diff --git a/lib/OpenQA/Worker.pm b/lib/OpenQA/Worker.pm
index 281c2e7b4cd3..909649e33b35 100644
--- a/lib/OpenQA/Worker.pm
+++ b/lib/OpenQA/Worker.pm
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ BEGIN {
 use Fcntl;
 use File::Path qw(make_path remove_tree);
 use File::Spec::Functions 'catdir';
+use List::Util qw(all max min);
 use Mojo::IOLoop;
 use Mojo::File 'path';
 use POSIX;
@@ -750,18 +751,25 @@ sub _handle_job_status_changed ($self, $job, $event_data) {
     }
 }
 
-sub _load_avg ($field = 2) {
-    my $value = eval { (split(' ', path($ENV{OPENQA_LOAD_AVG_FILE} // '/proc/loadavg')->slurp))[$field] };
+sub _load_avg () {
+    my @load = eval { split(' ', path($ENV{OPENQA_LOAD_AVG_FILE} // '/proc/loadavg')->slurp) };
+    splice @load, 3;    # remove non-load numbers
     log_warning "Unable to determine average load: $@" if $@;
-    return looks_like_number($value) ? $value : undef;
-}
-
-sub _check_system_utilization ($self) {
-    my $settings = $self->settings->global_settings;
-    return undef unless my $threshold = $settings->{CRITICAL_LOAD_AVG_THRESHOLD};
-    my $load_avg = _load_avg;
-    return "The average load $load_avg is exceeding the configured threshold of $threshold."
-      if defined $load_avg && $load_avg >= $threshold;
+    return [] unless all { looks_like_number $_ } @load;
+    return \@load;
+}
+
+sub _check_system_utilization (
+    $self,
+    $threshold = $self->settings->global_settings->{CRITICAL_LOAD_AVG_THRESHOLD},
+    $load = _load_avg())
+{
+    return undef unless $threshold;
+    return undef unless @$load;
+    # look at the load evolution over time to react quick enough if the load
+    # rises but accept a falling edge
+    return "The average load (@$load) is exceeding the configured threshold of $threshold."
+      if max(@$load) > $threshold && ($load->[0] > $load->[1] || $load->[0] > $load->[2] || min(@$load) > $threshold);
     return undef;
 }
 
diff --git a/t/24-worker-overall.t b/t/24-worker-overall.t
index df0a3b1acba9..8f3a37046151 100644
--- a/t/24-worker-overall.t
+++ b/t/24-worker-overall.t
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ $ENV{OPENQA_CONFIG} = "$FindBin::Bin/data/24-worker-overall";
 #       file specified via OPENQA_LOGFILE instead of stdout/stderr.
 $ENV{OPENQA_LOGFILE} = undef;
 
-my $load_avg_file = simulate_load('0.93 0.95 10.25 2/2207 1212', 'worker-overall-load-avg');
-
 # define fake isotovideo
 {
     package Test::FakeProcess;    # uncoverable statement count:1
@@ -90,6 +88,7 @@ my $dbus_mock = Test::MockModule->new('Net::DBus', no_auto => 1);
 $dbus_mock->define(system => sub (@) { Test::FakeDBus->new });
 my $cache_service_client_mock = Test::MockModule->new('OpenQA::CacheService::Client');
 $cache_service_client_mock->redefine(info => sub { Test::FakeCacheServiceClientInfo->new });
+my $load_avg_file = simulate_load('10.93 10.91 10.25 2/2207 1212', 'worker-overall-load-avg');
 
 like(
     exception {
@@ -120,6 +119,20 @@ combined_like { $worker->log_setup_info }
 qr/.*http:\/\/localhost:9527,https:\/\/remotehost.*qemu_i386,qemu_x86_64.*Errors occurred.*foo.*bar.*/s,
   'setup info with parse errors';
 
+subtest 'worker load' => sub {
+    my $load = OpenQA::Worker::_load_avg();
+    is scalar @$load, 3, 'expected number of load values';
+    is $load->[0], 10.93, 'expected load';
+    is_deeply $load, [10.93, 10.91, 10.25], 'expected computed system load, rising flank';
+    ok !$worker->_check_system_utilization, 'default threshold not exceeded';
+    ok $worker->_check_system_utilization(10), 'stricter threshold exceeded by load';
+    ok !$worker->_check_system_utilization(10, [3, 9, 11]), 'load ok on falling flank';
+    ok $worker->_check_system_utilization(10, [12, 9, 3]), 'load exceeded on rising flank';
+    ok $worker->_check_system_utilization(10, [12, 3, 9]), 'load exceeded on rising flank and old load';
+    ok $worker->_check_system_utilization(10, [11, 13, 12]), 'load still exceeded on short load dip';
+    ok $worker->_check_system_utilization(10, [11, 12, 13]), 'load still exceeded on falling flank but high';
+};
+
 subtest 'delay and exec' => sub {
     my $worker_mock = Test::MockModule->new('OpenQA::Worker');
     $worker_mock->redefine(init => 42);
@@ -854,7 +867,7 @@ qr/Job 42 from some-host finished - reason: done.*A QEMU instance using.*Skippin
             $worker_mock->unmock('is_qemu_running');
             $worker->settings->global_settings->{CRITICAL_LOAD_AVG_THRESHOLD} = '10';
             is $worker->status->{status}, 'broken', 'worker considered broken when average load exceeds threshold';
-            like $worker->current_error, qr/load 10\.25.*exceeding.*10/, 'error shows current load and threshold';
+            like $worker->current_error, qr/load \(.*10\.25.*exceeding.*10/, 'error shows current load and threshold';
 
             # assume the error is gone
             $load_avg_file->remove;