diff --git a/zesje/api/scans.py b/zesje/api/scans.py
index 88c42c553430f1bdc2a685277211d457e17a2829..d0eecd400d6da8522737f6337a864e37dc265cfe 100644
--- a/zesje/api/scans.py
+++ b/zesje/api/scans.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class Scans(Resource):
             return dict(status=404, message='Exam does not exist.'), 404
 
         scan = Scan(exam=exam, name=args['pdf'].filename,
-                    status='processing', message='importing PDF')
+                    status='processing', message='Waiting...')
         db.session.add(scan)
         db.session.commit()
 
diff --git a/zesje/scans.py b/zesje/scans.py
index ab4bc4be549b736f4fb78c70f6ae307041a64ee5..bcbde9f68e30f93eea06f2403cc5d0a35844f6ce 100644
--- a/zesje/scans.py
+++ b/zesje/scans.py
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ def _process_pdf(scan_id, app_config):
     # Raises exception if zero or more than one scans found
     scan = Scan.query.filter(Scan.id == scan_id).one()
 
+    report_progress('Importing PDF')
+
     pdf_path = os.path.join(data_directory, 'scans', f'{scan.id}.pdf')
     output_directory = os.path.join(data_directory, f'{scan.exam.id}_data')