diff --git a/pyinfra/queue/callback.py b/pyinfra/queue/callback.py
index cedf686..3fa8f22 100644
--- a/pyinfra/queue/callback.py
+++ b/pyinfra/queue/callback.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from pyinfra.storage.utils import download_data_as_specified_in_message, upload_
 DataProcessor = Callable[[Union[dict, bytes], dict], dict]
 
 
-def make_payload_processor(data_processor: DataProcessor, settings: Dynaconf):
+def make_queue_message_callback(data_processor: DataProcessor, settings: Dynaconf):
     """Default callback for processing queue messages.
     Data will be downloaded from the storage as specified in the message. If a tenant id is specified, the storage
     will be configured to use that tenant id, otherwise the storage is configured as specified in the settings.
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def make_payload_processor(data_processor: DataProcessor, settings: Dynaconf):
     The response message is just the original message.
     Adapt as needed.
     """
-    
+
     def inner(queue_message_payload: dict) -> dict:
         logger.info(f"Processing payload...")
 
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ def make_payload_processor(data_processor: DataProcessor, settings: Dynaconf):
 
         return queue_message_payload
 
-    return inner
\ No newline at end of file
+    return inner
diff --git a/pyinfra/queue/manager.py b/pyinfra/queue/manager.py
index d91e0be..34d5313 100644
--- a/pyinfra/queue/manager.py
+++ b/pyinfra/queue/manager.py
@@ -172,10 +172,9 @@ class QueueManager:
                 channel.basic_publish(
                     "",
                     self.output_queue,
-                    result,
+                    json.dumps(result).encode(),
                     properties=pika.BasicProperties(headers=filtered_message_headers),
                 )
-                # FIXME: publish doesnt work in example script, explore, adapt, overcome
                 logger.info(f"Published result to queue {self.output_queue}.")
 
                 channel.basic_ack(delivery_tag=method.delivery_tag)
diff --git a/pyinfra/webserver/utils.py b/pyinfra/webserver/utils.py
index c72c40e..70a9c2b 100644
--- a/pyinfra/webserver/utils.py
+++ b/pyinfra/webserver/utils.py
@@ -15,4 +15,9 @@ def create_webserver_thread_from_settings(app: FastAPI, settings: Dynaconf) -> t
 
 
 def create_webserver_thread(app: FastAPI, port: int, host: str) -> threading.Thread:
-    return threading.Thread(target=lambda: uvicorn.run(app, port=port, host=host, log_level=logging.WARNING))
+    """Creates a thread that runs a FastAPI webserver. Start with thread.start(), and join with thread.join().
+    Note that the thread is a daemon thread, so it will be terminated when the main thread is terminated.
+    """
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=lambda: uvicorn.run(app, port=port, host=host, log_level=logging.WARNING))
+    thread.daemon = True
+    return thread
diff --git a/scripts/start_pyinfra.py b/scripts/start_pyinfra.py
index 0b1c4ec..ea959b5 100644
--- a/scripts/start_pyinfra.py
+++ b/scripts/start_pyinfra.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from fastapi import FastAPI
 
 from pyinfra.config.loader import load_settings
 from pyinfra.monitor.prometheus import make_prometheus_processing_time_decorator_from_settings, add_prometheus_endpoint
-from pyinfra.queue.callback import make_payload_processor
+from pyinfra.queue.callback import make_queue_message_callback
 from pyinfra.queue.manager import QueueManager
 from pyinfra.webserver.utils import create_webserver_thread_from_settings
 
@@ -31,11 +31,15 @@ def main():
     @app.get("/ready")
     @app.get("/health")
     def check_health():
-        return queue_manager.is_ready()
+        if queue_manager.is_ready():
+            return {"status": "OK"}, 200
+        else:
+            return {"status": "Service Unavailable"}, 503
 
     webserver_thread = create_webserver_thread_from_settings(app, settings)
     webserver_thread.start()
-    callback = make_payload_processor(json_processor_mock, settings)
+
+    callback = make_queue_message_callback(json_processor_mock, settings)
     queue_manager.start_consuming(callback)