diff --git a/docs/docs/command-line-flags.md b/docs/docs/command-line-flags.md
index 7ac086b8758..30688b7b80a 100644
--- a/docs/docs/command-line-flags.md
+++ b/docs/docs/command-line-flags.md
@@ -170,6 +170,8 @@ The core functionality flags can be also set by environment variable `MARATHON_O
 * `--mesos_heartbeat_failure_threshold` (Optional. Default: 5):
     after missing this number of expected communications from the mesos master, infer that marathon has become
     disconnected from the master.
+* <span class="label label-default">v1.5.0</span>`--minimum_viable_task_execution_duration` (Optional. Default: 60 seconds):
+    Delay (in ms) after which a task is considered viable. If the task starts up correctly, but fails during this timeout, the application is backed off. 
 
 ## Tuning Flags for Offer Matching/Launching Tasks
 
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueConfig.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueConfig.scala
index fc8ff31d5c6..8d9126bda13 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueConfig.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueConfig.scala
@@ -2,8 +2,15 @@ package mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue
 
 import org.rogach.scallop.ScallopConf
 
+import scala.concurrent.duration._
+
 trait LaunchQueueConfig extends ScallopConf {
 
+  lazy val minimumViableTaskExecutionDurationMillis = opt[Long](
+    "minimum_viable_task_execution_duration",
+    descr = "Delay (in ms) after which a task is considered viable.",
+    default = Some(60000))
+
   lazy val launchQueueRequestTimeout = opt[Int](
     "launch_queue_request_timeout",
     descr = "INTERNAL TUNING PARAMETER: Timeout (in ms) for requests to the launch queue actor.",
@@ -15,4 +22,6 @@ trait LaunchQueueConfig extends ScallopConf {
     descr = "INTERNAL TUNING PARAMETER: Timeout (in ms) for matched task opereations to be accepted or rejected.",
     hidden = true,
     default = Some(10000))
+
+  lazy val minimumViableTaskExecutionDuration: FiniteDuration = minimumViableTaskExecutionDurationMillis().millis
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueModule.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueModule.scala
index 644d030ed2d..1ce881dc3a4 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueModule.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/LaunchQueueModule.scala
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class LaunchQueueModule(
     leadershipModule.startWhenLeader(props, "launchQueue")
   }
 
-  val rateLimiter: RateLimiter = new RateLimiter(clock)
+  val rateLimiter: RateLimiter = new RateLimiter(config, clock)
   private[this] val rateLimiterActor: ActorRef = {
     val props = RateLimiterActor.props(
       rateLimiter, launchQueueActorRef)
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiter.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiter.scala
index 944260cd4a0..3d35b6f9137 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiter.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiter.scala
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ package mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue.impl
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
 
 import mesosphere.marathon.core.base.Clock
-import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ PathId, RunSpec, Timestamp }
+import mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue.LaunchQueueConfig
+import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ RunSpec, PathId, Timestamp }
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory
 
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
@@ -13,20 +14,25 @@ import scala.concurrent.duration._
   *
   * We do not keep the delays for every version because that would include scaling changes or manual restarts.
   */
-private[launchqueue] class RateLimiter(clock: Clock) {
+private[launchqueue] class RateLimiter(config: LaunchQueueConfig, clock: Clock) {
   import RateLimiter._
 
   /** The task launch delays per run spec and their last config change. */
   private[this] var taskLaunchDelays = Map[(PathId, Timestamp), Delay]()
 
-  def cleanUpOverdueDelays(): Unit = {
+  /**
+    * Reset delay for tasks that have reached the viability
+    * threshold. The deadline indicates when the task has been
+    * launched for the last time.
+    */
+  def resetDelaysOfViableTasks(): Unit = {
     taskLaunchDelays = taskLaunchDelays.filter {
-      case (_, delay) => delay.deadline > clock.now()
+      case (_, delay) =>
+        clock.now() - config.minimumViableTaskExecutionDuration < delay.deadline
     }
   }
 
-  def getDelay(spec: RunSpec): Timestamp =
-    // TODO (pods): RunSpec has no versionInfo. Need this?
+  def getDeadline(spec: RunSpec): Timestamp =
     taskLaunchDelays.get(spec.id -> spec.versionInfo.lastConfigChangeVersion).map(_.deadline) getOrElse clock.now()
 
   def addDelay(spec: RunSpec): Timestamp = {
@@ -72,7 +78,7 @@ private object RateLimiter {
   private val log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass.getName)
 
   private object Delay {
-    def apply(clock: Clock, runSpec: RunSpec): Delay = Delay(clock, runSpec.backoffStrategy.backoff)
+    def apply(clock: Clock, runSpec: RunSpec): Delay = Delay(clock.now() + runSpec.backoffStrategy.backoff, runSpec.backoffStrategy.backoff)
     def apply(clock: Clock, delay: FiniteDuration): Delay = Delay(clock.now() + delay, delay)
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActor.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActor.scala
index 5f1c016d7b9..714156d6643 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActor.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActor.scala
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import akka.actor.{ Actor, ActorLogging, ActorRef, Cancellable, Props }
 import akka.event.LoggingReceive
 import mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue.impl.RateLimiterActor.{
   AddDelay,
-  CleanupOverdueDelays,
+  ResetViableTasksDelays,
   DecreaseDelay,
   DelayUpdate,
   GetDelay,
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ private[launchqueue] object RateLimiterActor {
   private[impl] case class AddDelay(runSpec: RunSpec)
   private[impl] case class DecreaseDelay(runSpec: RunSpec)
 
-  private case object CleanupOverdueDelays
+  private case object ResetViableTasksDelays
 }
 
 private class RateLimiterActor private (
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ private class RateLimiterActor private (
 
   override def preStart(): Unit = {
     import context.dispatcher
-    cleanup = context.system.scheduler.schedule(10.seconds, 10.seconds, self, CleanupOverdueDelays)
+    cleanup = context.system.scheduler.schedule(10.seconds, 10.seconds, self, ResetViableTasksDelays)
     log.info("started RateLimiterActor")
   }
 
@@ -57,27 +57,29 @@ private class RateLimiterActor private (
     ).reduceLeft(_.orElse[Any, Unit](_))
   }
 
+  /**
+    * If an app gets removed or updated, the delay should be reset. If
+    * an app is considered viable, the delay should be reset too. We
+    * check and reset viable tasks' delays periodically.
+    */
   private[this] def receiveCleanup: Receive = {
-    case CleanupOverdueDelays =>
-      // If a run spec gets removed or updated, the delay should be reset.
-      // Still, we can remove overdue delays before that and also make leaks less likely
-      // by calling this periodically.
-      rateLimiter.cleanUpOverdueDelays()
+    case ResetViableTasksDelays =>
+      rateLimiter.resetDelaysOfViableTasks()
   }
 
   private[this] def receiveDelayOps: Receive = {
     case GetDelay(runSpec) =>
-      sender() ! DelayUpdate(runSpec, rateLimiter.getDelay(runSpec))
+      sender() ! DelayUpdate(runSpec, rateLimiter.getDeadline(runSpec))
 
     case AddDelay(runSpec) =>
       rateLimiter.addDelay(runSpec)
-      launchQueueRef ! DelayUpdate(runSpec, rateLimiter.getDelay(runSpec))
+      launchQueueRef ! DelayUpdate(runSpec, rateLimiter.getDeadline(runSpec))
 
     case DecreaseDelay(runSpec) => // ignore for now
 
     case ResetDelay(runSpec) =>
       rateLimiter.resetDelay(runSpec)
-      launchQueueRef ! DelayUpdate(runSpec, rateLimiter.getDelay(runSpec))
+      launchQueueRef ! DelayUpdate(runSpec, rateLimiter.getDeadline(runSpec))
       sender() ! ResetDelayResponse
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActorTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActorTest.scala
index 11d2853f733..a616affafbd 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActorTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterActorTest.scala
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import akka.pattern.ask
 import akka.testkit.TestProbe
 import akka.util.Timeout
 import mesosphere.marathon.core.base.ConstantClock
+import mesosphere.marathon.test.MarathonSpec
+import mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue.LaunchQueueConfig
 import mesosphere.marathon.core.task.tracker.InstanceTracker
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ AppDefinition, BackoffStrategy, PathId }
 import mesosphere.marathon.test.MarathonSpec
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ class RateLimiterActorTest extends MarathonSpec {
 
   private[this] implicit val timeout: Timeout = 3.seconds
   private[this] implicit var actorSystem: ActorSystem = _
+  private[this] var launchQueueConfig: LaunchQueueConfig = _
   private[this] var clock: ConstantClock = _
   private[this] var rateLimiter: RateLimiter = _
   private[this] var taskTracker: InstanceTracker = _
@@ -56,8 +59,11 @@ class RateLimiterActorTest extends MarathonSpec {
 
   before {
     actorSystem = ActorSystem()
+    launchQueueConfig = new LaunchQueueConfig {
+      verify()
+    }
     clock = ConstantClock()
-    rateLimiter = Mockito.spy(new RateLimiter(clock))
+    rateLimiter = Mockito.spy(new RateLimiter(launchQueueConfig, clock))
     taskTracker = mock[InstanceTracker]
     updateReceiver = TestProbe()
     val props = RateLimiterActor.props(rateLimiter, updateReceiver.ref)
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterTest.scala
index 2fcf1690573..4ec76ee11fe 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/core/launchqueue/impl/RateLimiterTest.scala
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue.impl
 
 import mesosphere.marathon.core.base.ConstantClock
+import mesosphere.marathon.core.launchqueue.LaunchQueueConfig
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.PathId._
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ AppDefinition, BackoffStrategy, Timestamp }
 import mesosphere.marathon.test.{ MarathonActorSupport, MarathonSpec }
@@ -9,51 +10,61 @@ import org.scalatest.Matchers
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 
 class RateLimiterTest extends MarathonActorSupport with MarathonSpec with Matchers {
+
   val clock = ConstantClock(Timestamp.now())
 
+  private[this] val launchQueueConfig: LaunchQueueConfig = new LaunchQueueConfig {
+    verify()
+  }
+
   test("addDelay") {
-    val limiter = new RateLimiter(clock)
+    val limiter = new RateLimiter(launchQueueConfig, clock)
     val app = AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 10.seconds))
 
     limiter.addDelay(app)
 
-    limiter.getDelay(app) should be(clock.now() + 10.seconds)
+    limiter.getDeadline(app) should be(clock.now() + 10.seconds)
   }
 
   test("addDelay for existing delay") {
-    val limiter = new RateLimiter(clock)
+    val limiter = new RateLimiter(launchQueueConfig, clock)
     val app = AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 10.seconds, factor = 2.0))
 
     limiter.addDelay(app) // linter:ignore:IdenticalStatements
     limiter.addDelay(app)
 
-    limiter.getDelay(app) should be(clock.now() + 20.seconds)
+    limiter.getDeadline(app) should be(clock.now() + 20.seconds)
   }
 
-  test("cleanupOverdueDelays") {
-    val limiter = new RateLimiter(clock)
-    val overdue = AppDefinition(id = "overdue".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 10.seconds))
-    limiter.addDelay(overdue)
-    val stillWaiting = AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 20.seconds))
+  test("resetDelaysOfViableTasks") {
+    val time_origin = clock.now()
+    val limiter = new RateLimiter(launchQueueConfig, clock)
+    val threshold = launchQueueConfig.minimumViableTaskExecutionDuration
+    val viable = AppDefinition(id = "viable".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 10.seconds))
+    limiter.addDelay(viable)
+    val notYetViable = AppDefinition(id = "notYetViable".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 20.seconds))
+    limiter.addDelay(notYetViable)
+    val stillWaiting = AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = threshold + 20.seconds))
     limiter.addDelay(stillWaiting)
 
-    clock += 11.seconds
+    clock += threshold + 11.seconds
 
-    limiter.cleanUpOverdueDelays()
+    limiter.resetDelaysOfViableTasks()
 
-    limiter.getDelay(overdue) should be(clock.now())
-    limiter.getDelay(stillWaiting) should be(clock.now() + 9.seconds)
+    limiter.getDeadline(viable) should be(clock.now())
+    limiter.getDeadline(notYetViable) should be(time_origin + 20.seconds)
+    limiter.getDeadline(stillWaiting) should be(time_origin + threshold + 20.seconds)
   }
 
   test("resetDelay") {
-    val limiter = new RateLimiter(clock)
+    val limiter = new RateLimiter(launchQueueConfig, clock)
     val app = AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, backoffStrategy = BackoffStrategy(backoff = 10.seconds))
 
     limiter.addDelay(app)
 
     limiter.resetDelay(app)
 
-    limiter.getDelay(app) should be(clock.now())
+    limiter.getDeadline(app) should be(clock.now())
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/setup/MarathonTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/setup/MarathonTest.scala
index 604ebafaa45..bebef1f594b 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/setup/MarathonTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/setup/MarathonTest.scala
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ case class LocalMarathon(
     "hostname" -> "localhost",
     "logging_level" -> "debug",
     "offer_matching_timeout" -> 10.seconds.toMillis.toString // see https://github.com/mesosphere/marathon/issues/4920
+    "minimum_viable_task_execution_duration" -> "0"
   ) ++ conf
 
   val args = config.flatMap {