diff --git a/rollbar.go b/rollbar.go
index 7680c30..66fab61 100644
--- a/rollbar.go
+++ b/rollbar.go
@@ -99,6 +99,15 @@ func SetTelemetry(options ...OptionFunc) {
 	std.SetTelemetry(options...)
 }
 
+func DisableDefaultClient(destroy bool) {
+	if destroy {
+		std = nil
+		return
+	}
+	std.SetEnabled(false)
+	std.Close()
+}
+
 // CaptureTelemetryEvent sets the user-specified telemetry event
 func CaptureTelemetryEvent(eventType, eventlevel string, eventData map[string]interface{}) {
 	std.CaptureTelemetryEvent(eventType, eventlevel, eventData)
diff --git a/rollbar_closed_channel_test.go b/rollbar_closed_channel_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43a4dd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rollbar_closed_channel_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package rollbar
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestDisableDefaultClient(t *testing.T) {
+	defer func() {
+		std = NewAsync("", "development", "", hostname, "")
+
+	}()
+	DisableDefaultClient(false)
+	err := std.push(map[string]interface{}{
+		"data": map[string]interface{}{},
+	})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("error should indicate that channel is closed")
+	}
+	DisableDefaultClient(true)
+	if std != nil {
+		t.Error("error should indicate that std is nil")
+	}
+}