diff --git a/pdelfin/beakerpipeline.py b/pdelfin/beakerpipeline.py
index 849e0bc..7cbffb8 100644
--- a/pdelfin/beakerpipeline.py
+++ b/pdelfin/beakerpipeline.py
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ async def sglang_server_task(args, semaphore):
     can_release_automatically = False
     last_semaphore_release = time.time()
     async def process_line(line):
+        nonlocal last_running_req, last_queue_req, can_release_automatically, last_semaphore_release
         sglang_logger.info(line)
 
         match = re.search(r'#running-req: (\d+)', line)
@@ -459,7 +460,7 @@ async def sglang_server_task(args, semaphore):
             queue_req = int(match.group(1))
             logger.info(f"sglang running req: {last_running_req} queue req: {queue_req}")
 
-            nonlocal last_queue_req
+            
             if last_queue_req != 0 and queue_req == 0:
                 # Release the semaphore when queue_req transitions from non-zero to zero
                 if semaphore.locked():
@@ -470,9 +471,10 @@ async def sglang_server_task(args, semaphore):
             last_queue_req = queue_req
 
         # And have a semaphore release automatically if there are no running requests for > 30 seconds
-        if last_running_req == 0 and time.time() - last_semaphore_release > 30 and semaphore.locked():
+        if last_running_req == 0 and can_release_automatically and time.time() - last_semaphore_release > 30 and semaphore.locked():
             semaphore.release()
             last_semaphore_release = time.time()
+            can_release_automatically = False
             logger.info("Semaphore released due to timeout, allowing a worker to proceed.")
 
     async def read_stream(stream):