diff --git a/src/meshcore/commands/base.py b/src/meshcore/commands/base.py
index 9e0f00e..6831ad4 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)
diff --git a/src/meshcore/events.py b/src/meshcore/events.py
index dbf7056..c9c0b6a 100644
--- a/src/meshcore/events.py
+++ b/src/meshcore/events.py
@@ -129,8 +129,17 @@ 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
@@ -174,6 +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):
@@ -228,6 +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())
 
@@ -235,7 +250,8 @@ 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: