diff --git a/gbus/worker.go b/gbus/worker.go
index 5bb83f1..a88726a 100644
--- a/gbus/worker.go
+++ b/gbus/worker.go
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ func (worker *worker) reject(requeue bool, delivery amqp.Delivery) error {
 		worker.log().WithError(err).Error("could not reject the message")
 		worker.span.LogFields(slog.Error(err))
 	}
+	if !requeue {
+		metrics.ReportRejectedMessage()
+	}
 	worker.log().WithFields(logrus.Fields{"message_id": delivery.MessageId, "requeue": requeue}).Info("message rejected")
 	return err
 }
@@ -286,6 +289,7 @@ func (worker *worker) processMessage(delivery amqp.Delivery, isRPCreply bool) {
 			}
 			worker.span.LogFields(slog.String("panic", "failed to process message"))
 			logEntry.Error("failed to process message")
+			_ = worker.reject(false, delivery)
 		}
 	}()
 
@@ -335,7 +339,6 @@ func (worker *worker) processMessage(delivery amqp.Delivery, isRPCreply bool) {
 		_ = worker.ack(delivery)
 	} else {
 		_ = worker.reject(false, delivery)
-		metrics.ReportRejectedMessage()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/bus_test.go b/tests/bus_test.go
index dfd201c..824880f 100644
--- a/tests/bus_test.go
+++ b/tests/bus_test.go
@@ -228,7 +228,10 @@ func TestRPC(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDeadlettering(t *testing.T) {
-
+	rejectedMessages, err := metrics.GetRejectedMessagesValue()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("failed to get rejected messages value")
+	}
 	proceed := make(chan bool)
 	poison := gbus.NewBusMessage(PoisonMessage{})
 	service1 := createNamedBusForTest(testSvc1)
@@ -256,7 +259,7 @@ func TestDeadlettering(t *testing.T) {
 
 	<-proceed
 	count, _ := metrics.GetRejectedMessagesValue()
-	if count != 1 {
+	if count != rejectedMessages+1 {
 		t.Error("Should have one rejected message")
 	}
 
@@ -343,6 +346,57 @@ func TestReturnDeadToQueue(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestDeadLetterHandlerPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	proceed := make(chan bool)
+	rejectedMessages, err := metrics.GetRejectedMessagesValue()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("failed to get rejected messages value")
+	}
+
+	poison := gbus.NewBusMessage(Command1{})
+	service1 := createBusWithConfig(testSvc1, "grabbit-dead", true, true,
+		gbus.BusConfiguration{MaxRetryCount: 0, BaseRetryDuration: 0})
+
+	deadletterSvc := createBusWithConfig("deadletterSvc", "grabbit-dead", true, true,
+		gbus.BusConfiguration{MaxRetryCount: 0, BaseRetryDuration: 0})
+	visited := false
+	deadMessageHandler := func(tx *sql.Tx, poison *amqp.Delivery) error {
+		if !visited {
+			visited = true
+			panic("PANIC DEAD HANDLER aaahhh!!!!!!")
+		}
+		proceed <- true
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	faultyHandler := func(invocation gbus.Invocation, message *gbus.BusMessage) error {
+		return errors.New("fail")
+	}
+
+	deadletterSvc.HandleDeadletter(deadMessageHandler)
+	err = service1.HandleMessage(Command1{}, faultyHandler)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error("failed to register faultyhandler")
+	}
+
+	deadletterSvc.Start()
+	defer deadletterSvc.Shutdown()
+	service1.Start()
+	defer service1.Shutdown()
+
+	service1.Send(context.Background(), testSvc1, poison)
+	select {
+	case <-proceed:
+		count, _ := metrics.GetRejectedMessagesValue()
+		if count != rejectedMessages+2 {
+			t.Error("Should have 2 rejected messages")
+		}
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timeout, dlq failed to reject message after handler panicked")
+	}
+
+}
+
 func TestRegistrationAfterBusStarts(t *testing.T) {
 	event := Event1{}
 	b := createBusForTest()