diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bbbe1ed..4dc58d2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ In this scenario, on each iteration of the worker's loop, it will look for jobs
 QUEUES="priority_queue,secondary_queue" bundle exec rake qc:work
 ```
 
+`rake qc:work` spawns a long running worker process waiting for jobs. You can
+use `rake qc:work_off` to process all the jobs currently in the queue and exit.
+
 #### Custom Worker
 This example is probably not production ready; however, it serves as an example of how to leverage the code in the Worker class to fit your non-default requirements.
 
diff --git a/lib/queue_classic/tasks.rb b/lib/queue_classic/tasks.rb
index d3aa5a2..54e10ee 100644
--- a/lib/queue_classic/tasks.rb
+++ b/lib/queue_classic/tasks.rb
@@ -10,20 +10,12 @@
 namespace :qc do
   desc "Start a new worker for the (default or $QUEUE / $QUEUES) queue"
   task :work  => :environment do
-    @worker = QC.default_worker_class.new
-
-    trap('INT') do
-      $stderr.puts("Received INT. Shutting down.")      
-      abort("Worker has stopped running. Exit.") unless @worker.running
-      @worker.stop
-    end
-
-    trap('TERM') do
-      $stderr.puts("Received Term. Shutting down.")
-      @worker.stop
-    end
+    build_worker.start
+  end
 
-    @worker.start
+  desc "Work off jobs in the (default or $QUEUE / $QUEUES) queue"
+  task :work_off  => :environment do
+    build_worker.work_off
   end
 
   desc "Returns the number of jobs in the (default or $QUEUE / $QUEUES) queue"
@@ -45,4 +37,21 @@
   task :update => :environment do
     QC::Setup.update
   end
+
+  def build_worker
+    @worker = QC.default_worker_class.new
+
+    trap('INT') do
+      $stderr.puts("Received INT. Shutting down.")      
+      abort("Worker has stopped running. Exit.") unless @worker.running
+      @worker.stop
+    end
+
+    trap('TERM') do
+      $stderr.puts("Received Term. Shutting down.")
+      @worker.stop
+    end
+
+    @worker
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/queue_classic/worker.rb b/lib/queue_classic/worker.rb
index 9a4b639..7c2bb86 100644
--- a/lib/queue_classic/worker.rb
+++ b/lib/queue_classic/worker.rb
@@ -60,6 +60,18 @@ def stop
       @running = false
     end
 
+    # Processes jobs until no jobs are left.
+    def work_off
+      while result = lock_job_no_wait
+        queue, job = result
+        if queue && job
+          QC.log_yield(:at => "work_off", :job => job[:id]) do
+            process(queue, job)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     # Calls Worker#work but after the current process is forked.
     # The parent process will wait on the child process to exit.
     def fork_and_work
@@ -90,15 +102,21 @@ def lock_job
       log(:at => "lock_job")
       job = nil
       while @running
-        @queues.each do |queue|
-          if job = queue.lock
-            return [queue, job]
-          end
-        end
+        result = lock_job_no_wait
+        return *result if result
         @conn_adapter.wait(@wait_interval, *@queues.map {|q| q.name})
       end
     end
 
+    def lock_job_no_wait
+      @queues.each do |queue|
+        if job = queue.lock
+          return [queue, job]
+        end
+      end
+      nil
+    end
+
     # A job is processed by evaluating the target code.
     # if the job is evaluated with no exceptions
     # then it is deleted from the queue.
diff --git a/test/helper.rb b/test/helper.rb
index 63218f6..da945f8 100644
--- a/test/helper.rb
+++ b/test/helper.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 require_relative '../lib/queue_classic'
 require "stringio"
+require 'timeout'
 require "minitest/autorun"
 
 class QCTest < Minitest::Test
diff --git a/test/worker_test.rb b/test/worker_test.rb
index 8bfe731..9812430 100644
--- a/test/worker_test.rb
+++ b/test/worker_test.rb
@@ -178,6 +178,22 @@ def test_work_with_more_complex_construct
     assert_equal(0, worker.failed_count)
   end
 
+  def test_work_off_until_no_jobs_are_left
+    QC.enqueue("TestObject.no_args")
+    QC.enqueue("TestObject.no_args")
+    QC.enqueue("TestObject.no_args")
+
+    assert_equal 3, QC.count
+    worker = TestWorker.new
+    Timeout::timeout(2) { worker.work_off }
+    assert_equal 0, QC.count
+  end
+
+  def test_work_off_does_not_wait_for_job
+    worker = TestWorker.new
+    Timeout::timeout(1) { worker.work_off }
+  end
+
   def test_init_worker_with_database_url
     with_database ENV['DATABASE_URL'] || ENV['QC_DATABASE_URL'] do
       worker = QC::Worker.new