diff --git a/feeds.pages.inc b/feeds.pages.inc
index 1ee6f9c..93604ff 100644
--- a/feeds.pages.inc
+++ b/feeds.pages.inc
@@ -89,12 +89,19 @@ function feeds_import_form(array $form, array &$form_state, FeedsImporter $impor
     '#type' => 'submit',
     '#value' => t('Import'),
   );
+  // Change submit button label if processing in background.
+  if ($source->importer->config['process_in_background']) {
+    $form['submit']['#value'] = t('Schedule import');
+  }
+
+  // Disable submit button if import is initiated.
   $progress = $source->progressImporting();
   if ($progress !== FEEDS_BATCH_COMPLETE) {
     $form['submit']['#disabled'] = TRUE;
     $form['submit']['#value'] =
       t('Importing (@progress %)', array('@progress' => number_format(100 * $progress, 0)));
   }
+
   return $form;
 }
 
@@ -121,6 +128,9 @@ function feeds_import_form_submit($form, &$form_state) {
   // Refresh feed if import on create is selected.
   if ($source->importer->config['import_on_create']) {
     $source->startImport();
+    if ($source->importer->config['process_in_background']) {
+      drupal_set_message(t('Import scheduled.'));
+    }
   }
 
   // Add to schedule, make sure importer is scheduled, too.
@@ -145,12 +155,20 @@ function feeds_import_tab_form($form, &$form_state, $node) {
     '#value' => feeds_source_status($source),
   );
   $form = confirm_form($form, t('Import all content from source?'), 'node/' . $node->nid, '', t('Import'), t('Cancel'), 'confirm feeds update');
+
+  // Change submit button label if processing in background.
+  if ($source->importer->config['process_in_background']) {
+    $form['actions']['submit']['#value'] = t('Schedule import');
+  }
+
+  // Disable submit button if import is initiated.
   $progress = $source->progressImporting();
   if ($progress !== FEEDS_BATCH_COMPLETE) {
     $form['actions']['submit']['#disabled'] = TRUE;
     $form['actions']['submit']['#value'] =
       t('Importing (@progress %)', array('@progress' => number_format(100 * $progress, 0)));
   }
+
   return $form;
 }
 
@@ -162,6 +180,10 @@ function feeds_import_tab_form_submit($form, &$form_state) {
   $source = feeds_source($form['#importer_id'], $form['#feed_nid']);
   $source->startImport();
   $source->ensureSchedule();
+
+  if ($source->importer->config['process_in_background']) {
+    drupal_set_message(t('Import scheduled.'));
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -190,12 +212,20 @@ function feeds_delete_tab_form(array $form, array &$form_state, FeedsImporter $i
     '#value' => feeds_source_status($source),
   );
   $form = confirm_form($form, t('Delete all items from source?'), $form['#redirect'], '', t('Delete'), t('Cancel'), 'confirm feeds update');
+
+  // Change submit button label if processing in background.
+  if ($source->importer->config['process_in_background']) {
+    $form['actions']['submit']['#value'] = t('Schedule delete');
+  }
+
+  // Disable submit button if clearing is initiated.
   $progress = $source->progressClearing();
   if ($progress !== FEEDS_BATCH_COMPLETE) {
     $form['actions']['submit']['#disabled'] = TRUE;
     $form['actions']['submit']['#value'] =
       t('Deleting (@progress %)', array('@progress' => number_format(100 * $progress, 0)));
   }
+
   return $form;
 }
 
@@ -208,6 +238,10 @@ function feeds_delete_tab_form_submit($form, &$form_state) {
   $source = feeds_source($form['#importer_id'], $feed_nid);
   $source->startClear();
   $source->ensureSchedule();
+
+  if ($source->importer->config['process_in_background']) {
+    drupal_set_message(t('Deletion of items scheduled.'));
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/includes/FeedsSource.inc b/includes/FeedsSource.inc
index 690bfe8..3195def 100644
--- a/includes/FeedsSource.inc
+++ b/includes/FeedsSource.inc
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ class FeedsSource extends FeedsConfigurable {
   public function startImport() {
     $config = $this->importer->getConfig();
     if ($config['process_in_background']) {
-      $this->import();
+      $this->startBackgroundJob('import');
     }
     else {
       $this->startBatchAPIJob(t('Importing'), 'import');
@@ -276,8 +276,7 @@ class FeedsSource extends FeedsConfigurable {
   public function startClear() {
     $config = $this->importer->getConfig();
     if ($config['process_in_background']) {
-      $this->clear();
-      $this->scheduleClear();
+      $this->startBackgroundJob('clear');
     }
     else {
       $this->startBatchAPIJob(t('Deleting'), 'clear');
@@ -905,6 +904,43 @@ class FeedsSource extends FeedsConfigurable {
   }
 
   /**
+   * Background job helper. Starts a background job using the Drupal queue.
+   *
+   * @see FeedsSource::startImport().
+   * @see FeedsSource::startClear().
+   *
+   * @param string $method
+   *   Method to execute on importer; one of 'import' or 'clear'.
+   */
+  protected function startBackgroundJob($method) {
+    $job = array(
+      'type' => $this->id,
+      'id' => $this->feed_nid,
+    );
+    $queue = DrupalQueue::get('feeds_source_' . $method);
+    $queue->createItem($job);
+
+    switch ($method) {
+      case 'import':
+        $state = $this->state(FEEDS_FETCH);
+        break;
+
+      case 'clear':
+        $state = $this->state(FEEDS_PROCESS_CLEAR);
+        break;
+
+      case 'expire':
+        $state = $this->state(FEEDS_PROCESS_EXPIRE);
+        break;
+    }
+
+    if (isset($state)) {
+      $state->progress = 0;
+      $this->save();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
    * Acquires a lock for this source.
    *
    * @throws FeedsLockException
diff --git a/tests/feeds.test b/tests/feeds.test
index ff8f256..7f0755e 100644
--- a/tests/feeds.test
+++ b/tests/feeds.test
@@ -359,14 +359,24 @@ class FeedsWebTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
 
   /**
    * Import a file through the import form. Assumes FeedsFileFetcher in place.
+   *
+   * @param string $id
+   *   The ID of the importer.
+   * @param string $file
+   *   The absolute path to the file.
+   * @param string $submit
+   *   (optional) The button to press.
+   *   Defaults to the button "Import".
    */
-  public function importFile($id, $file) {
-
+  public function importFile($id, $file, $submit = NULL) {
     $this->assertTrue(file_exists($file), 'Source file exists');
     $edit = array(
       'files[feeds]' => $file,
     );
-    $this->drupalPost('import/' . $id, $edit, 'Import');
+    if (empty($submit)) {
+      $submit = 'Import';
+    }
+    $this->drupalPost('import/' . $id, $edit, $submit);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/tests/feeds_fetcher_file.test b/tests/feeds_fetcher_file.test
index 089c7c0..484f41e 100644
--- a/tests/feeds_fetcher_file.test
+++ b/tests/feeds_fetcher_file.test
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class FeedsFileFetcherTestCase extends FeedsWebTestCase {
     variable_set('feeds_tests_feeds_after_save_sleep', 1);
 
     // Import a file with 9 nodes.
-    $this->importFile('node', $this->absolutePath() . '/tests/feeds/nodes.csv');
+    $this->importFile('node', $this->absolutePath() . '/tests/feeds/nodes.csv', 'Schedule import');
 
     // Assert that the file has been created.
     $this->assertTrue(file_exists('private://feeds/nodes.csv'), 'The imported file is created.');
diff --git a/tests/feeds_processor_node.test b/tests/feeds_processor_node.test
index 25ec79a..6d64336 100644
--- a/tests/feeds_processor_node.test
+++ b/tests/feeds_processor_node.test
@@ -572,8 +572,8 @@ class FeedsRSStoNodesTest extends FeedsWebTestCase {
       ),
     ));
 
-    $this->importFile('syndication', $this->absolutePath() . '/tests/feeds/many_nodes_ordered.csv');
-    $this->assertEqual(5, db_query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {node}")->fetchField());
+    $this->importFile('syndication', $this->absolutePath() . '/tests/feeds/many_nodes_ordered.csv', 'Schedule import');
+    $this->assertEqual(0, db_query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {node}")->fetchField());
 
     // The feed should still be scheduled because it is being processed.
     // @see https://drupal.org/node/2275893