diff --git a/src/blueapi/service/interface.py b/src/blueapi/service/interface.py
index c8b1e07245..335d00477e 100644
--- a/src/blueapi/service/interface.py
+++ b/src/blueapi/service/interface.py
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ def begin_task(
     if nt := active_context.numtracker:
         nt.set_headers(pass_through_headers or {})
 
+    subscribers = []
     if tiled_config := active_context.tiled_conf:
         # Tiled queries the root node, so must create an authorized client
         if isinstance(tiled_config.authentication, ServiceAccount):
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ def begin_task(
         tiled_writer_token = active_context.run_engine.subscribe(
             TiledWriter(tiled_client, batch_size=1)
         )
+        subscribers.append((active_context.run_engine, tiled_writer_token))
 
         def remove_callback_when_task_finished(
             event: WorkerEvent, correlation_id: str | None
@@ -213,15 +215,21 @@ def remove_callback_when_task_finished(
                 and event.task_status.task_id == task.task_id
                 and event.task_status.task_complete
             ):
-                active_context.run_engine.unsubscribe(tiled_writer_token)
-                active_worker.worker_events.unsubscribe(remove_callback)
+                for channel, token in subscribers:
+                    channel.unsubscribe(token)
 
         remove_callback = active_worker.worker_events.subscribe(
             remove_callback_when_task_finished
         )
+        subscribers.append((active_worker.worker_events, remove_callback))
 
     if task.task_id is not None:
-        active_worker.begin_task(task.task_id)
+        try:
+            active_worker.begin_task(task.task_id)
+        except KeyError:
+            for channel, token in subscribers:
+                channel.unsubscribe(token)
+            raise
     return task
 
 
diff --git a/tests/system_tests/test_blueapi_system.py b/tests/system_tests/test_blueapi_system.py
index 3e075a7767..4763cebfac 100644
--- a/tests/system_tests/test_blueapi_system.py
+++ b/tests/system_tests/test_blueapi_system.py
@@ -617,3 +617,24 @@ def on_event(event: AnyEvent) -> None:
     assert outcome.result.message.startswith(
         "403: Access policy rejects the provided access blob"
     )
+
+
+# Regression test for #1480
+def test_task_submission_after_invalid_task(client_with_stomp: BlueapiClient):
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        # This task hasn't been submitted so should return an error...
+        client_with_stomp._rest.update_worker_task(WorkerTask(task_id="missing"))
+
+    # ...but should leave the serve in a state where it can still run tasks
+    res = client_with_stomp.run_task(
+        TaskRequest(
+            name="count",
+            params={
+                "detectors": [
+                    "det",
+                ],
+            },
+            instrument_session=AUTHORIZED_INSTRUMENT_SESSION,
+        )
+    )
+    assert isinstance(res.result, TaskResult)
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/service/test_interface.py b/tests/unit_tests/service/test_interface.py
index cc619259bd..ccef2f0971 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/service/test_interface.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/service/test_interface.py
@@ -242,6 +242,33 @@ def test_begin_task_no_task_id(worker_mock: MagicMock):
     worker_mock.assert_not_called()
 
 
+@patch("blueapi.service.interface.from_uri")
+@patch("blueapi.service.interface.config")
+@patch("blueapi.service.interface.context")
+@patch("blueapi.service.interface.worker")
+def test_subscribers_removed_when_task_not_found(
+    worker_mock: MagicMock,
+    context_mock: MagicMock,
+    config_mock: MagicMock,
+    from_uri_mock: MagicMock,
+):
+    # regression test for #1480
+    worker = worker_mock()
+    ctx = context_mock()
+    worker.begin_task.side_effect = KeyError()
+
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        interface.begin_task(WorkerTask(task_id="missing"))
+
+    ctx.run_engine.subscribe.assert_called_once()
+    tiled_token = ctx.run_engine.subscribe()
+    ctx.run_engine.unsubscribe.assert_called_once_with(tiled_token)
+
+    worker.worker_events.subscribe.assert_called_once()
+    remove_token = worker.worker_events.subscribe()
+    worker.worker_events.unsubscribe.assert_called_once_with(remove_token)
+
+
 @patch("blueapi.service.interface.TaskWorker.get_tasks_by_status")
 def test_get_tasks_by_status(get_tasks_by_status_mock: MagicMock):
     pending_task1 = TrackableTask(task_id="0", task=Task(name="pending_task1"))