diff --git a/initiator/config.go b/initiator/config.go
index 5d0c11d..35810c4 100644
--- a/initiator/config.go
+++ b/initiator/config.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 // Types
 
-type WorkerFactory func(id string, stop <-chan struct{}) Worker
+type WorkerFactory func(id string, stop <-chan struct{}) (*Worker, error)
 
 // Pool Config
 
diff --git a/initiator/pool.go b/initiator/pool.go
index 5eb86a4..d4e1d2f 100644
--- a/initiator/pool.go
+++ b/initiator/pool.go
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@ func NewPool(config *PoolConfig, logger *slog.Logger) (*Pool, error) {
 		config = GetDefaultPoolConfig()
 	}
 
+	// if a custom factory is supplied, config.WorkerConfig is not used
+	if config.WorkerFactory == nil {
+		config.WorkerFactory = func(id string, stop <-chan struct{}) (*Worker, error) {
+			return NewWorker(id, stop, config.WorkerConfig)
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err := ValidatePoolConfig(config); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/initiator/worker.go b/initiator/worker.go
index 3eaa12b..0fcbcb9 100644
--- a/initiator/worker.go
+++ b/initiator/worker.go
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ func NewWorker(
 	config *WorkerConfig,
 
 ) (*Worker, error) {
+	if config == nil {
+		config = GetDefaultWorkerConfig()
+	}
+
+	err := ValidateWorkerConfig(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	w := &Worker{
 		id:     id,
 		stop:   stop,