diff --git a/rq/cli/cli.py b/rq/cli/cli.py
index 40f528f..da156d3 100755
--- a/rq/cli/cli.py
+++ b/rq/cli/cli.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ def worker(url, config, burst, name, worker_class, job_class, queue_class, path,
                          default_worker_ttl=worker_ttl,
                          default_result_ttl=results_ttl,
                          job_class=job_class,
-                         exception_handlers=exception_handlers)
+                         exception_handlers=exception_handlers or None)
 
         # Should we configure Sentry?
         if sentry_dsn:
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 6744a11..1a812ae 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -80,24 +80,19 @@ class TestRQCli(RQTestCase):
         q = Queue()
         failed_q = get_failed_queue()
         failed_q.empty()
-        # Preconditions
-        self.assertEquals(failed_q.count, 0)
-        self.assertEquals(q.count, 0)
-
-        # Action
-        job = q.enqueue(div_by_zero)
-        self.assertEquals(q.count, 1)
 
         runner = CliRunner()
-        result = runner.invoke(main, ['worker', '-u', self.redis_url, '-b', '--exception-handler', 'tests.fixtures.black_hole'])
-        self.assertEqual(result.exit_code, 0)
-        # Postconditions
-        self.assertEquals(q.count, 0)
-        self.assertEquals(failed_q.count, 0)
-
-        # Check the job
-        job = Job.fetch(job.id)
-        self.assertEquals(job.is_failed, True)
+
+        # If exception handler is not given, failed job goes to FailedQueue
+        q.enqueue(div_by_zero)
+        runner.invoke(main, ['worker', '-u', self.redis_url, '-b'])
+        self.assertEquals(failed_q.count, 1)
+
+        # Black hole exception handler doesn't add failed jobs to FailedQueue
+        q.enqueue(div_by_zero)
+        runner.invoke(main, ['worker', '-u', self.redis_url, '-b',
+                             '--exception-handler', 'tests.fixtures.black_hole'])
+        self.assertEquals(failed_q.count, 1)
 
     def test_suspend_and_resume(self):
         """rq suspend -u <url>