diff --git a/playout/libretime_playout/liquidsoap/client/_client.py b/playout/libretime_playout/liquidsoap/client/_client.py
index 8b6cbcc15..d24fd0af2 100644
--- a/playout/libretime_playout/liquidsoap/client/_client.py
+++ b/playout/libretime_playout/liquidsoap/client/_client.py
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ class LiquidsoapClient:
 
         raise LiquidsoapClientError("could not get liquidsoap version")
 
+    def outputs_connection_status(self):
+        with self.conn:
+            self.conn.write("streams.connection_status")
+            return self.conn.read().splitlines()[0]
+
     def queues_remove(self, *queues: int) -> None:
         with self.conn:
             for queue_id in queues:
@@ -125,6 +130,10 @@ class LiquidsoapClient:
             if input_fade_transition is not None:
                 self._set_var("default_dj_fade", input_fade_transition)
 
+    def boot_timestamp_update(self, timestamp: float):
+        with self.conn:
+            self._set_var("bootup_time", str(timestamp))
+
     def restart(self):
         logger.warning("restarting Liquidsoap")
 
diff --git a/playout/libretime_playout/player/fetch.py b/playout/libretime_playout/player/fetch.py
index 61c5a67b9..0d482392c 100644
--- a/playout/libretime_playout/player/fetch.py
+++ b/playout/libretime_playout/player/fetch.py
@@ -175,16 +175,13 @@ class PypoFetch(Thread):
         """
 
         try:
-            with self.liq_client.conn:
-                # update the boot up time of Liquidsoap. Since Liquidsoap is not restarting,
-                # we are manually adjusting the bootup time variable so the status msg will get
-                # updated.
-                current_time = time.time()
-                self.liq_client.conn.write(f"vars.bootup_time {str(current_time)}")
-                self.liq_client.conn.read()
+            # update the boot up time of Liquidsoap. Since Liquidsoap is not restarting,
+            # we are manually adjusting the bootup time variable so the status msg will get
+            # updated.
+            current_time = time.time()
+            self.liq_client.boot_timestamp_update(current_time)
 
-                self.liq_client.conn.write("streams.connection_status")
-                stream_info = self.liq_client.conn.read().splitlines()[0]
+            stream_info = self.liq_client.outputs_connection_status()
         except (ConnectionError, TimeoutError) as exception:
             logger.exception(exception)