diff --git a/api/task_processor/models.py b/api/task_processor/models.py
index 610149ca6391..e2f6ccb10ccd 100644
--- a/api/task_processor/models.py
+++ b/api/task_processor/models.py
@@ -44,9 +44,12 @@ def deserialize_data(data: typing.Any):
         return json.loads(data)
 
     def mark_failure(self):
-        self.is_locked = False
+        self.unlock()
 
     def mark_success(self):
+        self.unlock()
+
+    def unlock(self):
         self.is_locked = False
 
     def run(self):
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ def mark_failure(self):
         self.num_failures += 1
 
     def mark_success(self):
-        super().mark_failure()
+        super().mark_success()
         self.completed = True
 
 
diff --git a/api/task_processor/processor.py b/api/task_processor/processor.py
index 7896128d83ff..a5f6e73afd7b 100644
--- a/api/task_processor/processor.py
+++ b/api/task_processor/processor.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def run_tasks(num_tasks: int = 1) -> typing.List[TaskRun]:
     return []
 
 
-def run_recurring_tasks(num_tasks: int = 1) -> typing.List[RecurringTask]:
+def run_recurring_tasks(num_tasks: int = 1) -> typing.List[RecurringTaskRun]:
     if num_tasks < 1:
         raise ValueError("Number of tasks to process must be at least one")
 
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ def run_recurring_tasks(num_tasks: int = 1) -> typing.List[RecurringTask]:
     tasks = RecurringTask.objects.get_tasks_to_process(num_tasks)
     if tasks:
         task_runs = []
-        executed_tasks = []
 
         for task in tasks:
             # Remove the task if it's not registered anymore
@@ -65,11 +64,13 @@ def run_recurring_tasks(num_tasks: int = 1) -> typing.List[RecurringTask]:
 
             if task.should_execute:
                 task, task_run = _run_task(task)
-                executed_tasks.append(task)
                 task_runs.append(task_run)
+            else:
+                task.unlock()
 
-        if executed_tasks:
-            RecurringTask.objects.bulk_update(executed_tasks, fields=["is_locked"])
+        # update all tasks that were not deleted
+        to_update = [task for task in tasks if task.id]
+        RecurringTask.objects.bulk_update(to_update, fields=["is_locked"])
 
         if task_runs:
             RecurringTaskRun.objects.bulk_create(task_runs)
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ def run_recurring_tasks(num_tasks: int = 1) -> typing.List[RecurringTask]:
     return []
 
 
-def _run_task(task: Task) -> typing.Optional[typing.Tuple[Task, TaskRun]]:
+def _run_task(task: typing.Union[Task, RecurringTask]) -> typing.Tuple[Task, TaskRun]:
     task_run = task.task_runs.model(started_at=timezone.now(), task=task)
 
     try:
diff --git a/api/tests/unit/task_processor/test_unit_task_processor_processor.py b/api/tests/unit/task_processor/test_unit_task_processor_processor.py
index bb65ec64e5d1..154daedc4bbc 100644
--- a/api/tests/unit/task_processor/test_unit_task_processor_processor.py
+++ b/api/tests/unit/task_processor/test_unit_task_processor_processor.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from threading import Thread
 
 import pytest
+from django.utils import timezone
 
 from organisations.models import Organisation
 from task_processor.decorators import (
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ def test_run_recurring_tasks_multiple_runs(db, run_by_processor):
     task_identifier = "test_unit_task_processor_processor._create_organisation"
 
     @register_recurring_task(
-        run_every=timedelta(milliseconds=100), args=(organisation_name,)
+        run_every=timedelta(milliseconds=200), args=(organisation_name,)
     )
     def _create_organisation(organisation_name):
         Organisation.objects.create(name=organisation_name)
@@ -89,17 +90,28 @@ def _create_organisation(organisation_name):
 
     # When
     first_task_runs = run_recurring_tasks()
-    time.sleep(0.2)
 
-    second_task_runs = run_recurring_tasks()
+    # run the process again before the task is scheduled to run again to ensure
+    # that tasks are unlocked when they are picked up by the task processor but
+    # not executed.
+    no_task_runs = run_recurring_tasks()
 
-    task_runs = first_task_runs + second_task_runs
+    time.sleep(0.3)
+
+    second_task_runs = run_recurring_tasks()
 
     # Then
+    assert len(first_task_runs) == 1
+    assert len(no_task_runs) == 0
+    assert len(second_task_runs) == 1
+
+    # we should still only have 2 organisations, despite executing the
+    # `run_recurring_tasks` function 3 times.
     assert Organisation.objects.filter(name=organisation_name).count() == 2
 
-    assert len(task_runs) == RecurringTaskRun.objects.filter(task=task).count() == 2
-    for task_run in task_runs:
+    all_task_runs = first_task_runs + second_task_runs
+    assert len(all_task_runs) == RecurringTaskRun.objects.filter(task=task).count() == 2
+    for task_run in all_task_runs:
         assert task_run.result == TaskResult.SUCCESS
         assert task_run.started_at
         assert task_run.finished_at
@@ -322,6 +334,37 @@ def test_run_more_than_one_task(db):
         assert task.completed
 
 
+def test_recurring_tasks_are_unlocked_if_picked_up_but_not_executed(
+    db, run_by_processor
+):
+    # Given
+    @register_recurring_task(run_every=timedelta(days=1))
+    def my_task():
+        pass
+
+    recurring_task = RecurringTask.objects.get(
+        task_identifier="test_unit_task_processor_processor.my_task"
+    )
+
+    # mimic the task having already been run so that it is next picked up,
+    # but not executed
+    now = timezone.now()
+    one_minute_ago = now - timedelta(minutes=1)
+    RecurringTaskRun.objects.create(
+        task=recurring_task,
+        started_at=one_minute_ago,
+        finished_at=now,
+        result=TaskResult.SUCCESS.name,
+    )
+
+    # When
+    run_recurring_tasks()
+
+    # Then
+    recurring_task.refresh_from_db()
+    assert recurring_task.is_locked is False
+
+
 @register_task_handler()
 def _create_organisation(name: str):
     """function used to test that task is being run successfully"""