diff --git a/rq/queue.py b/rq/queue.py
index 9c33be61..92041ddb 100644
--- a/rq/queue.py
+++ b/rq/queue.py
@@ -108,13 +108,13 @@ class Queue(object):
         job = Job.for_call(f, *args, **kwargs)
         return self.enqueue_job(job)
 
-    def enqueue_job(self, job, to_failed=False):
+    def enqueue_job(self, job, set_meta_data=True):
         """Enqueues a job for delayed execution.
 
-        If the `to_failed` argument is `True`, it won't update the origin or
-        enqueued_at properties.
+        If the `set_meta_data` argument is `True` (default), it will update
+        the properties `origin` and `enqueued_at`.
         """
-        if not to_failed:
+        if set_meta_data:
             job.origin = self.name
             job.enqueued_at = times.now()
         job.save()
@@ -221,3 +221,9 @@ class Queue(object):
 
     def __str__(self):
         return '<Queue \'%s\'>' % (self.name,)
+
+
+class FailedQueue(Queue):
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(FailedQueue, self).__init__('failed')
+
diff --git a/rq/worker.py b/rq/worker.py
index 6c4eb430..37e6e128 100644
--- a/rq/worker.py
+++ b/rq/worker.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ try:
     Logger = Logger   # Does nothing except it shuts up pyflakes annoying error
 except ImportError:
     from logging import Logger
-from .queue import Queue
+from .queue import Queue, FailedQueue
 from .proxy import conn
 from .utils import make_colorizer
 from .exceptions import NoQueueError, UnpickleError
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class Worker(object):
         self._horse_pid = 0
         self._stopped = False
         self.log = Logger('worker')
-        self.failed_queue = Queue('failed')
+        self.failed_queue = FailedQueue()
 
 
     def validate_queues(self):  # noqa
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class Worker(object):
             job.ended_at = times.now()
             job.exc_info = traceback.format_exc()
 
-            fq.enqueue_job(job, to_failed=True)
+            fq.enqueue_job(job, set_meta_data=False)
             return False
         else:
             if rv is None: