Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for monitoring a task executing on a data processing system, the task having an associated work in process queue and an associated work pending queue. The task is configured to properly execute requests that are terminated in progress and restarted from an initial start point. A watchdog task determines if the task is executing properly and restarts the task if it is not executing properly. Restarting is provided by placing requests in the work in process queue of the terminated task in the work pending queue and clearing the work in process queue. Execution by the task of requests from the work pending queue is then reinitiated.