diff --git a/lib/harmony/harmonytask/harmonytask.go b/lib/harmony/harmonytask/harmonytask.go
index c56b83b95..01f2febba 100644
--- a/lib/harmony/harmonytask/harmonytask.go
+++ b/lib/harmony/harmonytask/harmonytask.go
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Consts (except for unit test)
-var POLL_DURATION = time.Second * 3     // Poll for Work this frequently
-var CLEANUP_FREQUENCY = 5 * time.Minute // Check for dead workers this often * everyone
-var FOLLOW_FREQUENCY = 1 * time.Minute  // Check for work to follow this often
+var POLL_DURATION = time.Second * 3             // Poll for Work this frequently
+var POLL_NEXT_DURATION = 100 * time.Millisecond // After scheduling a task, wait this long before scheduling another
+var CLEANUP_FREQUENCY = 5 * time.Minute         // Check for dead workers this often * everyone
+var FOLLOW_FREQUENCY = 1 * time.Minute          // Check for work to follow this often
 
 type TaskTypeDetails struct {
 	// Max returns how many tasks this machine can run of this type.
@@ -211,13 +212,19 @@ top:
 }
 
 func (e *TaskEngine) poller() {
+	nextWait := POLL_NEXT_DURATION
 	for {
 		select {
-		case <-time.NewTicker(POLL_DURATION).C: // Find work periodically
+		case <-time.After(nextWait): // Find work periodically
 		case <-e.ctx.Done(): ///////////////////// Graceful exit
 			return
 		}
-		e.pollerTryAllWork()
+		nextWait = POLL_DURATION
+
+		accepted := e.pollerTryAllWork()
+		if accepted {
+			nextWait = POLL_NEXT_DURATION
+		}
 		if time.Since(e.lastFollowTime) > FOLLOW_FREQUENCY {
 			e.followWorkInDB()
 		}
@@ -266,7 +273,7 @@ func (e *TaskEngine) followWorkInDB() {
 }
 
 // pollerTryAllWork starts the next 1 task
-func (e *TaskEngine) pollerTryAllWork() {
+func (e *TaskEngine) pollerTryAllWork() bool {
 	if time.Since(e.lastCleanup.Load().(time.Time)) > CLEANUP_FREQUENCY {
 		e.lastCleanup.Store(time.Now())
 		resources.CleanupMachines(e.ctx, e.db)
@@ -287,11 +294,13 @@ func (e *TaskEngine) pollerTryAllWork() {
 		if len(unownedTasks) > 0 {
 			accepted := v.considerWork(workSourcePoller, unownedTasks)
 			if accepted {
-				return // accept new work slowly and in priority order
+				return true // accept new work slowly and in priority order
 			}
 			log.Warn("Work not accepted for " + strconv.Itoa(len(unownedTasks)) + " " + v.Name + " task(s)")
 		}
 	}
+
+	return false
 }
 
 // ResourcesAvailable determines what resources are still unassigned.