diff --git a/rq/scheduler.py b/rq/scheduler.py
index a041a71..afa68e0 100644
--- a/rq/scheduler.py
+++ b/rq/scheduler.py
@@ -177,9 +177,14 @@ class RQScheduler(object):
     def stop(self):
         self.log.info("Scheduler stopping, releasing locks for %s...",
                       ','.join(self._queue_names))
+        self.release_locks()
+        self._status = self.Status.STOPPED
+
+    def release_locks(self):
+        """Release acquired locks"""
         keys = [self.get_locking_key(name) for name in self._queue_names]
         self.connection.delete(*keys)
-        self._status = self.Status.STOPPED
+        self._acquired_locks = set()
 
     def start(self):
         self._status = self.Status.STARTED
diff --git a/rq/worker.py b/rq/worker.py
index 1e2dba5..3b4aade 100644
--- a/rq/worker.py
+++ b/rq/worker.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function,
                         unicode_literals)
 
 import errno
-import json
 import logging
 import os
 import random
@@ -551,6 +550,7 @@ class Worker(object):
                 # before working. Otherwise, start scheduler in a separate process
                 if burst:
                     self.scheduler.enqueue_scheduled_jobs()
+                    self.scheduler.release_locks()
                 else:
                     self.scheduler.start()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_scheduler.py b/tests/test_scheduler.py
index 13c68e2..b1de0e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/test_scheduler.py
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ class TestWorker(RQTestCase):
         worker = Worker(queues=[queue], connection=self.testconn)
         worker.work(burst=True, with_scheduler=True)
         self.assertIsNotNone(worker.scheduler)
+        self.assertIsNone(self.testconn.get(worker.scheduler.get_locking_key('default')))
 
     @mock.patch.object(RQScheduler, 'acquire_locks')
     def test_run_maintenance_tasks(self, mocked):