diff --git a/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py b/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py
index d2085639b..24b98a2e1 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class JobQueue(object):
     """This class allows you to periodically perform tasks with the bot.
 
     Attributes:
-        queue (:obj:`PriorityQueue`): The queue that holds the Jobs.
+        _queue (:obj:`PriorityQueue`): The queue that holds the Jobs.
         bot (:class:`telegram.Bot`): Bot that's send to the handlers.
 
     Args:
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class JobQueue(object):
         if prevent_autostart is not None:
             warnings.warn("prevent_autostart is being deprecated, use `start` method instead.")
 
-        self.queue = PriorityQueue()
+        self._queue = PriorityQueue()
         self.bot = bot
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(self.__class__.__name__)
         self.__start_lock = Lock()
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ class JobQueue(object):
                   tomorrow.
 
         """
-
         warnings.warn("'JobQueue.put' is being deprecated, use 'JobQueue.run_once', "
                       "'JobQueue.run_daily' or 'JobQueue.run_repeating' instead")
         if job.job_queue is None:
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ class JobQueue(object):
 
         self.logger.debug('Putting job %s with t=%f', job.name, next_t)
 
-        self.queue.put((next_t, job))
+        self._queue.put((next_t, job))
 
         # Wake up the loop if this job should be executed next
         self._set_next_peek(next_t)
@@ -196,7 +195,6 @@ class JobQueue(object):
             queue.
 
         """
-
         job = Job(callback,
                   interval=interval,
                   repeat=True,
@@ -227,7 +225,6 @@ class JobQueue(object):
             queue.
 
         """
-
         job = Job(callback,
                   interval=datetime.timedelta(days=1),
                   repeat=True,
@@ -250,14 +247,13 @@ class JobQueue(object):
 
     def tick(self):
         """Run all jobs that are due and re-enqueue them with their interval."""
-
         now = time.time()
 
         self.logger.debug('Ticking jobs with t=%f', now)
 
         while True:
             try:
-                t, job = self.queue.get(False)
+                t, job = self._queue.get(False)
             except Empty:
                 break
 
@@ -270,7 +266,7 @@ class JobQueue(object):
                 # 2. At the first iteration of the loop only if `self.put()` had triggered
                 #    `self.__tick` because `self._next_peek` wasn't set
                 self.logger.debug("Next task isn't due yet. Finished!")
-                self.queue.put((t, job))
+                self._queue.put((t, job))
                 self._set_next_peek(t)
                 break
 
@@ -298,7 +294,6 @@ class JobQueue(object):
 
     def start(self):
         """Starts the job_queue thread."""
-
         self.__start_lock.acquire()
 
         if not self._running:
@@ -335,7 +330,6 @@ class JobQueue(object):
 
     def stop(self):
         """Stops the thread."""
-
         with self.__start_lock:
             self._running = False
 
@@ -345,8 +339,8 @@ class JobQueue(object):
 
     def jobs(self):
         """Returns a tuple of all jobs that are currently in the ``JobQueue``."""
-
-        return tuple(job[1] for job in self.queue.queue if job)
+        with self._queue.mutex:
+            return tuple(job[1] for job in self._queue.queue if job)
 
 
 class Job(object):
@@ -407,7 +401,6 @@ class Job(object):
 
     def run(self, bot):
         """Executes the callback function."""
-
         self.callback(bot, self)
 
     def schedule_removal(self):
@@ -416,7 +409,6 @@ class Job(object):
         its callback function again.
 
         """
-
         self._remove.set()
 
     @property
@@ -459,10 +451,11 @@ class Job(object):
     @property
     def interval_seconds(self):
         """:obj:`int`: The interval for this job in seconds."""
-        if isinstance(self.interval, datetime.timedelta):
-            return self.interval.total_seconds()
+        interval = self.interval
+        if isinstance(interval, datetime.timedelta):
+            return interval.total_seconds()
         else:
-            return self.interval
+            return interval
 
     @property
     def repeat(self):
@@ -478,7 +471,6 @@ class Job(object):
     @property
     def days(self):
         """Tuple[:obj:`int`]: Optional. Defines on which days of the week the job should run."""
-
         return self._days
 
     @days.setter
@@ -498,7 +490,6 @@ class Job(object):
     @property
     def job_queue(self):
         """:class:`telegram.ext.JobQueue`: Optional. The ``JobQueue`` this job belongs to."""
-
         return self._job_queue
 
     @job_queue.setter
diff --git a/tests/test_jobqueue.py b/tests/test_jobqueue.py
index ae859e501..1b526151b 100644
--- a/tests/test_jobqueue.py
+++ b/tests/test_jobqueue.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class TestJobQueue(object):
         expected_time = time.time() + delta + 60 * 60 * 24
 
         job_queue.run_once(self.job_datetime_tests, when)
-        assert pytest.approx(job_queue.queue.get(False)[0]) == expected_time
+        assert pytest.approx(job_queue._queue.get(False)[0]) == expected_time
 
     def test_run_daily(self, job_queue):
         delta = 0.5
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class TestJobQueue(object):
         job_queue.run_daily(self.job_run_once, time_of_day)
         sleep(0.6)
         assert self.result == 1
-        assert pytest.approx(job_queue.queue.get(False)[0]) == expected_time
+        assert pytest.approx(job_queue._queue.get(False)[0]) == expected_time
 
     def test_warnings(self, job_queue):
         j = Job(self.job_run_once, repeat=False)