diff --git a/rq/compat/connections.py b/rq/compat/connections.py
index 70c0bc6..7d8798b 100644
--- a/rq/compat/connections.py
+++ b/rq/compat/connections.py
@@ -21,11 +21,18 @@ def fix_return_type(func):
 PATCHED_METHODS = ['_setex', '_lrem', '_zadd', '_pipeline', '_ttl']
 
 
+def _hset(self, key, field_name, value, pipeline=None):
+    connection = pipeline if pipeline is not None else self
+    connection.hset(key, field_name, value)
+
+
 def patch_connection(connection):
     # Don't patch already patches objects
     if all([hasattr(connection, attr) for attr in PATCHED_METHODS]):
         return connection
 
+    connection._hset = partial(_hset, connection)
+
     if isinstance(connection, Redis):
         connection._setex = partial(StrictRedis.setex, connection)
         connection._lrem = partial(StrictRedis.lrem, connection)
diff --git a/rq/job.py b/rq/job.py
index a9c5cc5..b73e3bd 100644
--- a/rq/job.py
+++ b/rq/job.py
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class Job(object):
 
     def set_status(self, status, pipeline=None):
         self._status = status
-        self.hset_value('status', self._status, pipeline)
+        self.connection._hset(self.key, 'status', self._status, pipeline)
 
     def _set_status(self, status):
         warnings.warn(
@@ -165,11 +165,7 @@ class Job(object):
 
     def set_started_at_now(self, pipeline=None):
         now_fmt = utcformat(utcnow())
-        self.hset_value('started_at', now_fmt, pipeline)
-
-    def hset_value(self, key, value, pipeline=None):
-        connection = pipeline if pipeline is not None else self.connection
-        connection.hset(self.key, key, value)
+        self.connection._hset(self.key, 'started_at', now_fmt, pipeline)
 
     @property
     def is_finished(self):