diff --git a/pubsub.go b/pubsub.go
index a769a68..e0db9d0 100644
--- a/pubsub.go
+++ b/pubsub.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package pubsub
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/binary"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"sync"
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ type PubSub struct {
 
 	disc *discover
 
+	// size of the outbound message channel that we maintain for each peer
+	peerOutboundQueueSize int
+
 	// incoming messages from other peers
 	incoming chan *RPC
 
@@ -169,38 +173,39 @@ type Option func(*PubSub) error
 // NewPubSub returns a new PubSub management object.
 func NewPubSub(ctx context.Context, h host.Host, rt PubSubRouter, opts ...Option) (*PubSub, error) {
 	ps := &PubSub{
-		host:          h,
-		ctx:           ctx,
-		rt:            rt,
-		val:           newValidation(),
-		disc:          &discover{},
-		signID:        h.ID(),
-		signKey:       h.Peerstore().PrivKey(h.ID()),
-		signStrict:    true,
-		incoming:      make(chan *RPC, 32),
-		publish:       make(chan *Message),
-		newPeers:      make(chan peer.ID),
-		newPeerStream: make(chan network.Stream),
-		newPeerError:  make(chan peer.ID),
-		peerDead:      make(chan peer.ID),
-		cancelCh:      make(chan *Subscription),
-		getPeers:      make(chan *listPeerReq),
-		addSub:        make(chan *addSubReq),
-		addTopic:      make(chan *addTopicReq),
-		rmTopic:       make(chan *rmTopicReq),
-		getTopics:     make(chan *topicReq),
-		sendMsg:       make(chan *Message, 32),
-		addVal:        make(chan *addValReq),
-		rmVal:         make(chan *rmValReq),
-		eval:          make(chan func()),
-		myTopics:      make(map[string]*Topic),
-		mySubs:        make(map[string]map[*Subscription]struct{}),
-		topics:        make(map[string]map[peer.ID]struct{}),
-		peers:         make(map[peer.ID]chan *RPC),
-		blacklist:     NewMapBlacklist(),
-		blacklistPeer: make(chan peer.ID),
-		seenMessages:  timecache.NewTimeCache(TimeCacheDuration),
-		counter:       uint64(time.Now().UnixNano()),
+		host:                  h,
+		ctx:                   ctx,
+		rt:                    rt,
+		val:                   newValidation(),
+		disc:                  &discover{},
+		peerOutboundQueueSize: 32,
+		signID:                h.ID(),
+		signKey:               h.Peerstore().PrivKey(h.ID()),
+		signStrict:            true,
+		incoming:              make(chan *RPC, 32),
+		publish:               make(chan *Message),
+		newPeers:              make(chan peer.ID),
+		newPeerStream:         make(chan network.Stream),
+		newPeerError:          make(chan peer.ID),
+		peerDead:              make(chan peer.ID),
+		cancelCh:              make(chan *Subscription),
+		getPeers:              make(chan *listPeerReq),
+		addSub:                make(chan *addSubReq),
+		addTopic:              make(chan *addTopicReq),
+		rmTopic:               make(chan *rmTopicReq),
+		getTopics:             make(chan *topicReq),
+		sendMsg:               make(chan *Message, 32),
+		addVal:                make(chan *addValReq),
+		rmVal:                 make(chan *rmValReq),
+		eval:                  make(chan func()),
+		myTopics:              make(map[string]*Topic),
+		mySubs:                make(map[string]map[*Subscription]struct{}),
+		topics:                make(map[string]map[peer.ID]struct{}),
+		peers:                 make(map[peer.ID]chan *RPC),
+		blacklist:             NewMapBlacklist(),
+		blacklistPeer:         make(chan peer.ID),
+		seenMessages:          timecache.NewTimeCache(TimeCacheDuration),
+		counter:               uint64(time.Now().UnixNano()),
 	}
 
 	for _, opt := range opts {
@@ -232,6 +237,18 @@ func NewPubSub(ctx context.Context, h host.Host, rt PubSubRouter, opts ...Option
 	return ps, nil
 }
 
+// WithPeerOutboundQueueSize is an option to set the buffer size for outbound messages to a peer
+// We start dropping messages to a peer if the outbound queue if full
+func WithPeerOutboundQueueSize(size int) Option {
+	return func(p *PubSub) error {
+		if size < 0 {
+			return errors.New("outbound queue size can't be negative")
+		}
+		p.peerOutboundQueueSize = size
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 // WithMessageSigning enables or disables message signing (enabled by default).
 func WithMessageSigning(enabled bool) Option {
 	return func(p *PubSub) error {
@@ -327,7 +344,7 @@ func (p *PubSub) processLoop(ctx context.Context) {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			messages := make(chan *RPC, 32)
+			messages := make(chan *RPC, p.peerOutboundQueueSize)
 			messages <- p.getHelloPacket()
 			go p.handleNewPeer(ctx, pid, messages)
 			p.peers[pid] = messages
@@ -366,7 +383,7 @@ func (p *PubSub) processLoop(ctx context.Context) {
 				// still connected, must be a duplicate connection being closed.
 				// we respawn the writer as we need to ensure there is a stream active
 				log.Warning("peer declared dead but still connected; respawning writer: ", pid)
-				messages := make(chan *RPC, 32)
+				messages := make(chan *RPC, p.peerOutboundQueueSize)
 				messages <- p.getHelloPacket()
 				go p.handleNewPeer(ctx, pid, messages)
 				p.peers[pid] = messages