diff --git a/gitlab-sidekiq/scripts/process-wrapper b/gitlab-sidekiq/scripts/process-wrapper
index c957e9a17fbaaaaec591229416ff6263a3c6b43b..f37f7d7dd96cd251ce2a9eab1823728c5b536c3f 100755
--- a/gitlab-sidekiq/scripts/process-wrapper
+++ b/gitlab-sidekiq/scripts/process-wrapper
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ if [ -n "${SIDEKIQ_NEGATE_QUEUES}" ]; then
     queues="${SIDEKIQ_NEGATE_QUEUES}"
     negate_flag='--negate'
 else
-    queues="${SIDEKIQ_QUEUES:-*}"
+    queues="${SIDEKIQ_QUEUES:-default,mailers}"
     negate_flag=''
 fi