diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis_utils.py b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis_utils.py
index 82d1812c0ee..32753ec16ed 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis_utils.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis_utils.py
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ def start_exclusive_periodic_task(
     redis: RedisClientSDK,
     task: Callable[..., Awaitable[None]],
     *,
-    interval: timedelta,
+    task_period: timedelta,
+    retry_after: timedelta = timedelta(seconds=1),
     task_name: str,
     **kwargs,
 ) -> asyncio.Task:
@@ -91,11 +92,11 @@ def start_exclusive_periodic_task(
     """
     return start_periodic_task(
         _exclusive_task_starter,
-        interval=interval,
+        interval=retry_after,
         task_name=f"exclusive_task_starter_{task_name}",
         redis=redis,
         usr_tsk_task=task,
-        usr_tsk_interval=timedelta(seconds=1),
+        usr_tsk_interval=task_period,
         usr_tsk_task_name=task_name,
         **kwargs,
     )
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/test_redis_utils.py b/packages/service-library/tests/test_redis_utils.py
index 169b4ba3fd9..bf50cd6fc25 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/test_redis_utils.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/test_redis_utils.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ async def _assert_task_completes_once(
         started_task = start_exclusive_periodic_task(
             redis_client_sdk,
             _sleep_task,
-            interval=timedelta(seconds=1),
+            task_period=timedelta(seconds=1),
             task_name="long_running",
             sleep_interval=1,
             on_sleep_events=sleep_events,
diff --git a/services/resource-usage-tracker/src/simcore_service_resource_usage_tracker/resource_tracker.py b/services/resource-usage-tracker/src/simcore_service_resource_usage_tracker/resource_tracker.py
index 27ef7867b26..6bee4c87add 100644
--- a/services/resource-usage-tracker/src/simcore_service_resource_usage_tracker/resource_tracker.py
+++ b/services/resource-usage-tracker/src/simcore_service_resource_usage_tracker/resource_tracker.py
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ async def _startup() -> None:
                 app.state.resource_tracker_background_task = start_exclusive_periodic_task(
                     get_redis_client(app),
                     periodic_check_of_running_services_task,
-                    interval=app_settings.RESOURCE_USAGE_TRACKER_MISSED_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SEC,
+                    task_period=app_settings.RESOURCE_USAGE_TRACKER_MISSED_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SEC,
+                    retry_after=app_settings.RESOURCE_USAGE_TRACKER_MISSED_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SEC,
                     task_name=_TASK_NAME_PERIODICALY_CHECK_RUNNING_SERVICES,
                     app=app,
                 )