diff --git a/lib/hutch/broker.rb b/lib/hutch/broker.rb
index f44a8fde..1245e1de 100644
--- a/lib/hutch/broker.rb
+++ b/lib/hutch/broker.rb
@@ -52,10 +52,11 @@ def set_up_amqp_connection
       open_channel!
 
       exchange_name = @config[:mq_exchange]
+      exchange_options = { durable: true }.merge @config[:mq_exchange_options]
       logger.info "using topic exchange '#{exchange_name}'"
 
       with_bunny_precondition_handler('exchange') do
-        @exchange = @channel.topic(exchange_name, durable: true)
+        @exchange = @channel.topic(exchange_name, exchange_options)
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/hutch/config.rb b/lib/hutch/config.rb
index 6dd89193..63e0469f 100644
--- a/lib/hutch/config.rb
+++ b/lib/hutch/config.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ def self.initialize(params={})
         mq_host: 'localhost',
         mq_port: 5672,
         mq_exchange: 'hutch',  # TODO: should this be required?
+        mq_exchange_options: {},
         mq_vhost: '/',
         mq_tls: false,
         mq_tls_cert: nil,