diff --git a/airflow/jobs/backfill_job_runner.py b/airflow/jobs/backfill_job_runner.py
index 6be72b2c95c34..ace6a001311a1 100644
--- a/airflow/jobs/backfill_job_runner.py
+++ b/airflow/jobs/backfill_job_runner.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 from airflow.ti_deps.dependencies_deps import BACKFILL_QUEUED_DEPS
 from airflow.timetables.base import DagRunInfo
 from airflow.utils import helpers, timezone
-from airflow.utils.configuration import conf as airflow_conf, tmp_configuration_copy
+from airflow.utils.configuration import tmp_configuration_copy
 from airflow.utils.log.logging_mixin import LoggingMixin
 from airflow.utils.session import NEW_SESSION, provide_session
 from airflow.utils.state import DagRunState, State, TaskInstanceState
@@ -475,10 +475,8 @@ def _process_backfill_task_instances(
         """
         executed_run_dates = []
 
-        is_unit_test = airflow_conf.getboolean("core", "unit_test_mode")
-
         while (ti_status.to_run or ti_status.running) and not ti_status.deadlocked:
-            self.log.debug("*** Clearing out not_ready list ***")
+            self.log.debug("Clearing out not_ready list")
             ti_status.not_ready.clear()
 
             # we need to execute the tasks bottom to top
@@ -697,7 +695,7 @@ def _per_task_process(key, ti: TaskInstance, session):
                 self.log.debug(e)
 
             perform_heartbeat(
-                job=self.job, heartbeat_callback=self.heartbeat_callback, only_if_necessary=is_unit_test
+                job=self.job, heartbeat_callback=self.heartbeat_callback, only_if_necessary=True
             )
             # execute the tasks in the queue
             executor.heartbeat()
@@ -749,6 +747,7 @@ def to_keep(key: TaskInstanceKey) -> bool:
 
             self._log_progress(ti_status)
             session.commit()
+            time.sleep(1)
 
         # return updated status
         return executed_run_dates