diff --git a/squad/api/ci.py b/squad/api/ci.py
index 34b3395f..2d75ee91 100644
--- a/squad/api/ci.py
+++ b/squad/api/ci.py
@@ -106,6 +106,16 @@ def watch_job(request, group_slug, project_slug, version, environment_slug):
         job_id=testjob_id
     )
 
+    # check if backend is able to fetch job definition
+    try:
+        definition = backend.get_job_definition(testjob_id)
+        if not definition:
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest(f"No job definition found for job {testjob_id}: {definition}")
+        test_job.definition = definition
+    except NotImplementedError:
+        # backend does not work with job definitions
+        pass
+
     # sanitize job_url
     try:
         backend.get_implementation().job_url(test_job)
diff --git a/squad/ci/backend/fake.py b/squad/ci/backend/fake.py
index e49556bb..4b3100e2 100644
--- a/squad/ci/backend/fake.py
+++ b/squad/ci/backend/fake.py
@@ -66,5 +66,8 @@ def cancel(self, test_job):
     def check_job_definition(self, definition):
         return True
 
+    def get_job_definition(self, test_job):
+        return "sample job definition"
+
     def supports_callbacks(self):
         return False
diff --git a/squad/ci/backend/lava.py b/squad/ci/backend/lava.py
index 490c0c42..54374269 100644
--- a/squad/ci/backend/lava.py
+++ b/squad/ci/backend/lava.py
@@ -775,3 +775,14 @@ def check_job_definition(self, definition):
             return True
         except yaml.YAMLError as e:
             return str(e)
+
+    def get_job_definition(self, job_id):
+        if self.use_xml_rpc:
+            return self.proxy.scheduler.jobs.definition(job_id)
+        job_resp = requests.get(
+            f'{self.api_url_base}/jobs/{job_id}/definition/',
+            headers=self.authentication,
+            timeout=self.settings.get(timeout_variable_name, DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
+        )
+        if job_resp.status_code == 200:
+            return job_resp.json()
diff --git a/squad/ci/backend/null.py b/squad/ci/backend/null.py
index 42d5c4d3..42ee1514 100644
--- a/squad/ci/backend/null.py
+++ b/squad/ci/backend/null.py
@@ -92,18 +92,24 @@ def cancel(self, test_job):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def job_url(selt, test_job):
+    def job_url(self, test_job):
         """
         Returns the URL of the test job in the backend
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def check_job_definition(selt, definition):
+    def check_job_definition(self, definition):
         """
         Returns True if job definition checks out or an error message
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def get_job_definition(self, job_id):
+        """
+        Returns the job definition for a given test job
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def supports_callbacks(self):
         """
         Returns True if this backend supports callbacks, False otherwise
diff --git a/squad/ci/models.py b/squad/ci/models.py
index a92bbc63..e6d3b4da 100644
--- a/squad/ci/models.py
+++ b/squad/ci/models.py
@@ -216,6 +216,9 @@ def get_implementation(self):
     def check_job_definition(self, definition):
         return self.get_implementation().check_job_definition(definition)
 
+    def get_job_definition(self, job_id):
+        return self.get_implementation().get_job_definition(job_id)
+
     def supports_callbacks(self):
         return self.get_implementation().supports_callbacks()
 
diff --git a/test/api/test_ci.py b/test/api/test_ci.py
index 6ee36946..ba19fce3 100644
--- a/test/api/test_ci.py
+++ b/test/api/test_ci.py
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ def test_watch_testjob(self, fetch):
             1,
             testjob_queryset.count()
         )
+        testjob = testjob_queryset.first()
+        self.assertTrue(len(testjob.definition) > 0)
         fetch.assert_called_with(testjob_queryset.first().id)
         logentry_queryset = LogEntry.objects.filter(
             user_id=self.project_privileged_user.pk,