diff --git a/backend/mqtt_integration.py b/backend/mqtt_integration.py
index db4a233..e3b84a6 100644
--- a/backend/mqtt_integration.py
+++ b/backend/mqtt_integration.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class HomeAssistantMQTT:
         self._connected = True
         try:
             # Subscribe to command topic
-            await self.client.subscribe(self.command_topic, qos=1)
+            self.client.subscribe(self.command_topic, qos=1)
             logger.info(f"Subscribed to command topic: {self.command_topic}")
             
             # Publish discovery config
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class HomeAssistantMQTT:
                 "state_closed": "closed"
             }
             
-            await self.client.publish(
+            self.client.publish(
                 self.config_topic,
                 json.dumps(config),
                 qos=1,
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class HomeAssistantMQTT:
             logger.info("Published Home Assistant discovery config")
             
             # Publish initial availability and state
-            await self.client.publish(
+            self.client.publish(
                 self.availability_topic,
                 "online",
                 qos=1,
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class HomeAssistantMQTT:
         """Publish a message to a topic"""
         if self.client and self._connected:
             try:
-                await self.client.publish(topic, payload, retain=retain)
+                self.client.publish(topic, payload, retain=retain)
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error(f"Failed to publish message: {e}")
 
@@ -192,15 +192,35 @@ class HomeAssistantMQTT:
         """Subscribe to a topic"""
         if self.client and self._connected:
             try:
-                await self.client.subscribe(topic, qos=1)
+                self.client.subscribe(topic, qos=1)
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error(f"Failed to subscribe to topic: {e}")
 
     async def publish_state(self, state: Union[bool, str]):
-        """Publish gate state"""
-        if isinstance(state, bool):
-            state = "open" if state else "closed"
-        await self.publish(self.state_topic, state, retain=True)
+        """Publish state to MQTT"""
+        if not self._connected:
+            logger.warning("Cannot publish state - not connected to MQTT broker")
+            return
+        
+        try:
+            if isinstance(state, bool):
+                state_str = "open" if state else "closed"
+            else:
+                state_str = state.lower()
+            
+            self.client.publish(
+                self.state_topic,
+                state_str,
+                qos=1,
+                retain=True
+            )
+            logger.debug(f"Published state: {state_str}")
+            
+            if self._event_callback:
+                self._event_callback(f"Published state: {state_str}")
+                
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Failed to publish state: {e}")
 
     def set_command_callback(self, callback: Callable):
         """Set callback for handling commands"""