diff --git a/swh/scheduler/tests/test_utils.py b/swh/scheduler/tests/test_utils.py
--- a/swh/scheduler/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/swh/scheduler/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
                 'args': [],
                 'kwargs': {},
             },
-            'priority': None,
         }
 
         self.assertEqual(actual_task, expected_task)
@@ -54,3 +53,27 @@
 
         self.assertEqual(actual_task, expected_task)
         mock_datetime.now.assert_called_once_with(tz=timezone.utc)
+
+    @patch('swh.scheduler.utils.datetime')
+    def test_create_task_dict(self, mock_datetime):
+        mock_datetime.now.return_value = 'date'
+
+        actual_task = utils.create_task_dict(
+            'task-type', 'recurring', 'arg0', 'arg1',
+            priority='low', other_stuff='normal', retries_left=3
+        )
+
+        expected_task = {
+            'policy': 'recurring',
+            'type': 'task-type',
+            'next_run': 'date',
+            'arguments': {
+                'args': ('arg0', 'arg1'),
+                'kwargs': {'other_stuff': 'normal'},
+            },
+            'priority': 'low',
+            'retries_left': 3,
+        }
+
+        self.assertEqual(actual_task, expected_task)
+        mock_datetime.now.assert_called_once_with(tz=timezone.utc)
diff --git a/swh/scheduler/utils.py b/swh/scheduler/utils.py
--- a/swh/scheduler/utils.py
+++ b/swh/scheduler/utils.py
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@
         (swh.scheduler.backend.create_tasks)
 
     """
-    priority = None
-    if 'priority' in kwargs:
-        priority = kwargs.pop('priority')
-    return {
+    task = {
         'policy': policy,
         'type': type,
         'next_run': datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc),
@@ -51,9 +48,15 @@
             'args': args if args else [],
             'kwargs': kwargs if kwargs else {},
         },
-        'priority': priority,
     }
 
+    for extra_key in ['priority', 'retries_left']:
+        if extra_key in kwargs:
+            extra_val = kwargs.pop(extra_key)
+            task[extra_key] = extra_val
+
+    return task
+
 
 def create_oneshot_task_dict(type, *args, **kwargs):
     """Create a oneshot task scheduled for as soon as possible.