diff --git a/lib/resque/plugins/retry.rb b/lib/resque/plugins/retry.rb
index a0a4967..2b2810b 100644
--- a/lib/resque/plugins/retry.rb
+++ b/lib/resque/plugins/retry.rb
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ def before_perform_retry(*args)
         Resque.redis.setnx(retry_key, -1)             # default to -1 if not set.
         @retry_attempt = Resque.redis.incr(retry_key) # increment by 1.
         log_message "attempt: #{@retry_attempt} set in Redis", args
-        @retry_attempt
+        Resque.redis.expire(retry_key, @retry_delay.to_i + @expire_retry_key_after.to_i) if @expire_retry_key_after
       end
 
       # Resque after_perform hook
diff --git a/test/multiple_failure_test.rb b/test/multiple_failure_test.rb
index 307ef37..7d9a614 100644
--- a/test/multiple_failure_test.rb
+++ b/test/multiple_failure_test.rb
@@ -130,6 +130,16 @@ def test_custom_retry_identifier_job
     assert_equal 1, MockFailureBackend.errors.size
   end
 
+  def test_failure_with_retry_bumps_key_expire
+    Resque.enqueue(FailFiveTimesWithExpiryJob, 'foo')
+    retry_key = FailFiveTimesWithExpiryJob.redis_retry_key('foo')
+
+    Resque.redis.expects(:expire).times(4).with(retry_key, 3600)
+    4.times do
+      perform_next_job(@worker)
+    end
+  end
+
   def teardown
     Resque::Failure.backend = @old_failure_backend
   end
diff --git a/test/retry_test.rb b/test/retry_test.rb
index 990318d..ea8ed4e 100644
--- a/test/retry_test.rb
+++ b/test/retry_test.rb
@@ -265,4 +265,9 @@ def test_retry_delay
     assert_equal 13, PerExceptionClassRetryCountJob.retry_delay(Timeout::Error)
   end
 
+  def test_expire_key_set
+    Resque.redis.expects(:expire).once.with(ExpiringJob.redis_retry_key('expiry_test'), 3600)
+    Resque.enqueue(ExpiringJob, 'expiry_test')
+    perform_next_job(@worker)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/test_jobs.rb b/test/test_jobs.rb
index 96ae112..90ae2fd 100644
--- a/test/test_jobs.rb
+++ b/test/test_jobs.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,15 @@ def self.perform(*args)
   end
 end
 
+class ExpiringJob
+  extend Resque::Plugins::Retry
+  @queue = :testing
+  @expire_retry_key_after = 60 * 60
+
+  def self.perform(*args)
+  end
+end
+
 class RetryDefaultSettingsJob
   extend Resque::Plugins::Retry
   @queue = :testing
@@ -135,6 +144,16 @@ def self.perform(*args)
   end
 end
 
+class FailFiveTimesWithExpiryJob < RetryDefaultsJob
+  @queue = :testing
+  @retry_limit = 6
+  @expire_retry_key_after = 60 * 60
+
+  def self.perform(*args)
+    raise if retry_attempt <= 4
+  end
+end
+
 class ExponentialBackoffJob < RetryDefaultsJob
   extend Resque::Plugins::ExponentialBackoff
   @queue = :testing