diff --git a/src/server/distrend.c b/src/server/distrend.c
--- a/src/server/distrend.c
+++ b/src/server/distrend.c
@@ -356,17 +356,14 @@ void frame_watchdog(struct distrenjob *d
   struct distrenjob *distrenjob_ptr;
   unsigned int counter;
 
-  /*watchdog_forgiveness = seconds of forgiveness before frame is re-assigned */
-  distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_head;
-
-  for(distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_head; distrenjob_ptr; distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_ptr->next)
+  for(distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_head->next; distrenjob_ptr; distrenjob_ptr = distrenjob_ptr->next)
   /* iterate through jobs */
 
     /* 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)
+      /* iterate through all frames for this job: */
       for(counter = 0; counter < distrenjob_ptr->total_frames; counter ++)
-      /* iterate through all frames for this job*/
-
+	/*watchdog_forgiveness = seconds of forgiveness before frame is re-assigned: */
         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