diff --git a/luigi/worker.py b/luigi/worker.py
index c3ea777b8a..b32d448eb7 100644
--- a/luigi/worker.py
+++ b/luigi/worker.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def run(self):
                         # update the cache
                         if self.task_completion_cache is not None:
                             self.task_completion_cache[self.task.task_id] = True
-                        status = DONE
+                        status = DONE if self.task.complete() else FAILED
                     elif self.check_complete(self.task):
                         status = DONE
                     else: