diff --git a/includes/VersioncontrolRepository.php b/includes/VersioncontrolRepository.php
index 26d5eb6..c4ab678 100644
--- a/includes/VersioncontrolRepository.php
+++ b/includes/VersioncontrolRepository.php
@@ -297,6 +297,11 @@ abstract class VersioncontrolRepository implements VersioncontrolEntityInterface
           'elid' => $event->elid,
         );
         $queue = DrupalQueue::get('versioncontrol_reposync', TRUE);
+        // If using a queue capable of delayed processing, back off in case
+        // another sync process is working.
+        if ($queue instanceof BeanstalkdQueue) {
+          $queue->beanstalkd_params['delay'] = $attempts * variable_get('versioncontrol_reposync_retry_syncevent_delay_multiplier', 5);
+        }
         $queue->createItem($payload);
       }
       else {