMock()
+            cx.set_disconnect_callback(callback)
+
+            protocol = cx.MCClientProtocol(cx)
+            protocol.connection_lost(None)
+
+            assert len(cx._background_tasks) == 1
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+            callback.assert_awaited_once_with("tcp_disconnect")
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_gc_does_not_cancel_tracked_tasks(self):
+        """Tracked tasks survive GC pressure (the whole point of tracking)."""
+        async def _run():
+            cx = TCPConnection("127.0.0.1", 5555)
+            result = []
+
+            async def slow_task():
+                await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+                result.append("done")
+
+            cx._spawn_background(slow_task())
+            # Force GC — untracked tasks could be collected here
+            gc.collect()
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
+            assert result == ["done"]
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+
+class TestTaskDoneCorrectness(unittest.TestCase):
+    """EventDispatcher.stop() must wait for in-flight async callbacks."""
+
+    def test_stop_waits_for_async_callbacks(self):
+        """stop() should not return until async callbacks have completed."""
+        async def _run():
+            dispatcher = EventDispatcher()
+            await dispatcher.start()
+
+            callback_completed = False
+
+            async def slow_callback(event):
+                nonlocal callback_completed
+                await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
+                callback_completed = True
+
+            dispatcher.subscribe(EventType.OK, slow_callback)
+            await dispatcher.dispatch(Event(EventType.OK, {}))
+
+            # Give the dispatch loop a moment to pick up the event
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.02)
+
+            # stop() should wait for slow_callback to finish
+            await dispatcher.stop()
+            assert callback_completed, "stop() returned before async callback completed"
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+
+class TestDeferredPrimitiveConstruction(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Queue and Lock must not bind to import-time loop."""
+
+    def test_event_dispatcher_queue_is_none_before_start(self):
+        """EventDispatcher.queue should be None until start() is called."""
+        dispatcher = EventDispatcher()
+        assert dispatcher.queue is None
+
+    def test_event_dispatcher_queue_created_on_start(self):
+        """start() creates the queue."""
+        async def _run():
+            dispatcher = EventDispatcher()
+            assert dispatcher.queue is None
+            await dispatcher.start()
+            assert dispatcher.queue is not None
+            assert isinstance(dispatcher.queue, asyncio.Queue)
+            await dispatcher.stop()
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_event_dispatcher_dispatch_before_start_raises(self):
+        """dispatch() before start() should raise RuntimeError."""
+        async def _run():
+            dispatcher = EventDispatcher()
+            with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+                await dispatcher.dispatch(Event(EventType.OK, {}))
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+    def test_command_handler_lock_is_none_before_use(self):
+        """CommandHandlerBase lock should be None until first access."""
+        handler = CommandHandlerBase()
+        assert handler._CommandHandlerBase__mesh_request_lock is None
+
+    def test_command_handler_lock_created_on_access(self):
+        """Accessing _mesh_request_lock creates it lazily."""
+        async def _run():
+            handler = CommandHandlerBase()
+            lock = handler._mesh_request_lock
+            assert isinstance(lock, asyncio.Lock)
+            # Second access returns same instance
+            assert handler._mesh_request_lock is lock
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+
+class TestGetRunningLoop(unittest.TestCase):
+    """get_event_loop() replaced with get_running_loop() in send()."""
+
+    def test_send_uses_get_running_loop(self):
+        """send() should call get_running_loop, not get_event_loop."""
+        async def _run():
+            handler = CommandHandlerBase()
+            dispatcher = EventDispatcher()
+            await dispatcher.start()
+            handler.set_dispatcher(dispatcher)
+
+            mock_sender = AsyncMock()
+            handler._sender_func = mock_sender
+
+            # Patch get_running_loop to verify it's called
+            with patch("meshcore.commands.base.asyncio.get_running_loop", wraps=asyncio.get_running_loop) as mock_grl:
+                # send with expected_events triggers the loop = asyncio.get_running_loop() path
+                result = await handler.send(
+                    b"\x01",
+                    expected_events=[EventType.OK],
+                    timeout=0.05,
+                )
+                mock_grl.assert_called()
+
+            await dispatcher.stop()
+
+        asyncio.run(_run())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()