diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f23b704..1800302 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@ defer conn.Close()
 
 consumer, err := rabbitmq.NewConsumer(
 	conn,
-	func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
-		log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
-		// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
-		return rabbitmq.Ack
-	},
 	"my_queue",
 	rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsRoutingKey("my_routing_key"),
 	rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsExchangeName("events"),
@@ -58,6 +53,15 @@ if err != nil {
 	log.Fatal(err)
 }
 defer consumer.Close()
+
+err = consumer.Run(func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
+	log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
+	// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
+	return rabbitmq.Ack
+})
+if err != nil {
+	log.Fatal(err)
+}
 ```
 
 ## 🚀 Quick Start Publisher
diff --git a/consume.go b/consume.go
index 3d05a77..4517c5d 100644
--- a/consume.go
+++ b/consume.go
@@ -44,12 +44,9 @@ type Delivery struct {
 	amqp.Delivery
 }
 
-// NewConsumer returns a new Consumer connected to the given rabbitmq server
-// it also starts consuming on the given connection with automatic reconnection handling
-// Do not reuse the returned consumer for anything other than to close it
+// NewConsumer returns a new Consumer connected to the given rabbitmq server.
 func NewConsumer(
 	conn *Conn,
-	handler Handler,
 	queue string,
 	optionFuncs ...func(*ConsumerOptions),
 ) (*Consumer, error) {
@@ -78,30 +75,32 @@ func NewConsumer(
 		isClosed:                   false,
 	}
 
-	err = consumer.startGoroutines(
+	return consumer, nil
+}
+
+// Run starts consuming with automatic reconnection handling. Do not reuse the
+// consumer for anything other than to close it.
+func (consumer *Consumer) Run(handler Handler) error {
+	err := consumer.startGoroutines(
 		handler,
-		*options,
+		consumer.options,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	go func() {
-		for err := range consumer.reconnectErrCh {
-			consumer.options.Logger.Infof("successful consumer recovery from: %v", err)
-			err = consumer.startGoroutines(
-				handler,
-				*options,
-			)
-			if err != nil {
-				consumer.options.Logger.Fatalf("error restarting consumer goroutines after cancel or close: %v", err)
-				consumer.options.Logger.Fatalf("consumer closing, unable to recover")
-				return
-			}
+	for err := range consumer.reconnectErrCh {
+		consumer.options.Logger.Infof("successful consumer recovery from: %v", err)
+		err = consumer.startGoroutines(
+			handler,
+			consumer.options,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("error restarting consumer goroutines after cancel or close: %w", err)
 		}
-	}()
+	}
 
-	return consumer, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Close cleans up resources and closes the consumer.
diff --git a/examples/consumer/main.go b/examples/consumer/main.go
index 7c68733..3912b18 100644
--- a/examples/consumer/main.go
+++ b/examples/consumer/main.go
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@ func main() {
 
 	consumer, err := rabbitmq.NewConsumer(
 		conn,
-		func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
-			log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
-			// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
-			return rabbitmq.Ack
-		},
 		"my_queue",
 		rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsRoutingKey("my_routing_key"),
 		rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsExchangeName("events"),
@@ -35,22 +30,29 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	defer consumer.Close()
 
-	// block main thread - wait for shutdown signal
 	sigs := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
-	done := make(chan bool, 1)
 
 	signal.Notify(sigs, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
 
 	go func() {
+		fmt.Println("awaiting signal")
 		sig := <-sigs
+
 		fmt.Println()
 		fmt.Println(sig)
-		done <- true
+		fmt.Println("stopping consumer")
+
+		consumer.Close()
 	}()
 
-	fmt.Println("awaiting signal")
-	<-done
-	fmt.Println("stopping consumer")
+	// block main thread - wait for shutdown signal
+	err = consumer.Run(func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
+		log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
+		// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
+		return rabbitmq.Ack
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/examples/multiconsumer/main.go b/examples/multiconsumer/main.go
index 42abf66..90a4cc6 100644
--- a/examples/multiconsumer/main.go
+++ b/examples/multiconsumer/main.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 
 	rabbitmq "github.com/wagslane/go-rabbitmq"
@@ -22,11 +23,6 @@ func main() {
 
 	consumer, err := rabbitmq.NewConsumer(
 		conn,
-		func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
-			log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
-			// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
-			return rabbitmq.Ack
-		},
 		"my_queue",
 		rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsConcurrency(2),
 		rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsConsumerName("consumer_1"),
@@ -38,15 +34,9 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	defer consumer.Close()
 
 	consumer2, err := rabbitmq.NewConsumer(
 		conn,
-		func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
-			log.Printf("consumed 2: %v", string(d.Body))
-			// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
-			return rabbitmq.Ack
-		},
 		"my_queue",
 		rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsConcurrency(2),
 		rabbitmq.WithConsumerOptionsConsumerName("consumer_2"),
@@ -56,22 +46,57 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	defer consumer2.Close()
 
-	// block main thread - wait for shutdown signal
 	sigs := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
-	done := make(chan bool, 1)
+	errs := make(chan error, 1)
 
 	signal.Notify(sigs, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
 
 	go func() {
-		sig := <-sigs
-		fmt.Println()
-		fmt.Println(sig)
-		done <- true
+		fmt.Println("awaiting signal")
+		select {
+		case sig := <-sigs:
+			fmt.Println()
+			fmt.Println(sig)
+		case err := <-errs:
+			log.Print(err)
+		}
+
+		fmt.Println("stopping consumers")
+
+		consumer.Close()
+		consumer2.Close()
+	}()
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+
+	wg.Add(2)
+
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+
+		err := consumer.Run(func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
+			log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
+			// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
+			return rabbitmq.Ack
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			errs <- err
+		}
+	}()
+
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+
+		err := consumer2.Run(func(d rabbitmq.Delivery) rabbitmq.Action {
+			log.Printf("consumed: %v", string(d.Body))
+			// rabbitmq.Ack, rabbitmq.NackDiscard, rabbitmq.NackRequeue
+			return rabbitmq.Ack
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			errs <- err
+		}
 	}()
 
-	fmt.Println("awaiting signal")
-	<-done
-	fmt.Println("stopping consumer")
+	wg.Wait()
 }