diff --git a/python-sdk/exospherehost/runtime.py b/python-sdk/exospherehost/runtime.py
index 04c7b7b5..8ee8e0c1 100644
--- a/python-sdk/exospherehost/runtime.py
+++ b/python-sdk/exospherehost/runtime.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import os
+import multiprocessing
+
 from asyncio import Queue, sleep
 from typing import List, Dict
 
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ class Runtime:
         key (str | None, optional): API key for authentication.
             If not provided, will use the EXOSPHERE_API_KEY environment variable.
         batch_size (int, optional): Number of states to fetch per poll. Defaults to 16.
-        workers (int, optional): Number of concurrent worker tasks. Defaults to 4.
+        thread_count (int, optional): Number of concurrent worker threads. Defaults to 4.
         state_manage_version (str, optional): State manager API version. Defaults to "v0".
         poll_interval (int, optional): Seconds between polling for new states. Defaults to 1.
 
@@ -47,13 +49,13 @@ class Runtime:
         runtime.start()
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, namespace: str, name: str, nodes: List[type[BaseNode]], state_manager_uri: str | None = None, key: str | None = None, batch_size: int = 16, workers: int = 4, state_manage_version: str = "v0", poll_interval: int = 1):
+    def __init__(self, namespace: str, name: str, nodes: List[type[BaseNode]], state_manager_uri: str | None = None, key: str | None = None, batch_size: int = 16, thread_count: int = 4, state_manage_version: str = "v0", poll_interval: int = 1):
         self._name = name
         self._namespace = namespace
         self._key = key
         self._batch_size = batch_size
         self._state_queue = Queue(maxsize=2*batch_size)
-        self._workers = workers
+        self._thread_count = thread_count
         self._nodes = nodes
         self._node_names = [node.__name__ for node in nodes]
         self._state_manager_uri = state_manager_uri
@@ -81,13 +83,13 @@ def _validate_runtime(self):
         Validate runtime configuration.
 
         Raises:
-            ValueError: If batch_size or workers is less than 1, or if required
+            ValueError: If batch_size or thread_count is less than 1, or if required
                 configuration (state_manager_uri, key) is not provided.
         """
         if self._batch_size < 1:
             raise ValueError("Batch size should be at least 1")
-        if self._workers < 1:
-            raise ValueError("Workers should be at least 1")
+        if self._thread_count < 1:
+            raise ValueError("Thread count should be at least 1")
         if self._state_manager_uri is None:
             raise ValueError("State manager URI is not set")
         if self._key is None:
@@ -306,9 +308,9 @@ def _validate_nodes(self):
         if len(errors) > 0:
             raise ValueError("Following errors while validating nodes: " + "\n".join(errors))
         
-    async def _worker(self):
+    async def _worker_thread(self):
         """
-        Worker task that processes states from the queue.
+        Worker thread that processes states from the queue.
 
         Continuously fetches states from the queue, executes the corresponding node,
         and notifies the state manager of the result.
@@ -319,7 +321,7 @@ async def _worker(self):
             try:
                 node = self._node_mapping[state["node_name"]]
                 secrets = await self._get_secrets(state["state_id"])
-                outputs = await node()._execute(node.Inputs(**state["inputs"]), node.Secrets(**secrets["secrets"]))
+                outputs = await node()._execute(node.Inputs(**state["inputs"]), node.Secrets(**secrets["secrets"])) # type: ignore
 
                 if outputs is None:
                     outputs = []
@@ -338,7 +340,7 @@ async def _start(self):
         """
         Start the runtime event loop.
 
-        Registers nodes, starts the polling and worker tasks, and runs until stopped.
+        Registers nodes, starts the polling and worker threads, and runs until stopped.
 
         Raises:
             RuntimeError: If the runtime is not connected (no nodes registered).
@@ -346,9 +348,9 @@ async def _start(self):
         await self._register()
         
         poller = asyncio.create_task(self._enqueue())
-        worker_tasks = [asyncio.create_task(self._worker()) for _ in range(self._workers)]
+        worker_threads = [asyncio.create_task(self._worker_thread()) for _ in range(self._thread_count)]
 
-        await asyncio.gather(poller, *worker_tasks)
+        await asyncio.gather(poller, *worker_threads)
 
     def start(self):
         """
diff --git a/python-sdk/tests/test_runtime_validation.py b/python-sdk/tests/test_runtime_validation.py
index d135b258..53ca2620 100644
--- a/python-sdk/tests/test_runtime_validation.py
+++ b/python-sdk/tests/test_runtime_validation.py
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ class Secrets(BaseModel):
 		api_key: str
 
 	async def execute(self):
-		return self.Outputs(message=f"hi {self.inputs.name}")
+		return self.Outputs(message=f"hi {self.inputs.name}") # type: ignore
 
 
 class BadNodeWrongInputsBase(BaseNode):
-	Inputs = object  # not a pydantic BaseModel
+	Inputs = object  # not a pydantic BaseModel # type: ignore
 	class Outputs(BaseModel):
 		message: str
 	class Secrets(BaseModel):
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def test_runtime_invalid_params_raises(monkeypatch):
 	with pytest.raises(ValueError):
 		Runtime(namespace="ns", name="rt", nodes=[GoodNode], batch_size=0)
 	with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-		Runtime(namespace="ns", name="rt", nodes=[GoodNode], workers=0)
+		Runtime(namespace="ns", name="rt", nodes=[GoodNode], thread_count=0)
 
 
 def test_node_validation_errors(monkeypatch):