diff --git a/handler.go b/handler.go
index 949887f..9383673 100644
--- a/handler.go
+++ b/handler.go
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 package rabbit
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	amqp "github.com/rabbitmq/amqp091-go"
 	"log"
+	"net"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -20,9 +22,11 @@ type Client struct {
 	notifyConfirm   chan amqp.Confirmation
 	isReady         bool
 	opts            options
+	connected       chan struct{}
 }
 
 type options struct {
+	connectTimeout    time.Duration
 	reconnectDelay    time.Duration
 	reInitDelay       time.Duration
 	resendDelay       time.Duration
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@ type options struct {
 	consumerBurstSize int
 }
 
-func NewClient(addr, queueName string, opts ...Option) *Client {
+func NewClient(addr, queueName string, opts ...Option) (*Client, error) {
 	if addr == "" {
 		log.Fatal(errNoAddr)
 	}
@@ -47,6 +51,7 @@ func NewClient(addr, queueName string, opts ...Option) *Client {
 	}
 
 	o := options{
+		connectTimeout:    15 * time.Second,
 		reconnectDelay:    5,
 		reInitDelay:       2,
 		resendDelay:       5,
@@ -58,9 +63,13 @@ func NewClient(addr, queueName string, opts ...Option) *Client {
 		opt(&o)
 	}
 
+	if err := client.connectAndSignal(addr, o.connectTimeout); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to connect: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	go client.handleReconnect(addr)
 
-	return &client
+	return &client, nil
 }
 
 func NewPublisher(client *Client) Publisher {
@@ -70,3 +79,16 @@ func NewPublisher(client *Client) Publisher {
 func NewConsumer(client *Client) Consumer {
 	return &consumeHandler{client: client}
 }
+
+func (c *Client) connectAndSignal(addr string, timeout time.Duration) error {
+	dialer := &net.Dialer{Timeout: timeout}
+	conn, err := amqp.DialConfig(addr, amqp.Config{
+		Dial: dialer.Dial,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	c.connection = conn
+	close(c.connected)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/options.go b/options.go
index aaa7828..37ad97c 100644
--- a/options.go
+++ b/options.go
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ import "time"
 
 type Option func(*options)
 
+func WithConnectTimeout(t time.Duration) Option {
+	return func(op *options) {
+		op.connectTimeout = t
+	}
+}
+
 func WithReconnectDelay(t time.Duration) Option {
 	return func(op *options) {
 		op.reconnectDelay = t