diff --git a/src/Core/Worker.php b/src/Core/Worker.php
index 7f06c122af..65772f0786 100644
--- a/src/Core/Worker.php
+++ b/src/Core/Worker.php
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 namespace Friendica\Core;
 
+use Friendica\Core\Cache\Enum\Duration;
 use Friendica\Core\Worker\Entity\Process;
 use Friendica\Database\DBA;
 use Friendica\DI;
@@ -54,7 +55,8 @@ class Worker
 	const FAST_COMMANDS = ['APDelivery', 'Delivery'];
 
 	const LOCK_PROCESS = 'worker_process';
-	const LOCK_WORKER = 'worker';
+	const LOCK_WORKER  = 'worker';
+	const LAST_CHECK   = 'worker::check';
 
 	private static $up_start;
 	private static $db_duration = 0;
@@ -832,6 +834,17 @@ class Worker
 				} else {
 					self::spawnWorker();
 				}
+			} elseif (($active > $queues) && ($active < $maxqueues) && ($load < $maxsysload)) {
+				$max_idletime = DI::config()->get('system', 'worker_max_idletime');
+				$last_check   = DI::cache()->get(self::LAST_CHECK);
+				$last_date    = $last_check ? date('c', $last_check) : '';
+				if (($max_idletime > 0) && (time() > $last_check + $max_idletime) && !DBA::exists('workerqueue', ["`done` AND `executed` > ?", DateTimeFormat::utc('now - ' . $max_idletime . ' second')])) {
+					DI::cache()->set(self::LAST_CHECK, time(), Duration::HOUR);
+					Logger::info('The last worker execution had been too long ago.', ['last' => $last_check, 'last-check' => $last_date, 'seconds' => $max_idletime, 'load' => $load, 'max_load' => $maxsysload, 'active_worker' => $active, 'max_worker' => $maxqueues]);
+					return false;
+				} elseif ($max_idletime > 0) {
+					Logger::debug('Maximum idletime not reached.', ['last' => $last_check, 'last-check' => $last_date, 'seconds' => $max_idletime, 'load' => $load, 'max_load' => $maxsysload, 'active_worker' => $active, 'max_worker' => $maxqueues]);
+				}	
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/static/defaults.config.php b/static/defaults.config.php
index 7c17dce227..431d5770d3 100644
--- a/static/defaults.config.php
+++ b/static/defaults.config.php
@@ -600,6 +600,10 @@ return [
 			Friendica\Core\Worker::PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE => 720
 		],
 
+		// worker_max_idletime (Integer)
+		// Higly experimental! Maximum number of seconds after the last worker execution to enforce a new worker process.
+		'worker_max_idletime' => 0,
+
 		// worker_processes_cooldown (Integer)
 		// Maximum number per processes that causes a cooldown before each worker function call.
 		'worker_processes_cooldown' => 0,