diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index a87e839ea..23d92ea63 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_interrupt_imap_idle(context: *mut dc_context_t) {
     }
     let ffi_context = &*context;
     ffi_context
-        .with_inner(|ctx| job::interrupt_inbox_idle(ctx, true))
+        .with_inner(|ctx| job::interrupt_inbox_idle(ctx))
         .unwrap_or(())
 }
 
diff --git a/src/chat.rs b/src/chat.rs
index f9bb79ef9..fb71333ba 100644
--- a/src/chat.rs
+++ b/src/chat.rs
@@ -1352,7 +1352,7 @@ pub fn delete(context: &Context, chat_id: u32) -> Result<(), Error> {
     });
 
     job_kill_action(context, Action::Housekeeping);
-    job_add(context, Action::Housekeeping, 0, Params::new(), 10);
+    add_job_with_interrupt(context, Action::Housekeeping, 0, Params::new(), 10);
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index fc760eef7..e277b5aaf 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl Context {
             }
             Config::InboxWatch => {
                 let ret = self.sql.set_raw_config(self, key, value);
-                interrupt_inbox_idle(self, true);
+                interrupt_inbox_idle(self);
                 ret
             }
             Config::SentboxWatch => {
diff --git a/src/configure/mod.rs b/src/configure/mod.rs
index dc0372bf4..babcff045 100644
--- a/src/configure/mod.rs
+++ b/src/configure/mod.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ pub fn configure(context: &Context) {
         return;
     }
     job_kill_action(context, Action::ConfigureImap);
-    job_add(context, Action::ConfigureImap, 0, Params::new(), 0);
+    add_job_with_interrupt(context, Action::ConfigureImap, 0, Params::new(), 0);
 }
 
 /// Check if the context is already configured.
diff --git a/src/context.rs b/src/context.rs
index 9b49fa349..5a3d09e86 100644
--- a/src/context.rs
+++ b/src/context.rs
@@ -14,13 +14,11 @@ use crate::contact::*;
 use crate::error::*;
 use crate::events::Event;
 use crate::imap::*;
-use crate::job::*;
 use crate::job_thread::JobThread;
 use crate::key::*;
 use crate::login_param::LoginParam;
 use crate::lot::Lot;
-use crate::message::{self, Message, MsgId};
-use crate::param::Params;
+use crate::message::{self, MsgId};
 use crate::smtp::Smtp;
 use crate::sql::Sql;
 
@@ -436,34 +434,6 @@ impl Context {
             false
         }
     }
-
-    pub fn do_heuristics_moves(&self, folder: &str, msg_id: MsgId) {
-        if !self.get_config_bool(Config::MvboxMove) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        if self.is_mvbox(folder) {
-            return;
-        }
-        if let Ok(msg) = Message::load_from_db(self, msg_id) {
-            if msg.is_setupmessage() {
-                // do not move setup messages;
-                // there may be a non-delta device that wants to handle it
-                return;
-            }
-
-            // 1 = dc message, 2 = reply to dc message
-            if 0 != msg.is_dc_message {
-                job_add(
-                    self,
-                    Action::MoveMsg,
-                    msg.id.to_u32() as i32,
-                    Params::new(),
-                    0,
-                );
-            }
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 impl Drop for Context {
diff --git a/src/dc_receive_imf.rs b/src/dc_receive_imf.rs
index dbcdfb4d0..bf9464729 100644
--- a/src/dc_receive_imf.rs
+++ b/src/dc_receive_imf.rs
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ pub fn dc_receive_imf(
 
     // if we delete we don't need to try moving messages
     if needs_delete_job && !created_db_entries.is_empty() {
-        job_add(
+        add_job_no_interrupt(
             context,
             Action::DeleteMsgOnImap,
             created_db_entries[0].1.to_u32() as i32,
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ pub fn dc_receive_imf(
             0,
         );
     } else {
-        context.do_heuristics_moves(server_folder.as_ref(), insert_msg_id);
+        crate::imap::do_heuristics_moves(context, server_folder.as_ref(), insert_msg_id);
     }
 
     info!(
diff --git a/src/imap/mod.rs b/src/imap/mod.rs
index 497dd781c..7079fd462 100644
--- a/src/imap/mod.rs
+++ b/src/imap/mod.rs
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ use crate::context::Context;
 use crate::dc_receive_imf::dc_receive_imf;
 use crate::events::Event;
 use crate::imap_client::*;
-use crate::job::{job_add, Action};
+use crate::job::{add_job_no_interrupt, Action};
 use crate::login_param::{CertificateChecks, LoginParam};
-use crate::message::{self, update_server_uid};
+use crate::message::{self, update_server_uid, Message, MsgId};
 use crate::oauth2::dc_get_oauth2_access_token;
 use crate::param::Params;
 use crate::stock::StockMessage;
@@ -1202,8 +1202,8 @@ fn precheck_imf(context: &Context, rfc724_mid: &str, server_folder: &str, server
     {
         if old_server_folder.is_empty() && old_server_uid == 0 {
             info!(context, "[move] detected bbc-self {}", rfc724_mid,);
-            context.do_heuristics_moves(server_folder.as_ref(), msg_id);
-            job_add(
+            do_heuristics_moves(context, server_folder.as_ref(), msg_id);
+            add_job_no_interrupt(
                 context,
                 Action::MarkseenMsgOnImap,
                 msg_id.to_u32() as i32,
@@ -1237,3 +1237,32 @@ fn prefetch_get_message_id(prefetch_msg: &Fetch) -> Result<String> {
 
     wrapmime::parse_message_id(&message_id.unwrap()).map_err(Into::into)
 }
+
+pub fn do_heuristics_moves(context: &Context, folder: &str, msg_id: MsgId) {
+    if !context.get_config_bool(crate::config::Config::MvboxMove) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if context.is_mvbox(folder) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if let Ok(msg) = Message::load_from_db(context, msg_id) {
+        if msg.is_setupmessage() {
+            // do not move setup messages;
+            // there may be a non-delta device that wants to handle it
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // 1 = dc message, 2 = reply to dc message
+        if 0 != msg.is_dc_message {
+            // we are called from receive_imf so there is no idle running
+            add_job_no_interrupt(
+                context,
+                Action::MoveMsg,
+                msg.id.to_u32() as i32,
+                Params::new(),
+                0,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/imex.rs b/src/imex.rs
index 0d5786e5f..f129a56bd 100644
--- a/src/imex.rs
+++ b/src/imex.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub fn imex(context: &Context, what: ImexMode, param1: Option<impl AsRef<Path>>)
     }
 
     job_kill_action(context, Action::ImexImap);
-    job_add(context, Action::ImexImap, 0, param, 0);
+    add_job_with_interrupt(context, Action::ImexImap, 0, param, 0);
 }
 
 /// Returns the filename of the backup found (otherwise an error)
diff --git a/src/job.rs b/src/job.rs
index 5f651e0a3..7df6c1283 100644
--- a/src/job.rs
+++ b/src/job.rs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ impl Job {
 
     /// Updates the job already stored in the database.
     ///
-    /// To add a new job, use [job_add].
+    /// To add a new job, use [add_job_*].
     fn update(&self, context: &Context) -> bool {
         sql::execute(
             context,
@@ -472,21 +472,10 @@ pub fn perform_sentbox_idle(context: &Context) {
         .idle(context, use_network);
 }
 
-pub fn interrupt_inbox_idle(context: &Context, block: bool) {
-    info!(context, "interrupt_inbox_idle called blocking={}", block);
-    if block {
-        context.inbox_thread.read().unwrap().interrupt_idle(context);
-    } else {
-        match context.inbox_thread.try_read() {
-            Ok(inbox_thread) => {
-                inbox_thread.interrupt_idle(context);
-            }
-            Err(err) => {
-                *context.perform_inbox_jobs_needed.write().unwrap() = true;
-                warn!(context, "could not interrupt idle: {}", err);
-            }
-        }
-    }
+pub fn interrupt_inbox_idle(context: &Context) {
+    info!(context, "interrupt_inbox_idle begin");
+    context.inbox_thread.read().unwrap().interrupt_idle(context);
+    info!(context, "interrupt_inbox_idle finish");
 }
 
 pub fn interrupt_mvbox_idle(context: &Context) {
@@ -596,7 +585,7 @@ pub fn maybe_network(context: &Context) {
     }
 
     interrupt_smtp_idle(context);
-    interrupt_inbox_idle(context, true);
+    interrupt_inbox_idle(context);
     interrupt_mvbox_idle(context);
     interrupt_sentbox_idle(context);
 }
@@ -918,7 +907,7 @@ fn add_smtp_job(
     param.set(Param::File, blob.as_name());
     param.set(Param::Recipients, &recipients);
 
-    job_add(
+    add_job_with_interrupt(
         context,
         action,
         rendered_msg
@@ -934,7 +923,7 @@ fn add_smtp_job(
 
 /// Adds a job to the database, scheduling it `delay_seconds`
 /// after the current time.
-pub fn job_add(
+pub fn add_job_no_interrupt(
     context: &Context,
     action: Action,
     foreign_id: i32,
@@ -942,7 +931,7 @@ pub fn job_add(
     delay_seconds: i64,
 ) {
     if action == Action::Unknown {
-        error!(context, "Invalid action passed to job_add");
+        error!(context, "Invalid action passed to add_job_no_interrupt");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -963,8 +952,23 @@ pub fn job_add(
         ]
     ).ok();
 
+    if thread == Thread::Imap {
+        *context.perform_inbox_jobs_needed.write().unwrap() = true;
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn add_job_with_interrupt(
+    context: &Context,
+    action: Action,
+    foreign_id: i32,
+    param: Params,
+    delay_seconds: i64,
+) {
+    let thread: Thread = action.into();
+    add_job_no_interrupt(context, action, foreign_id, param, delay_seconds);
+
     match thread {
-        Thread::Imap => interrupt_inbox_idle(context, false),
+        Thread::Imap => interrupt_inbox_idle(context),
         Thread::Smtp => interrupt_smtp_idle(context),
         Thread::Unknown => {}
     }
diff --git a/src/location.rs b/src/location.rs
index 35bee16da..f3ade2f46 100644
--- a/src/location.rs
+++ b/src/location.rs
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ pub fn send_locations_to_chat(context: &Context, chat_id: u32, seconds: i64) {
             context.call_cb(Event::ChatModified(chat_id));
             if 0 != seconds {
                 schedule_MAYBE_SEND_LOCATIONS(context, false);
-                job_add(
+                add_job_with_interrupt(
                     context,
                     Action::MaybeSendLocationsEnded,
                     chat_id as i32,
@@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ pub fn send_locations_to_chat(context: &Context, chat_id: u32, seconds: i64) {
 #[allow(non_snake_case)]
 fn schedule_MAYBE_SEND_LOCATIONS(context: &Context, force_schedule: bool) {
     if force_schedule || !job_action_exists(context, Action::MaybeSendLocations) {
-        job_add(context, Action::MaybeSendLocations, 0, Params::new(), 60);
+        // XXX questionable to interrupt but set a +60secs target
+        add_job_with_interrupt(context, Action::MaybeSendLocations, 0, Params::new(), 60);
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/message.rs b/src/message.rs
index 6a99c7029..37c62dcbd 100644
--- a/src/message.rs
+++ b/src/message.rs
@@ -875,7 +875,7 @@ pub fn delete_msgs(context: &Context, msg_ids: &[MsgId]) {
             }
         }
         update_msg_chat_id(context, *msg_id, DC_CHAT_ID_TRASH);
-        job_add(
+        add_job_with_interrupt(
             context,
             Action::DeleteMsgOnImap,
             msg_id.to_u32() as i32,
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ pub fn delete_msgs(context: &Context, msg_ids: &[MsgId]) {
             msg_id: MsgId::new(0),
         });
         job_kill_action(context, Action::Housekeeping);
-        job_add(context, Action::Housekeeping, 0, Params::new(), 10);
+        add_job_with_interrupt(context, Action::Housekeeping, 0, Params::new(), 10);
     };
 }
 
@@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ pub fn markseen_msgs(context: &Context, msg_ids: &[MsgId]) -> bool {
                 update_msg_state(context, *id, MessageState::InSeen);
                 info!(context, "Seen message {}.", id);
 
-                job_add(
+                add_job_with_interrupt(
                     context,
                     Action::MarkseenMsgOnImap,
                     id.to_u32() as i32,
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ pub fn update_server_uid(
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 pub fn dc_empty_server(context: &Context, flags: u32) {
     job_kill_action(context, Action::EmptyServer);
-    job_add(context, Action::EmptyServer, flags as i32, Params::new(), 0);
+    add_job_with_interrupt(context, Action::EmptyServer, flags as i32, Params::new(), 0);
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/src/mimeparser.rs b/src/mimeparser.rs
index 1028a11ec..69a91cfb4 100644
--- a/src/mimeparser.rs
+++ b/src/mimeparser.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use crate::dc_tools::*;
 use crate::e2ee;
 use crate::error::Result;
 use crate::headerdef::HeaderDef;
-use crate::job::{job_add, Action};
+use crate::job::{add_job_no_interrupt, Action};
 use crate::location;
 use crate::message;
 use crate::message::MsgId;
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ impl<'a> MimeParser<'a> {
                 if self.has_chat_version() && self.context.get_config_bool(Config::MvboxMove) {
                     param.set_int(Param::AlsoMove, 1);
                 }
-                job_add(self.context, Action::MarkseenMdnOnImap, 0, param, 0);
+                add_job_no_interrupt(self.context, Action::MarkseenMdnOnImap, 0, param, 0);
             }
         }
     }