diff --git a/packages/nexrender-worker/src/instance.js b/packages/nexrender-worker/src/instance.js
index 97bff2cd..a20d4dd6 100644
--- a/packages/nexrender-worker/src/instance.js
+++ b/packages/nexrender-worker/src/instance.js
@@ -5,9 +5,27 @@ const pkg = require('../package.json')
 
 const NEXRENDER_API_POLLING = process.env.NEXRENDER_API_POLLING || 30 * 1000;
 const NEXRENDER_TOLERATE_EMPTY_QUEUES = process.env.NEXRENDER_TOLERATE_EMPTY_QUEUES;
+const NEXRENDER_PICKUP_TIMEOUT = process.env.NEXRENDER_PICKUP_TIMEOUT || 60 * 1000; // 60 second timeout by default
 
 const delay = amount => new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, amount))
 
+// Helper function to add timeout to promises
+const withTimeout = (promise, timeoutMs, errorMsg) => {
+    let timeoutHandle;
+    const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) => {
+        timeoutHandle = setTimeout(() => {
+            reject(new Error(errorMsg));
+        }, timeoutMs);
+    });
+
+    return Promise.race([
+        promise,
+        timeoutPromise,
+    ]).finally(() => {
+        clearTimeout(timeoutHandle);
+    });
+};
+
 const createWorker = () => {
     let emptyReturns = 0;
     let active = false;
@@ -41,9 +59,14 @@ const createWorker = () => {
                     return null
                 }
 
-                let job = await (settings.tagSelector ?
-                    await client.pickupJob(settings.tagSelector) :
-                    await client.pickupJob()
+                settings.logger.log(`[worker] checking for new jobs...`);
+
+                let job = await withTimeout(
+                    settings.tagSelector ?
+                        client.pickupJob(settings.tagSelector) :
+                        client.pickupJob(),
+                    NEXRENDER_PICKUP_TIMEOUT,
+                    'Job pickup request timed out'
                 );
 
                 if (job && job.uid) {
@@ -52,20 +75,28 @@ const createWorker = () => {
                 } else {
                     // no job was returned by the server. If enough checks have passed, and the exit option is set, deactivate the worker
                     emptyReturns++;
-                    if (settings.exitOnEmptyQueue && emptyReturns > settings.tolerateEmptyQueues) active = false;
+                    settings.logger.log(`[worker] no jobs available (attempt ${emptyReturns}${settings.tolerateEmptyQueues ? ` of ${settings.tolerateEmptyQueues}` : ''})`)
+                    if (settings.exitOnEmptyQueue && emptyReturns > settings.tolerateEmptyQueues) {
+                        settings.logger.log(`[worker] max empty queue attempts reached, deactivating worker`)
+                        active = false;
+                    }
                 }
 
             } catch (err) {
+                settings.logger.error(`[worker] error checking for jobs: ${err.message}`);
                 if (settings.stopOnError) {
                     throw err;
                 } else {
                     console.error(err)
-                    console.error("render proccess stopped with error...")
+                    console.error("render process stopped with error...")
                     console.error("continue listening next job...")
                 }
             }
 
-            if (active) await delay(settings.polling || NEXRENDER_API_POLLING)
+            if (active) {
+                settings.logger.log(`[worker] waiting ${settings.polling || NEXRENDER_API_POLLING}ms before next check...`);
+                await delay(settings.polling || NEXRENDER_API_POLLING)
+            }
         } while (active)
     }