diff --git a/modules/nextflow/src/test/groovy/nextflow/processor/TaskHandlerTest.groovy b/modules/nextflow/src/test/groovy/nextflow/processor/TaskHandlerTest.groovy
index 6ec29faf44..d5014baaf4 100644
--- a/modules/nextflow/src/test/groovy/nextflow/processor/TaskHandlerTest.groovy
+++ b/modules/nextflow/src/test/groovy/nextflow/processor/TaskHandlerTest.groovy
@@ -263,4 +263,18 @@ class TaskHandlerTest extends Specification {
         [:]                         | "job_1"
         [TOWER_WORKFLOW_ID: '1234'] | "tw-1234-job_1"
     }
+
+    def 'should not kill task twice'() {
+        given:
+        def handler = Spy(TaskHandler)
+        when:
+        handler.kill()
+        then:
+        1 * handler.killTask() >> {}
+
+        when:
+        handler.kill()
+        then:
+        0 * handler.killTask()
+    }
 }