diff --git a/server/app.py b/server/app.py
index c483136..1ca5b9e 100644
--- a/server/app.py
+++ b/server/app.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from getmac import get_mac_address
 import time
 import sys
 from multiprocessing import Process, Value
+import multiprocessing
 
 app = Flask(__name__)
 
@@ -154,7 +155,8 @@ def tube_index_updater(shared_mem):
         time.sleep(5)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    tube_index_smem = Value(None)
+    multiprocessing.set_start_method("fork")
+    tube_index_smem = Value("tube_index", "placeholder")
     ti_updater_thread = Process(target=tube_index_updater, args=(tube_index_smem))
     ti_updater_thread.start()
     time.sleep(1)