diff --git a/relay.go b/relay.go
index 5cce0d1..abbbb09 100644
--- a/relay.go
+++ b/relay.go
@@ -119,9 +119,7 @@ func (r *Relay) Connect(ctx context.Context) error {
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-ticker.C:
-				conn.mutex.Lock()
-				err := conn.socket.WriteMessage(websocket.PingMessage, nil)
-				conn.mutex.Unlock()
+				err := conn.WriteMessage(websocket.PingMessage, nil)
 				if err != nil {
 					InfoLogger.Printf("{%s} error writing ping: %v; closing websocket", r.URL, err)
 					return
@@ -140,11 +138,6 @@ func (r *Relay) Connect(ctx context.Context) error {
 				break
 			}
 
-			if typ == websocket.PingMessage {
-				conn.WriteMessage(websocket.PongMessage, nil)
-				continue
-			}
-
 			if typ != websocket.TextMessage || len(message) == 0 || message[0] != '[' {
 				continue
 			}