diff --git a/data/queue.py b/data/queue.py
index dcb031fa5..601092982 100644
--- a/data/queue.py
+++ b/data/queue.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class WorkQueue(object):
       dim = {'queue': self._queue_name}
       self._metric_queue.put_deprecated('Running', running_count, dimensions=dim)
       self._metric_queue.put_deprecated('AvailableNotRunning', available_not_running_count,
-                                                               dimensions=dim)
+                                        dimensions=dim)
       self._metric_queue.put_deprecated('Available', available_count, dimensions=dim)
 
       self._metric_queue.work_queue_running.set(running_count, labelvalues=[self._queue_name])
@@ -135,23 +135,17 @@ class WorkQueue(object):
     Put an item, if it shouldn't be processed for some number of seconds,
     specify that amount as available_after. Returns the ID of the queue item added.
     """
-
-    params = {
-      'queue_name': self._canonical_name([self._queue_name] + canonical_name_list),
-      'body': message,
-      'retries_remaining': retries_remaining,
-    }
-
-    available_date = datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(seconds=available_after or 0)
-    params['available_after'] = available_date
-
-    with self._transaction_factory(db):
-      r = str(QueueItem.create(**params).id)
+    item = QueueItem.create(
+      queue_name=self._canonical_name([self._queue_name] + canonical_name_list),
+      body=message,
+      retries_remaining=retries_remaining,
+      available_after=datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(seconds=available_after or 0),
+    )
 
     if self._metric_queue:
       self._metric_queue.put_deprecated('Added', 1, dimensions={'queue': self._queue_name})
 
-    return r
+    return str(item.id)
 
   def get(self, processing_time=300, ordering_required=False):
     """