diff --git a/rq/queue.py b/rq/queue.py
index dc961b84..e966de2d 100644
--- a/rq/queue.py
+++ b/rq/queue.py
@@ -111,11 +111,15 @@ class Queue(object):
         script = self.connection.register_script(script)
         return script(keys=[self.key])
 
-    def delete(self):
-        """Deletes the queue and all the associated messages on the queue."""
-        self.empty()
-        self.connection.srem(self.redis_queues_keys, self._key)
-        self.connection.delete(self._key)
+    def delete(self, delete_jobs=True):
+        """Deletes the queue. If delete_jobs is true it removes all the associated messages on the queue first."""
+        if delete_jobs:
+            self.empty()
+
+        with self.connection._pipeline() as pipeline:
+            pipeline.srem(self.redis_queues_keys, self._key)
+            pipeline.delete(self._key)
+            pipeline.execute()
 
     def is_empty(self):
         """Returns whether the current queue is empty."""
diff --git a/tests/test_queue.py b/tests/test_queue.py
index 5a6aa204..5020a130 100644
--- a/tests/test_queue.py
+++ b/tests/test_queue.py
@@ -75,14 +75,32 @@ class TestQueue(RQTestCase):
     def test_queue_delete(self):
         """Test queue.delete properly removes queue"""
         q = Queue('example')
-        self.testconn.rpush('rq:queue:example', 'foo')
-        self.testconn.rpush('rq:queue:example', 'bar')
+        job = q.enqueue(say_hello)
+        job2 = q.enqueue(say_hello)
 
         self.assertEqual(2, len(q.get_job_ids()))
 
         q.delete()
 
         self.assertEqual(0, len(q.get_job_ids()))
+        self.assertEqual(False, self.testconn.exists(job.key))
+        self.assertEqual(False, self.testconn.exists(job2.key))
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(self.testconn.smembers(Queue.redis_queues_keys)))
+        self.assertEqual(False, self.testconn.exists(q.key))
+
+    def test_queue_delete_but_keep_jobs(self):
+        """Test queue.delete properly removes queue but keeps the job keys in the redis store"""
+        q = Queue('example')
+        job = q.enqueue(say_hello)
+        job2 = q.enqueue(say_hello)
+
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(q.get_job_ids()))
+
+        q.delete(delete_jobs=False)
+
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(q.get_job_ids()))
+        self.assertEqual(True, self.testconn.exists(job.key))
+        self.assertEqual(True, self.testconn.exists(job2.key))
         self.assertEqual(0, len(self.testconn.smembers(Queue.redis_queues_keys)))
         self.assertEqual(False, self.testconn.exists(q.key))