diff --git a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
index 0a34e18bca..3b96735bdb 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
@@ -610,11 +610,15 @@ class UnifiedJob(PolymorphicModel, PasswordFieldsModel, CommonModelNameNotUnique
         """Return a file-like object containing the standard out of the
         job's result.
         """
+        msg = {
+            'pending': 'stdout capture pending',
+            'missing': 'stdout capture is missing',
+        }
         if self.result_stdout_text:
             return StringIO(self.result_stdout_text)
         else:
             if not os.path.exists(self.result_stdout_file):
-                return StringIO("stdout capture is missing")
+                return StringIO(msg['missing' if self.finished else 'pending'])
 
             # There is a potential timing issue here, because another
             # process may be deleting the stdout file after it is written
@@ -631,7 +635,7 @@ class UnifiedJob(PolymorphicModel, PasswordFieldsModel, CommonModelNameNotUnique
                     self.result_stdout_text = type(self).objects.get(id=self.id).result_stdout_text
                     return self.result_stdout_raw_handle(attempt=attempt + 1)
                 else:
-                    return StringIO("stdout capture is missing")
+                    return StringIO(msg['missing' if self.finished else 'pending'])
 
     def _escape_ascii(self, content):
         ansi_escape = re.compile(r'\x1b[^m]*m')
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/__init__.py b/awx/main/tests/__init__.py
index 3b5e1fcf12..de61f95cf1 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/__init__.py
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ from awx.main.tests.redact import * # noqa
 from awx.main.tests.views import * # noqa
 from awx.main.tests.commands import * # noqa
 from awx.main.tests.fact import * # noqa
+from awx.main.tests.unified_jobs import * # noqa
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unified_jobs.py b/awx/main/tests/unified_jobs.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..719bc45165
--- /dev/null
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unified_jobs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2015 Ansible, Inc.
+# All Rights Reserved
+
+# Python
+import mock
+from StringIO import StringIO
+from django.utils.timezone import now
+
+# Django
+from django.test import SimpleTestCase
+
+# AWX
+from awx.main.models import * # noqa
+
+__all__ = ['UnifiedJobsUnitTest',]
+
+class UnifiedJobsUnitTest(SimpleTestCase):
+
+    # stdout file present
+    @mock.patch('os.path.exists', return_value=True)
+    @mock.patch('codecs.open', return_value='my_file_handler')
+    def test_result_stdout_raw_handle_file__found(self, exists, open):
+        unified_job = UnifiedJob()
+        unified_job.result_stdout_file = 'dummy'
+
+        result = unified_job.result_stdout_raw_handle()
+
+        self.assertEqual(result, 'my_file_handler')
+
+    # stdout file missing, job finished
+    @mock.patch('os.path.exists', return_value=False)
+    def test_result_stdout_raw_handle__missing(self, exists):
+        unified_job = UnifiedJob()
+        unified_job.result_stdout_file = 'dummy'
+        unified_job.finished = now()
+
+        result = unified_job.result_stdout_raw_handle()
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, StringIO)
+        self.assertEqual(result.read(), 'stdout capture is missing')
+
+    # stdout file missing, job not finished
+    @mock.patch('os.path.exists', return_value=False)
+    def test_result_stdout_raw_handle__pending(self, exists):
+        unified_job = UnifiedJob()
+        unified_job.result_stdout_file = 'dummy'
+        unified_job.finished = None
+
+        result = unified_job.result_stdout_raw_handle()
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, StringIO)
+        self.assertEqual(result.read(), 'stdout capture pending')
+