diff --git a/eventbus/gcp/eventbus.go b/eventbus/gcp/eventbus.go
index 17a0b8b9..7923b309 100644
--- a/eventbus/gcp/eventbus.go
+++ b/eventbus/gcp/eventbus.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type EventBus struct {
 	client       *pubsub.Client
 	clientOpts   []option.ClientOption
 	topic        *pubsub.Topic
+	topicConfig  *pubsub.TopicConfig
 	registered   map[eh.EventHandlerType]struct{}
 	registeredMu sync.RWMutex
 	errCh        chan error
@@ -84,8 +85,14 @@ func NewEventBus(projectID, appID string, options ...Option) (*EventBus, error)
 	if ok, err := b.topic.Exists(b.cctx); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	} else if !ok {
-		if b.topic, err = b.client.CreateTopic(b.cctx, name); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+		if b.topicConfig != nil {
+			if b.topic, err = b.client.CreateTopicWithConfig(b.cctx, name, b.topicConfig); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		} else {
+			if b.topic, err = b.client.CreateTopic(b.cctx, name); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -115,6 +122,16 @@ func WithPubSubOptions(opts ...option.ClientOption) Option {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithTopicOptions adds the options to the pubsub.TopicConfig.
+// This allows control over the Topic creation, including message retention.
+func WithTopicOptions(topicConfig *pubsub.TopicConfig) Option {
+	return func(b *EventBus) error {
+		b.topicConfig = topicConfig
+
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 // HandlerType implements the HandlerType method of the eventhorizon.EventHandler interface.
 func (b *EventBus) HandlerType() eh.EventHandlerType {
 	return "eventbus"
diff --git a/eventbus/gcp/eventbus_test.go b/eventbus/gcp/eventbus_test.go
index c7a78c6a..84ef32e9 100644
--- a/eventbus/gcp/eventbus_test.go
+++ b/eventbus/gcp/eventbus_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"cloud.google.com/go/pubsub"
 	eh "github.com/looplab/eventhorizon"
 	"github.com/looplab/eventhorizon/eventbus"
 )
@@ -59,6 +60,26 @@ func TestEventBusIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 	eventbus.AcceptanceTest(t, bus1, bus2, time.Second)
 }
 
+func TestEventBusWithConfigIntegration(t *testing.T) {
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("skipping integration test")
+	}
+
+	bus1, appID, err := newTestEventBusWithTopicConfig("")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("there should be no error:", err)
+	}
+
+	bus2, _, err := newTestEventBusWithTopicConfig(appID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("there should be no error:", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("using topic: %s_events", appID)
+
+	eventbus.AcceptanceTest(t, bus1, bus2, time.Second)
+}
+
 func TestEventBusLoadtest(t *testing.T) {
 	if testing.Short() {
 		t.Skip("skipping integration test")
@@ -108,3 +129,31 @@ func newTestEventBus(appID string) (eh.EventBus, string, error) {
 
 	return bus, appID, nil
 }
+
+func newTestEventBusWithTopicConfig(appID string) (eh.EventBus, string, error) {
+	// Connect to localhost if not running inside docker
+	if os.Getenv("PUBSUB_EMULATOR_HOST") == "" {
+		os.Setenv("PUBSUB_EMULATOR_HOST", "localhost:8793")
+	}
+
+	// Get a random app ID.
+	if appID == "" {
+		bts := make([]byte, 8)
+		if _, err := rand.Read(bts); err != nil {
+			return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("could not randomize app ID: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		appID = "app-" + hex.EncodeToString(bts)
+	}
+
+	// Create an empty config. The emulator doesn't support configurable message retention.
+	topicConfig := &pubsub.TopicConfig{
+		// RetentionDuration: 7 * 24 * time.Hour,
+	}
+	bus, err := NewEventBus("project_id", appID, WithTopicOptions(topicConfig))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("could not create event bus: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return bus, appID, nil
+}