diff --git a/lib/dbqueuemanager.php b/lib/dbqueuemanager.php
index 3dda9fd1ac..51553b8999 100644
--- a/lib/dbqueuemanager.php
+++ b/lib/dbqueuemanager.php
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class DBQueueManager extends QueueManager
             }
         } else {
             $this->_log(LOG_INFO, "[$queue] Got empty/deleted item, discarding");
-            $this->_fail($qi);
+            $this->_done($qi);
         }
         return true;
     }