diff --git a/selfdrive/monitoring/dmonitoringd.py b/selfdrive/monitoring/dmonitoringd.py
index 1728cc9e79..517a8fbe5c 100755
--- a/selfdrive/monitoring/dmonitoringd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/monitoring/dmonitoringd.py
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
+import gc
+
+import cereal.messaging as messaging
 from cereal import car
 from common.params import Params
-import cereal.messaging as messaging
+from common.realtime import set_realtime_priority
 from selfdrive.controls.lib.events import Events
-from selfdrive.monitoring.driver_monitor import DriverStatus
 from selfdrive.locationd.calibrationd import Calibration
+from selfdrive.monitoring.driver_monitor import DriverStatus
 
 
 def dmonitoringd_thread(sm=None, pm=None):
+  gc.disable()
+  set_realtime_priority(2)
+
   if pm is None:
     pm = messaging.PubMaster(['driverMonitoringState'])
 
@@ -77,8 +83,10 @@ def dmonitoringd_thread(sm=None, pm=None):
     }
     pm.send('driverMonitoringState', dat)
 
+
 def main(sm=None, pm=None):
   dmonitoringd_thread(sm, pm)
 
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   main()