diff --git a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
index 1236372ff..a16b40863 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import zmq
 from cereal import car
-from common.params import Params
+from common.params import Params, put_nonblocking
 from common.vin import get_vin, VIN_UNKNOWN
 from common.basedir import BASEDIR
 from common.fingerprints import eliminate_incompatible_cars, all_known_cars
@@ -138,9 +138,9 @@ def fingerprint(logcan, sendcan, is_panda_black):
     frame += 1
 
     if succeeded:
-      params.put("DragonCachedModel", pickle.dumps(car_fingerprint))
-      params.put("DragonCachedFP", pickle.dumps(finger))
-      params.put("DragonCachedVIN", pickle.dumps(vin))
+      put_nonblocking("DragonCachedModel", pickle.dumps(car_fingerprint))
+      put_nonblocking("DragonCachedFP", pickle.dumps(finger))
+      put_nonblocking("DragonCachedVIN", pickle.dumps(vin))
 
   cloudlog.warning("fingerprinted %s", car_fingerprint)
   return car_fingerprint, finger, vin
diff --git a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/appd/appd.py b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/appd/appd.py
index aeb36c8a4..e62471dfd 100644
--- a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/appd/appd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/appd/appd.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import subprocess
 import cereal
 ThermalStatus = cereal.log.ThermalData.ThermalStatus
 from selfdrive.swaglog import cloudlog
-from common.params import Params
+from common.params import Params, put_nonblocking
 params = Params()
 
 # v1.16.2
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ def main(gctx=None):
   stop_delay = None
   high_accuracy_mode_enabled = False
 
-  params.put('DragonRunTomTom', '0')
-  params.put('DragonRunAutonavi', '0')
-  params.put('DragonRunMixplorer', '0')
+  put_nonblocking('DragonRunTomTom', '0')
+  put_nonblocking('DragonRunAutonavi', '0')
+  put_nonblocking('DragonRunMixplorer', '0')
 
   # we want to disable all app when boot
   system("pm disable %s ; pm disable %s ; pm disable %s" % (tomtom, autonavi, mixplorer))
@@ -65,21 +65,21 @@ def main(gctx=None):
       status = params.get('DragonRunTomTom')
       if not status == "0":
         tomtom_is_running = execApp(status, tomtom, tomtom_main)
-        params.put('DragonRunTomTom', '0')
+        put_nonblocking('DragonRunTomTom', '0')
         manual_tomtom = status != "0"
 
     if dragon_enable_autonavi:
       status = params.get('DragonRunAutonavi')
       if not status == "0":
         autonavi_is_running = execApp(status, autonavi, autonavi_main)
-        params.put('DragonRunAutonavi', '0')
+        put_nonblocking('DragonRunAutonavi', '0')
         manual_autonavi = status != "0"
 
     if dragon_enable_mixplorer:
       status = params.get('DragonRunMixplorer')
       if not status == "0":
         mixplorer_is_running = execApp(status, mixplorer, mixplorer_main)
-        params.put('DragonRunMixplorer', '0')
+        put_nonblocking('DragonRunMixplorer', '0')
 
     # if manual control is set, we do not allow any of the auto actions
     auto_tomtom = not manual_tomtom and dragon_enable_tomtom and dragon_boot_tomtom
diff --git a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/dragonconf/__init__.py b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/dragonconf/__init__.py
index 99dfcd655..17866f5a2 100644
--- a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/dragonconf/__init__.py
+++ b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/dragonconf/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python2.7
-from common.params import Params
+from common.params import Params, put_nonblocking
 
 default_conf = {
   'DragonEnableDashcam': '1',
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ def dragonpilot_set_params(params):
         # invert the value if true
         if old in deprecated_conf_invert and deprecated_conf_invert[old] is True:
           new_val = "1" if old_val == "0" else "0"
-        params.put(new, new_val)
+        put_nonblocking(new, new_val)
       params.delete(old)
 
   # set params
   for key, val in default_conf.items():
     if params.get(key) is None and key not in deprecated_conf:
-      params.put(key, str(val))
+      put_nonblocking(key, str(val))
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   params = Params()