diff --git a/lib/que/job.rb b/lib/que/job.rb
index 6093b162..6c6609ac 100644
--- a/lib/que/job.rb
+++ b/lib/que/job.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class Job
         (
           coalesce($1, 'default')::text,
           coalesce($2, 100)::smallint,
-          coalesce($3, now())::timestamptz,
+          greatest($3, now())::timestamptz,
           $4::text,
           coalesce($5, '[]')::jsonb,
           coalesce($6, '{}')::jsonb,
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Job
         SELECT
           coalesce($1, 'default')::text,
           coalesce($2, 100)::smallint,
-          coalesce($3, now())::timestamptz,
+          greatest($3, now())::timestamptz,
           $4::text,
           args_and_kwargs.args,
           args_and_kwargs.kwargs,