diff --git a/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb b/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
index b69fd050..6c6f1409 100644
--- a/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
+++ b/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def self.reserve_with_scope_using_optimized_postgres(ready_scope, worker, now)
           # use 'FOR UPDATE' and we would have many locking conflicts
           quoted_name = connection.quote_table_name(table_name)
           subquery    = ready_scope.limit(1).lock(true).select("id").to_sql
-          sql         = "UPDATE #{quoted_name} SET locked_at = ?, locked_by = ? WHERE id IN (#{subquery}) RETURNING *"
+          sql         = "UPDATE #{quoted_name} SET locked_at = ?, locked_by = ? WHERE id IN (#{subquery} SKIP LOCKED) RETURNING *"
           reserved    = find_by_sql([sql, now, worker.name])
           reserved[0]
         end