diff --git a/apps/ocr/tasks.py b/apps/ocr/tasks.py
index e69d816277..66289070de 100644
--- a/apps/ocr/tasks.py
+++ b/apps/ocr/tasks.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.db.models import Q
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 
 from celery.decorators import task, periodic_task
+from celery.task.control import inspect
 
 from ocr.api import do_document_ocr
 from ocr.literals import QUEUEDOCUMENT_STATE_PENDING, \
@@ -37,8 +38,31 @@ def task_process_queue_document(queue_document_id):
         queue_document.save()
 
 
+def reset_orphans():
+    i = inspect()
+    active_tasks = []
+
+    if i:
+        for host, instances in i.active().items():
+            for instance in instances:
+                active_tasks.append(instance['id'])
+
+    for document_queue in DocumentQueue.objects.filter(state=DOCUMENTQUEUE_STATE_ACTIVE):
+        orphans = document_queue.queuedocument_set.\
+            filter(state=QUEUEDOCUMENT_STATE_PROCESSING).\
+            exclude(result__in=active_tasks)
+
+    for orphan in orphans:
+        orphan.result = _(u'Orphaned')
+        orphan.state = QUEUEDOCUMENT_STATE_PENDING
+        orphan.delay = False
+        orphan.node_name = None
+        orphan.save()
+
+
 @periodic_task(run_every=timedelta(seconds=QUEUE_PROCESSING_INTERVAL))
 def task_process_document_queues():
+    reset_orphans()
     #Introduce random 0 < t < 1 second delay to further reduce the
     #chance of a race condition
     time.sleep(random.random())