diff --git a/bigchaindb/events.py b/bigchaindb/events.py
index 8b1da2e5..7959d284 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/events.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/events.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from queue import Empty
 from collections import defaultdict
 from multiprocessing import Queue
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ class Exchange:
 
     def __init__(self):
         self.publisher_queue = Queue()
+        self.started_queue = Queue()
 
         # Map <event_types -> queues>
         self.queues = defaultdict(list)
@@ -60,7 +62,16 @@ class Exchange:
 
         Returns:
             a :class:`multiprocessing.Queue`.
+        Raises:
+            RuntimeError if called after `run`
         """
+
+        try:
+            self.started_queue.get_nowait()
+            raise RuntimeError('Cannot create a new subscriber queue while Exchange is running.')
+        except Empty:
+            pass
+
         if event_types is None:
             event_types = EventTypes.ALL
 
@@ -83,6 +94,7 @@ class Exchange:
 
     def run(self):
         """Start the exchange"""
+        self.started_queue.put('STARTED')
 
         while True:
             event = self.publisher_queue.get()
diff --git a/tests/test_events.py b/tests/test_events.py
index 045497cf..f5cc7f18 100644
--- a/tests/test_events.py
+++ b/tests/test_events.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+import pytest
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.tendermint
+
+
 def test_event_handler():
     from bigchaindb.events import EventTypes, Event, Exchange
 
@@ -35,6 +39,18 @@ def test_event_handler():
     assert sub3.qsize() == 0
 
 
+def test_event_handler_raises_when_called_after_start():
+    from bigchaindb.events import Exchange, POISON_PILL
+
+    exchange = Exchange()
+    publisher_queue = exchange.get_publisher_queue()
+    publisher_queue.put(POISON_PILL)
+    exchange.run()
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        exchange.get_subscriber_queue()
+
+
 def test_exchange_stops_with_poison_pill():
     from bigchaindb.events import EventTypes, Event, Exchange, POISON_PILL