diff --git a/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb b/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
index 221e26975..0ca45704a 100644
--- a/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
+++ b/lib/delayed/backend/active_record.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+require 'active_record'
 
 class ActiveRecord::Base
   def self.load_for_delayed_job(id)
diff --git a/lib/delayed_job.rb b/lib/delayed_job.rb
index a1f211c68..22b089c6e 100644
--- a/lib/delayed_job.rb
+++ b/lib/delayed_job.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-autoload :ActiveRecord, 'activerecord'
-
 require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/delayed/message_sending'
 require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/delayed/performable_method'
 require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/delayed/backend/base'