diff --git a/src/worker.js b/src/worker.js
index a479d59..c928915 100644
--- a/src/worker.js
+++ b/src/worker.js
@@ -35,12 +35,14 @@ export default class Worker extends events.EventEmitter {
     this.debug = (...msg) => debug(...msg, `id: ${this.id}`);
 
     this._checker = false;
+    this._running = true;
     this.debug(`Created worker for job type ${this.jobtype}`);
     this._startJobPolling();
   }
 
   destroy() {
-    clearInterval(this._checker);
+    this._running = false;
+    this._stopJobPolling();
   }
 
   toJSON() {
@@ -237,6 +239,10 @@ export default class Worker extends events.EventEmitter {
   }
 
   _startJobPolling() {
+    if (!this._running) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     this._checker = setInterval(() => {
       this._getPendingJobs()
       .then((jobs) => this._claimPendingJobs(jobs));
diff --git a/test/src/worker.js b/test/src/worker.js
index 0c4df54..bfb7b02 100644
--- a/test/src/worker.js
+++ b/test/src/worker.js
@@ -185,6 +185,27 @@ describe('Worker class', function () {
       clock.tick(interval);
       sinon.assert.calledOnce(searchSpy);
     });
+
+    it('should not poll once destroyed', function () {
+      const worker = new Worker(mockQueue, 'test', noop);
+
+      // move the clock a couple times, test for searches each time
+      sinon.assert.notCalled(searchSpy);
+      clock.tick(defaults.interval);
+      sinon.assert.calledOnce(searchSpy);
+      clock.tick(defaults.interval);
+      sinon.assert.calledTwice(searchSpy);
+
+      // destroy the worker, move the clock, make sure another search doesn't happen
+      worker.destroy();
+      clock.tick(defaults.interval);
+      sinon.assert.calledTwice(searchSpy);
+
+      // manually call job poller, move the clock, make sure another search doesn't happen
+      worker._startJobPolling();
+      clock.tick(defaults.interval);
+      sinon.assert.calledTwice(searchSpy);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('query for pending jobs', function () {