diff --git a/lib/queue.js b/lib/queue.js
index 07a9517b..1942c4c0 100644
--- a/lib/queue.js
+++ b/lib/queue.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ module.exports = queue;
 
 function queue(options) {
   options = options || {};
-  var channel, consumerTag;
+  var channel, consumerTag, ready;
   var emitter = _.extend(new EventEmitter(), {
     name: options.name,
     options: _.extend({}, DEFAULT_QUEUE_OPTIONS, options),
@@ -38,10 +38,17 @@ function queue(options) {
   }
 
   function consume(callback, options) {
-    emitter.once("ready", function() {
+    if(ready){
       var opts = _.extend({}, DEFAULT_CONSUME_OPTIONS, options);
       channel.consume(emitter.name, onMessage, opts, onConsume);
-    });
+    }
+
+    else {
+      emitter.once("ready", function() {
+        var opts = _.extend({}, DEFAULT_CONSUME_OPTIONS, options);
+        channel.consume(emitter.name, onMessage, opts, onConsume);
+      });
+    }
 
     function onMessage(msg) {
       var data = parseMessage(msg);
@@ -132,6 +139,7 @@ function queue(options) {
   function onQueue(err, info) {
     if (err) return bail(err);
     emitter.name = info.queue;
+    ready = true;
     emitter.emit("ready");
   }
 }