diff --git a/sbysrc/sby.py b/sbysrc/sby.py
index 82c35e8..a59412b 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ jobcount = args.jobcount
 init_config_file = args.init_config_file
 status_show = args.status
 status_reset = args.status_reset
+status_cancels = args.status_cancels
 status_live_csv = args.livecsv
 status_show_csv = args.statuscsv
 status_latest = args.status_latest
@@ -491,7 +492,7 @@ def start_task(taskloop, taskname):
     else:
         junit_filename = "junit"
 
-    task = SbyTask(sbyconfig, my_workdir, early_logmsgs, reusedir, taskloop, name=taskname, live_csv=status_live_csv)
+    task = SbyTask(sbyconfig, my_workdir, early_logmsgs, reusedir, status_cancels, taskloop, name=taskname, live_csv=status_live_csv)
 
     for k, v in exe_paths.items():
         task.exe_paths[k] = v
diff --git a/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py b/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py
index c94d9c2..090053f 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ def parser_func(release_version='unknown SBY version'):
             help="only check statuses from the most recent run of a task")
     parser.add_argument("--statusreset", action="store_true", dest="status_reset",
             help="reset the contents of the status database")
+    parser.add_argument("--statuscancels", action="store_true", dest="status_cancels",
+            help="intertask cancellations can be triggered by the status database")
 
     parser.add_argument("--init-config-file", dest="init_config_file",
             help="create a default .sby config file")
diff --git a/sbysrc/sby_core.py b/sbysrc/sby_core.py
index e9e0869..8096dba 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby_core.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby_core.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class SbyProc:
                 self.task.cancel()
                 return
 
-        if time.time() >= self.next_db:
+        if self.task.status_cancels and time.time() >= self.next_db:
             tasks_status = self.task.status_db.all_tasks_status()
             for task_status in tasks_status.values():
                 if (task_status["status"] in ["PASS", "FAIL", "CANCELLED"] and
@@ -913,12 +913,13 @@ class SbySummary:
 
 
 class SbyTask(SbyConfig):
-    def __init__(self, sbyconfig, workdir, early_logs, reusedir, taskloop=None, logfile=None, name=None, live_csv=False):
+    def __init__(self, sbyconfig, workdir, early_logs, reusedir, status_cancels, taskloop=None, logfile=None, name=None, live_csv=False):
         super().__init__()
         self.used_options = set()
         self.models = dict()
         self.workdir = workdir
         self.reusedir = reusedir
+        self.status_cancels = status_cancels
         self.name = name
         self.live_csv = live_csv
         self.status = "UNKNOWN"