diff --git a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/amqp.go b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/amqp.go
index d28831ce6b..5a5a174885 100644
--- a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/amqp.go
+++ b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/amqp.go
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ type amqpChannel interface {
 	QueueDeclareAndBind(qname, ename string) error
 	ExchangeDelete(string) error
 	QueueDelete(qname string) error
+	Qos(prefetchCount, prefetchSize int, global bool) error
 }
 
 // connection adapts an *amqp.Connection to the amqpConnection interface.
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ func (c *connection) Channel() (amqpChannel, error) {
 	if err := ch.Confirm(wait); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	return &channel{ch}, nil
 }
 
@@ -168,3 +170,7 @@ func (ch *channel) QueueDelete(qname string) error {
 	_, err := ch.ch.QueueDelete(qname, false, false, false)
 	return err
 }
+
+func (ch *channel) Qos(prefetchCount, prefetchSize int, global bool) error {
+	return ch.ch.Qos(prefetchCount, prefetchSize, global)
+}
diff --git a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/fake_test.go b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/fake_test.go
index 9cd11f3b32..97c3badd61 100644
--- a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/fake_test.go
+++ b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/fake_test.go
@@ -389,6 +389,14 @@ func (ch *fakeChannel) QueueDelete(name string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (ch *fakeChannel) Qos(_, _ int, _ bool) error {
+	if ch.isClosed() {
+		return amqp.ErrClosed
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Assumes nothing is ever written to the channel.
 func chanIsClosed(ch chan struct{}) bool {
 	select {
diff --git a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit.go b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit.go
index 7bfed94554..3142f37c27 100644
--- a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit.go
+++ b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -96,7 +97,9 @@ const Scheme = "rabbit"
 //
 // For subscriptions, the URL's host+path is used as the queue name.
 //
-// No query parameters are supported.
+// An optional query string can be used to set the Qos consumer prefetch on subscriptions
+// like "rabbit://myqueue?prefetch_count=1000" to set the consumer prefetch count to 1000
+// see also https://www.rabbitmq.com/docs/consumer-prefetch
 type URLOpener struct {
 	// Connection to use for communication with the server.
 	Connection *amqp.Connection
@@ -118,11 +121,27 @@ func (o *URLOpener) OpenTopicURL(ctx context.Context, u *url.URL) (*pubsub.Topic
 
 // OpenSubscriptionURL opens a pubsub.Subscription based on u.
 func (o *URLOpener) OpenSubscriptionURL(ctx context.Context, u *url.URL) (*pubsub.Subscription, error) {
-	for param := range u.Query() {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("open subscription %v: invalid query parameter %q", u, param)
+	opts := o.SubscriptionOptions
+	for param, value := range u.Query() {
+		switch param {
+		case "prefetch_count":
+			if len(value) != 1 || len(value[0]) == 0 {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("open subscription %v: invalid query parameter %q", u, param)
+			}
+
+			prefetchCount, err := strconv.Atoi(value[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("open subscription %v: invalid query parameter %q: %w", u, param, err)
+			}
+
+			opts.PrefetchCount = &prefetchCount
+		default:
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("open subscription %v: invalid query parameter %q", u, param)
+		}
 	}
+
 	queueName := path.Join(u.Host, u.Path)
-	return OpenSubscription(o.Connection, queueName, &o.SubscriptionOptions), nil
+	return OpenSubscription(o.Connection, queueName, &opts), nil
 }
 
 type topic struct {
@@ -142,7 +161,10 @@ type TopicOptions struct{}
 
 // SubscriptionOptions sets options for constructing a *pubsub.Subscription
 // backed by RabbitMQ.
-type SubscriptionOptions struct{}
+type SubscriptionOptions struct {
+	// Qos property prefetch count. Optional.
+	PrefetchCount *int
+}
 
 // OpenTopic returns a *pubsub.Topic corresponding to the named exchange.
 // See the package documentation for an example.
@@ -515,7 +537,7 @@ func (*topic) Close() error { return nil }
 // The documentation of the amqp package recommends using separate connections for
 // publishing and subscribing.
 func OpenSubscription(conn *amqp.Connection, name string, opts *SubscriptionOptions) *pubsub.Subscription {
-	return pubsub.NewSubscription(newSubscription(&connection{conn}, name), nil, nil)
+	return pubsub.NewSubscription(newSubscription(&connection{conn}, name, opts), nil, nil)
 }
 
 type subscription struct {
@@ -523,6 +545,8 @@ type subscription struct {
 	queue    string // the AMQP queue name
 	consumer string // the client-generated name for this particular subscriber
 
+	opts *SubscriptionOptions
+
 	mu     sync.Mutex
 	ch     amqpChannel // AMQP channel used for all communication.
 	delc   <-chan amqp.Delivery
@@ -533,11 +557,16 @@ type subscription struct {
 
 var nextConsumer int64 // atomic
 
-func newSubscription(conn amqpConnection, name string) *subscription {
+func newSubscription(conn amqpConnection, name string, opts *SubscriptionOptions) *subscription {
+	if opts == nil {
+		opts = &SubscriptionOptions{}
+	}
+
 	return &subscription{
 		conn:             conn,
 		queue:            name,
 		consumer:         fmt.Sprintf("c%d", atomic.AddInt64(&nextConsumer, 1)),
+		opts:             opts,
 		receiveBatchHook: func() {},
 	}
 }
@@ -564,6 +593,11 @@ func (s *subscription) establishChannel(ctx context.Context) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		// Apply subscription options to channel.
+		err = applyOptionsToChannel(s.opts, ch)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		// Subscribe to messages from the queue.
 		s.delc, err = ch.Consume(s.queue, s.consumer)
 		return err
@@ -571,8 +605,22 @@ func (s *subscription) establishChannel(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	s.ch = ch
 	s.closec = ch.NotifyClose(make(chan *amqp.Error, 1)) // closec will get at most one element
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func applyOptionsToChannel(opts *SubscriptionOptions, ch amqpChannel) error {
+	if opts.PrefetchCount == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := ch.Qos(*opts.PrefetchCount, 0, false); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to set channel Qos: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit_test.go b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit_test.go
index 8f246a843b..ec25be339a 100644
--- a/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit_test.go
+++ b/pubsub/rabbitpubsub/rabbit_test.go
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ const rabbitURL = "amqp://guest:guest@localhost:5672/"
 var logOnce sync.Once
 
 func mustDialRabbit(t testing.TB) amqpConnection {
+	t.Helper()
+
 	if !setup.HasDockerTestEnvironment() {
 		logOnce.Do(func() {
 			t.Log("using the fake because the RabbitMQ server is not available")
@@ -61,6 +63,8 @@ func mustDialRabbit(t testing.TB) amqpConnection {
 
 func TestConformance(t *testing.T) {
 	harnessMaker := func(_ context.Context, t *testing.T) (drivertest.Harness, error) {
+		t.Helper()
+
 		return &harness{conn: mustDialRabbit(t)}, nil
 	}
 	_, isFake := mustDialRabbit(t).(*fakeConnection)
@@ -73,6 +77,8 @@ func TestConformance(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	t.Logf("now running tests with the fake")
 	harnessMaker = func(_ context.Context, t *testing.T) (drivertest.Harness, error) {
+		t.Helper()
+
 		return &harness{conn: newFakeConnection()}, nil
 	}
 	asTests = []drivertest.AsTest{rabbitAsTest{true}}
@@ -138,12 +144,12 @@ func (h *harness) CreateSubscription(_ context.Context, dt driver.Topic, testNam
 		}
 		ch.QueueDelete(queue)
 	}
-	ds = newSubscription(h.conn, queue)
+	ds = newSubscription(h.conn, queue, nil)
 	return ds, cleanup, nil
 }
 
 func (h *harness) MakeNonexistentSubscription(_ context.Context) (driver.Subscription, func(), error) {
-	return newSubscription(h.conn, "nonexistent-subscription"), func() {}, nil
+	return newSubscription(h.conn, "nonexistent-subscription", nil), func() {}, nil
 }
 
 func (h *harness) Close() {
@@ -379,62 +385,103 @@ func (rabbitAsTest) AfterSend(as func(interface{}) bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func fakeConnectionStringInEnv() func() {
-	oldEnvVal := os.Getenv("RABBIT_SERVER_URL")
-	os.Setenv("RABBIT_SERVER_URL", "amqp://localhost:10000/vhost")
-	return func() {
-		os.Setenv("RABBIT_SERVER_URL", oldEnvVal)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestOpenTopicFromURL(t *testing.T) {
-	cleanup := fakeConnectionStringInEnv()
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("RABBIT_SERVER_URL", rabbitURL)
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		URL     string
-		WantErr bool
+		label       string
+		URLTemplate string
+		WantErr     bool
 	}{
-		// OK, but still error because Dial fails.
-		{"rabbit://myexchange", true},
-		// Invalid parameter.
-		{"rabbit://myexchange?param=value", true},
+		{"valid url", "rabbit://%s", false},
+		{"invalid url with parameters", "rabbit://%s?param=value", true},
 	}
 
-	ctx := context.Background()
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		topic, err := pubsub.OpenTopic(ctx, test.URL)
-		if (err != nil) != test.WantErr {
-			t.Errorf("%s: got error %v, want error %v", test.URL, err, test.WantErr)
-		}
-		if topic != nil {
-			topic.Shutdown(ctx)
-		}
+		t.Run(test.label, func(t *testing.T) {
+			conn := mustDialRabbit(t)
+			_, isFake := conn.(*fakeConnection)
+			if isFake {
+				t.Skip("test requires real rabbitmq")
+			}
+
+			h := &harness{conn: conn}
+
+			ctx := context.Background()
+
+			dt, cleanupTopic, err := h.CreateTopic(ctx, t.Name())
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unable to create topic: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			t.Cleanup(cleanupTopic)
+
+			exchange := dt.(*topic).exchange
+			url := fmt.Sprintf(test.URLTemplate, exchange)
+
+			topic, err := pubsub.OpenTopic(ctx, url)
+			if (err != nil) != test.WantErr {
+				t.Errorf("%s: got error %v, want error %v", test.URLTemplate, err, test.WantErr)
+			}
+			if topic != nil {
+				topic.Shutdown(ctx)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }
 
 func TestOpenSubscriptionFromURL(t *testing.T) {
-	cleanup := fakeConnectionStringInEnv()
-	defer cleanup()
+	t.Setenv("RABBIT_SERVER_URL", rabbitURL)
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		URL     string
-		WantErr bool
+		label       string
+		URLTemplate string
+		WantErr     bool
 	}{
-		// OK, but error because Dial fails.
-		{"rabbit://myqueue", true},
-		// Invalid parameter.
-		{"rabbit://myqueue?param=value", true},
+
+		{"url with no QoS prefetch count", "rabbit://%s", false},
+		{"invalid parameters", "rabbit://%s?param=value", true},
+		{"valid url with QoS prefetch count", "rabbit://%s?prefetch_count=1024", false},
+		{"invalid url with QoS prefetch count", "rabbit://%s?prefetch_count=value", true},
 	}
 
-	ctx := context.Background()
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		sub, err := pubsub.OpenSubscription(ctx, test.URL)
-		if (err != nil) != test.WantErr {
-			t.Errorf("%s: got error %v, want error %v", test.URL, err, test.WantErr)
-		}
-		if sub != nil {
-			sub.Shutdown(ctx)
-		}
+		t.Run(test.label, func(t *testing.T) {
+			conn := mustDialRabbit(t)
+			_, isFake := conn.(*fakeConnection)
+			if isFake {
+				t.Skip("test requires real rabbitmq")
+			}
+
+			h := &harness{conn: conn}
+
+			ctx := context.Background()
+
+			dt, cleanupTopic, err := h.CreateTopic(ctx, t.Name())
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unable to create topic: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			t.Cleanup(cleanupTopic)
+
+			ds, cleanupSubscription, err := h.CreateSubscription(ctx, dt, t.Name())
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unable to create subscription: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			t.Cleanup(cleanupSubscription)
+
+			queue := ds.(*subscription).queue
+			url := fmt.Sprintf(test.URLTemplate, queue)
+
+			sub, err := pubsub.OpenSubscription(ctx, url)
+			if (err != nil) != test.WantErr {
+				t.Errorf("%s: got error %v, want error %v", test.URLTemplate, err, test.WantErr)
+			}
+
+			if sub != nil {
+				sub.Shutdown(ctx)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }