diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Queue/InteractsWithQueue.php b/src/Illuminate/Queue/InteractsWithQueue.php
index 0ea699a2923a..bddd216f36ba 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Queue/InteractsWithQueue.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Queue/InteractsWithQueue.php
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ public function delete()
     /**
      * Fail the job from the queue.
      *
-     * @param  \Throwable  $e
+     * @param  \Throwable  $exception
      * @return void
      */
-    public function fail($e)
+    public function fail($exception = null)
     {
         if ($this->job) {
-            return $this->job->failed($e);
+            return $this->job->failed($exception ?: new ManuallyFailedException);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Queue/ManuallyFailedException.php b/src/Illuminate/Queue/ManuallyFailedException.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..30ac0ad3bc80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Queue/ManuallyFailedException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Illuminate\Queue;
+
+use RuntimeException;
+
+class ManuallyFailedException extends RuntimeException
+{
+}