diff --git a/core/task/handler/runner.go b/core/task/handler/runner.go
index 297e654b..ec069047 100644
--- a/core/task/handler/runner.go
+++ b/core/task/handler/runner.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
-	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/crawlab-team/crawlab/core/models/models"
@@ -75,6 +74,11 @@ type Runner struct {
 	wg     sync.WaitGroup     // wait group for goroutine synchronization
 }
 
+const (
+	IPCMessageData = "data" // IPCMessageData is the message type identifier for data messages
+	IPCMessageLog  = "log"  // IPCMessageLog is the message type identifier for log messages
+)
+
 // IPCMessage defines the structure for messages exchanged between parent and child processes
 type IPCMessage struct {
 	Type    string      `json:"type"`    // message type identifier
@@ -219,14 +223,7 @@ func (r *Runner) Cancel(force bool) (err error) {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ticker.C:
-			p, err := os.FindProcess(r.pid)
-			if err != nil {
-				// process not exists, exit
-				return nil
-			}
-			err = p.Signal(syscall.Signal(0))
-			if err == nil {
-				// process still exists, continue
+			if utils.ProcessIdExists(r.pid) {
 				continue
 			}
 			return nil
@@ -812,7 +809,7 @@ func (r *Runner) startIPCReader() {
 					r.ipcHandler(ipcMsg)
 				} else {
 					// Default handler (insert data)
-					if ipcMsg.Type == "" || ipcMsg.Type == "insert_data" {
+					if ipcMsg.Type == "" || ipcMsg.Type == IPCMessageData {
 						r.handleIPCInsertDataMessage(ipcMsg)
 					} else {
 						log.Warnf("no IPC handler set for message: %v", ipcMsg)
diff --git a/core/task/handler/runner_test.go b/core/task/handler/runner_test.go
index 8acd8b83..baad0059 100644
--- a/core/task/handler/runner_test.go
+++ b/core/task/handler/runner_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package handler
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/apex/log"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"syscall"
@@ -69,6 +70,8 @@ func TestRunner_HandleIPC(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Create a pipe for testing
 	pr, pw := io.Pipe()
+	defer pr.Close()
+	defer pw.Close()
 	runner.stdoutPipe = pr
 
 	// Start IPC reader
@@ -108,13 +111,10 @@ func TestRunner_HandleIPC(t *testing.T) {
 	select {
 	case <-handled:
 		// Message was handled successfully
+		log.Info("IPC message was handled successfully")
 	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
 		t.Fatal("timeout waiting for IPC message to be handled")
 	}
-
-	// Clean up
-	pw.Close()
-	pr.Close()
 }
 
 func TestRunner_Cancel(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/core/utils/process.go b/core/utils/process.go
index 72575f7f..009d41d6 100644
--- a/core/utils/process.go
+++ b/core/utils/process.go
@@ -1,26 +1,31 @@
 package utils
 
 import (
-	"github.com/crawlab-team/crawlab/trace"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
-	"regexp"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
+
+	"github.com/crawlab-team/crawlab/trace"
 )
 
-var pidRegexp, _ = regexp.Compile("(?:^|\\s+)\\d+(?:$|\\s+)")
-
-func ProcessIdExists(id int) (ok bool) {
-	lines, err := ListProcess(string(rune(id)))
+func ProcessIdExists(pid int) (ok bool) {
+	// Find process by pid
+	p, err := os.FindProcess(pid)
 	if err != nil {
+		// Process not found
 		return false
 	}
-	for _, line := range lines {
-		matched := pidRegexp.MatchString(line)
-		if matched {
-			return true
-		}
+
+	// Check if process exists
+	err = p.Signal(syscall.Signal(0))
+	if err == nil {
+		// Process exists
+		return true
 	}
+
+	// Process not found
 	return false
 }