diff --git a/Products/ZenUtils/MySqlZodbFactory.py b/Products/ZenUtils/MySqlZodbFactory.py
index 1ede38b9b1..451a1c73a7 100644
--- a/Products/ZenUtils/MySqlZodbFactory.py
+++ b/Products/ZenUtils/MySqlZodbFactory.py
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@
 
 import logging
 import optparse
+import time
 import uuid
 
+import MySQLdb
 import relstorage.adapters.mysql
 import relstorage.options
 import relstorage.storage
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@
 
 _DEFAULT_MYSQLPORT = 3306
 _DEFAULT_COMMIT_LOCK_TIMEOUT = 30
+_OPERATIONAL_ERROR_RETRY_DELAY = 0.5
 
 log = logging.getLogger("zen.MySqlZodbFactory")
 
@@ -133,7 +136,10 @@ def getConnection(self, **kwargs):
         if cache_servers:
             relstoreParams["cache_servers"] = cache_servers
 
-        storage = relstorage.storage.RelStorage(adapter, **relstoreParams)
+        storage = _get_storage(adapter, relstoreParams)
+        if storage is None:
+            raise SystemExit("Unable to retrieve ZODB storage")
+
         cache_size = kwargs.get("zodb_cachesize", 1000)
         db = ZODB.DB(storage, cache_size=cache_size)
         import Globals
@@ -226,3 +232,25 @@ def buildOptions(self, parser):
             ),
         )
         parser.add_option_group(group)
+
+
+def _get_storage(adapter, params):
+    attempt = 0
+    while attempt < 3:
+        try:
+            return relstorage.storage.RelStorage(adapter, **params)
+        except MySQLdb.OperationalError as ex:
+            error = str(ex)
+            # Sleep for a very short duration.  Celery signal handlers
+            # are given short durations to complete.
+            time.sleep(_OPERATIONAL_ERROR_RETRY_DELAY)
+            attempt += 1
+        except Exception as ex:
+            log.exception("unexpected failure")
+            # To avoid retrying on unexpected errors, set `attempt` to 3 to
+            # cause the loop to exit on the next iteration to allow the
+            # "else:" clause to run and cause this worker to exit.
+            error = str(ex)
+            attempt = 3
+    else:
+        log.error("failed to initialize ZODB connection: %s", error)
diff --git a/Products/ZenUtils/tests/test_MySqlZodbFactory.py b/Products/ZenUtils/tests/test_MySqlZodbFactory.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b594f2d3bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Products/ZenUtils/tests/test_MySqlZodbFactory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+##############################################################################
+#
+# Copyright (C) Zenoss, Inc. 2024, all rights reserved.
+#
+# This content is made available according to terms specified in
+# License.zenoss under the directory where your Zenoss product is installed.
+#
+##############################################################################
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function
+
+import logging
+
+from unittest import TestCase
+
+from mock import call, Mock, patch
+
+from Products.ZenUtils.MySqlZodbFactory import (
+    MySQLdb,
+    _get_storage,
+    _OPERATIONAL_ERROR_RETRY_DELAY,
+)
+
+PATH = {"src": "Products.ZenUtils.MySqlZodbFactory"}
+
+
+class TestGetStorage(TestCase):
+    """Test the _get_storage function."""
+
+    def setUp(t):
+        log = logging.getLogger()
+        log.setLevel(logging.FATAL + 1)
+
+    def tearDown(t):
+        log = logging.getLogger()
+        log.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)
+
+    @patch("{src}.relstorage.storage.RelStorage".format(**PATH), autospec=True)
+    def test_nominal(t, relstorage_):
+        params = {"a": 1}
+        adapter = Mock()
+
+        storage = _get_storage(adapter, params)
+
+        t.assertEqual(storage, relstorage_.return_value)
+        relstorage_.assert_called_with(adapter, a=1)
+
+    @patch("{src}.time".format(**PATH), autospec=True)
+    @patch("{src}.relstorage.storage.RelStorage".format(**PATH), autospec=True)
+    def test_operational_error(t, relstorage_, time_):
+        params = {"a": 1}
+        adapter = Mock()
+
+        ex = MySQLdb.OperationalError()
+        relstorage_.side_effect = ex
+
+        sleep_calls = (
+            call(_OPERATIONAL_ERROR_RETRY_DELAY),
+            call(_OPERATIONAL_ERROR_RETRY_DELAY),
+            call(_OPERATIONAL_ERROR_RETRY_DELAY),
+        )
+
+        storage = _get_storage(adapter, params)
+
+        t.assertIsNone(storage)
+        time_.sleep.assert_has_calls(sleep_calls)
+        t.assertEqual(len(sleep_calls), relstorage_.call_count)
+        t.assertEqual(len(sleep_calls), time_.sleep.call_count)
+
+    @patch("{src}.time".format(**PATH), autospec=True)
+    @patch("{src}.relstorage.storage.RelStorage".format(**PATH), autospec=True)
+    def test_unexpected_error(t, relstorage_, time_):
+        params = {"a": 1}
+        adapter = Mock()
+
+        ex = Exception()
+        relstorage_.side_effect = ex
+
+        storage = _get_storage(adapter, params)
+
+        t.assertIsNone(storage)
+        t.assertEqual(1, relstorage_.call_count)
+        t.assertEqual(0, time_.call_count)