diff --git a/postgrestq/task_queue.py b/postgrestq/task_queue.py
index cb16761..f6deb17 100644
--- a/postgrestq/task_queue.py
+++ b/postgrestq/task_queue.py
@@ -98,6 +98,14 @@ def _create_queue_table(self) -> None:
                         )"""
                 ).format(sql.Identifier(self._table_name))
             )
+            cur.execute(
+                sql.SQL(
+                    """CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS
+                        task_queue_can_start_at_idx
+                        ON {} (can_start_at)
+                    """
+                ).format(sql.Identifier(self._table_name))
+            )
 
     def __len__(self) -> int:
         """