diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index e7de949..0dbf7f0 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ config :elixir_bench,
        :supported_erlang_versions,
        {:system, :list, "SUPPORTED_ERLANG_VERSIONS", ["20.1.2"]}
 
+config :elixir_bench, :job_max_retries, {:system, :integer, "JOB_MAX_RETRIES", 3}
+
 # Import environment specific config. This must remain at the bottom
 # of this file so it overrides the configuration defined above.
 import_config "#{Mix.env()}.exs"
diff --git a/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks.ex b/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks.ex
index 9b6bba3..6a2139d 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks.ex
@@ -146,17 +146,17 @@ defmodule ElixirBench.Benchmarks do
   end
 
   defp fetch_unclaimed_job(runner) do
-    # Unclaimed or claimed by this runner but not completed
-    Repo.fetch(
-      from(
-        j in Job,
-        where: is_nil(j.claimed_by) and is_nil(j.claimed_at) and is_nil(j.completed_at),
-        or_where:
-          j.claimed_by == ^runner.id and not is_nil(j.claimed_at) and is_nil(j.completed_at),
-        lock: "FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED",
-        order_by: j.inserted_at,
-        limit: 1
-      )
+    # Unclaimed or claimed by this runner but not completed and claim_count < MAX_RETRIES
+    from(
+      j in Job,
+      where: is_nil(j.claimed_by) and is_nil(j.claimed_at) and is_nil(j.completed_at),
+      or_where:
+        j.claimed_by == ^runner.id and not is_nil(j.claimed_at) and is_nil(j.completed_at),
+      lock: "FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED",
+      order_by: j.inserted_at,
+      limit: 1
     )
+    |> Job.claimable()
+    |> Repo.fetch()
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/job.ex b/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/job.ex
index a7542d6..97f6f6d 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/job.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_bench/benchmarks/job.ex
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ defmodule ElixirBench.Benchmarks.Job do
   use Ecto.Schema
 
   import Ecto.Changeset
-  import Ecto.Query, only: [from: 2]
+  import Ecto.Query, only: [from: 2, where: 2]
 
   alias ElixirBench.Repos
+  alias ElixirBench.Repo
   alias ElixirBench.Benchmarks.{Runner, Job, Config}
 
   schema "jobs" do
@@ -28,12 +29,15 @@ defmodule ElixirBench.Benchmarks.Job do
     field :elixir_version, :string
     field :erlang_version, :string
     field :memory_mb, :integer
+    field :claim_count, :integer, default: 0
 
     embeds_one(:config, Config)
 
     timestamps()
   end
 
+  @max_retries Confex.fetch_env!(:elixir_bench, :job_max_retries)
+
   @submit_fields [
     :elixir_version,
     :erlang_version,
@@ -54,6 +58,9 @@ defmodule ElixirBench.Benchmarks.Job do
   def claim_changeset(%Job{} = job, claimed_by) do
     job
     |> change(claimed_by: claimed_by, claimed_at: DateTime.utc_now())
+    |> change(claim_count: job.claim_count + 1)
+
+    # |> prepare_changes(&increment_claim_count/1)
   end
 
   def create_changeset(%Job{} = job, attrs) do
@@ -73,4 +80,16 @@ defmodule ElixirBench.Benchmarks.Job do
   def filter_by_repo(query, repo_id) do
     from(j in query, where: j.repo_id == ^repo_id)
   end
+
+  def claimable(query) do
+    from(j in query, where: j.claim_count < @max_retries)
+  end
+
+  defp increment_claim_count(changeset) do
+    Job
+    |> where(id: ^changeset.data.id)
+    |> Repo.update_all(inc: [claim_count: 1])
+
+    changeset
+  end
 end
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20180815140601_adds_claims_count_to_jobs.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20180815140601_adds_claims_count_to_jobs.exs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ef28042
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20180815140601_adds_claims_count_to_jobs.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+defmodule ElixirBench.Repo.Migrations.AddsClaimsCountToJobs do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  def change do
+    alter table(:jobs) do
+      add :claim_count, :integer, default: 0
+    end
+
+    # assume all existent jobs has being claimed once
+    execute """
+    UPDATE jobs SET claim_count = 1 WHERE claimed_by IS NOT NULL;
+    """, "" # nothing on down
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks_test.exs b/test/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks_test.exs
index 1b7e373..e95a4a6 100644
--- a/test/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks_test.exs
+++ b/test/elixir_bench/benchmarks/benchmarks_test.exs
@@ -199,6 +199,20 @@ defmodule ElixirBench.BenchmarksTest do
       assert %Job{id: ^jid, claimed_by: ^rid} = job
     end
 
+    test "return error when max retries limit is reached" do
+      %{id: jid, claimed_by: nil} = insert(:job)
+      %{id: rid} = runner = insert(:runner)
+
+      max_retries = Confex.fetch_env!(:elixir_bench, :job_max_retries)
+
+      1..max_retries
+      |> Enum.each(fn _ ->
+        assert {:ok, job} = Benchmarks.claim_job(runner)
+      end)
+
+      assert {:error, :not_found} = Benchmarks.claim_job(runner)
+    end
+
     test "return error if there is no pending jobs" do
       runner = insert(:runner)