diff --git a/lnbits/tasks.py b/lnbits/tasks.py
index a9b97f8a2..567938513 100644
--- a/lnbits/tasks.py
+++ b/lnbits/tasks.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ from lnbits.core.crud import (
     get_payments,
     get_standalone_payment,
 )
-from lnbits.core.db import db
 from lnbits.core.services import redeem_lnurl_withdraw
 from lnbits.settings import settings
 from lnbits.wallets import get_wallet_class
@@ -149,37 +148,36 @@ async def check_pending_payments():
     incoming = True
 
     while True:
-        async with db.connect() as conn:
-            logger.info(
-                f"Task: checking all pending payments (incoming={incoming},"
-                f" outgoing={outgoing}) of last 15 days"
-            )
-            start_time = time.time()
-            pending_payments = await get_payments(
-                since=(int(time.time()) - 60 * 60 * 24 * 15),  # 15 days ago
-                complete=False,
-                pending=True,
-                outgoing=outgoing,
-                incoming=incoming,
-                exclude_uncheckable=True,
-                conn=conn,
-            )
-            for payment in pending_payments:
-                await payment.check_status(conn=conn)
+        logger.info(
+            f"Task: checking all pending payments (incoming={incoming},"
+            f" outgoing={outgoing}) of last 15 days"
+        )
+        start_time = time.time()
+        pending_payments = await get_payments(
+            since=(int(time.time()) - 60 * 60 * 24 * 15),  # 15 days ago
+            complete=False,
+            pending=True,
+            outgoing=outgoing,
+            incoming=incoming,
+            exclude_uncheckable=True,
+        )
+        for payment in pending_payments:
+            await payment.check_status()
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.01)  # to avoid complete blocking
 
+        logger.info(
+            f"Task: pending check finished for {len(pending_payments)} payments"
+            f" (took {time.time() - start_time:0.3f} s)"
+        )
+        # we delete expired invoices once upon the first pending check
+        if incoming:
+            logger.debug("Task: deleting all expired invoices")
+            start_time = time.time()
+            await delete_expired_invoices()
             logger.info(
-                f"Task: pending check finished for {len(pending_payments)} payments"
-                f" (took {time.time() - start_time:0.3f} s)"
+                "Task: expired invoice deletion finished (took"
+                f" {time.time() - start_time:0.3f} s)"
             )
-            # we delete expired invoices once upon the first pending check
-            if incoming:
-                logger.debug("Task: deleting all expired invoices")
-                start_time = time.time()
-                await delete_expired_invoices(conn=conn)
-                logger.info(
-                    "Task: expired invoice deletion finished (took"
-                    f" {time.time() - start_time:0.3f} s)"
-                )
 
         # after the first check we will only check outgoing, not incoming
         # that will be handled by the global invoice listeners, hopefully