diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index 7a408265d9..615eb90a4f 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -1569,9 +1569,11 @@ class BaseTask(object):
 
                 res = list(first_future.done)[0].result()
                 if res.status == 'canceled':
+                    receptor_ctl.simple_command(f"work cancel {result['unitid']}")
                     resultsock.shutdown(socket.SHUT_RDWR)
                     resultfile.close()
 
+            receptor_ctl.simple_command(f"work release {result['unitid']}")
             status = res.status
             rc = res.rc