diff --git a/lib/sneakers/handlers/maxretry.rb b/lib/sneakers/handlers/maxretry.rb
index c51b7496..2e07fe3a 100644
--- a/lib/sneakers/handlers/maxretry.rb
+++ b/lib/sneakers/handlers/maxretry.rb
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ def initialize(channel, queue, opts)
 
       def self.configure_queue(name, opts)
         retry_name = opts.fetch(:retry_exchange, "#{name}-retry")
-        opts.merge(arguments: { "x-dead-letter-exchange": retry_name })
+        opts[:arguments] ||= {}
+        opts[:arguments][:'x-dead-letter-exchange'] = retry_name
+        opts
       end
 
       def acknowledge(hdr, props, msg)
diff --git a/spec/sneakers/worker_handlers_spec.rb b/spec/sneakers/worker_handlers_spec.rb
index 7d3f15a7..abd2f908 100644
--- a/spec/sneakers/worker_handlers_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/sneakers/worker_handlers_spec.rb
@@ -326,5 +326,21 @@ def publish(data, opts)
         worker.do_work(@header, @props, :wait, @handler)
       end
     end
+
+    describe '.configure_queue' do
+      subject do
+        Sneakers::Handlers::Maxretry.configure_queue('name', { foo: 'bar', arguments: { 'x-max-priority': 10 } })
+      end
+
+      it 'merges with existing queue arguments' do
+        subject.must_equal({
+                             foo: 'bar',
+                             arguments: {
+                               'x-max-priority': 10,
+                               'x-dead-letter-exchange': 'name-retry'
+                             }
+                           })
+      end
+    end
   end
 end