diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/service/InternalIndexShard.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/service/InternalIndexShard.java
index 702d411d6c6..885345e27a8 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/service/InternalIndexShard.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/service/InternalIndexShard.java
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ public class InternalIndexShard extends AbstractIndexShardComponent implements I
 
     private void startScheduledTasksIfNeeded() {
         if (refreshInterval.millis() > 0) {
-            refreshScheduledFuture = threadPool.schedule(new EngineRefresher(), refreshInterval, ThreadPool.ExecutionType.THREADED);
+            refreshScheduledFuture = threadPool.schedule(new EngineRefresher(), refreshInterval, ThreadPool.ExecutionType.DEFAULT);
             logger.debug("scheduling refresher every {}", refreshInterval);
         } else {
             logger.debug("scheduled refresher disabled");
@@ -606,28 +606,39 @@ public class InternalIndexShard extends AbstractIndexShardComponent implements I
 
     private class EngineRefresher implements Runnable {
         @Override public void run() {
-            try {
-                if (engine.refreshNeeded()) {
-                    engine.refresh(new Engine.Refresh(false));
+            // we check before if a refresh is needed, if not, we reschedule, otherwise, we fork, refresh, and then reschedule
+            if (!engine().refreshNeeded()) {
+                if (state != IndexShardState.CLOSED) {
+                    refreshScheduledFuture = threadPool.schedule(this, refreshInterval, ThreadPool.ExecutionType.DEFAULT);
                 }
-            } catch (EngineClosedException e) {
-                // we are being closed, ignore
-            } catch (RefreshFailedEngineException e) {
-                if (e.getCause() instanceof InterruptedException) {
-                    // ignore, we are being shutdown
-                } else if (e.getCause() instanceof ClosedByInterruptException) {
-                    // ignore, we are being shutdown
-                } else if (e.getCause() instanceof ThreadInterruptedException) {
-                    // ignore, we are being shutdown
-                } else {
-                    logger.warn("Failed to perform scheduled engine refresh", e);
+                return;
+            }
+            threadPool.cached().execute(new Runnable() {
+                @Override public void run() {
+                    try {
+                        if (engine.refreshNeeded()) {
+                            engine.refresh(new Engine.Refresh(false));
+                        }
+                    } catch (EngineClosedException e) {
+                        // we are being closed, ignore
+                    } catch (RefreshFailedEngineException e) {
+                        if (e.getCause() instanceof InterruptedException) {
+                            // ignore, we are being shutdown
+                        } else if (e.getCause() instanceof ClosedByInterruptException) {
+                            // ignore, we are being shutdown
+                        } else if (e.getCause() instanceof ThreadInterruptedException) {
+                            // ignore, we are being shutdown
+                        } else {
+                            logger.warn("Failed to perform scheduled engine refresh", e);
+                        }
+                    } catch (Exception e) {
+                        logger.warn("Failed to perform scheduled engine refresh", e);
+                    }
+                    if (state != IndexShardState.CLOSED) {
+                        refreshScheduledFuture = threadPool.schedule(this, refreshInterval, ThreadPool.ExecutionType.DEFAULT);
+                    }
                 }
-            } catch (Exception e) {
-                logger.warn("Failed to perform scheduled engine refresh", e);
-            }
-            if (state != IndexShardState.CLOSED) {
-                refreshScheduledFuture = threadPool.schedule(this, refreshInterval, ThreadPool.ExecutionType.THREADED);
-            }
+            });
         }
     }