diff --git a/core_api/src/publisher_handler.py b/core_api/src/publisher_handler.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..efd34d086
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core_api/src/publisher_handler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from faststream.redis import RedisBroker
+
+from redbox.models import File
+
+
+class FilePublisher:
+    """This class is a bit of a hack to overcome a shortcoming (bug?) in faststream
+    whereby the broker is not automatically connected in sub-applications.
+
+    TODO: fix this properly, or raise an issue against faststream
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, broker: RedisBroker, queue_name: str):
+        self.connected = False
+        self.broker = broker
+        self.queue_name = queue_name
+
+    async def publish(self, file: File):
+        if not self.connected:
+            # we only do this once
+            await self.broker.connect()
+            self.connected = True
+        return self.broker.publish(file, self.queue_name)
diff --git a/core_api/src/routes/file.py b/core_api/src/routes/file.py
index c8367cf71..5f153d28d 100644
--- a/core_api/src/routes/file.py
+++ b/core_api/src/routes/file.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from faststream.redis.fastapi import RedisRouter
 from pydantic import AnyHttpUrl
 
+from core_api.src.publisher_handler import FilePublisher
 from redbox.models import Chunk, File, FileStatus, Settings
 from redbox.storage import ElasticsearchStorageHandler
 
@@ -23,8 +24,8 @@
 
 # === Queues ===
 router = RedisRouter(url=env.redis_url)
-publisher = router.publisher(env.ingest_queue_name)
 
+file_publisher = FilePublisher(router.broker, env.ingest_queue_name)
 
 # === Storage ===
 
@@ -69,8 +70,7 @@ async def create_upload_file(name: str, type: str, location: AnyHttpUrl) -> UUID
     storage_handler.write_item(file)
 
     log.info(f"publishing {file.uuid}")
-    await router.broker.connect()
-    await publisher.publish(file)
+    await file_publisher.publish(file)
 
     return file.uuid
 
diff --git a/core_api/tests/conftest.py b/core_api/tests/conftest.py
index 02630b0ad..c73a5611f 100644
--- a/core_api/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/core_api/tests/conftest.py
@@ -87,9 +87,7 @@ def stored_file(elasticsearch_storage_handler, file) -> YieldFixture[File]:
 @pytest.fixture
 def chunked_file(elasticsearch_storage_handler, stored_file) -> YieldFixture[File]:
     for i in range(5):
-        chunk = Chunk(
-            text="hello", index=i, parent_file_uuid=stored_file.uuid, metadata={}
-        )
+        chunk = Chunk(text="hello", index=i, parent_file_uuid=stored_file.uuid, metadata={})
         elasticsearch_storage_handler.write_item(chunk)
     elasticsearch_storage_handler.refresh()
     yield stored_file
diff --git a/core_api/tests/routes/test_file.py b/core_api/tests/routes/test_file.py
index f2de150ae..efff97d2a 100644
--- a/core_api/tests/routes/test_file.py
+++ b/core_api/tests/routes/test_file.py
@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_post_file_upload(
-    s3_client, app_client, elasticsearch_storage_handler, file_pdf_path
-):
+async def test_post_file_upload(s3_client, app_client, elasticsearch_storage_handler, file_pdf_path):
     """
     Given a new file
     When I POST it to /file
@@ -20,7 +18,6 @@ async def test_post_file_upload(
     file_key = os.path.basename(file_pdf_path)
 
     with open(file_pdf_path, "rb") as f:
-
         s3_client.upload_fileobj(
             Bucket=env.bucket_name,
             Fileobj=f,
@@ -57,9 +54,7 @@ def test_get_file(app_client, stored_file):
     assert response.status_code == 200
 
 
-def test_delete_file(
-    s3_client, app_client, elasticsearch_storage_handler, chunked_file
-):
+def test_delete_file(s3_client, app_client, elasticsearch_storage_handler, chunked_file):
     """
     Given a previously saved file
     When I DELETE it to /file
@@ -67,9 +62,7 @@ def test_delete_file(
     """
     # check assets exist
     assert s3_client.get_object(Bucket=env.bucket_name, Key=chunked_file.name)
-    assert elasticsearch_storage_handler.read_item(
-        item_uuid=chunked_file.uuid, model_type="file"
-    )
+    assert elasticsearch_storage_handler.read_item(item_uuid=chunked_file.uuid, model_type="file")
     assert elasticsearch_storage_handler.get_file_chunks(chunked_file.uuid)
 
     response = app_client.delete(f"/file/{chunked_file.uuid}")
@@ -82,9 +75,7 @@ def test_delete_file(
         s3_client.get_object(Bucket=env.bucket_name, Key=chunked_file.name)
 
     with pytest.raises(NotFoundError):
-        elasticsearch_storage_handler.read_item(
-            item_uuid=chunked_file.uuid, model_type="file"
-        )
+        elasticsearch_storage_handler.read_item(item_uuid=chunked_file.uuid, model_type="file")
 
     assert not elasticsearch_storage_handler.get_file_chunks(chunked_file.uuid)