diff --git a/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/thread_primitive.py b/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/thread_primitive.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..385a106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/thread_primitive.py
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+from typing import final
+import threading
+from skiros2_common.core.primitive import PrimitiveBase
+from skiros2_common.core.abstract_skill import State
+
+
+class PrimitiveThreadBase(PrimitiveBase):
+    """
+    @brief      Base class for primitive skill that executes a long running
+                process
+
+                A primitive skill must not block the ticking of the BT. This
+                class is intended for executing a long running process that
+                cannot be reasonably split up into smaller pieces and instead
+                starts a thread which executes the long running process.
+
+                In particular this class allows the SkiROS gui to provide
+                feedback and allows other skills to run at the same time as
+                this skill is executing.
+    """
+
+    def preStart(self):
+        """
+        @brief      Any preparation is performed here
+
+                    Runs before the thread is started and should do any
+                    (small) preparations that need to be done before starting
+                    the skill. The result of this function is then passed
+                    through and returned by onStart.
+
+        @return     True if the thread should start, False if not.
+        """
+        return True
+
+    @final
+    def onStart(self):
+        """
+        @brief      Starts the main thread of the skill
+        """
+        # Reset relevant flags
+        self.status = 'Running.'
+        self.caught_exception = False
+        self.skill_succeeded = False
+        self._skill_state = State.Running
+
+        # Perform any precomputations in this function
+        skill_can_start = self.preStart()
+
+        # Start new thread if preStart was successful
+        if skill_can_start:
+            self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run)
+            self.thread.excepthook = self._excepthook
+            self.thread.start()
+
+        return skill_can_start
+
+    def _excepthook(self, args):
+        self.caught_exception = True
+        self.exception_msg = args
+
+    @final
+    def execute(self):
+        if self.thread.is_alive():
+            # While the skill is not complete return the running message
+            return self.step(self.status)
+        else:
+            self.thread.join()
+
+            if not self.caught_exception:
+                # Return a complete message
+                return self._skill_state
+
+            # Send any exception to the skiros gui.
+            return self.fail(self.exception_msg, -1)
+
+    def set_progress_message(self, msg):
+        """
+        @brief      Set the progress message which will be reported by the
+                    skill
+        """
+        self.status = msg
+
+    @final
+    def _run(self):
+        self._skill_state = self.run()
+        if self._skill_state == State.Running:
+            raise RuntimeError('The run function should not return a non terminal state.')
+
+    def run(self):
+        """
+        @brief      Performs the long running execution which must happen
+                    in a separate thread
+
+                    This function must not return a non-terminal state, i.e.
+                    `self.step('...')` cannot be returned.
+
+                    There is no mechanism for preemption, it is responsibility
+                    of whoever implements this function to make sure that the
+                    thread stops when a preemption signal is sent.
+
+        @return     A SkiROS state, i.e. `self.success('...')` or
+                    `self.fail('...', code)`.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/utility_primitives.py b/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/utility_primitives.py
index 1844002..f6ae031 100644
--- a/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/utility_primitives.py
+++ b/skiros2_std_skills/skiros2_std_skills/utility_primitives.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from skiros2_common.core.primitive import PrimitiveBase
 from skiros2_common.core.world_element import Element
 from skiros2_common.core.params import ParamTypes
+from skiros2_std_skills.thread_primitive import PrimitiveThreadBase
 
 
 #################################################################################
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def createDescription(self):
         self.addParam("OldSrcToRemove", Element("sumo:Object"), ParamTypes.Optional)
 
 
-class wm_set_relation(PrimitiveBase):
+class wm_set_relation(PrimitiveThreadBase):
     def createDescription(self):
         self.setDescription(WmSetRelation(), self.__class__.__name__)
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ def _remove_relation(self, src, relation, dst):
             src.removeRelation(rel)
         self.action_strs.append(f"Removed {src.id}-{relation}-{dst.id}.")
 
-    def execute(self):
+    def run(self):
         src = self.params["Src"].value
         relation = self.params["Relation"].value
         dst = self.params["Dst"].value
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ def execute(self):
                 self._remove_relation(old_src, relation, dst)
         else:
             self._remove_relation(src, relation, dst)
-            
+
         self.params["Src"].value = src
         self.params["Dst"].value = dst
         self._wmi.update_element(src)