diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a57c57a..745500e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -149,3 +149,5 @@ cython_debug/
 .vscode/
 
 contracts/
+
+testproj/
diff --git a/nitric/application.py b/nitric/application.py
index 44ca9eb..38e2e6a 100644
--- a/nitric/application.py
+++ b/nitric/application.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 class Nitric:
     """Represents a nitric app."""
 
+    _has_run = False
+
     _workers: List[FunctionServer] = []
     _cache: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {
         "api": {},
@@ -61,6 +63,16 @@ def _create_resource(cls, resource: Type[BT], name: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: A
                 "The nitric server may not be running or the host/port is inaccessible"
             ) from cre
 
+    @classmethod
+    def has_run(cls) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if the Nitric application has been started.
+
+        Returns:
+            bool: True if the Nitric application has been started, False otherwise.
+        """
+        return cls._has_run
+
     @classmethod
     def run(cls) -> None:
         """
@@ -68,6 +80,9 @@ def run(cls) -> None:
 
         This will execute in an existing event loop if there is one, otherwise it will attempt to create its own.
         """
+        if cls._has_run:
+            print("The Nitric application has already been started, Nitric.run() should only be called once.")
+        cls._has_run = True
         try:
             try:
                 loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
diff --git a/nitric/channel.py b/nitric/channel.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2e0002
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nitric/channel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import atexit
+import re
+from urllib.parse import urlparse
+from grpclib.client import Channel
+
+from nitric.application import Nitric
+from nitric.config import settings
+from nitric.exception import NitricNotRunningException
+
+
+def format_url(url: str):
+    """Add the default http scheme prefix to urls without one."""
+    if not re.match("^((?:http|ftp|https):)?//", url.lower()):
+        return "http://{0}".format(url)
+    return url
+
+
+class ChannelManager:
+    """A singleton class to manage the gRPC channel."""
+
+    channel = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_channel(cls) -> Channel:
+        """Return the channel instance."""
+
+        if cls.channel is None:
+            cls._create_channel()
+        return cls.channel  # type: ignore
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _create_channel(cls):
+        """Create a new channel instance."""
+
+        channel_url = urlparse(format_url(settings.SERVICE_ADDRESS))
+        cls.channel = Channel(host=channel_url.hostname, port=channel_url.port)
+        atexit.register(cls._close_channel)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _close_channel(cls):
+        """Close the channel instance."""
+
+        if cls.channel is not None:
+            cls.channel.close()
+            cls.channel = None
+
+            # If the program exits without calling Nitric.run(), it may have been a mistake.
+            if not Nitric.has_run():
+                print(
+                    "WARNING: The Nitric application was not started. "
+                    "If you intended to start the application, call Nitric.run() before exiting."
+                )
diff --git a/nitric/exception.py b/nitric/exception.py
index 62f8b1b..c89e3ea 100644
--- a/nitric/exception.py
+++ b/nitric/exception.py
@@ -157,6 +157,13 @@ def __init__(self, message: str):
         super().__init__("Unable to connect to nitric server." + (" " + message if message else ""))
 
 
+class NitricNotRunningException(Exception):
+    """The Nitric application wasn't started before the program exited."""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__("The Nitric application was not started, call Nitric.run() to start the application.")
+
+
 def exception_from_grpc_error(error: GRPCError):
     """Translate a gRPC error to a nitric api exception."""
     return exception_from_grpc_code(error.status.value, error.message or "")
diff --git a/nitric/resources/apis.py b/nitric/resources/apis.py
index 606ca76..ea40b4b 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/apis.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/apis.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     ResourceType,
 )
 from nitric.resources.resource import Resource as BaseResource
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ async def _route_request_iterator(self):
 
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Register this API route handler and handle http requests."""
-        channel = new_default_channel()
+        channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         server = ApiStub(channel=channel)
 
         # Attach security rules for this route
diff --git a/nitric/resources/buckets.py b/nitric/resources/buckets.py
index 756475d..b2c82fa 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/buckets.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/buckets.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
     StorageWriteRequest,
 )
 from nitric.resources.resource import SecureResource
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 class BucketNotifyRequest:
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class BucketRef(object):
 
     def __init__(self, name: str):
         """Construct a Nitric Storage Client."""
-        self._channel: Union[Channel, None] = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Union[Channel, None] = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._storage_stub = StorageStub(channel=self._channel)
         self.name = name
 
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ async def _listener_request_iterator(self):
 
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Register this bucket listener and listen for events."""
-        channel = new_default_channel()
+        channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         server = StorageListenerStub(channel=channel)
 
         try:
diff --git a/nitric/resources/kv.py b/nitric/resources/kv.py
index 05285e4..7be6cac 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/kv.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/kv.py
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@
     ResourceType,
 )
 from nitric.resources.resource import SecureResource
-from nitric.utils import dict_from_struct, new_default_channel, struct_from_dict
+from nitric.utils import dict_from_struct, struct_from_dict
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 class KeyValueStoreRef:
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ class KeyValueStoreRef:
 
     def __init__(self, name: str):
         """Construct a reference to a deployed key value store."""
-        self._channel: Channel = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._kv_stub = KvStoreStub(channel=self._channel)
         self.name = name
 
diff --git a/nitric/resources/queues.py b/nitric/resources/queues.py
index 503c97a..e4d078d 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/queues.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/queues.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@
 from nitric.proto.queues.v1 import QueuesStub as QueueServiceStub
 from nitric.proto.resources.v1 import Action, ResourceDeclareRequest, ResourceIdentifier, ResourceType
 from nitric.resources.resource import SecureResource
-from nitric.utils import dict_from_struct, new_default_channel, struct_from_dict
+from nitric.utils import dict_from_struct, struct_from_dict
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True, order=True)
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ class QueueRef(object):
 
     def __init__(self, name: str) -> None:
         """Construct a Nitric Queue Client."""
-        self._channel: Channel = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._queue_stub = QueueServiceStub(channel=self._channel)
         self.name = name
 
diff --git a/nitric/resources/resource.py b/nitric/resources/resource.py
index e391e48..63d255c 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/resource.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/resource.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     ResourcesStub,
     ResourceType,
 )
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 T = TypeVar("T", bound="Resource")
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def __init__(self, name: str):
         """Construct a new resource."""
         self.name = name
         self._reg: Optional[Task[Any]] = None  # type: ignore
-        self._channel = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._resources_stub = ResourcesStub(channel=self._channel)
 
     @abstractmethod
@@ -85,9 +85,6 @@ def _perms_to_actions(self, *args: Any) -> List[Action]:
         pass
 
     async def _register_policy_async(self, *args: str) -> None:
-        # if self._reg is not None:
-        #     await asyncio.wait({self._reg})
-
         policy = PolicyResource(
             principals=[ResourceIdentifier(type=ResourceType.Service)],
             actions=self._perms_to_actions(*args),
diff --git a/nitric/resources/schedules.py b/nitric/resources/schedules.py
index 80915c0..ff2d2dd 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/schedules.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/schedules.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     ScheduleEvery,
     SchedulesStub,
 )
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 class ScheduleServer(FunctionServer):
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ async def _schedule_request_iterator(self):
 
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Register this schedule and start listening for requests."""
-        channel = new_default_channel()
+        channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         schedules_stub = SchedulesStub(channel=channel)
 
         try:
diff --git a/nitric/resources/secrets.py b/nitric/resources/secrets.py
index e0d2919..8d3c0eb 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/secrets.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/secrets.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 from nitric.proto.secrets.v1 import SecretAccessRequest, SecretManagerStub, SecretPutRequest
 from nitric.proto.secrets.v1 import SecretVersion as VersionMessage
 from nitric.resources.resource import SecureResource
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 class SecretRef:
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class SecretRef:
 
     def __init__(self, name: str) -> None:
         """Construct a Nitric Storage Client."""
-        self._channel: Channel = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._secrets_stub = SecretManagerStub(channel=self._channel)
         self.name = name
 
diff --git a/nitric/resources/sql.py b/nitric/resources/sql.py
index 633c03e..3ab7d2d 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/sql.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/sql.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
     ResourceType,
 )
 from nitric.resources.resource import Resource as BaseResource
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 from nitric.application import Nitric
 
 from nitric.proto.sql.v1 import SqlStub, SqlConnectionStringRequest
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, migrations: Union[str, None] = None):
         """Construct a new SQL Database."""
         super().__init__(name)
 
-        self._channel: Union[Channel, None] = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Union[Channel, None] = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._sql_stub = SqlStub(channel=self._channel)
         self.name = name
         self.migrations = migrations
diff --git a/nitric/resources/topics.py b/nitric/resources/topics.py
index c430244..bac5133 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/topics.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/topics.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@
 from nitric.proto.topics.v1 import RegistrationRequest, SubscriberStub
 from nitric.proto.topics.v1 import TopicPublishRequest, TopicsStub
 from nitric.resources.resource import SecureResource
-from nitric.utils import dict_from_struct, new_default_channel, struct_from_dict
+from nitric.utils import dict_from_struct, struct_from_dict
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 TopicPermission = Literal["publish"]
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ class TopicRef:
 
     def __init__(self, name: str) -> None:
         """Construct a reference to a deployed Topic."""
-        self._channel: Channel = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._topics_stub = TopicsStub(channel=self._channel)
         self.name = name
 
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ async def _message_request_iterator(self):
 
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Register this subscriber and listen for messages."""
-        channel = new_default_channel()
+        channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         server = SubscriberStub(channel=channel)
 
         try:
diff --git a/nitric/resources/websockets.py b/nitric/resources/websockets.py
index 6f3ea4a..2519950 100644
--- a/nitric/resources/websockets.py
+++ b/nitric/resources/websockets.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     WebsocketStub,
 )
 from nitric.resources.resource import Resource as BaseResource
-from nitric.utils import new_default_channel
+from nitric.channel import ChannelManager
 
 
 class WebsocketRef:
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class WebsocketRef:
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         """Construct a Nitric Websocket Client."""
-        self._channel: Channel = new_default_channel()
+        self._channel: Channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         self._websocket_stub = WebsocketStub(channel=self._channel)
 
     async def send(self, socket: str, connection_id: str, data: bytes):
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ async def _ws_request_iterator(self):
 
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Register this websocket handler and listen for messages."""
-        channel = new_default_channel()
+        channel = ChannelManager.get_channel()
         server = WebsocketHandlerStub(channel=channel)
 
         try:
diff --git a/nitric/utils.py b/nitric/utils.py
index 2656bd9..1f5bb41 100644
--- a/nitric/utils.py
+++ b/nitric/utils.py
@@ -16,29 +16,11 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 #
-import re
 from typing import Any, Optional
-from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from betterproto.lib.google.protobuf import Struct
 from google.protobuf.json_format import MessageToDict
 from google.protobuf.struct_pb2 import Struct as WorkingStruct
-from grpclib.client import Channel
-
-from nitric.config import settings
-
-
-def format_url(url: str):
-    """Add the default http scheme prefix to urls without one."""
-    if not re.match("^((?:http|ftp|https):)?//", url.lower()):
-        return "http://{0}".format(url)
-    return url
-
-
-def new_default_channel():
-    """Create new gRPC channel from settings."""
-    channel_url = urlparse(format_url(settings.SERVICE_ADDRESS))
-    return Channel(host=channel_url.hostname, port=channel_url.port)
 
 
 # These functions convert to/from python dict <-> betterproto.lib.google.protobuf.Struct
diff --git a/testproj/functions/hello.py b/testproj/functions/hello.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 6eb79a7..0000000
--- a/testproj/functions/hello.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-from nitric.resources import api, kv
-from nitric.application import Nitric
-from nitric.context import HttpContext
-
-
-users = kv("test").allow("get", "set")
-
-public = api("test")
-
-print("this should print")
-
-
-# Run every 5 minutes
-@public.get("/test/:thing")
-async def process_transactions(ctx: HttpContext):
-    """Process transactions."""
-    ctx.res.body = b"Hello, world!"
-    thing = ctx.req.params["thing"]
-    await users.set(thing, {"thing": ctx.req.params["thing"]})
-    out = await users.get(thing)
-
-    async_keys = users.keys()
-
-    async for key in async_keys:
-        print("got key:", key)
-
-    print(out)
-
-
-Nitric.run()