diff --git a/picas/actors.py b/picas/actors.py
index e79b9a1..a15d71a 100644
--- a/picas/actors.py
+++ b/picas/actors.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 @author: Jan Bot, Joris Borgdorff
 """
 
+import ssl
 import logging
 import signal
 import subprocess
@@ -48,6 +49,10 @@ def __init__(self, db, iterator=None, view='todo', token_reset_values=[0, 0], **
         else:
             self.iterator = iterator
 
+    def reconnect(self):
+        self.db = self.db.copy()
+        self.iterator.reconnect(self.db)
+
     def _run(self, task, timeout):
         """
         Execution of the work on the iterator used in the run method.
@@ -77,8 +82,21 @@ def _run(self, task, timeout):
             log.info(msg)
             new_task = self.db.get(task.id)
             task['_rev'] = new_task.rev
+        except ssl.SSLEOFError as ex:
+            # SSLEOFError can occur for long-lived connections, re-establish connection
+            msg = f"Warning: {type(ex)} occurred while saving task to database: " + \
+                "Trying ro reconnect to database"
+            log.info(msg)
+            self.reconnect()
+            try:
+                self.db.save(task)
+            except Exception as ex:
+                msg = f"Error: {type(ex)} occurred while saving task to database: " + \
+                    "Not able to reconnect to database"
+                log.info(msg)
+                raise
         except Exception as ex:
-            # re-raise Exception
+            # re-raise unknown exception, this will terminate the iterator
             msg = f"Error: {type(ex)} occurred while saving task to database: {ex}"
             log.info(msg)
             raise
diff --git a/picas/iterators.py b/picas/iterators.py
index b13eb5b..36b1f78 100644
--- a/picas/iterators.py
+++ b/picas/iterators.py
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ def claim_task(self):
         """Get the first available task from a view."""
         raise NotImplementedError("claim_task function not implemented.")
 
+    def reconnect(self, database):
+        """Reconnect to database"""
+        self.database = database
+
 
 def _claim_task(database, view, allowed_failures=10, **view_params):
     for _ in range(allowed_failures):
diff --git a/tests/test_actors.py b/tests/test_actors.py
index a61a8b0..be05431 100644
--- a/tests/test_actors.py
+++ b/tests/test_actors.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import subprocess
 import time
 import unittest
+import ssl
 
 from test_mock import MockDB, MockEmptyDB
 from unittest.mock import patch
@@ -72,6 +73,16 @@ def test_run_resourceconflict(self, mock_save):
         runner._run(task=Task({'_id': 'c', 'lock': None, 'done': None}), timeout=None)
         self.assertEqual(runner.tasks_processed, 1)
 
+    @patch('test_mock.MockDB.save')
+    def test_run_ssleoferror(self, mock_save):
+        """
+        Test the _run function, in case the DB throws a an SSLEOFError
+        """
+        with pytest.raises(ssl.SSLEOFError):
+            mock_save.side_effect = ssl.SSLEOFError
+            runner = ExampleRun(self._callback)
+            runner._run(task=Task({'_id': 'c', 'lock': None, 'done': None}), timeout=None)
+
     @patch('test_mock.MockDB.save')
     def test_run_exception(self, mock_save):
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_mock.py b/tests/test_mock.py
index 265ead6..5a97d81 100644
--- a/tests/test_mock.py
+++ b/tests/test_mock.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ def save(self, doc):
 
         return doc
 
+    def copy(self):
+        return self
+
 
 class MockEmptyDB(MockDB):
     TASKS = []