diff --git a/lib/queue.js b/lib/queue.js
index a6ac3b2584..ab4a0354b0 100644
--- a/lib/queue.js
+++ b/lib/queue.js
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ Queue.prototype.shift = function () {
             return;
         }
     }
-    return this.head[this.offset++]; // sorry, JSLint
+    var item = this.head[this.offset];
+    this.head[this.offset] = null;
+    this.offset++;
+    return item;
 };
 
 Queue.prototype.push = function (item) {