def METHOD_NAME():
    global _listener
    if _listener is None:
        _lock.acquire()
        try:
            if _listener is None:
                debug('starting listener and thread for sending handles')
                _listener = Listener(authkey=current_process().authkey)
                t = threading.Thread(target=_serve)
                t.daemon = True
                t.start()
        finally:
            _lock.release()
    return _listener