diff --git a/src/server/distrend.c b/src/server/distrend.c
--- a/src/server/distrend.c
+++ b/src/server/distrend.c
@@ -325,19 +325,19 @@ void frame_watchdog(struct distrenjob *d
   distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_head;
 
   for(distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_head; distrenjob_ptr; distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_ptr->next)
-    /* iterate through jobs */
+  /* iterate through jobs */
 
-    for(counter = 0; counter < distrenjob_ptr->total_frames; counter ++)
+    /* if the job has been started, checks by seeing if either to first or second frame has been started */
+    if(distrenjob_ptr->frameset[0].status != FRAMESETSTATUS_UNASSIGNED || distrenjob_ptr->frameset[1].status != FRAMESETSTATUS_UNASSIGNED)
+      for(counter = 0; counter < distrenjob_ptr->total_frames; counter ++)
       /* iterate through all frames for this job*/
-      {
+
         if((distrenjob_ptr->frameset[counter].start_time + distrenjob_ptr->watchdog_forgiveness) < clock())
-          /*
-            If frame is not completed within the number of seconds specified by watchdog_forgiveness
-            Then change the frame status to unassigned
-           */
+        /*
+        If frame is not completed within the number of seconds specified by watchdog_forgiveness
+        Then change the frame status to unassigned
+        */
           distrenjob_ptr->frameset[counter].status = FRAMESETSTATUS_UNASSIGNED;
-      }
-
 }
 
 /**