diff --git a/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ChatWindowController.java b/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ChatWindowController.java
index 6a2f224..f2e9563 100644
--- a/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ChatWindowController.java
+++ b/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ChatWindowController.java
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ public class ChatWindowController {
         messageListener();
     }
 
+    public void setConnectionHandler(ClientConnectionHandler connectionHandler){
+        this.connectionHandler = connectionHandler;
+    }
+
     private void applicationClose() {
         disconnect();
     }
@@ -108,9 +112,7 @@ public class ChatWindowController {
         String userName = userNameField.getText();
         String serverAddress = serverAddressField.getText();
         int serverPort = Integer.parseInt(serverPortField.getText());
-        connectionHandler = new ClientConnectionHandler(
-            NetworkHandler.openConnection(serverAddress, serverPort), userName,
-            messages);
+        connectionHandler.initialize(serverAddress, serverPort, userName);
         new Thread(connectionHandler).start();
 
         //register Listener
@@ -120,15 +122,6 @@ public class ChatWindowController {
         rootPane.getScene().getWindow().addEventHandler(WindowEvent.WINDOW_CLOSE_REQUEST, windowCloseHandler);
     }
 
-    private void terminateConnectionHandler() {
-        // unregister window close handler
-        rootPane.getScene().getWindow().removeEventHandler(WindowEvent.WINDOW_CLOSE_REQUEST, windowCloseHandler);
-        if (connectionHandler != null) {
-            connectionHandler.stopReceiving();
-            connectionHandler = null;
-        }
-    }
-
     public void stateChanged(State newState) {
         // update UI (need to be run in UI thread: see Platform.runLater())
         Platform.runLater(new Runnable() {
@@ -137,8 +130,8 @@ public class ChatWindowController {
                 connectButton.setText((newState == CONNECTED || newState == CONFIRM_DISCONNECT) ? "Disconnect" : "Connect");
             }
         });
-        if (newState == DISCONNECTED) {
-            terminateConnectionHandler();
+        if(newState == DISCONNECTED){
+            connectionHandler.stopReceiving();
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientConnectionHandler.java b/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientConnectionHandler.java
index 9da83da..b79195f 100644
--- a/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientConnectionHandler.java
+++ b/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientConnectionHandler.java
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 import static ch.zhaw.pm2.multichat.client.ClientConnectionHandler.State.*;
 
 public class ClientConnectionHandler implements Runnable {
-    private final NetworkHandler.NetworkConnection<String> connection;
+    private NetworkHandler.NetworkConnection<String> connection;
 
     // Data types used for the Chat Protocol
     private static final String DATA_TYPE_CONNECT = "CONNECT";
@@ -40,17 +40,19 @@ public class ClientConnectionHandler implements Runnable {
         NEW, CONFIRM_CONNECT, CONNECTED, CONFIRM_DISCONNECT, DISCONNECTED;
     }
 
-    public ClientConnectionHandler(NetworkHandler.NetworkConnection<String> connection,
-                                   String userName,
-                                   ClientMessageList messages)  {
-        this.connection = connection;
-        this.userName = new SimpleStringProperty((userName == null || userName.isBlank())? USER_NONE : userName);
+    public ClientConnectionHandler(ClientMessageList messages)  {
         this.messages = messages;
         state = new SimpleObjectProperty<>(NEW);
         serverAddress = new SimpleStringProperty();
         serverPort = new SimpleIntegerProperty();
     }
 
+    public void initialize(String serverAddress, int serverPort, String userName) throws IOException {
+        state = new SimpleObjectProperty<>(NEW);
+        this.connection = NetworkHandler.openConnection(serverAddress, serverPort);
+        this.userName = new SimpleStringProperty((userName == null || userName.isBlank())? USER_NONE : userName);
+    }
+
     public SimpleStringProperty getServerAddressProperty() { return serverAddress; }
 
     public SimpleIntegerProperty getServerPortProperty() { return serverPort; }
diff --git a/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientUI.java b/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientUI.java
index bde3d1d..67a1d96 100644
--- a/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientUI.java
+++ b/client/src/main/java/ch/zhaw/pm2/multichat/client/ClientUI.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import javafx.stage.Stage;
 
 public class ClientUI extends Application {
     private ClientMessageList clientMessageList = new ClientMessageList();
+    private ClientConnectionHandler connectionHandler = new ClientConnectionHandler(clientMessageList);
 
     @Override
     public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ public class ClientUI extends Application {
 
             ChatWindowController chatWindowController = loader.getController();
             chatWindowController.setMessages(clientMessageList);
+            chatWindowController.setConnectionHandler(connectionHandler);
 
             // fill in scene and stage setup
             Scene scene = new Scene(rootPane);