WebSocketApp connection not closing as expected

Python Help
1

I have inherited a program that makes a websocket connection to a server, reads messages from a queue then closes:

    print("Starting the retreiving process")
    ws = websocket.WebSocketApp(ws_url,
                                header={'authorization':'Basic ' + auth},
                                on_message=on_message,
                                on_error=on_error,
                                on_close=on_close)
                                #if error exit
    print("Connected to websocket")
    ws.on_open = on_open
    wst=threading.Thread(target=ws.run_forever)
    print("Starting the retreiving process")
    wst.start()
    time.sleep(float(active_time))
    ws.keep_running=False
    wst.join()

This was working fine for us. However, I’ve had to amend the Thread line as follows, to stop the connection carrying out SSL certificate checks:

wst=threading.Thread(target=ws.run_forever(sslopt={"cert_reqs": ssl.CERT_NONE}))

The program now successfully makes a connection to the server but never closes.
I’ve tried explicitly closing the connection with ws.close(), but no luck.

Two questions:

  • is this expected behaviour - i.e. does bypassing ssl certificate checks mean that the connection will not close?
  • how can I force the connection to close (after active_time seconds)?