diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/config/default.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/config/default.py
index ca808564..2af3e7df 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/config/default.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/config/default.py
@@ -129,5 +129,13 @@ SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_ENGINE_STEP_DEFAULT_STRATEGY_WEB = environ.get(
     "SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_ENGINE_STEP_DEFAULT_STRATEGY_WEB", default="greedy"
 )
 
+SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED_LOCK_RETRY_TIMES = int(
+    environ.get("SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED_LOCK_RETRY_TIMES", default="3")
+)
+
+SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED_LOCK_RETRY_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS = int(
+    environ.get("SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED_LOCK_RETRY_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS", default="1")
+)
+
 # this is only used in CI. use SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_DATABASE_URI instead for real configuration
 SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_DATABASE_PASSWORD = environ.get("SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_DATABASE_PASSWORD", default=None)
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py
index 7ca7c6eb..ad9868e6 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/tasks_controller.py
@@ -378,8 +378,13 @@ def task_submit_shared(
         only_tasks_that_can_be_completed=True,
     )
 
+    retry_times = current_app.config["SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED_LOCK_RETRY_TIMES"]
+    retry_interval_in_seconds = current_app.config[
+        "SPIFFWORKFLOW_BACKEND_USER_INPUT_REQUIRED_LOCK_RETRY_INTERVAL_IN_SECONDS"
+    ]
+
     with sentry_sdk.start_span(op="task", description="complete_form_task"):
-        processor.lock_process_instance("Web")
+        processor.lock_process_instance("Web", retry_times, retry_interval_in_seconds)
         ProcessInstanceService.complete_form_task(
             processor=processor,
             spiff_task=spiff_task,
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py
index 6c8b64fc..5e771c12 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py
@@ -91,9 +91,8 @@ from spiffworkflow_backend.services.file_system_service import FileSystemService
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.process_instance_lock_service import (
     ProcessInstanceLockService,
 )
-from spiffworkflow_backend.services.process_instance_queue_service import (
-    ProcessInstanceQueueService,
-)
+from spiffworkflow_backend.services.process_instance_queue_service import ProcessInstanceIsAlreadyLockedError
+from spiffworkflow_backend.services.process_instance_queue_service import ProcessInstanceQueueService
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.process_model_service import ProcessModelService
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.service_task_service import ServiceTaskDelegate
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.spec_file_service import SpecFileService
@@ -1459,8 +1458,23 @@ class ProcessInstanceProcessor:
         return the_status
 
     # TODO: replace with implicit/more granular locking in workflow execution service
-    def lock_process_instance(self, lock_prefix: str) -> None:
-        ProcessInstanceQueueService.dequeue(self.process_instance_model)
+    # TODO: remove the retry logic once all user_input_required's don't need to be locked to check timers
+    def lock_process_instance(
+        self, lock_prefix: str, retry_count: int = 0, retry_interval_in_seconds: int = 0
+    ) -> None:
+        try:
+            ProcessInstanceQueueService.dequeue(self.process_instance_model)
+        except ProcessInstanceIsAlreadyLockedError as e:
+            if retry_count > 0:
+                current_app.logger.info(
+                    f"process_instance_id {self.process_instance_model.id} is locked. "
+                    f"will retry {retry_count} times with delay of {retry_interval_in_seconds}."
+                )
+                if retry_interval_in_seconds > 0:
+                    time.sleep(retry_interval_in_seconds)
+                self.lock_process_instance(lock_prefix, retry_count - 1, retry_interval_in_seconds)
+            else:
+                raise e
 
     # TODO: replace with implicit/more granular locking in workflow execution service
     def unlock_process_instance(self, lock_prefix: str) -> None: