diff --git a/ui/src/multiplayer.tsx b/ui/src/multiplayer.tsx
index d560a97..036cede 100644
--- a/ui/src/multiplayer.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/multiplayer.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import * as React from "react";
-import {useState} from "react";
+import {useRef, useState} from "react";
 import {createRoot} from "react-dom/client";
 import {AISelection} from "./UI";
 import {ClientToServerMessage, WSAPI, PartyInfo, ServerToClientMessage} from "./ws_api";
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ export function Menu(): React.JSX.Element {
 
     const [aiRandomness, setAIRandomness] = useState<number>(6);
     const [proportionDictionary, setProportionDictionary] = useState<number>(7);
+
+    const gameAPI = useRef<WSAPI>(null);
     const [game, setGame] = useState<React.JSX.Element>(null);
 
     const validSettings = roomName.length > 0 && !roomName.includes("/") && playerName.length > 0 && !playerName.includes("?") && !playerName.includes("&");
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ export function Menu(): React.JSX.Element {
                     socket.close();
                     setSocket(null);
                     setPartyInfo(null);
+                    gameAPI.current = null;
                 }}>Disconnect
                 </button>
                 <button onClick={() => {
@@ -122,14 +125,17 @@ export function Menu(): React.JSX.Element {
                 <button
                     disabled={!validSettings}
                     onClick={() => {
-                        let socket = new WebSocket(`/room/${roomName}?player_name=${playerName}`)
+                        let socket = new WebSocket(`ws://localhost:8000/room/${roomName}?player_name=${playerName}`);
                         socket.addEventListener("message", (event) => {
                             const input: ServerToClientMessage = JSON.parse(event.data);
                             if (input.type == "RoomChange") {
                                 setPartyInfo(input.info);
                             } else if (input.type == "GameEvent" && game == null) {
                                 // start game
-                                setGame(<Game api={new WSAPI(socket)} settings={{
+                                if(gameAPI.current == null) {
+                                    gameAPI.current = new WSAPI(socket);
+                                }
+                                setGame(<Game api={gameAPI.current} settings={{
                                     playerName: playerName,
                                     trayLength: 7,
                                 }} end_game_fn={function (): void {
@@ -137,15 +143,17 @@ export function Menu(): React.JSX.Element {
                                     setSocket(null);
                                     setPartyInfo(null);
                                     setGame(null);
+                                    gameAPI.current = null;
                                 }}/>);
                             }
-                            console.log("Message from server ", event.data);
+                            //console.log("Message from server ", event.data);
                         });
                         socket.addEventListener("close", (event) => {
                             console.log({event});
                             setSocket(null);
                             setPartyInfo(null);
                             setGame(null);
+                            gameAPI.current = null;
                             if (event.reason != null && event.reason.length > 0) {
                                 alert(`Disconnected with reason "${event.reason} & code ${event.code}"`);
                             }