diff --git a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/CHANGES.txt b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/CHANGES.txt
index 84b5c5f11d2..9df6272ec97 100644
--- a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1182,6 +1182,9 @@ Release 0.23.0 - Unreleased
    MAPREDUCE-2917. Fixed corner case in container reservation which led to
    starvation and hung jobs. (acmurthy) 
 
+   MAPREDUCE-2756. Better error handling in JobControl for failed jobs.
+   (Robert Evans via acmurthy) 
+
 Release 0.22.0 - Unreleased
 
   INCOMPATIBLE CHANGES
diff --git a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/ControlledJob.java b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/ControlledJob.java
index a7f5a4c118f..b5f9482edff 100644
--- a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/ControlledJob.java
+++ b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/ControlledJob.java
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
+import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
+import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceAudience;
 import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceStability;
 import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.util.StringUtils;
 @InterfaceAudience.Public
 @InterfaceStability.Evolving
 public class ControlledJob {
+  private static final Log LOG = LogFactory.getLog(ControlledJob.class);
 
   // A job will be in one of the following states
   public static enum State {SUCCESS, WAITING, RUNNING, READY, FAILED,
@@ -235,6 +238,17 @@ public class ControlledJob {
     job.killJob();
   }
   
+  public synchronized void failJob(String message) throws IOException, InterruptedException {
+    try {
+      if(job != null && this.state == State.RUNNING) {
+        job.killJob();
+      }
+    } finally {
+      this.state = State.FAILED;
+      this.message = message;
+    }
+  }
+  
   /**
    * Check the state of this running job. The state may 
    * remain the same, become SUCCESS or FAILED.
@@ -322,6 +336,7 @@ public class ControlledJob {
       job.submit();
       this.state = State.RUNNING;
     } catch (Exception ioe) {
+      LOG.info(getJobName()+" got an error while submitting ",ioe);
       this.state = State.FAILED;
       this.message = StringUtils.stringifyException(ioe);
     }
diff --git a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/JobControl.java b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/JobControl.java
index 494e5e9dcee..a2bc70aaf5d 100644
--- a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/JobControl.java
+++ b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-client/hadoop-mapreduce-client-core/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/JobControl.java
@@ -21,13 +21,16 @@ package org.apache.hadoop.mapreduce.lib.jobcontrol;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
-import java.util.Hashtable;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Map;
 
+import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
+import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceAudience;
 import org.apache.hadoop.classification.InterfaceStability;
 import org.apache.hadoop.mapreduce.lib.jobcontrol.ControlledJob.State;
+import org.apache.hadoop.util.StringUtils;
 
 /** 
  *  This class encapsulates a set of MapReduce jobs and its dependency.
@@ -49,17 +52,16 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.mapreduce.lib.jobcontrol.ControlledJob.State;
 @InterfaceAudience.Public
 @InterfaceStability.Evolving
 public class JobControl implements Runnable {
+  private static final Log LOG = LogFactory.getLog(JobControl.class);
 
   // The thread can be in one of the following state
   public static enum ThreadState {RUNNING, SUSPENDED,STOPPED, STOPPING, READY};
 	
   private ThreadState runnerState;			// the thread state
 	
-  private Map<String, ControlledJob> waitingJobs;
-  private Map<String, ControlledJob> readyJobs;
-  private Map<String, ControlledJob> runningJobs;
-  private Map<String, ControlledJob> successfulJobs;
-  private Map<String, ControlledJob> failedJobs;
+  private LinkedList<ControlledJob> jobsInProgress = new LinkedList<ControlledJob>();
+  private LinkedList<ControlledJob> successfulJobs = new LinkedList<ControlledJob>();
+  private LinkedList<ControlledJob> failedJobs = new LinkedList<ControlledJob>();
 	
   private long nextJobID;
   private String groupName;
@@ -69,46 +71,51 @@ public class JobControl implements Runnable {
    * @param groupName a name identifying this group
    */
   public JobControl(String groupName) {
-    this.waitingJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-    this.readyJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-    this.runningJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-    this.successfulJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-    this.failedJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
     this.nextJobID = -1;
     this.groupName = groupName;
     this.runnerState = ThreadState.READY;
   }
 	
   private static List<ControlledJob> toList(
-                   Map<String, ControlledJob> jobs) {
+                   LinkedList<ControlledJob> jobs) {
     ArrayList<ControlledJob> retv = new ArrayList<ControlledJob>();
     synchronized (jobs) {
-      for (ControlledJob job : jobs.values()) {
+      for (ControlledJob job : jobs) {
         retv.add(job);
       }
     }
     return retv;
   }
 	
+  synchronized private List<ControlledJob> getJobsIn(State state) {
+    LinkedList<ControlledJob> l = new LinkedList<ControlledJob>();
+    for(ControlledJob j: jobsInProgress) {
+      if(j.getJobState() == state) {
+        l.add(j);
+      }
+    }
+    return l;
+  }
+  
   /**
    * @return the jobs in the waiting state
    */
   public List<ControlledJob> getWaitingJobList() {
-    return toList(this.waitingJobs);
+    return getJobsIn(State.WAITING);
   }
 	
   /**
    * @return the jobs in the running state
    */
   public List<ControlledJob> getRunningJobList() {
-    return toList(this.runningJobs);
+    return getJobsIn(State.RUNNING);
   }
 	
   /**
    * @return the jobs in the ready state
    */
   public List<ControlledJob> getReadyJobsList() {
-    return toList(this.readyJobs);
+    return getJobsIn(State.READY);
   }
 	
   /**
@@ -126,34 +133,6 @@ public class JobControl implements Runnable {
     nextJobID += 1;
     return this.groupName + this.nextJobID;
   }
-	
-  private static void addToQueue(ControlledJob aJob, 
-                                 Map<String, ControlledJob> queue) {
-    synchronized(queue) {
-      queue.put(aJob.getJobID(), aJob);
-    }		
-  }
-	
-  private void addToQueue(ControlledJob aJob) {
-    Map<String, ControlledJob> queue = getQueue(aJob.getJobState());
-    addToQueue(aJob, queue);	
-  }
-	
-  private Map<String, ControlledJob> getQueue(State state) {
-    Map<String, ControlledJob> retv = null;
-    if (state == State.WAITING) {
-      retv = this.waitingJobs;
-    } else if (state == State.READY) {
-      retv = this.readyJobs;
-    } else if (state == State.RUNNING) {
-      retv = this.runningJobs;
-    } else if (state == State.SUCCESS) {
-      retv = this.successfulJobs;
-    } else if (state == State.FAILED || state == State.DEPENDENT_FAILED) {
-      retv = this.failedJobs;
-    } 
-    return retv;
-  }
 
   /**
    * Add a new job.
@@ -163,7 +142,7 @@ public class JobControl implements Runnable {
     String id = this.getNextJobID();
     aJob.setJobID(id);
     aJob.setJobState(State.WAITING);
-    this.addToQueue(aJob);
+    jobsInProgress.add(aJob);
     return id;	
   }
 	
@@ -211,47 +190,8 @@ public class JobControl implements Runnable {
     }
   }
 	
-  synchronized private void checkRunningJobs() 
-      throws IOException, InterruptedException {
-		
-    Map<String, ControlledJob> oldJobs = null;
-    oldJobs = this.runningJobs;
-    this.runningJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-		
-    for (ControlledJob nextJob : oldJobs.values()) {
-      nextJob.checkState();
-      this.addToQueue(nextJob);
-    }
-  }
-	
-  synchronized private void checkWaitingJobs() 
-      throws IOException, InterruptedException {
-    Map<String, ControlledJob> oldJobs = null;
-    oldJobs = this.waitingJobs;
-    this.waitingJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-		
-    for (ControlledJob nextJob : oldJobs.values()) {
-      nextJob.checkState();
-      this.addToQueue(nextJob);
-    }
-  }
-	
-  synchronized private void startReadyJobs() {
-    Map<String, ControlledJob> oldJobs = null;
-    oldJobs = this.readyJobs;
-    this.readyJobs = new Hashtable<String, ControlledJob>();
-		
-    for (ControlledJob nextJob : oldJobs.values()) {
-      //Submitting Job to Hadoop
-      nextJob.submit();
-      this.addToQueue(nextJob);
-    }	
-  }
-	
   synchronized public boolean allFinished() {
-    return this.waitingJobs.size() == 0 &&
-      this.readyJobs.size() == 0 &&
-      this.runningJobs.size() == 0;
+    return jobsInProgress.isEmpty();
   }
 	
   /**
@@ -262,39 +202,83 @@ public class JobControl implements Runnable {
    *  	Submit the jobs in ready state
    */
   public void run() {
-    this.runnerState = ThreadState.RUNNING;
-    while (true) {
-      while (this.runnerState == ThreadState.SUSPENDED) {
+    try {
+      this.runnerState = ThreadState.RUNNING;
+      while (true) {
+        while (this.runnerState == ThreadState.SUSPENDED) {
+          try {
+            Thread.sleep(5000);
+          }
+          catch (Exception e) {
+            //TODO the thread was interrupted, do something!!!
+          }
+        }
+        
+        synchronized(this) {
+          Iterator<ControlledJob> it = jobsInProgress.iterator();
+          while(it.hasNext()) {
+            ControlledJob j = it.next();
+            LOG.debug("Checking state of job "+j);
+            switch(j.checkState()) {
+            case SUCCESS:
+              successfulJobs.add(j);
+              it.remove();
+              break;
+            case FAILED:
+            case DEPENDENT_FAILED:
+              failedJobs.add(j);
+              it.remove();
+              break;
+            case READY:
+              j.submit();
+              break;
+            case RUNNING:
+            case WAITING:
+              //Do Nothing
+              break;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+        
+        if (this.runnerState != ThreadState.RUNNING && 
+            this.runnerState != ThreadState.SUSPENDED) {
+          break;
+        }
         try {
           Thread.sleep(5000);
         }
         catch (Exception e) {
-					
+          //TODO the thread was interrupted, do something!!!
+        }
+        if (this.runnerState != ThreadState.RUNNING && 
+            this.runnerState != ThreadState.SUSPENDED) {
+          break;
         }
       }
-      try {
-        checkRunningJobs();	
-        checkWaitingJobs();
-        startReadyJobs();
-      } catch (Exception e) {
-  	    this.runnerState = ThreadState.STOPPED;
-      }
-      if (this.runnerState != ThreadState.RUNNING && 
-          this.runnerState != ThreadState.SUSPENDED) {
-        break;
-      }
-      try {
-        Thread.sleep(5000);
-      }
-      catch (Exception e) {
-				
-      }
-      if (this.runnerState != ThreadState.RUNNING && 
-          this.runnerState != ThreadState.SUSPENDED) {
-        break;
-      }
+    }catch(Throwable t) {
+      LOG.error("Error while trying to run jobs.",t);
+      //Mark all jobs as failed because we got something bad.
+      failAllJobs(t);
     }
     this.runnerState = ThreadState.STOPPED;
   }
 
+  synchronized private void failAllJobs(Throwable t) {
+    String message = "Unexpected System Error Occured: "+
+    StringUtils.stringifyException(t);
+    Iterator<ControlledJob> it = jobsInProgress.iterator();
+    while(it.hasNext()) {
+      ControlledJob j = it.next();
+      try {
+        j.failJob(message);
+      } catch (IOException e) {
+        LOG.error("Error while tyring to clean up "+j.getJobName(), e);
+      } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+        LOG.error("Error while tyring to clean up "+j.getJobName(), e);
+      } finally {
+        failedJobs.add(j);
+        it.remove();
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/src/test/unit/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/TestMapReduceJobControlWithMocks.java b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/src/test/unit/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/TestMapReduceJobControlWithMocks.java
index cc72949d391..b8469fa18c3 100644
--- a/hadoop-mapreduce-project/src/test/unit/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/TestMapReduceJobControlWithMocks.java
+++ b/hadoop-mapreduce-project/src/test/unit/org/apache/hadoop/mapreduce/lib/jobcontrol/TestMapReduceJobControlWithMocks.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.doThrow;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Arrays;
@@ -80,6 +81,29 @@ public class TestMapReduceJobControlWithMocks {
     
     jobControl.stop();
   }
+
+  @Test
+  public void testErrorWhileSubmitting() throws Exception {
+    JobControl jobControl = new JobControl("Test");
+    
+    Job mockJob = mock(Job.class);
+    
+    ControlledJob job1 = new ControlledJob(mockJob, null);
+    when(mockJob.getConfiguration()).thenReturn(new Configuration());
+    doThrow(new IncompatibleClassChangeError("This is a test")).when(mockJob).submit();
+    
+    jobControl.addJob(job1);
+    
+    runJobControl(jobControl);
+    try {
+      assertEquals("Success list", 0, jobControl.getSuccessfulJobList().size());
+      assertEquals("Failed list", 1, jobControl.getFailedJobList().size());
+
+      assertTrue(job1.getJobState() == ControlledJob.State.FAILED);
+    } finally {
+      jobControl.stop();
+    }
+  }
   
   @Test
   public void testKillJob() throws Exception {