diff --git a/instances/templates/instance.html b/instances/templates/instance.html
index b77d469..f795687 100644
--- a/instances/templates/instance.html
+++ b/instances/templates/instance.html
@@ -1290,13 +1290,14 @@
     });
 </script>
 <script>
+     backgroundJobRunning = false;
      window.setInterval(function get_status() {
          var status = {{ status }};
          $.getJSON('{% url 'inst_status' compute_id vname %}', function (data) {
-             if (data['status'] != status) {
+             if (data['status'] != status && !backgroundJobRunning) {
                  window.location.reload()
              }
-         })
+         });
      }, 5000);
 </script>
 <script>
diff --git a/templates/pleasewaitdialog.html b/templates/pleasewaitdialog.html
index 49c893b..37dc7db 100644
--- a/templates/pleasewaitdialog.html
+++ b/templates/pleasewaitdialog.html
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@
 <script>
 function showPleaseWaitDialog() {
     $('#pleaseWaitDialog').modal();
+    backgroundJobRunning = true;
 }
 function hidePleaseWaitDialog() {
     $('#pleaseWaitDialog').modal('hide');
+    backgroundJobRunning = false;
 }
 </script>