diff --git a/labgrid/remote/client.py b/labgrid/remote/client.py
index 63fdfa7af..6924090f5 100755
--- a/labgrid/remote/client.py
+++ b/labgrid/remote/client.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import argparse
 import asyncio
 import contextlib
+from contextvars import ContextVar
 import enum
 import os
 import pathlib
@@ -1529,8 +1530,45 @@ def print_version(self):
         print(labgrid_version())
 
 
-def start_session(address, extra, debug=False):
-    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+_loop: ContextVar["asyncio.AbstractEventLoop | None"] = ContextVar("_loop", default=None)
+
+
+def ensure_event_loop(external_loop=None):
+    """Get the event loop for this thread, or create a new event loop."""
+    # get stashed loop
+    loop = _loop.get()
+
+    # ignore closed stashed loop
+    if loop and loop.is_closed():
+        loop = None
+
+    if external_loop:
+        # if a loop is stashed, expect it to be the same as the external one
+        if loop:
+            assert loop is external_loop
+        _loop.set(external_loop)
+        return external_loop
+
+    # return stashed loop
+    if loop:
+        return loop
+
+    try:
+        # if called from async code, try to get current's thread loop
+        loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    except RuntimeError:
+        # no previous, external or running loop found, create a new one
+        loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
+
+    # stash it
+    _loop.set(loop)
+    return loop
+
+
+def start_session(address, extra, debug=False, loop=None):
+    loop = ensure_event_loop(loop)
+
     if debug:
         loop.set_debug(True)
 
@@ -2040,7 +2078,9 @@ def main():
                 coordinator_address = os.environ.get("LG_COORDINATOR", "127.0.0.1:20408")
 
             logging.debug('Starting session with "%s"', coordinator_address)
-            session = start_session(coordinator_address, extra, args.debug)
+            loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+            asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
+            session = start_session(coordinator_address, extra=extra, debug=args.debug, loop=loop)
             logging.debug("Started session")
 
             try: