diff --git a/awx/main/dispatch/reaper.py b/awx/main/dispatch/reaper.py
index 1b3c497612..3b66dcba3f 100644
--- a/awx/main/dispatch/reaper.py
+++ b/awx/main/dispatch/reaper.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def reap_waiting(instance=None, status='failed', job_explanation=None, grace_per
         reap_job(j, status, job_explanation=job_explanation)
 
 
-def reap(instance=None, status='failed', job_explanation=None, excluded_uuids=None):
+def reap(instance=None, status='failed', job_explanation=None, excluded_uuids=None, ref_time=None):
     """
     Reap all jobs in running for this instance.
     """
@@ -79,9 +79,11 @@ def reap(instance=None, status='failed', job_explanation=None, excluded_uuids=No
     else:
         hostname = instance.hostname
     workflow_ctype_id = ContentType.objects.get_for_model(WorkflowJob).id
-    jobs = UnifiedJob.objects.filter(
-        Q(status='running') & (Q(execution_node=hostname) | Q(controller_node=hostname)) & ~Q(polymorphic_ctype_id=workflow_ctype_id)
-    )
+    base_Q = Q(status='running') & (Q(execution_node=hostname) | Q(controller_node=hostname)) & ~Q(polymorphic_ctype_id=workflow_ctype_id)
+    if ref_time:
+        jobs = UnifiedJob.objects.filter(base_Q & Q(started__lte=ref_time))
+    else:
+        jobs = UnifiedJob.objects.filter(base_Q)
     if excluded_uuids:
         jobs = jobs.exclude(celery_task_id__in=excluded_uuids)
     for j in jobs:
diff --git a/awx/main/tasks/system.py b/awx/main/tasks/system.py
index 482c168af2..ddff6b4ec4 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks/system.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks/system.py
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ def cluster_node_heartbeat(dispatch_time=None, worker_tasks=None):
         active_task_ids = []
         for task_list in worker_tasks.values():
             active_task_ids.extend(task_list)
-        reaper.reap(instance=this_inst, excluded_uuids=active_task_ids)
+        reaper.reap(instance=this_inst, excluded_uuids=active_task_ids, ref_time=datetime.fromisoformat(dispatch_time))
         if max(len(task_list) for task_list in worker_tasks.values()) <= 1:
             reaper.reap_waiting(instance=this_inst, excluded_uuids=active_task_ids, ref_time=datetime.fromisoformat(dispatch_time))
 
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_dispatch.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_dispatch.py
index c93b6a7d6a..6a7c8d624d 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_dispatch.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_dispatch.py
@@ -337,6 +337,8 @@ class TestTaskPublisher:
 
 
 yesterday = tz_now() - datetime.timedelta(days=1)
+minute = tz_now() - datetime.timedelta(seconds=120)
+now = tz_now()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
@@ -379,13 +381,15 @@ class TestJobReaper(object):
             assert job.status == status
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-        'excluded_uuids, fail',
+        'excluded_uuids, fail, started',
         [
-            (['abc123'], False),
-            ([], True),
+            (['abc123'], False, None),
+            ([], False, None),
+            ([], True, minute),
         ],
     )
-    def test_do_not_reap_excluded_uuids(self, excluded_uuids, fail):
+    def test_do_not_reap_excluded_uuids(self, excluded_uuids, fail, started):
+        """Modified Test to account for ref_time in reap()"""
         i = Instance(hostname='awx')
         i.save()
         j = Job(
@@ -396,10 +400,13 @@ class TestJobReaper(object):
             celery_task_id='abc123',
         )
         j.save()
+        if started:
+            Job.objects.filter(id=j.id).update(started=started)
 
         # if the UUID is excluded, don't reap it
-        reaper.reap(i, excluded_uuids=excluded_uuids)
+        reaper.reap(i, excluded_uuids=excluded_uuids, ref_time=now)
         job = Job.objects.first()
+
         if fail:
             assert job.status == 'failed'
             assert 'marked as failed' in job.job_explanation
@@ -415,3 +422,20 @@ class TestJobReaper(object):
         reaper.reap(i)
 
         assert WorkflowJob.objects.first().status == 'running'
+
+    def test_should_not_reap_new(self):
+        """
+        This test is designed specifically to ensure that jobs that are launched after the dispatcher has provided a list of UUIDs aren't reaped.
+        It is very racy and this test is designed with that in mind
+        """
+        i = Instance(hostname='awx')
+        # ref_time is set to 10 seconds in the past to mimic someone launching a job in the heartbeat window.
+        ref_time = tz_now() - datetime.timedelta(seconds=10)
+        # creating job at current time
+        job = Job.objects.create(status='running', controller_node=i.hostname)
+        reaper.reap(i, ref_time=ref_time)
+        # explictly refreshing from db to ensure up to date cache
+        job.refresh_from_db()
+        assert job.started > ref_time
+        assert job.status == 'running'
+        assert job.job_explanation == ''