diff --git a/rq/cli/cli.py b/rq/cli/cli.py
index 8dd0b2b3..d0a5eff3 100755
--- a/rq/cli/cli.py
+++ b/rq/cli/cli.py
@@ -16,22 +16,27 @@ from rq import Connection, get_failed_queue, Queue
 from rq.contrib.legacy import cleanup_ghosts
 from rq.exceptions import InvalidJobOperationError
 from rq.utils import import_attribute
-from rq.suspension import suspend as connection_suspend, resume as connection_resume, is_suspended
+from rq.suspension import (suspend as connection_suspend,
+                           resume as connection_resume, is_suspended)
 
-from .helpers import (read_config_file, refresh, setup_loghandlers_from_args,
-                      show_both, show_queues, show_workers)
+from .helpers import (get_redis_from_config, read_config_file, refresh,
+                      setup_loghandlers_from_args, show_both, show_queues,
+                      show_workers)
 
 
 url_option = click.option('--url', '-u', envvar='RQ_REDIS_URL',
                           help='URL describing Redis connection details.')
 
-config_option = click.option('--config', '-c', help='Module containing RQ settings.')
+config_option = click.option('--config', '-c',
+                             help='Module containing RQ settings.')
 
 
 def connect(url, config=None):
+    if url:
+        return StrictRedis.from_url(url)
+
     settings = read_config_file(config) if config else {}
-    url = url or settings.get('REDIS_URL')
-    return StrictRedis.from_url(url or 'redis://localhost:6379/0')
+    return get_redis_from_config(settings)
 
 
 @click.group()
@@ -148,7 +153,6 @@ def worker(url, config, burst, name, worker_class, job_class, queue_class, path,
 
     settings = read_config_file(config) if config else {}
     # Worker specific default arguments
-    url = url or settings.get('REDIS_URL')
     queues = queues or settings.get('QUEUES', ['default'])
     sentry_dsn = sentry_dsn or settings.get('SENTRY_DSN')
 
@@ -158,7 +162,7 @@ def worker(url, config, burst, name, worker_class, job_class, queue_class, path,
 
     setup_loghandlers_from_args(verbose, quiet)
 
-    conn = connect(url)
+    conn = connect(url, config)
     cleanup_ghosts(conn)
     worker_class = import_attribute(worker_class)
     queue_class = import_attribute(queue_class)
diff --git a/rq/cli/helpers.py b/rq/cli/helpers.py
index 0730d17b..d5c54a1a 100644
--- a/rq/cli/helpers.py
+++ b/rq/cli/helpers.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import time
 from functools import partial
 
 import click
+from redis import StrictRedis
+
 from rq import Queue, Worker
 from rq.logutils import setup_loghandlers
 from rq.worker import WorkerStatus
@@ -24,6 +26,19 @@ def read_config_file(module):
                  if k.upper() == k])
 
 
+def get_redis_from_config(settings):
+    """Returns a StrictRedis instance from a dictionary of settings."""
+    if settings.get('REDIS_URL') is not None:
+        return StrictRedis.from_url(settings['REDIS_URL'])
+
+    return StrictRedis(
+        host=settings.get('REDIS_HOST', 'localhost'),
+        port=settings.get('REDIS_PORT', 6379),
+        db=settings.get('REDIS_DB', 0),
+        password=settings.get('REDIS_PASSWORD', None),
+    )
+
+
 def pad(s, pad_to_length):
     """Pads the given string to the given length."""
     return ('%-' + '%ds' % pad_to_length) % (s,)
diff --git a/tests/test_helpers.py b/tests/test_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b43f13b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+from rq.cli.helpers import get_redis_from_config
+
+from tests import RQTestCase
+
+
+class TestHelpers(RQTestCase):
+
+    def test_get_redis_from_config(self):
+        """Ensure Redis connection params are properly parsed"""
+        settings = {
+            'REDIS_URL': 'redis://localhost:1/1'
+        }
+
+        # Ensure REDIS_URL is read
+        redis = get_redis_from_config(settings)
+        connection_kwargs = redis.connection_pool.connection_kwargs
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['db'], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['port'], 1)
+
+        settings = {
+            'REDIS_URL': 'redis://localhost:1/1',
+            'REDIS_HOST': 'foo',
+            'REDIS_DB': 2,
+            'REDIS_PORT': 2,
+            'REDIS_PASSWORD': 'bar'
+        }
+
+        # Ensure REDIS_URL is preferred
+        redis = get_redis_from_config(settings)
+        connection_kwargs = redis.connection_pool.connection_kwargs
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['db'], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['port'], 1)
+
+        # Ensure fall back to regular connection parameters
+        settings['REDIS_URL'] = None
+        redis = get_redis_from_config(settings)
+        connection_kwargs = redis.connection_pool.connection_kwargs
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['host'], 'foo')
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['db'], 2)
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['port'], 2)
+        self.assertEqual(connection_kwargs['password'], 'bar')