diff --git a/http2irc.py b/http2irc.py
index 4498a4c..f2db4e3 100644
--- a/http2irc.py
+++ b/http2irc.py
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ class IRCClientProtocol(asyncio.Protocol):
 				continue
 			self.logger.debug('Trying to confirm message delivery')
 			self.pongReceivedEvent.clear()
-			self.send(b'PING :42')
+			self._direct_send(b'PING :42')
 			await wait_cancel_pending({asyncio.create_task(self.pongReceivedEvent.wait())}, return_when = asyncio.FIRST_COMPLETED, timeout = 5)
 			self.logger.debug(f'Message delivery successful: {self.pongReceivedEvent.is_set()}')
 			if not self.pongReceivedEvent.is_set():