diff --git a/nacl.go b/nacl.go
index ad00b0e..906cf2b 100644
--- a/nacl.go
+++ b/nacl.go
@@ -23,6 +23,30 @@ type (
 	NatsSubscription = nats.Subscription
 )
 
+func SetupNatsWithCreds(host string, port int, credsFile string, closeHandler *grawt.CloseHandler) error {
+	natsLock.Lock()
+	defer natsLock.Unlock()
+	var err error
+
+	// connect
+	NatsClient, err = nats.Connect(
+		fmt.Sprintf("nats://%s:%d", host, port),
+		nats.UserCredentials(credsFile),
+		nats.ClosedHandler(func(conn *nats.Conn) {
+			if closeHandler != nil {
+				closeHandler.Halt(nil)
+			}
+		}),
+		nats.MaxReconnects(5),
+		nats.ReconnectWait(time.Second*2),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot connect to NATS: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func SetupNats(host string, port int, user string, pass string, closeHandler *grawt.CloseHandler) error {
 	natsLock.Lock()
 	defer natsLock.Unlock()