diff --git a/lib/pleroma/workers/worker_helper.ex b/lib/pleroma/workers/worker_helper.ex
index 6d27151de..8aef24fa5 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/workers/worker_helper.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/workers/worker_helper.ex
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ defmacro __using__(opts) do
     queue = Keyword.fetch!(opts, :queue)
     # by default just stop unintended duplicates - this can and should be overridden
     # if you want to have a more complex uniqueness constraint
-    uniqueness = Keyword.get(opts, :unique, period: 1)
+    uniqueness = Keyword.get(opts, :unique, [period: 1])
 
     quote do
       # Note: `max_attempts` is intended to be overridden in `new/2` call