diff --git a/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py b/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py
index 78f7484fd4..9f5681256d 100755
--- a/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py
+++ b/zerver/management/commands/deliver_email.py
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ Usage: python manage.py deliver_email
         with lockfile("/tmp/zulip_email_deliver.lockfile"):
             while True:
                 # make sure to use utcnow, otherwise it gets confused when you set the time with utcnow(), and select with now()
-                email_jobs_to_deliver = ScheduledJob.objects.filter(type=ScheduledJob.EMAIL)
+                email_jobs_to_deliver = ScheduledJob.objects.filter(type=ScheduledJob.EMAIL,
+                                                                scheduled_timestamp__lte=datetime.utcnow())
                 if email_jobs_to_deliver:
                     for job in email_jobs_to_deliver:
                         if not send_email_job(job):