diff --git a/onadata/apps/api/tasks.py b/onadata/apps/api/tasks.py
index 75bc3a66a9..02f0226ff8 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/api/tasks.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/api/tasks.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import sys
 from builtins import str
 
-from celery import task
 from celery.result import AsyncResult
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.files.uploadedfile import TemporaryUploadedFile
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@
 from django.utils.datastructures import MultiValueDict
 from past.builtins import basestring
 
+from onadata.celery import app
 from onadata.apps.api import tools
 from onadata.apps.logger.models.xform import XForm
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def recreate_tmp_file(name, path, mime_type):
     return tmp_file
 
 
-@task(bind=True)
+@app.task(bind=True)
 def publish_xlsform_async(self, user_id, post_data, owner_id, file_data):
     try:
         files = MultiValueDict()
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def publish_xlsform_async(self, user_id, post_data, owner_id, file_data):
         return {u'error': error_message}
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def delete_xform_async(xform_id, user_id):
     """Soft delete an XForm asynchrounous task"""
     xform = XForm.objects.get(pk=xform_id)
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def delete_xform_async(xform_id, user_id):
     xform.soft_delete(user)
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def delete_user_async():
     """Delete inactive user accounts"""
     users = User.objects.filter(active=False,
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def send_generic_email(email, message_txt, subject):
     email_message.send()
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def send_verification_email(email, message_txt, subject):
     """
     Sends a verification email
@@ -113,6 +113,6 @@ def send_verification_email(email, message_txt, subject):
     send_generic_email(email, message_txt, subject)
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def send_account_lockout_email(email, message_txt, subject):
     send_generic_email(email, message_txt, subject)
diff --git a/onadata/apps/logger/import_tools.py b/onadata/apps/logger/import_tools.py
index e8d2661448..c0933b7bfe 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/logger/import_tools.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/logger/import_tools.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import zipfile
 from builtins import open
 
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 from django.core.files.uploadedfile import InMemoryUploadedFile
 
 from onadata.apps.logger.xform_fs import XFormInstanceFS
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def import_instance(username, xform_path, photos, osm_files, status,
             return 0
 
 
-@task(ignore_result=True)
+@app.task(ignore_result=True)
 def import_instance_async(username, xform_path, photos, osm_files, status):
     import_instance(username, xform_path, photos, osm_files, status, False)
 
diff --git a/onadata/apps/logger/models/instance.py b/onadata/apps/logger/models/instance.py
index f5ec17d352..571bd6f3ab 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/logger/models/instance.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/logger/models/instance.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import math
 from datetime import datetime
 
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.contrib.gis.db import models
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ def submission_time():
     return timezone.now()
 
 
-@task
+@app.task
 @transaction.atomic()
 def update_xform_submission_count(instance_id, created):
     if created:
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ def update_xform_submission_count_delete(sender, instance, **kwargs):
             xform.save()
 
 
-@task
+@app.task
 def save_full_json(instance_id, created):
     """set json data, ensure the primary key is part of the json data"""
     if created:
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ def save_full_json(instance_id, created):
             instance.save(update_fields=['json'])
 
 
-@task
+@app.task
 def update_project_date_modified(instance_id, created):
     # update the date modified field of the project which will change
     # the etag value of the projects endpoint
diff --git a/onadata/apps/messaging/tasks.py b/onadata/apps/messaging/tasks.py
index 5c9156a333..e86cee23a3 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/messaging/tasks.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/messaging/tasks.py
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 """
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 
 from onadata.apps.messaging.backends.base import call_backend
 
 
-@task(ignore_result=True)
+@app.task(ignore_result=True)
 def call_backend_async(backend, instance_id, backend_options=None):
     """
     Task to send messages to notification backeds such as MQTT
diff --git a/onadata/apps/restservice/tasks.py b/onadata/apps/restservice/tasks.py
index fa66a41530..27b6759378 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/restservice/tasks.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/restservice/tasks.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 
 from onadata.apps.restservice.utils import call_service
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def call_service_async(instance_pk):
     # load the parsed instance
     from onadata.apps.logger.models.instance import Instance
diff --git a/onadata/apps/viewer/tasks.py b/onadata/apps/viewer/tasks.py
index ce69480162..9ffa8ea5b7 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/viewer/tasks.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/viewer/tasks.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404
 from django.utils import timezone
 
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 from kombu.exceptions import OperationalError
 from requests import ConnectionError
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def _create_export(xform, export_type, options):
     return None
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_xls_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     XLS export task.
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def create_xls_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_csv_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     CSV export task.
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def create_csv_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_kml_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     KML export task.
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def create_kml_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_osm_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     OSM export task.
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def create_osm_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_zip_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     Attachments zip export task.
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ def create_zip_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_csv_zip_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     CSV zip export task.
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ def create_csv_zip_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_sav_zip_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     SPSS sav export task.
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ def create_sav_zip_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_external_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     XLSReport export task.
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ def create_external_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def create_google_sheet_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
     """
     Google Sheets export task.
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def create_google_sheet_export(username, id_string, export_id, **options):
         return gen_export.id
 
 
-@task(track_started=True)
+@app.task(track_started=True)
 def delete_export(export_id):
     """
     Delete export task with id export_id.
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ def delete_export(export_id):
     return False
 
 
-@task(ignore_result=True)
+@app.task(ignore_result=True)
 def mark_expired_pending_exports_as_failed():  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     """
     Exports that have not completed within a set time should be marked as
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ def mark_expired_pending_exports_as_failed():  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     exports.update(internal_status=Export.FAILED)
 
 
-@task(ignore_result=True)
+@app.task(ignore_result=True)
 def delete_expired_failed_exports():
     """
     Delete old failed exports
diff --git a/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_api_export_tools.py b/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_api_export_tools.py
index 34c406abf8..8b3c420769 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_api_export_tools.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_api_export_tools.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 from collections import OrderedDict, defaultdict
 
 import mock
-from celery.backends.amqp import BacklogLimitExceeded
 from django.http import Http404
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from kombu.exceptions import OperationalError
@@ -102,33 +101,6 @@ def __init__(self):
         with self.assertRaises(Http404):
             get_async_response('job_uuid', request, self.xform)
 
-    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    @mock.patch('onadata.libs.utils.api_export_tools.AsyncResult')
-    @override_settings(CELERY_TASK_ALWAYS_EAGER=True)
-    def test_get_async_response_export_backlog_limit(self, AsyncResult):
-        """
-        Test get_async_response export backlog limit exceeded.
-        """
-
-        class MockAsyncResult(object):  # pylint: disable=R0903
-            """Mock AsyncResult"""
-
-            def __init__(self):
-                pass
-
-            @property
-            def state(self):
-                """Raise BacklogLimitExceeded"""
-                raise BacklogLimitExceeded()
-
-        AsyncResult.return_value = MockAsyncResult()
-        self._publish_transportation_form_and_submit_instance()
-        request = self.factory.post('/')
-        request.user = self.user
-
-        result = get_async_response('job_uuid', request, self.xform)
-        self.assertEqual(result, {'job_status': 'PENDING'})
-
     def test_response_for_format(self):
         """
         Test response format type.
diff --git a/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_import.py b/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_import.py
index 9adfb9fca2..937d2f828c 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_import.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/tests/utils/test_csv_import.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 
 import mock
 import unicodecsv as ucsv
-from celery.backends.amqp import BacklogLimitExceeded
 from django.conf import settings
 from mock import patch
 
diff --git a/onadata/libs/utils/api_export_tools.py b/onadata/libs/utils/api_export_tools.py
index 33afd2cd0d..a778852da8 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/utils/api_export_tools.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/utils/api_export_tools.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 
 import httplib2
-from celery.backends.amqp import BacklogLimitExceeded
 from celery.result import AsyncResult
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.http import Http404, HttpResponseRedirect
@@ -516,9 +515,6 @@ def _get_response():
             raise ServiceUnavailable
 
         return get_async_response(job_uuid, request, xform, count + 1)
-    except BacklogLimitExceeded:
-        # most likely still processing
-        resp = async_status(celery_state_to_status('PENDING'))
 
     return resp
 
diff --git a/onadata/libs/utils/csv_import.py b/onadata/libs/utils/csv_import.py
index dcdd7f036d..53a80c4f56 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/utils/csv_import.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/utils/csv_import.py
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
 
 import unicodecsv as ucsv
 import xlrd
-from celery import current_task, task
-from celery.backends.amqp import BacklogLimitExceeded
+from celery import current_task
 from celery.result import AsyncResult
 from dateutil.parser import parse
 from django.conf import settings
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@
 from future.utils import iteritems
 from multidb.pinning import use_master
 
+from onadata.celery import app
 from onadata.apps.logger.models import Instance, XForm
 from onadata.apps.messaging.constants import XFORM, SUBMISSION_DELETED
 from onadata.apps.messaging.serializers import send_message
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def dict_pathkeys_to_nested_dicts(dictionary):
     return data
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def submit_csv_async(username, xform_id, file_path, overwrite=False):
     """Imports CSV data to an existing xform asynchrounously."""
     xform = XForm.objects.get(pk=xform_id)
@@ -489,21 +489,17 @@ def get_async_csv_submission_status(job_uuid):
         return async_status(FAILED, u'Empty job uuid')
 
     job = AsyncResult(job_uuid)
-    try:
-        # result = (job.result or job.state)
-        if job.state not in ['SUCCESS', 'FAILURE']:
-            response = async_status(celery_state_to_status(job.state))
-            if isinstance(job.info, dict):
-                response.update(job.info)
-
-            return response
+    # result = (job.result or job.state)
+    if job.state not in ['SUCCESS', 'FAILURE']:
+        response = async_status(celery_state_to_status(job.state))
+        if isinstance(job.info, dict):
+            response.update(job.info)
 
-        if job.state == 'FAILURE':
-            return async_status(
-                celery_state_to_status(job.state), text(job.result))
+        return response
 
-    except BacklogLimitExceeded:
-        return async_status(celery_state_to_status('PENDING'))
+    if job.state == 'FAILURE':
+        return async_status(
+            celery_state_to_status(job.state), text(job.result))
 
     return job.get()
 
diff --git a/onadata/libs/utils/osm.py b/onadata/libs/utils/osm.py
index 48e7805cac..e7547ce809 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/utils/osm.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/utils/osm.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import logging
 
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 from django.contrib.gis.geos import (GeometryCollection, LineString, Point,
                                      Polygon)
 from django.contrib.gis.geos.error import GEOSException
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def parse_osm(osm_xml, include_osm_id=False):
     return nodes
 
 
-@task()
+@app.task()
 def save_osm_data_async(instance_id):
     """
     Async task for saving OSM data for the specified submission.
diff --git a/onadata/libs/utils/project_utils.py b/onadata/libs/utils/project_utils.py
index 9035565175..58860a66fe 100644
--- a/onadata/libs/utils/project_utils.py
+++ b/onadata/libs/utils/project_utils.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 """
 import sys
 
-from celery import task
+from onadata.celery import app
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import IntegrityError
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def set_project_perms_to_xform(xform, project):
 
 
 # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-@task(bind=True, max_retries=3)
+@app.task(bind=True, max_retries=3)
 def set_project_perms_to_xform_async(self, xform_id, project_id):
     """
     Apply project permissions for ``project_id`` to a form ``xform_id`` task.
diff --git a/onadata/settings/common.py b/onadata/settings/common.py
index dd30b4108e..d9ac40abc8 100644
--- a/onadata/settings/common.py
+++ b/onadata/settings/common.py
@@ -210,8 +210,7 @@
     'onadata.libs',
     'reversion',
     'actstream',
-    'onadata.apps.messaging.apps.MessagingConfig',
-    'django_celery_results',
+    'onadata.apps.messaging.apps.MessagingConfig'
 )
 
 OAUTH2_PROVIDER = {