diff --git a/lib/sneakers/worker.rb b/lib/sneakers/worker.rb
index 7ea61d4..425f2c3 100644
--- a/lib/sneakers/worker.rb
+++ b/lib/sneakers/worker.rb
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ def process_work(delivery_info, metadata, msg, handler)
           block_to_call = middlewares.reverse.reduce(app) do |mem, h|
             h[:class].new(mem, *h[:args])
           end
+
+          # send acknowledgement right away if job is marked as idempotent
+          if @should_ack && deserialized_msg['is_idempotent']
+              handler.acknowledge(delivery_info, metadata, msg)
+          end
           res = block_to_call.call(deserialized_msg, delivery_info, metadata, handler)
         end
       rescue SignalException, SystemExit
@@ -89,7 +94,10 @@ def process_work(delivery_info, metadata, msg, handler)
         if @should_ack
           case res
           # note to future-self. never acknowledge multiple (multiple=true) messages under threads.
-          when :ack then handler.acknowledge(delivery_info, metadata, msg)
+          when :ack  
+            if !deserialized_msg['is_idempotent']
+              handler.acknowledge(delivery_info, metadata, msg)
+            end
           when :error then handler.error(delivery_info, metadata, msg, error)
           when :reject then handler.reject(delivery_info, metadata, msg)
           when :requeue then handler.reject(delivery_info, metadata, msg, true)