diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0276022..7e1a3d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,18 +49,14 @@ BlazeVerify.verify('jarrett@blazeverify.com')
 
 #### Slow Email Server Handling
 
-Some email servers are slow to respond. As a result the timeout may be reached
+Some email servers are slow to respond. As a result, the timeout may be reached
 before we are able to complete the verification process. If this happens, the
-verification will continue in the background on our servers. We recommend
-sleeping for at least one second and trying your request again. Re-requesting
-the same verification with the same options will not impact your credit
-allocation within a 5 minute window.
-
-```ruby
-{
-    "message" => "Your request is taking longer than normal. Please send your request again."
-}
-```
+verification will continue in the background on our servers, and a
+`BlazeVerify::TimeoutError` will be raised. We recommend sleeping for at least
+one second and trying your request again. Re-requesting the same verification
+with the same options will not impact your credit allocation within a 5 minute
+window. You can test this behavior using a test key and the special
+email `slow@example.com`.
 
 ### Batch Verification
 
@@ -108,7 +104,7 @@ It'll validate the attribute only when it's present and has changed.
 #### Options
 
 * `smtp`, `timeout`: Passed directly to API as options.
-* `states`: An array of states you'd like to be valid.
+* `states`: An array of states you'd like to be considered valid.
 * `free`, `role`, `disposable`, `accept_all`: If you'd like any of these to be valid.
 
 ```ruby
diff --git a/lib/blazeverify.rb b/lib/blazeverify.rb
index e4aa4c4..520c846 100644
--- a/lib/blazeverify.rb
+++ b/lib/blazeverify.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ def verify(email, smtp: nil, accept_all: nil, timeout: nil)
     response = client.request(:get, 'verify', opts)
 
     if response.status == 249
-      response.body
+      raise BlazeVerify::TimeoutError.new(
+        code: response.status, message: response.body
+      )
     else
       Verification.new(response.body)
     end
@@ -41,4 +43,23 @@ def account
     response = client.request(:get, 'account')
     Account.new(response.body)
   end
+
+
+  class Error < StandardError
+    attr_accessor :code, :message
+
+    def initialize(code: nil, message: nil)
+      @code = code
+      @message = message
+    end
+  end
+  class BadRequestError < Error; end
+  class UnauthorizedError < Error; end
+  class PaymentRequiredError < Error; end
+  class ForbiddenError < Error; end
+  class NotFoundError < Error; end
+  class TooManyRequestsError < Error; end
+  class InternalServerError < Error; end
+  class ServiceUnavailableError < Error; end
+  class TimeoutError < Error; end
 end
diff --git a/lib/blazeverify/client.rb b/lib/blazeverify/client.rb
index 07c94db..a67e5d2 100644
--- a/lib/blazeverify/client.rb
+++ b/lib/blazeverify/client.rb
@@ -67,21 +67,4 @@ def self.should_retry?(error, num_retries)
       false
     end
   end
-
-  class Error < StandardError
-    attr_accessor :code, :message
-
-    def initialize(code: nil, message: nil)
-      @code = code
-      @message = message
-    end
-  end
-  class BadRequestError < Error; end
-  class UnauthorizedError < Error; end
-  class PaymentRequiredError < Error; end
-  class ForbiddenError < Error; end
-  class NotFoundError < Error; end
-  class TooManyRequestsError < Error; end
-  class InternalServerError < Error; end
-  class ServiceUnavailableError < Error; end
 end
diff --git a/lib/blazeverify/email_validator.rb b/lib/blazeverify/email_validator.rb
index c7a2597..326e961 100644
--- a/lib/blazeverify/email_validator.rb
+++ b/lib/blazeverify/email_validator.rb
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ def validate_each(record, attribute, value)
       record.instance_variable_set("@#{result_accessor}", ev)
     end
 
-    # if response is taking too long
-    return unless ev.respond_to?(:state)
-
     error ||= ev.state.to_sym unless states.include?(ev.state.to_sym)
     error ||= :free if ev.free? && !free
     error ||= :role if ev.role? && !role
diff --git a/lib/blazeverify/version.rb b/lib/blazeverify/version.rb
index 2e1fd79..ac8ad68 100644
--- a/lib/blazeverify/version.rb
+++ b/lib/blazeverify/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module BlazeVerify
-  VERSION = '1.3.2'
+  VERSION = '2.0.0'
 end
diff --git a/test/blazeverify_test.rb b/test/blazeverify_test.rb
index 7d2455c..9c9ef84 100644
--- a/test/blazeverify_test.rb
+++ b/test/blazeverify_test.rb
@@ -61,4 +61,10 @@ def test_name_and_gender
     end
   end
 
+  def test_slow_verification
+    assert_raises(BlazeVerify::TimeoutError) do
+      BlazeVerify.verify('slow@example.com')
+    end
+  end
+
 end