diff --git a/rally/benchmark/engine.py b/rally/benchmark/engine.py
index 407898d900..a069f516bc 100644
--- a/rally/benchmark/engine.py
+++ b/rally/benchmark/engine.py
@@ -167,6 +167,6 @@ class TestEngine(object):
 
     def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback):
         if exc_type is not None:
-            self.task.update_status(consts.TaskStatus.FAILED)
+            self.task.set_failed()
         else:
             self.task.update_status(consts.TaskStatus.FINISHED)
diff --git a/rally/objects/task.py b/rally/objects/task.py
index 605d3d358e..7c4c686a05 100644
--- a/rally/objects/task.py
+++ b/rally/objects/task.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+from rally import consts
 from rally import db
 
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ class Task(object):
         self._update({'verification_log': log})
 
     def set_failed(self):
-        self._update({'failed': True})
+        self._update({'failed': True, 'status': consts.TaskStatus.FAILED})
 
     def append_results(self, key, value):
         db.task_result_create(self.task['uuid'], key, value)
diff --git a/tests/benchmark/test_engine.py b/tests/benchmark/test_engine.py
index f66313a400..1bebc58bbc 100644
--- a/tests/benchmark/test_engine.py
+++ b/tests/benchmark/test_engine.py
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class TestEngineTestCase(test.TestCase):
         s = consts.TaskStatus
         expected = [
             mock.call.update_status(s.TEST_TOOL_BENCHMARKING),
-            mock.call.update_status(s.FAILED)
+            mock.call.set_failed(),
         ]
         # NOTE(msdubov): Ignore task['uuid'] calls which are used for logging
         mock_calls = filter(lambda call: '__getitem__' not in call[0],
diff --git a/tests/objects/test_task.py b/tests/objects/test_task.py
index a33e59e8de..b316305120 100644
--- a/tests/objects/test_task.py
+++ b/tests/objects/test_task.py
@@ -127,5 +127,5 @@ class TaskTestCase(test.TestCase):
         task.set_failed()
         mock_update.assert_called_once_with(
             self.task['uuid'],
-            {'failed': True},
+            {'failed': True, 'status': 'failed'},
         )