diff --git a/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb b/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
index 62b186a1..8e6046ba 100644
--- a/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
+++ b/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class Job < ::ActiveRecord::Base
         scope :min_priority, lambda { where("priority >= ?", Worker.min_priority) if Worker.min_priority }
         scope :max_priority, lambda { where("priority <= ?", Worker.max_priority) if Worker.max_priority }
         scope :for_queues, lambda { |queues = Worker.queues| where(queue: queues) if Array(queues).any? }
+        scope :excluding_queues, lambda { |queues = Worker.except_queues| where.not(queue: queues) if Array(queues).any? }
 
         before_save :set_default_run_at
 
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ def self.reserve(worker, max_run_time = Worker.max_run_time)
             .min_priority
             .max_priority
             .for_queues
+            .excluding_queues
             .by_priority
 
           reserve_with_scope(ready_scope, worker, db_time_now)