diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4367c6b0..db2ddad3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Solid Queue can be used with SQL databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite,
   - [Validating the configuration](#validating-the-configuration)
 - [Lifecycle hooks](#lifecycle-hooks)
 - [Errors when enqueuing](#errors-when-enqueuing)
+  - [Holding jobs while the database is unreachable](#holding-jobs-while-the-database-is-unreachable)
 - [Concurrency controls](#concurrency-controls)
   - [Performance considerations](#performance-considerations)
 - [Failed jobs and retries](#failed-jobs-and-retries)
@@ -453,6 +454,8 @@ There are several settings that control how Solid Queue works that you can set a
 - `preserve_finished_jobs`: whether to keep finished jobs in the `solid_queue_jobs` table—defaults to `true`.
 - `clear_finished_jobs_after`: period to keep finished jobs around, in case `preserve_finished_jobs` is true — defaults to 1 day. When installing Solid Queue, [a recurring job](#recurring-tasks) is automatically configured to clear finished jobs every hour on the 12th minute in batches. You can edit the `recurring.yml` configuration to change this as you see fit.
 - `default_concurrency_control_period`: the value to be used as the default for the `duration` parameter in [concurrency controls](#concurrency-controls). It defaults to 3 minutes.
+- `buffer_enqueues_on_database_error`: whether to hold jobs in memory when the queue database can't be reached, and enqueue them once it's back, instead of raising—defaults to `false`. See [Holding jobs while the database is unreachable](#holding-jobs-while-the-database-is-unreachable).
+- `enqueue_buffer_size`: how many jobs each process can hold while the queue database can't be reached, when `buffer_enqueues_on_database_error` is enabled—defaults to 1,000.
 
 ### Validating the configuration
 
@@ -525,6 +528,15 @@ Solid Queue will raise a `SolidQueue::Job::EnqueueError` for any Active Record e
 
 In the case of recurring tasks, if such error is raised when enqueuing the job corresponding to the task, it'll be handled and logged but it won't bubble up.
 
+### Holding jobs while the database is unreachable
+
+If the queue database goes down, every `perform_later` raises and the job is lost. With `config.solid_queue.buffer_enqueues_on_database_error = true`, Solid Queue instead holds jobs in memory when enqueuing fails because the database can't be reached (`ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished` or `ActiveRecord::ConnectionFailed`), reports them as enqueued, and enqueues them from a background thread once the database is back, retrying with increasing waits of up to 30 seconds. This applies to `perform_later` and `perform_all_later` alike. Any other error raises as usual.
+
+Keep in mind:
+- Held jobs live in the process that enqueued them. If that process crashes, they're lost. On a normal exit, Solid Queue tries once more to enqueue them.
+- Each process holds at most `enqueue_buffer_size` jobs. Once that's reached, enqueuing raises `SolidQueue::Job::EnqueueError` as it does without buffering.
+- A held job has no `provider_job_id` until it's actually enqueued.
+
 ## Concurrency controls
 
 Solid Queue extends Active Job with concurrency controls, that allows you to limit how many jobs of a certain type or with certain arguments can run at the same time. When limited in this way, **by default, jobs will be blocked from running**, and they'll stay blocked until another job finishes and unblocks them, or after the set expiry time (concurrency limit's _duration_) elapses.
diff --git a/app/models/solid_queue/job.rb b/app/models/solid_queue/job.rb
index cb8f25be..a588db86 100644
--- a/app/models/solid_queue/job.rb
+++ b/app/models/solid_queue/job.rb
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ def enqueue_all(active_jobs)
         end
 
         active_jobs.count(&:successfully_enqueued?)
+      rescue *EnqueueBuffer::CONNECTION_ERRORS => error
+        raise unless EnqueueBuffer.hold(active_jobs, error)
+        active_jobs.size
       end
 
       def enqueue(active_job, scheduled_at: Time.current)
@@ -48,6 +51,8 @@ def enqueue(active_job, scheduled_at: Time.current)
           active_job.provider_job_id = enqueued_job.id if enqueued_job.persisted?
           active_job.successfully_enqueued = enqueued_job.persisted?
         end
+      rescue EnqueueError => error
+        raise unless EnqueueBuffer.hold([ active_job ], error.cause)
       end
 
       private
diff --git a/lib/solid_queue.rb b/lib/solid_queue.rb
index fbc2f5e6..c394f44f 100644
--- a/lib/solid_queue.rb
+++ b/lib/solid_queue.rb
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ module SolidQueue
   mattr_accessor :clear_finished_jobs_after, default: 1.day
   mattr_accessor :default_concurrency_control_period, default: 3.minutes
 
+  mattr_accessor :buffer_enqueues_on_database_error, default: false
+  mattr_accessor :enqueue_buffer_size, default: 1_000
+
   mattr_reader :time_zone
 
   def time_zone=(zone)
diff --git a/lib/solid_queue/enqueue_buffer.rb b/lib/solid_queue/enqueue_buffer.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7ac4b02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/solid_queue/enqueue_buffer.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module SolidQueue
+  # Holds jobs in memory while the queue database can't be reached, and enqueues
+  # them once it's back, instead of raising and losing them. Opt-in with
+  # +SolidQueue.buffer_enqueues_on_database_error+.
+  #
+  # The buffer lives in the enqueuing process: jobs held when that process
+  # crashes are lost. A normal exit tries once more to enqueue what's left.
+  module EnqueueBuffer
+    extend self
+    extend AppExecutor
+
+    CONNECTION_ERRORS = [ ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished, ActiveRecord::ConnectionFailed ].freeze
+    MIN_RETRY_INTERVAL = 1.second
+    MAX_RETRY_INTERVAL = 30.seconds
+
+    # Held jobs belong to the process that held them. A forked child starts
+    # empty, so it can't enqueue its parent's jobs a second time, and gets its
+    # own flusher, since threads don't survive a fork.
+    def reset
+      @jobs = []
+      @mutex = Mutex.new
+      @flusher = nil
+    end
+
+    reset
+    ActiveSupport::ForkTracker.after_fork { reset }
+
+    # Holds +active_jobs+ when +error+ means the database can't be reached,
+    # buffering is enabled and the buffer has room for all of them. Held jobs
+    # count as enqueued.
+    def hold(active_jobs, error)
+      return false unless holdable?(error)
+
+      held = mutex.synchronize do
+        if jobs.size + active_jobs.size <= SolidQueue.enqueue_buffer_size
+          jobs.concat(active_jobs)
+          start_flushing
+          true
+        end
+      end
+
+      SolidQueue.instrument(:buffer_enqueue, size: active_jobs.size, held: !!held, error: error)
+      active_jobs.each { |job| job.successfully_enqueued = true } if held
+
+      !!held
+    end
+
+    # Tries to enqueue every held job. Returns false when the database still
+    # can't be reached, putting the jobs back to try again later.
+    def flush
+      batch = mutex.synchronize { jobs.shift(jobs.size) }
+      return true if batch.empty?
+
+      SolidQueue.instrument(:flush_enqueue_buffer, size: batch.size) do
+        flushing { wrap_in_app_executor { Job.enqueue_all(batch) } }
+      end
+      true
+    rescue *CONNECTION_ERRORS
+      mutex.synchronize { jobs.unshift(*batch) }
+      false
+    rescue StandardError => error
+      # Anything but an unreachable database won't fix itself by retrying:
+      # report it, as other Solid Queue thread errors are, and drop the batch.
+      handle_thread_error(error)
+      true
+    end
+
+    def size
+      mutex.synchronize { jobs.size }
+    end
+
+    private
+      def holdable?(error)
+        SolidQueue.buffer_enqueues_on_database_error &&
+          CONNECTION_ERRORS.any? { |error_class| error.is_a?(error_class) } &&
+          !Thread.current[:solid_queue_flushing_enqueue_buffer]
+      end
+
+      def flushing
+        Thread.current[:solid_queue_flushing_enqueue_buffer] = true
+        yield
+      ensure
+        Thread.current[:solid_queue_flushing_enqueue_buffer] = false
+      end
+
+      # Called with the mutex held.
+      def start_flushing
+        @flusher ||= create_thread { flush_until_empty }
+        @exit_hook ||= at_exit { flush_on_exit }
+      end
+
+      def flush_until_empty
+        interval = MIN_RETRY_INTERVAL
+
+        loop do
+          sleep interval
+          interval = flush ? MIN_RETRY_INTERVAL : [ interval * 2, MAX_RETRY_INTERVAL ].min
+          break if stop_flushing_if_empty
+        end
+      end
+
+      def flush_on_exit
+        SolidQueue.instrument(:lose_held_jobs, size: size) unless flush
+      end
+
+      # Decided under the mutex, so a job held right after the check starts a
+      # new flusher instead of waiting for one that is about to exit.
+      def stop_flushing_if_empty
+        mutex.synchronize do
+          @flusher = nil if jobs.empty?
+          @flusher.nil?
+        end
+      end
+
+      attr_reader :jobs, :mutex
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/solid_queue/log_subscriber.rb b/lib/solid_queue/log_subscriber.rb
index fd4f54fd..eb4b5777 100644
--- a/lib/solid_queue/log_subscriber.rb
+++ b/lib/solid_queue/log_subscriber.rb
@@ -133,6 +133,24 @@ def deregister_process(event)
     end
   end
 
+  def buffer_enqueue(event)
+    attributes = event.payload.slice(:size, :held).merge(error: formatted_error(event.payload[:error]))
+
+    if event.payload[:held]
+      warn formatted_event(event, action: "Hold jobs until the database is reachable", **attributes)
+    else
+      error formatted_event(event, action: "Enqueue buffer full, jobs not held", **attributes)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def flush_enqueue_buffer(event)
+    info formatted_event(event, action: "Enqueue held jobs", **event.payload.slice(:size))
+  end
+
+  def lose_held_jobs(event)
+    error formatted_event(event, action: "Lose held jobs on exit, the database is still unreachable", **event.payload.slice(:size))
+  end
+
   def prune_processes(event)
     debug formatted_event(event, action: "Prune dead processes", **event.payload.slice(:size))
   end
diff --git a/test/unit/enqueue_buffer_test.rb b/test/unit/enqueue_buffer_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c0623b69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/enqueue_buffer_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require "test_helper"
+
+class EnqueueBufferTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
+  self.use_transactional_tests = false
+
+  setup do
+    SolidQueue.buffer_enqueues_on_database_error = true
+    # The flusher thread is exercised on its own; elsewhere flush by hand.
+    SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.stubs(:start_flushing)
+  end
+
+  teardown do
+    SolidQueue.buffer_enqueues_on_database_error = false
+    SolidQueue.enqueue_buffer_size = 1_000
+    SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.reset
+  end
+
+  test "an enqueue that can't reach the database is held and reported as enqueued" do
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+
+    job = AddToBufferJob.set(queue: :critical, priority: 7).perform_later(42)
+
+    assert job.successfully_enqueued?
+    assert_nil job.provider_job_id
+    assert_equal 1, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+    assert_equal 0, SolidQueue::Job.count
+  end
+
+  test "held jobs are enqueued as they were once the database is back" do
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+    job = AddToBufferJob.set(queue: :critical, priority: 7, wait: 5.minutes).perform_later(42)
+    SolidQueue::Job.unstub(:create!)
+
+    assert SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.flush
+
+    enqueued = SolidQueue::Job.find_by!(active_job_id: job.job_id)
+    assert_equal [ "critical", 7 ], [ enqueued.queue_name, enqueued.priority ]
+    assert_in_delta job.scheduled_at, enqueued.scheduled_at, 1.second
+    assert enqueued.scheduled?
+    assert_equal enqueued.id, job.provider_job_id
+    assert_equal 0, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "a bulk enqueue that can't reach the database is held as a whole" do
+    database_unreachable_for(:insert_all, ActiveRecord::ConnectionFailed)
+    jobs = [ AddToBufferJob.new(1), AddToBufferJob.new(2) ]
+
+    assert_equal 2, SolidQueue::Job.enqueue_all(jobs)
+
+    assert jobs.all?(&:successfully_enqueued?)
+    assert_equal 2, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "held jobs stay held while the database is still unreachable" do
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+    AddToBufferJob.perform_later(42)
+    database_unreachable_for(:insert_all)
+
+    assert_not SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.flush
+    assert_equal 1, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "enqueue errors raise as before when buffering is off" do
+    SolidQueue.buffer_enqueues_on_database_error = false
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+
+    assert_raises(SolidQueue::Job::EnqueueError) { AddToBufferJob.perform_later(42) }
+    assert_equal 0, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "errors other than an unreachable database still raise" do
+    SolidQueue::Job.stubs(:create!).raises(ActiveRecord::StatementInvalid)
+
+    assert_raises(SolidQueue::Job::EnqueueError) { AddToBufferJob.perform_later(42) }
+    assert_equal 0, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "enqueues raise once the buffer is full" do
+    SolidQueue.enqueue_buffer_size = 1
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+    AddToBufferJob.perform_later(1)
+
+    assert_raises(SolidQueue::Job::EnqueueError) { AddToBufferJob.perform_later(2) }
+    assert_equal 1, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "the flusher enqueues held jobs in the background and then stops" do
+    SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.unstub(:start_flushing)
+    SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.stubs(:sleep)
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!) # the flusher enqueues through insert_all, which works
+
+    job = AddToBufferJob.perform_later(42)
+
+    wait_for(timeout: 5.seconds) { SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.instance_variable_get(:@flusher).nil? }
+    assert SolidQueue::Job.exists?(active_job_id: job.job_id)
+    assert_equal 0, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  test "held jobs still unenqueued at exit are reported as lost" do
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+    AddToBufferJob.perform_later(42)
+    database_unreachable_for(:insert_all)
+    lost = []
+    subscriber = ActiveSupport::Notifications.subscribe("lose_held_jobs.solid_queue") { |event| lost << event.payload[:size] }
+
+    SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.send(:flush_on_exit)
+
+    assert_equal [ 1 ], lost
+  ensure
+    ActiveSupport::Notifications.unsubscribe(subscriber)
+  end
+
+  test "a forked child doesn't inherit held jobs" do
+    database_unreachable_for(:create!)
+    AddToBufferJob.perform_later(42)
+
+    reader, writer = IO.pipe
+    pid = fork do
+      reader.close
+      writer.puts SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+      writer.close
+    end
+    writer.close
+    Process.wait(pid)
+
+    assert_equal "0", reader.read.strip
+    assert_equal 1, SolidQueue::EnqueueBuffer.size
+  end
+
+  private
+    def database_unreachable_for(method, error = ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished)
+      SolidQueue::Job.stubs(method).raises(error)
+    end
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/log_subscriber_test.rb b/test/unit/log_subscriber_test.rb
index 9e239923..ab63f334 100644
--- a/test/unit/log_subscriber_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/log_subscriber_test.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,34 @@ def set_logger(logger)
     assert_match_logged :debug, "Release blocked job", "job_id: 42, concurrency_key: \"foo/1\", released: true"
   end
 
+  test "jobs held while the database is unreachable" do
+    attach_log_subscriber
+    instrument "buffer_enqueue.solid_queue", size: 2, held: true, error: ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished.new("connection refused")
+
+    assert_match_logged :warn, "Hold jobs until the database is reachable", "size: 2, held: true, error: \"ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished connection refused\""
+  end
+
+  test "jobs not held because the enqueue buffer is full" do
+    attach_log_subscriber
+    instrument "buffer_enqueue.solid_queue", size: 1, held: false, error: ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished.new("connection refused")
+
+    assert_match_logged :error, "Enqueue buffer full, jobs not held", "size: 1, held: false"
+  end
+
+  test "held jobs enqueued" do
+    attach_log_subscriber
+    instrument "flush_enqueue_buffer.solid_queue", size: 3
+
+    assert_match_logged :info, "Enqueue held jobs", "size: 3"
+  end
+
+  test "held jobs lost on exit" do
+    attach_log_subscriber
+    instrument "lose_held_jobs.solid_queue", size: 4
+
+    assert_match_logged :error, "Lose held jobs on exit, the database is still unreachable", "size: 4"
+  end
+
   test "unblock many jobs" do
     attach_log_subscriber
     instrument "release_many_blocked.solid_queue", limit: 42, size: 10