diff --git a/nomad/eval_broker.go b/nomad/eval_broker.go
index 97c76eafaec5..6e5a3ed59913 100644
--- a/nomad/eval_broker.go
+++ b/nomad/eval_broker.go
@@ -510,6 +510,40 @@ func (b *EvalBroker) Nack(evalID, token string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// PauseNackTimeout is used to pause the Nack timeout for an eval that is making
+// progress but is in a potentially unbounded operation such as the plan queue.
+func (b *EvalBroker) PauseNackTimeout(evalID, token string) error {
+	b.l.RLock()
+	defer b.l.RUnlock()
+	unack, ok := b.unack[evalID]
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrNotOutstanding
+	}
+	if unack.Token != token {
+		return ErrTokenMismatch
+	}
+	if !unack.NackTimer.Stop() {
+		return ErrNackTimeoutReached
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ResumeNackTimeout is used to resume the Nack timeout for an eval that was
+// paused. It should be resumed after leaving an unbounded operation.
+func (b *EvalBroker) ResumeNackTimeout(evalID, token string) error {
+	b.l.Lock()
+	defer b.l.Unlock()
+	unack, ok := b.unack[evalID]
+	if !ok {
+		return ErrNotOutstanding
+	}
+	if unack.Token != token {
+		return ErrTokenMismatch
+	}
+	unack.NackTimer.Reset(b.nackTimeout)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Flush is used to clear the state of the broker
 func (b *EvalBroker) Flush() {
 	b.l.Lock()
diff --git a/nomad/eval_broker_test.go b/nomad/eval_broker_test.go
index b918b4e726c0..b81fbd944265 100644
--- a/nomad/eval_broker_test.go
+++ b/nomad/eval_broker_test.go
@@ -656,6 +656,56 @@ func TestEvalBroker_Nack_TimeoutReset(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestEvalBroker_PauseResumeNackTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	b := testBroker(t, 5*time.Millisecond)
+	b.SetEnabled(true)
+
+	// Enqueue
+	eval := mock.Eval()
+	err := b.Enqueue(eval)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Dequeue
+	out, token, err := b.Dequeue(defaultSched, time.Second)
+	start := time.Now()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if out != eval {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", out)
+	}
+
+	// Pause in 2 milliseconds
+	time.Sleep(2 * time.Millisecond)
+	if err := b.PauseNackTimeout(out.ID, token); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	go func() {
+		time.Sleep(2 * time.Millisecond)
+		if err := b.ResumeNackTimeout(out.ID, token); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// Dequeue, should block until the timer is resumed
+	out, _, err = b.Dequeue(defaultSched, time.Second)
+	end := time.Now()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if out != eval {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", out)
+	}
+
+	// Check the nack timer
+	if diff := end.Sub(start); diff < 9*time.Millisecond {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", diff)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEvalBroker_DeliveryLimit(t *testing.T) {
 	b := testBroker(t, 0)
 	b.SetEnabled(true)
diff --git a/nomad/plan_endpoint.go b/nomad/plan_endpoint.go
index cb9b798e82c2..556c016df2ac 100644
--- a/nomad/plan_endpoint.go
+++ b/nomad/plan_endpoint.go
@@ -19,8 +19,19 @@ func (p *Plan) Submit(args *structs.PlanRequest, reply *structs.PlanResponse) er
 	}
 	defer metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"nomad", "plan", "submit"}, time.Now())
 
+	// Pause the Nack timer for the eval as it is making progress as long as it
+	// is in the plan queue. We resume immediately after we get a result to
+	// handle the case that the receiving worker dies.
+	plan := args.Plan
+	id := plan.EvalID
+	token := plan.EvalToken
+	if err := p.srv.evalBroker.PauseNackTimeout(id, token); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer p.srv.evalBroker.ResumeNackTimeout(id, token)
+
 	// Submit the plan to the queue
-	future, err := p.srv.planQueue.Enqueue(args.Plan)
+	future, err := p.srv.planQueue.Enqueue(plan)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}