diff --git a/src/waitingList/service.ts b/src/waitingList/service.ts
index fad565a..ddda36f 100644
--- a/src/waitingList/service.ts
+++ b/src/waitingList/service.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 	RESERVATIONS_QUEUE_NAME,
 	ReservationsQueue,
 } from '../reservations/config'
+import { Reservation } from '../reservations/entity'
 import { ReservationsService } from '../reservations/service'
 import { WaitingListDetails } from './types'
 
@@ -90,12 +91,25 @@ export class WaitingListService {
 			return
 		}
 
+		// don't book something within the ~~danger zone~~
+		const now = dayjs()
+		const { safe, dangerous } = reservations.reduce<{
+			safe: Reservation[]
+			dangerous: Reservation[]
+		}>(
+			(acc, res) =>
+				now.diff(res.dateRangeStart, 'hours') > 5
+					? { safe: [...acc.safe, res], dangerous: acc.dangerous }
+					: { safe: acc.safe, dangerous: [...acc.dangerous, res] },
+			{ safe: [], dangerous: [] },
+		)
+
 		this.loggerService.debug(
-			`Found ${reservations.length} reservations on waiting list`,
+			`Found ${safe.length} safe reservations on waiting list (${dangerous.length} dangerous)`,
 		)
 
 		await this.reservationsQueue.addBulk(
-			reservations.map((r) => ({
+			safe.map((r) => ({
 				data: { reservation: r, speedyMode: false },
 				opts: { attempts: 1 },
 			})),