diff --git a/agent/runner.go b/agent/runner.go
index 0024b7888..27363aa66 100644
--- a/agent/runner.go
+++ b/agent/runner.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/pipeline"
 	backend "go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/pipeline/backend/types"
 	"go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/pipeline/rpc"
+	"go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/shared/constant"
 	"go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/shared/utils"
 )
 
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ func (r *Runner) Run(runnerCtx, shutdownCtx context.Context) error { //nolint:co
 				logger.Debug().Msg("pipeline done")
 				return
 
-			case <-time.After(time.Minute):
+			case <-time.After(constant.TaskTimeout / 3):
 				logger.Debug().Msg("pipeline lease renewed")
 				if err := r.client.Extend(workflowCtx, workflow.ID); err != nil {
 					log.Error().Err(err).Msg("extending pipeline deadline failed")
diff --git a/server/queue/fifo.go b/server/queue/fifo.go
index d6fe664c9..5e5a17edd 100644
--- a/server/queue/fifo.go
+++ b/server/queue/fifo.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 
 	"go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/server/model"
+	"go.woodpecker-ci.org/woodpecker/v2/shared/constant"
 )
 
 type entry struct {
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ type worker struct {
 type fifo struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 
+	ctx           context.Context
 	workers       map[*worker]struct{}
 	running       map[string]*entry
 	pending       *list.List
@@ -51,18 +53,23 @@ type fifo struct {
 	paused        bool
 }
 
+// processTimeInterval is the time till the queue rearranges things,
+// as the agent pull in 10 milliseconds we should also give them work asap.
+const processTimeInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
+
 // New returns a new fifo queue.
-//
-//nolint:mnd
-func New(_ context.Context) Queue {
-	return &fifo{
+func New(ctx context.Context) Queue {
+	q := &fifo{
+		ctx:           ctx,
 		workers:       map[*worker]struct{}{},
 		running:       map[string]*entry{},
 		pending:       list.New(),
 		waitingOnDeps: list.New(),
-		extension:     time.Minute * 10,
+		extension:     constant.TaskTimeout,
 		paused:        false,
 	}
+	go q.process()
+	return q
 }
 
 // Push pushes a task to the tail of this queue.
@@ -70,7 +77,6 @@ func (q *fifo) Push(_ context.Context, task *model.Task) error {
 	q.Lock()
 	q.pending.PushBack(task)
 	q.Unlock()
-	go q.process()
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -81,7 +87,6 @@ func (q *fifo) PushAtOnce(_ context.Context, tasks []*model.Task) error {
 		q.pending.PushBack(task)
 	}
 	q.Unlock()
-	go q.process()
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -98,7 +103,6 @@ func (q *fifo) Poll(c context.Context, agentID int64, f FilterFn) (*model.Task,
 	}
 	q.workers[w] = struct{}{}
 	q.Unlock()
-	go q.process()
 
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -237,7 +241,6 @@ func (q *fifo) Resume() {
 	q.Lock()
 	q.paused = false
 	q.Unlock()
-	go q.process()
 }
 
 // KickAgentWorkers kicks all workers for a given agent.
@@ -254,28 +257,36 @@ func (q *fifo) KickAgentWorkers(agentID int64) {
 }
 
 // helper function that loops through the queue and attempts to
-// match the item to a single subscriber.
+// match the item to a single subscriber until context got cancel.
 func (q *fifo) process() {
-	q.Lock()
-	defer q.Unlock()
-
-	if q.paused {
-		return
-	}
-
-	q.resubmitExpiredPipelines()
-	q.filterWaiting()
-	for pending, worker := q.assignToWorker(); pending != nil && worker != nil; pending, worker = q.assignToWorker() {
-		task, _ := pending.Value.(*model.Task)
-		task.AgentID = worker.agentID
-		delete(q.workers, worker)
-		q.pending.Remove(pending)
-		q.running[task.ID] = &entry{
-			item:     task,
-			done:     make(chan bool),
-			deadline: time.Now().Add(q.extension),
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-time.After(processTimeInterval):
+		case <-q.ctx.Done():
+			return
 		}
-		worker.channel <- task
+
+		q.Lock()
+		if q.paused {
+			q.Unlock()
+			continue
+		}
+
+		q.resubmitExpiredPipelines()
+		q.filterWaiting()
+		for pending, worker := q.assignToWorker(); pending != nil && worker != nil; pending, worker = q.assignToWorker() {
+			task, _ := pending.Value.(*model.Task)
+			task.AgentID = worker.agentID
+			delete(q.workers, worker)
+			q.pending.Remove(pending)
+			q.running[task.ID] = &entry{
+				item:     task,
+				done:     make(chan bool),
+				deadline: time.Now().Add(q.extension),
+			}
+			worker.channel <- task
+		}
+		q.Unlock()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/server/queue/fifo_test.go b/server/queue/fifo_test.go
index d1d3a2ebc..0de92e3f2 100644
--- a/server/queue/fifo_test.go
+++ b/server/queue/fifo_test.go
@@ -52,17 +52,23 @@ func TestFifo(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestFifoExpire(t *testing.T) {
 	want := &model.Task{ID: "1"}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(context.Background())
 
-	q, _ := New(context.Background()).(*fifo)
+	q, _ := New(ctx).(*fifo)
 	q.extension = 0
-	assert.NoError(t, q.Push(noContext, want))
-	info := q.Info(noContext)
+	assert.NoError(t, q.Push(ctx, want))
+	info := q.Info(ctx)
 	assert.Len(t, info.Pending, 1, "expect task in pending queue")
 
-	got, err := q.Poll(noContext, 1, func(*model.Task) bool { return true })
+	got, err := q.Poll(ctx, 1, func(*model.Task) bool { return true })
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, want, got)
 
+	// cancel the context to let the process func end
+	go func() {
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+		cancel(nil)
+	}()
 	q.process()
 	assert.Len(t, info.Pending, 1, "expect task re-added to pending queue")
 }
diff --git a/shared/constant/constant.go b/shared/constant/constant.go
index 1d060bfeb..f2849964e 100644
--- a/shared/constant/constant.go
+++ b/shared/constant/constant.go
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 package constant
 
+import "time"
+
 // DefaultConfigOrder represent the priority in witch woodpecker search for a pipeline config by default
 // folders are indicated by supplying a trailing slash.
 var DefaultConfigOrder = [...]string{
@@ -34,3 +36,6 @@ var TrustedClonePlugins = []string{
 	"docker.io/woodpeckerci/plugin-git",
 	"quay.io/woodpeckerci/plugin-git",
 }
+
+// TaskTimeout is the time till a running task is counted as dead.
+var TaskTimeout = time.Minute