diff --git a/src/worker/src/xcecd_dbus_manager.c b/src/worker/src/xcecd_dbus_manager.c
index 259902e1..97cd99e2 100644
--- a/src/worker/src/xcecd_dbus_manager.c
+++ b/src/worker/src/xcecd_dbus_manager.c
@@ -249,22 +249,27 @@ int dbus_workers_update(xcecd_worker_t** worker_list, xcecd_job_t* job,
                 continue;
             }
 
+#ifdef VIRTUAL_CLUSTER
+            /* bug-1905: a virtual job has no systemd unit, so its end never
+             * depends on systemd's answer (-1 without a system bus, which
+             * used to skip the kill check): a kill ends it as EXITED with
+             * 128 + signal, otherwise it is DONE once its sleep time is up. */
+            if (worker->killed_signal != 0) {
+                job->exit_code = 128 + worker->killed_signal;
+                ret = update_worker_status(*worker_list, worker->worker_pid,
+                                           WORKER_EXITED, job, db);
+            } else if (check_worker_sleep_time_elapsed(worker)) {
+                job->exit_code = 0;
+                ret = update_worker_status(*worker_list, worker->worker_pid,
+                                           WORKER_DONE, job, db);
+            }
+            worker = next;
+            continue;
+#endif
+
             /* check if worker exit or done */
             exit_code = get_systemd_job_exit_code(unit_name);
             if (exit_code == 0) {
-#ifdef VIRTUAL_CLUSTER
-                if (check_worker_sleep_time_elapsed(worker)) {
-                    job->exit_code = 0;
-                    ret = update_worker_status(*worker_list, worker->worker_pid,
-                                               WORKER_DONE, job, db);
-                } else if (worker->killed_signal != 0) {
-                    job->exit_code = 128 + worker->killed_signal;
-                    ret = update_worker_status(*worker_list, worker->worker_pid,
-                                               WORKER_EXITED, job, db);
-                }
-                worker = next;
-                continue;
-#endif
                 XCECD_LOG(XCE_LOG_DEBUG, "Worker %d is done",
                           worker->worker_pid);
 
@@ -284,15 +289,6 @@ int dbus_workers_update(xcecd_worker_t** worker_list, xcecd_job_t* job,
                                            WORKER_EXITED, job, db);
 
             } else {
-#ifdef VIRTUAL_CLUSTER
-                if (check_worker_sleep_time_elapsed(worker)) {
-                    job->exit_code = 0;
-                    ret = update_worker_status(*worker_list, worker->worker_pid,
-                                               WORKER_DONE, job, db);
-                }
-                worker = next;
-                continue;
-#endif
                 XCECD_LOG(XCE_LOG_WARN, "Failed to get worker exit code");
 
                 job->exit_code = -1;
diff --git a/src/worker/testsuite/test_dbus_workers_update.c b/src/worker/testsuite/test_dbus_workers_update.c
index ca19ff83..8a3ad609 100644
--- a/src/worker/testsuite/test_dbus_workers_update.c
+++ b/src/worker/testsuite/test_dbus_workers_update.c
@@ -330,6 +330,54 @@ static void test_done_head_worker_does_not_block_rest_of_list(void)
     free_worker_list(list);
 }
 
+/* ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+ * bug-1905 — a killed running job ends as EXITED (128 + signal) on the next
+ * pass, even when systemd is unreachable (get_systemd_job_exit_code() -1:
+ * no system bus), instead of running until its sleep time elapses.
+ * ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ */
+
+static void test_killed_running_job_exits_without_systemd(void)
+{
+    xcecd_worker_t* list = NULL;
+    xcecd_worker_t* w    = make_starting_worker(3000, 300);
+
+    w->job_status    = JOB_RUNNING;
+    w->sleep_time    = 600; /* far from elapsed */
+    w->killed_signal = 15;  /* SIGTERM recorded by the job-control handler */
+    link_worker(&list, w);
+
+    xcecd_job_t job = { 0 };
+    int         ret = dbus_workers_update(&list, &job, NULL);
+
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(XCECD_OK, ret);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT_MESSAGE(1, g_uws_ncalls,
+                                  "the killed job must be reported once");
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(3000, g_uws_pid[0]);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(WORKER_EXITED, g_uws_worker_status[0]);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(128 + 15, job.exit_code);
+
+    free_worker_list(list);
+}
+
+/* A running job that was not killed keeps running until its time is up. */
+static void test_unkilled_running_job_keeps_running(void)
+{
+    xcecd_worker_t* list = NULL;
+    xcecd_worker_t* w    = make_starting_worker(3001, 301);
+
+    w->job_status = JOB_RUNNING;
+    w->sleep_time = 600;
+    link_worker(&list, w);
+
+    xcecd_job_t job = { 0 };
+    int         ret = dbus_workers_update(&list, &job, NULL);
+
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(XCECD_OK, ret);
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, g_uws_ncalls);
+
+    free_worker_list(list);
+}
+
 /* ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
  * main
  * ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ */
@@ -342,6 +390,8 @@ int main(void)
 
     RUN_TEST(test_all_array_elements_get_started_in_one_pass);
     RUN_TEST(test_done_head_worker_does_not_block_rest_of_list);
+    RUN_TEST(test_killed_running_job_exits_without_systemd);
+    RUN_TEST(test_unkilled_running_job_keeps_running);
 
     return UNITY_END();
 }