diff --git a/pgxlisten.go b/pgxlisten.go
index 5b8d1f0..16b9f00 100644
--- a/pgxlisten.go
+++ b/pgxlisten.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5"
@@ -27,16 +28,48 @@ type Listener struct {
 	// is lost. If set to 0, the default of 1 minute is used. A negative value disables the timeout entirely.
 	ReconnectDelay time.Duration
 
-	handlers map[string]Handler
+	handlers   map[string]Handler
+	mux        sync.RWMutex
+	hasStarted bool
+	conn       *pgx.Conn
 }
 
 // Handle sets the handler for notifications sent to channel.
-func (l *Listener) Handle(channel string, handler Handler) {
+func (l *Listener) Handle(ctx context.Context, channel string, handler Handler) error {
+	l.mux.Lock()
+	defer l.mux.Unlock()
 	if l.handlers == nil {
 		l.handlers = make(map[string]Handler)
 	}
 
+	_, ok := l.handlers[channel]
 	l.handlers[channel] = handler
+	if l.hasStarted && !ok {
+		err := l.listenandbacklog(ctx, channel, handler)
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Unhandle removes the handler for notifications sent to channel.
+func (l *Listener) Unhandle(ctx context.Context, channel string) (bool, error) {
+	l.mux.Lock()
+	defer l.mux.Unlock()
+	if l.handlers == nil {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	_, ok := l.handlers[channel]
+	if !ok {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	delete(l.handlers, channel)
+	if l.hasStarted {
+		_, err := l.conn.Exec(ctx, "unlisten "+pgx.Identifier{channel}.Sanitize())
+		if err != nil {
+			return true, err
+		}
+	}
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 // Listen listens for and handles notifications. It will only return when ctx is cancelled or a fatal error occurs.
@@ -80,24 +113,34 @@ func (l *Listener) Listen(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 }
 
+func (l *Listener) listenandbacklog(ctx context.Context, channel string, handler Handler) error {
+	_, err := l.conn.Exec(ctx, "listen "+pgx.Identifier{channel}.Sanitize())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("listen %q: %w", channel, err)
+	}
+
+	if backlogHandler, ok := handler.(BacklogHandler); ok {
+		err := backlogHandler.HandleBacklog(ctx, channel, l.conn)
+		if err != nil {
+			l.logError(ctx, fmt.Errorf("handle backlog %q: %w", channel, err))
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (l *Listener) listen(ctx context.Context) error {
 	conn, err := l.Connect(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("connect: %w", err)
 	}
 	defer conn.Close(ctx)
+	l.hasStarted = true
+	l.conn = conn
 
 	for channel, handler := range l.handlers {
-		_, err := conn.Exec(ctx, "listen "+pgx.Identifier{channel}.Sanitize())
+		err = l.listenandbacklog(ctx, channel, handler)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("listen %q: %w", channel, err)
-		}
-
-		if backlogHandler, ok := handler.(BacklogHandler); ok {
-			err := backlogHandler.HandleBacklog(ctx, channel, conn)
-			if err != nil {
-				l.logError(ctx, fmt.Errorf("handle backlog %q: %w", channel, err))
-			}
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -107,14 +150,18 @@ func (l *Listener) listen(ctx context.Context) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("waiting for notification: %w", err)
 		}
 
-		if handler, ok := l.handlers[notification.Channel]; ok {
-			err := handler.HandleNotification(ctx, notification, conn)
-			if err != nil {
-				l.logError(ctx, fmt.Errorf("handle %s notification: %w", notification.Channel, err))
+		func() {
+			l.mux.RLock()
+			defer l.mux.RUnlock()
+			if handler, ok := l.handlers[notification.Channel]; ok {
+				err := handler.HandleNotification(ctx, notification, conn)
+				if err != nil {
+					l.logError(ctx, fmt.Errorf("handle %s notification: %w", notification.Channel, err))
+				}
+			} else {
+				l.logError(ctx, fmt.Errorf("missing handler: %s", notification.Channel))
 			}
-		} else {
-			l.logError(ctx, fmt.Errorf("missing handler: %s", notification.Channel))
-		}
+		}()
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/pgxlisten_test.go b/pgxlisten_test.go
index 78bd8e3..e418a73 100644
--- a/pgxlisten_test.go
+++ b/pgxlisten_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestListenerListenDispatchesNotifications(t *testing.T) {
 		fooChan := make(chan *pgconn.Notification)
 		barChan := make(chan *pgconn.Notification)
 
-		listener.Handle("foo", pgxlisten.HandlerFunc(func(ctx context.Context, notification *pgconn.Notification, conn *pgx.Conn) error {
+		listener.Handle(ctx, "foo", pgxlisten.HandlerFunc(func(ctx context.Context, notification *pgconn.Notification, conn *pgx.Conn) error {
 			select {
 			case fooChan <- notification:
 			case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestListenerListenDispatchesNotifications(t *testing.T) {
 			return nil
 		}))
 
-		listener.Handle("bar", pgxlisten.HandlerFunc(func(ctx context.Context, notification *pgconn.Notification, conn *pgx.Conn) error {
+		listener.Handle(ctx, "bar", pgxlisten.HandlerFunc(func(ctx context.Context, notification *pgconn.Notification, conn *pgx.Conn) error {
 			select {
 			case barChan <- notification:
 			case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ create table pgxlisten_test (id int primary key generated by default as identity
 			ch:  fooChan,
 		}
 
-		listener.Handle("foo", handler)
+		listener.Handle(ctx, "foo", handler)
 
 		listenerCtx, listenerCtxCancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 		defer listenerCtxCancel()
@@ -178,10 +178,6 @@ create table pgxlisten_test (id int primary key generated by default as identity
 		// No way to know when Listener is ready so wait a little.
 		time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
 
-		type notificationTest struct {
-			payload string
-		}
-
 		notificationMsgs := []string{"d", "e"}
 
 		// Send all notifications.