diff --git a/src/dstack/_internal/server/background/tasks/process_runs.py b/src/dstack/_internal/server/background/tasks/process_runs.py
index be8bb610e..910166376 100644
--- a/src/dstack/_internal/server/background/tasks/process_runs.py
+++ b/src/dstack/_internal/server/background/tasks/process_runs.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 from dstack._internal.utils.logging import get_logger
 
 logger = get_logger(__name__)
-RETRY_DELAY = datetime.timedelta(seconds=15)
 
 
 async def process_runs(batch_size: int = 1):
@@ -130,11 +129,7 @@ async def _process_run(session: AsyncSession, run_model: RunModel):
 async def _process_pending_run(session: AsyncSession, run_model: RunModel):
     """Jobs are not created yet"""
     run = run_model_to_run(run_model)
-    if (
-        run.latest_job_submission is not None
-        and common.get_current_datetime() - run.latest_job_submission.last_processed_at
-        < RETRY_DELAY
-    ):
+    if not _pending_run_ready_for_resubmission(run_model, run):
         logger.debug("%s: pending run is not yet ready for resubmission", fmt(run_model))
         return
 
@@ -183,6 +178,37 @@ async def _process_pending_run(session: AsyncSession, run_model: RunModel):
     logger.info("%s: run status has changed PENDING -> SUBMITTED", fmt(run_model))
 
 
+def _pending_run_ready_for_resubmission(run_model: RunModel, run: Run) -> bool:
+    if run.latest_job_submission is None:
+        # Should not be possible
+        return True
+    duration_since_processing = (
+        common.get_current_datetime() - run.latest_job_submission.last_processed_at
+    )
+    if duration_since_processing < _get_retry_delay(run_model.resubmission_attempt):
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+# We use exponentially increasing retry delays for pending runs.
+# This prevents creation of too many job submissions for runs stuck in pending,
+# e.g. when users set retry for a long period without capacity.
+_PENDING_RETRY_DELAYS = [
+    datetime.timedelta(seconds=15),
+    datetime.timedelta(seconds=30),
+    datetime.timedelta(minutes=1),
+    datetime.timedelta(minutes=2),
+    datetime.timedelta(minutes=5),
+    datetime.timedelta(minutes=10),
+]
+
+
+def _get_retry_delay(resubmission_attempt: int) -> datetime.timedelta:
+    if resubmission_attempt - 1 < len(_PENDING_RETRY_DELAYS):
+        return _PENDING_RETRY_DELAYS[resubmission_attempt - 1]
+    return _PENDING_RETRY_DELAYS[-1]
+
+
 async def _process_active_run(session: AsyncSession, run_model: RunModel):
     """
     Run is submitted, provisioning, or running.
@@ -341,6 +367,11 @@ async def _process_active_run(session: AsyncSession, run_model: RunModel):
         )
         run_model.status = new_status
         run_model.termination_reason = termination_reason
+        # While a run goes to pending without provisioning, resubmission_attempt increases.
+        if new_status == RunStatus.PROVISIONING:
+            run_model.resubmission_attempt = 0
+        elif new_status == RunStatus.PENDING:
+            run_model.resubmission_attempt += 1
 
 
 def _should_retry_job(run: Run, job: Job, job_model: JobModel) -> Optional[datetime.timedelta]:
diff --git a/src/dstack/_internal/server/migrations/versions/7ba3b59d7ca6_add_runmodel_resubmission_attempt.py b/src/dstack/_internal/server/migrations/versions/7ba3b59d7ca6_add_runmodel_resubmission_attempt.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ddb7a30ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dstack/_internal/server/migrations/versions/7ba3b59d7ca6_add_runmodel_resubmission_attempt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+"""Add RunModel.resubmission_attempt
+
+Revision ID: 7ba3b59d7ca6
+Revises: 7bc2586e8b9e
+Create Date: 2025-04-15 18:00:35.320906
+
+"""
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = "7ba3b59d7ca6"
+down_revision = "7bc2586e8b9e"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    with op.batch_alter_table("runs", schema=None) as batch_op:
+        batch_op.add_column(sa.Column("resubmission_attempt", sa.Integer(), nullable=True))
+    batch_op.execute("UPDATE runs SET resubmission_attempt = 0")
+    with op.batch_alter_table("runs", schema=None) as batch_op:
+        batch_op.alter_column("resubmission_attempt", nullable=False)
+
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    with op.batch_alter_table("runs", schema=None) as batch_op:
+        batch_op.drop_column("resubmission_attempt")
+
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/src/dstack/_internal/server/models.py b/src/dstack/_internal/server/models.py
index 66b6fc910..b2fa65500 100644
--- a/src/dstack/_internal/server/models.py
+++ b/src/dstack/_internal/server/models.py
@@ -343,6 +343,9 @@ class RunModel(BaseModel):
     termination_reason: Mapped[Optional[RunTerminationReason]] = mapped_column(
         Enum(RunTerminationReason)
     )
+    # resubmission_attempt counts consecutive transitions to pending without provisioning.
+    # Can be used to choose retry delay depending on the attempt number.
+    resubmission_attempt: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=0)
     run_spec: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(Text)
     service_spec: Mapped[Optional[str]] = mapped_column(Text)