diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0752e57..4e1f944 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 ### Added
 
 - Added `prune-remote-emojis` command.
+- Prune remote emojis in background.
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/src/job_queue/periodic_tasks.rs b/src/job_queue/periodic_tasks.rs
index 3bb0ca3..58b701d 100644
--- a/src/job_queue/periodic_tasks.rs
+++ b/src/job_queue/periodic_tasks.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ use crate::ethereum::{
 use crate::media::remove_media;
 use crate::monero::subscriptions::check_monero_subscriptions;
 use crate::models::{
+    emojis::queries::{
+        delete_emoji,
+        find_unused_remote_emojis,
+    },
     posts::queries::{delete_post, find_extraneous_posts},
     profiles::queries::{
         delete_profile,
@@ -163,3 +167,17 @@ pub async fn delete_empty_profiles(
     };
     Ok(())
 }
+
+pub async fn prune_remote_emojis(
+    config: &Config,
+    db_pool: &DbPool,
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let db_client = &mut **get_database_client(db_pool).await?;
+    let emojis = find_unused_remote_emojis(db_client).await?;
+    for emoji_id in emojis {
+        let deletion_queue = delete_emoji(db_client, &emoji_id).await?;
+        remove_media(config, deletion_queue).await;
+        log::info!("deleted emoji {}", emoji_id);
+    };
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/src/job_queue/scheduler.rs b/src/job_queue/scheduler.rs
index 31c5acb..36732a7 100644
--- a/src/job_queue/scheduler.rs
+++ b/src/job_queue/scheduler.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ enum PeriodicTask {
     OutgoingActivityQueueExecutor,
     DeleteExtraneousPosts,
     DeleteEmptyProfiles,
+    PruneRemoteEmojis,
 
     #[cfg(feature = "ethereum-extras")]
     NftMonitor,
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ impl PeriodicTask {
             Self::OutgoingActivityQueueExecutor => 5,
             Self::DeleteExtraneousPosts => 3600,
             Self::DeleteEmptyProfiles => 3600,
+            Self::PruneRemoteEmojis => 3600,
 
             #[cfg(feature = "ethereum-extras")]
             Self::NftMonitor => 30,
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ pub fn run(
             (PeriodicTask::MoneroPaymentMonitor, None),
             (PeriodicTask::IncomingActivityQueueExecutor, None),
             (PeriodicTask::OutgoingActivityQueueExecutor, None),
+            (PeriodicTask::PruneRemoteEmojis, None),
 
             #[cfg(feature = "ethereum-extras")]
             (PeriodicTask::NftMonitor, None),
@@ -108,6 +111,9 @@ pub fn run(
                     PeriodicTask::DeleteEmptyProfiles => {
                         delete_empty_profiles(&config, &db_pool).await
                     },
+                    PeriodicTask::PruneRemoteEmojis => {
+                        prune_remote_emojis(&config, &db_pool).await
+                    },
                     #[cfg(feature = "ethereum-extras")]
                     PeriodicTask::NftMonitor => {
                         nft_monitor(