diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index 174a2546c..3219d79b3 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "requests >= 2.31.0",
     "gql[all] == 3.5.0",
     "matplotlib >= 3.4.3",
+    "ipywidgets >= 8.1.5",
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/python/tests/graphql/edit_graph/test_graphql.py b/python/tests/graphql/edit_graph/test_graphql.py
index 6b6a06b96..aa65bcb30 100644
--- a/python/tests/graphql/edit_graph/test_graphql.py
+++ b/python/tests/graphql/edit_graph/test_graphql.py
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ def test_failed_server_start_in_time():
 def test_wrong_url():
     with pytest.raises(Exception) as excinfo:
         client = RaphtoryClient("http://broken_url.com")
-    assert str(excinfo.value) == "Could not connect to the given server - no response"
+    assert (
+        str(excinfo.value)
+        == "Could not connect to the given server - no response --error sending request for url (http://broken_url.com/)"
+    )
 
 
 def test_successful_server_start_in_time():
diff --git a/raphtory-graphql/src/python/client/raphtory_client.rs b/raphtory-graphql/src/python/client/raphtory_client.rs
index 9f30c2858..379393b4f 100644
--- a/raphtory-graphql/src/python/client/raphtory_client.rs
+++ b/raphtory-graphql/src/python/client/raphtory_client.rs
@@ -102,9 +102,10 @@ impl PyRaphtoryClient {
                     )))
                 }
             }
-            Err(_) => Err(PyValueError::new_err(
-                "Could not connect to the given server - no response",
-            )),
+            Err(e) => Err(PyValueError::new_err(format!(
+                "Could not connect to the given server - no response --{}",
+                e.to_string()
+            ))),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/running_server.rs b/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/running_server.rs
index b750fba04..3e0b8dbfc 100644
--- a/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/running_server.rs
+++ b/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/running_server.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub struct PyRunningGraphServer {
 pub(crate) struct ServerHandler {
     pub(crate) join_handle: JoinHandle<IoResult<()>>,
     sender: CrossbeamSender<BridgeCommand>,
-    pub(crate) client: PyRaphtoryClient,
+    port: u16,
 }
 
 impl PyRunningGraphServer {
@@ -29,13 +29,11 @@ impl PyRunningGraphServer {
         sender: CrossbeamSender<BridgeCommand>,
         port: u16,
     ) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        let url = format!("http://localhost:{port}");
         let server_handler = Some(ServerHandler {
             join_handle,
             sender,
-            client: PyRaphtoryClient::new(url)?,
+            port,
         });
-
         Ok(PyRunningGraphServer { server_handler })
     }
 
@@ -83,7 +81,11 @@ impl PyRunningGraphServer {
 #[pymethods]
 impl PyRunningGraphServer {
     pub(crate) fn get_client(&self) -> PyResult<PyRaphtoryClient> {
-        self.apply_if_alive(|handler| Ok(handler.client.clone()))
+        self.apply_if_alive(|handler| {
+            let port = handler.port;
+            let url = format!("http://localhost:{port}");
+            Ok(PyRaphtoryClient::new(url)?)
+        })
     }
 
     /// Stop the server and wait for it to finish
diff --git a/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/server.rs b/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/server.rs
index 434f30a9f..4c88ff4a3 100644
--- a/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/server.rs
+++ b/raphtory-graphql/src/python/server/server.rs
@@ -313,10 +313,8 @@ impl PyGraphServer {
 
         let mut server = PyRunningGraphServer::new(join_handle, sender, port)?;
         if let Some(server_handler) = &server.server_handler {
-            match PyRunningGraphServer::wait_for_server_online(
-                &server_handler.client.url,
-                timeout_ms,
-            ) {
+            let url = format!("http://localhost:{port}");
+            match PyRunningGraphServer::wait_for_server_online(&url, timeout_ms) {
                 Ok(_) => return Ok(server),
                 Err(e) => {
                     PyRunningGraphServer::stop_server(&mut server, py)?;