diff --git a/django_q/cluster.py b/django_q/cluster.py
index 403b649..3959e29 100644
--- a/django_q/cluster.py
+++ b/django_q/cluster.py
@@ -324,12 +324,12 @@ def monitor(result_queue, broker=None):
             save_cached(task, broker)
         else:
             save_task(task, broker)
-        # acknowledge and log the result
+        # acknowledge result
+        ack_id = task.pop('ack_id', False)
+        if ack_id and (task['success'] or task.get('ack_failure', False)):
+            broker.acknowledge(ack_id)
+        # log the result
         if task['success']:
-            # acknowledge
-            ack_id = task.pop('ack_id', False)
-            if ack_id:
-                broker.acknowledge(ack_id)
             # log success
             logger.info(_("Processed [{}]").format(task['name']))
         else:
diff --git a/django_q/conf.py b/django_q/conf.py
index e8afac1..2fd2e6e 100644
--- a/django_q/conf.py
+++ b/django_q/conf.py
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ class Conf(object):
     # Number of seconds to wait for a worker to finish.
     TIMEOUT = conf.get('timeout', None)
 
+    # Whether to acknowledge unsuccessful tasks.
+    # This causes failed tasks to be considered delivered, thereby removing them from
+    # the task queue. Defaults to False.
+    ACK_FAILURES = conf.get('ack_failures', False)
+
     # Number of seconds to wait for acknowledgement before retrying a task
     # Only works with brokers that guarantee delivery. Defaults to 60 seconds.
     RETRY = conf.get('retry', 60)
diff --git a/django_q/tasks.py b/django_q/tasks.py
index bf94a2a..04bbb2f 100644
--- a/django_q/tasks.py
+++ b/django_q/tasks.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from django_q.queues import Queue
 def async(func, *args, **kwargs):
     """Queue a task for the cluster."""
     keywords = kwargs.copy()
-    opt_keys = ('hook', 'group', 'save', 'sync', 'cached', 'iter_count', 'iter_cached', 'chain', 'broker')
+    opt_keys = ('hook', 'group', 'save', 'sync', 'cached', 'ack_failure', 'iter_count', 'iter_cached', 'chain', 'broker')
     q_options = keywords.pop('q_options', {})
     # get an id
     tag = uuid()
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ def async(func, *args, **kwargs):
         task['cached'] = Conf.CACHED
     if 'sync' not in task and Conf.SYNC:
         task['sync'] = Conf.SYNC
+    if 'ack_failure' not in task and Conf.ACK_FAILURES:
+        task['ack_failure'] = Conf.ACK_FAILURES
     # finalize
     task['kwargs'] = keywords
     task['started'] = timezone.now()
diff --git a/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py b/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py
index 15461d0..6c4b8c3 100644
--- a/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py
+++ b/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from django_q.tasks import fetch, fetch_group, async, result, result_group, coun
 from django_q.models import Task, Success
 from django_q.conf import Conf
 from django_q.status import Stat
-from django_q.brokers import get_broker
+from django_q.brokers import get_broker, Broker
 from django_q.tests.tasks import multiply
 from django_q.queues import Queue
 
@@ -379,6 +379,57 @@ def test_update_failed(broker):
     assert saved_task.success is True
     assert saved_task.result == 'result'
 
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+def test_acknowledge_failure_override():
+    class VerifyAckMockBroker(Broker):
+        def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            super(VerifyAckMockBroker, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+            self.acknowledgements = {}
+
+        def acknowledge(self, task_id):
+            count = self.acknowledgements.get(task_id, 0)
+            self.acknowledgements[task_id] = count + 1
+
+    tag = uuid()
+    task_fail_ack = {'id': tag[1],
+                     'name': tag[0],
+                     'ack_id': 'test_fail_ack_id',
+                     'ack_failure': True,
+                     'func': 'math.copysign',
+                     'args': (1, -1),
+                     'kwargs': {},
+                     'started': timezone.now(),
+                     'stopped': timezone.now(),
+                     'success': False,
+                     'result': None}
+
+    tag = uuid()
+    task_fail_no_ack = task_fail_ack.copy()
+    task_fail_no_ack.update({'id': tag[1],
+                             'name': tag[0],
+                             'ack_id': 'test_fail_no_ack_id'})
+    del task_fail_no_ack['ack_failure']
+
+    tag = uuid()
+    task_success_ack = task_fail_ack.copy()
+    task_success_ack.update({'id': tag[1],
+                             'name': tag[0],
+                             'ack_id': 'test_success_ack_id',
+                             'success': True,})
+    del task_success_ack['ack_failure']
+
+    result_queue = Queue()
+    result_queue.put(task_fail_ack)
+    result_queue.put(task_fail_no_ack)
+    result_queue.put(task_success_ack)
+    result_queue.put('STOP')
+    broker = VerifyAckMockBroker(list_key='key')
+
+    monitor(result_queue, broker)
+
+    assert broker.acknowledgements.get('test_fail_ack_id') == 1
+    assert broker.acknowledgements.get('test_fail_no_ack_id') is None
+    assert broker.acknowledgements.get('test_success_ack_id') == 1
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 def assert_result(task):
diff --git a/docs/architecture.rst b/docs/architecture.rst
index 5fab41a..062480a 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.rst
+++ b/docs/architecture.rst
@@ -20,9 +20,13 @@ Broker
 The broker collects task packages from the django instances and queues them for pick up by a cluster.
 If the broker supports message receipts, it will keep a copy of the tasks around until a cluster acknowledges the processing of the task.
 Otherwise it is put back in the queue after a timeout period. This ensure at-least-once delivery.
-Note that even if the task errors when processed by the cluster, this is considered a successful delivery.
 Most failed deliveries will be the result of a worker or the cluster crashing before the task was saved.
 
+.. note::
+   When the :ref:`ack_failures` option is set to ``False`` (the default), a task is
+   considered a failed delivery when it raises an ``Exception``. Set
+   this option to ``True`` to acknowledge failed tasks as successful.
+
 Pusher
 """"""
 
diff --git a/docs/configure.rst b/docs/configure.rst
index 9dddc1e..638de05 100644
--- a/docs/configure.rst
+++ b/docs/configure.rst
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ timeout
 The number of seconds a worker is allowed to spend on a task before it's terminated. Defaults to ``None``, meaning it will never time out.
 Set this to something that makes sense for your project. Can be overridden for individual tasks.
 
+.. _ack_failures:
+
+ack_failures
+~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+When set to ``True``, also acknowledge unsuccessful tasks. This causes failed tasks to be considered as successful deliveries, thereby removing them from the task queue. Can also be set per-task by passing the ``ack_failure`` option to :func:`async`. Defaults to ``False``.
+
 .. _retry:
 
 retry
diff --git a/docs/tasks.rst b/docs/tasks.rst
index 7b3160d..230d916 100644
--- a/docs/tasks.rst
+++ b/docs/tasks.rst
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ timeout
 """""""
 Overrides the cluster's timeout setting for this task.
 
+ack_failure
+"""""""""""
+Overrides the cluster's :ref:`ack_failures` setting for this task.
+
 sync
 """"
 Simulates a task execution synchronously. Useful for testing.
@@ -244,6 +248,7 @@ Reference
    :param str group: An optional group identifier
    :param int timeout: Overrides global cluster :ref:`timeout`.
    :param bool save: Overrides global save setting for this task.
+   :param bool ack_failure: Overrides the global :ref:`ack_failures` setting for this task.
    :param bool sync: If set to True, async will simulate a task execution
    :param cached: Output the result to the cache backend. Bool or timeout in seconds
    :param broker: Optional broker connection from :func:`brokers.get_broker`