diff --git a/rq/job.py b/rq/job.py
index ef7a266..bd91f13 100644
--- a/rq/job.py
+++ b/rq/job.py
@@ -147,9 +147,10 @@ class Job(object):
         )
         return self.get_status()
 
-    def set_status(self, status):
+    def set_status(self, status, pipeline=None):
         self._status = status
-        self.connection.hset(self.key, 'status', self._status)
+        connection = pipeline if pipeline is not None else self.connection
+        connection.hset(self.key, 'status', self._status)
 
     def _set_status(self, status):
         warnings.warn(
diff --git a/rq/worker.py b/rq/worker.py
index 41f17d1..21ddac6 100644
--- a/rq/worker.py
+++ b/rq/worker.py
@@ -474,13 +474,15 @@ class Worker(object):
         """Performs misc bookkeeping like updating states prior to
         job execution.
         """
+        timeout = (job.timeout or 180) + 60
+
         with self.connection._pipeline() as pipeline:
-            timeout = (job.timeout or 180) + 60
             self.set_state('busy', pipeline=pipeline)
             self.set_current_job_id(job.id, pipeline=pipeline)
             self.heartbeat(timeout, pipeline=pipeline)
             working_queue = WorkingQueue(job.origin, self.connection)
             working_queue.add(job, timeout, pipeline=pipeline)
+            job.set_status(Status.STARTED, pipeline=pipeline)
             pipeline.execute()
 
         self.procline('Processing %s from %s since %s' % (
@@ -497,7 +499,6 @@ class Worker(object):
             working_queue = WorkingQueue(job.origin, self.connection)
 
             try:
-                job.set_status(Status.STARTED)
                 with self.death_penalty_class(job.timeout or self.queue_class.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
                     rv = job.perform()
 
@@ -518,9 +519,10 @@ class Worker(object):
                 pipeline.execute()
 
             except Exception:
-                # Use the public setter here, to immediately update Redis
-                job.set_status(Status.FAILED)
-                working_queue.remove(job)
+                job.set_status(Status.FAILED, pipeline=pipeline)
+                working_queue.remove(job, pipeline=pipeline)
+                pipeline.execute()
+                
                 self.handle_exception(job, *sys.exc_info())
                 return False