PHP Get stuck when calling laravel dispach function

On my controller I call to dispach in order to add a job to the queue:

 $job = (new DoTheJob("test"));
 dispatch($job);

It seems that the call is stuck and there is no return to the client.
I have debugged it with dd(), it stops always before dispatch($job); but never after. which means, the dispach is stucking it.
The DoTheJob does nothing special in the contructor.
this is the config: QUEUE_DRIVER=database.
The jobs and failed_jobs tables are empty.
Any idea what might it be? (php 7.1).
Thanks

via Chebli Mohamed