diff --git a/paddles/controllers/jobs.py b/paddles/controllers/jobs.py
index 3d5cd73..8746f89 100644
--- a/paddles/controllers/jobs.py
+++ b/paddles/controllers/jobs.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import logging
-from sqlalchemy import Sequence
 from sqlalchemy.orm import load_only
 
-from pecan import expose, abort, request, conf
+from pecan import expose, abort, request
 
 from paddles import models
 from paddles.decorators import retryOperation
@@ -126,45 +125,38 @@ def index_post(self):
             data = request.json
             if not data:
                 raise ValueError()
-            config = dict(conf.sqlalchemy)
-            if 'sqlite' in config['url']:
-                # Need this check since Sequence is not supported in SQLite
-                job = Session.query(Job).order_by(Job.id.desc()).first()
-                if job:
-                    job_id = job.id + 1
-                else:
-                    job_id = 1
-            else:
-                job_id = Session.execute(Sequence('jobs_id_seq'))
-            job_id = str(job_id)
-            data['job_id'] = job_id
-            data['id'] = int(job_id)
         except ValueError:
             rollback()
             error('/errors/invalid/', 'could not decode JSON body')
         # we allow empty data to be pushed
-        if not job_id:
-            error('/errors/invalid/', "could not find required key: 'job_id'")
         self.run = self._find_run()
         if not self.run: self._create_run()
 
-        job_id = data['job_id'] = str(job_id)
-
-        self._create_job(job_id, data)
-        return dict({'job_id':job_id})
+        job = self._create_job(data)
+        return dict({'job_id':job.job_id})
 
     @retryOperation
-    def _create_job(self, job_id, data):
-        query = Job.query.options(load_only('id', 'job_id'))
-        query = query.filter_by(job_id=job_id, run=self.run)
-        if query.first():
-            error('/errors/invalid/',
-                  "job with job_id %s already exists" % job_id)
-        else:
-            log.info("Creating job: %s/ Job ID: %s", data.get('name', '<no name!>'),
+    def _create_job(self, data):
+        if "job_id" in data:
+            job_id = data['job_id']
+            job_id = str(job_id)
+            query = Job.query.options(load_only('id', 'job_id'))
+            query = query.filter_by(job_id=job_id, run=self.run)
+            if query.first():
+                error('/errors/invalid/',
+                      "job with job_id %s already exists" % job_id)
+            else:
+                log.info("Creating job: %s/%s", data.get('name', '<no name!>'),
                      job_id)
+                self.job = Job(data, self.run)
+                Session.commit()
+                return self.job
+        else:
+            # with paddles as queue backend, we generate job ID here
             self.job = Job(data, self.run)
+            self.job.job_id = self.job.id
             Session.commit()
+            log.info("Job ID of created job is %s", self.job.job_id)
             return self.job
 
     @expose('json')
diff --git a/paddles/controllers/queue.py b/paddles/controllers/queue.py
index 56e75d9..0d41432 100644
--- a/paddles/controllers/queue.py
+++ b/paddles/controllers/queue.py
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ def index_put(self):
     def pop_queue(self, queue):
         queue_name = queue
         queue = Queue.filter_by(queue=queue_name).first()
+        if queue is None:
+            log.info("%s queue is empty! No jobs to retrieve", queue_name)
+            return None
         if queue.paused is True:
             error('/errors/unavailable', "queue is paused, cannot retrieve job")
             return
diff --git a/paddles/models/jobs.py b/paddles/models/jobs.py
index 12a38ff..054792a 100644
--- a/paddles/models/jobs.py
+++ b/paddles/models/jobs.py
@@ -139,8 +139,6 @@ class Job(Base):
     def __init__(self, json_data, run):
         self.run = run
         self.posted = datetime.utcnow()
-        self.id = json_data['id']
-        self.job_id = json_data['job_id']
         self.set_or_update(json_data)
 
     def set_or_update(self, json_data):