diff --git a/lms/envs/aws.py b/lms/envs/aws.py
index d817c21a9c..6ee615b2ec 100644
--- a/lms/envs/aws.py
+++ b/lms/envs/aws.py
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ BULK_EMAIL_ROUTING_KEY = HIGH_PRIORITY_QUEUE
 BULK_EMAIL_ROUTING_KEY_SMALL_JOBS = LOW_PRIORITY_QUEUE
 
 # Queue to use for updating persistent grades
-RECALCULATE_GRADES_ROUTING_KEY = ENV_TOKENS.get('RECALCULATE_GRADES_ROUTING_KEY', RECALCULATE_GRADES_ROUTING_KEY)
+RECALCULATE_GRADES_ROUTING_KEY = ENV_TOKENS.get('RECALCULATE_GRADES_ROUTING_KEY', LOW_PRIORITY_QUEUE)
 
 # following setting is for backward compatibility
 if ENV_TOKENS.get('COMPREHENSIVE_THEME_DIR', None):