diff --git a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
index 7744f27821..f17b2b4c55 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/unified_jobs.py
@@ -964,13 +964,10 @@ class UnifiedJob(PolymorphicModel, PasswordFieldsModel, CommonModelNameNotUnique
 
         # Save the pending status, and inform the SocketIO listener.
         self.update_fields(start_args=json.dumps(kwargs), status='pending')
+        self.websocket_emit_status("pending")
 
-        def post_commit():
-            from awx.main.scheduler.tasks import run_job_launch
-            self.websocket_emit_status("pending")
-            run_job_launch.delay(self.id)
-
-        connection.on_commit(post_commit)
+        from awx.main.scheduler.tasks import run_job_launch
+        connection.on_commit(lambda: run_job_launch.delay(self.id))
 
         # Each type of unified job has a different Task class; get the
         # appropirate one.