diff --git a/workers/worker.py b/workers/worker.py
index 1af1d8ab4..acfff9638 100644
--- a/workers/worker.py
+++ b/workers/worker.py
@@ -113,25 +113,32 @@ class Worker(object):
     with self._current_item_lock:
       self.current_queue_item = self._queue.get()
 
-    while self.current_queue_item:
-      logger.debug('Queue gave us some work: %s', self.current_queue_item.body)
+    while True:
+      # Retrieve the current item in the queue over which to operate. We do so under
+      # a lock to make sure we are always retrieving an item when in a healthy state.
+      current_queue_item = None
+      with self._current_item_lock:
+        current_queue_item = self.current_queue_item
+        if current_queue_item is None:
+          break
 
-      job_details = json.loads(self.current_queue_item.body)
+      logger.debug('Queue gave us some work: %s', current_queue_item.body)
+      job_details = json.loads(current_queue_item.body)
 
       try:
         self.process_queue_item(job_details)
-        self._queue.complete(self.current_queue_item)
+        self.mark_current_complete()
+
       except JobException:
-        logger.warning('An error occurred processing request: %s', self.current_queue_item.body)
-        self._queue.incomplete(self.current_queue_item)
+        logger.warning('An error occurred processing request: %s', current_queue_item.body)
+        self.mark_current_incomplete()
+
       except WorkerUnhealthyException:
         logger.error('The worker has encountered an error and will not take new jobs. Job is being requeued.')
         self._stop.set()
         self.mark_current_incomplete()
-      finally:
-        with self._current_item_lock:
-          self.current_queue_item = None
 
+      finally:
         # Close the db handle periodically
         self._close_db_handle()
 
@@ -182,8 +189,15 @@ class Worker(object):
 
   def mark_current_incomplete(self):
     with self._current_item_lock:
-      if self.current_queue_item is not None and self.current_queue_item.retries_remaining == 0:
+      if self.current_queue_item is not None:
         self._queue.incomplete(self.current_queue_item, restore_retry=True)
+        self.current_queue_item = None
+
+  def mark_current_complete(self):
+    with self._current_item_lock:
+      if self.current_queue_item is not None:
+        self._queue.complete(self.current_queue_item)
+        self.current_queue_item = None
 
   def terminate(self, signal_num=None, stack_frame=None, graceful=False):
     if self._terminated.is_set():