diff --git a/rq/queue.py b/rq/queue.py
index 2116e50..090576d 100644
--- a/rq/queue.py
+++ b/rq/queue.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class Queue(object):
         prefix = self.redis_queue_namespace_prefix
         self.name = name
         self._key = '{0}{1}'.format(prefix, name)
-        self._default_timeout = parse_timeout(default_timeout)
+        self._default_timeout = parse_timeout(default_timeout) or self.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
         self._is_async = is_async
 
         if 'async' in kwargs:
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ class Queue(object):
         job.enqueued_at = utcnow()
 
         if job.timeout is None:
-            job.timeout = self.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT
+            job.timeout = self._default_timeout
         job.save(pipeline=pipe)
         job.cleanup(ttl=job.ttl, pipeline=pipe)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_queue.py b/tests/test_queue.py
index 20a051c..2a6c46e 100644
--- a/tests/test_queue.py
+++ b/tests/test_queue.py
@@ -327,6 +327,24 @@ class TestQueue(RQTestCase):
 
         job = queue.enqueue(echo, 1, job_timeout=15)
         self.assertEqual(job.timeout, 15)
+    
+    def test_default_timeout(self):
+        """Timeout can be passed via job_timeout argument"""
+        queue = Queue()
+        job = queue.enqueue(echo, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(job.timeout, queue.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
+        
+        job = Job.create(func=echo) 
+        job = queue.enqueue_job(job)
+        self.assertEqual(job.timeout, queue.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
+
+        queue = Queue(default_timeout=15)
+        job = queue.enqueue(echo, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(job.timeout, 15)
+
+        job = Job.create(func=echo) 
+        job = queue.enqueue_job(job)
+        self.assertEqual(job.timeout, 15)
 
     def test_enqueue_explicit_args(self):
         """enqueue() works for both implicit/explicit args."""