diff --git a/examples/ping.rs b/examples/ping.rs
index bdf8baa..07d9b9f 100644
--- a/examples/ping.rs
+++ b/examples/ping.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     pinger.add_ipaddr("1.1.1.1".parse()?);
     pinger.add_ipaddr("7.7.7.7".parse()?);
     pinger.add_ipaddr("2001:4860:4860::8888".parse()?);
-    pinger.run();
+    pinger.run()?;
 
     loop {
         match results.recv() {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index daab1d1..de4fd16 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ extern crate log;
 pub mod error;
 pub mod transport;
 
-use crate::error::*;
+use crate::error::Error;
 use crate::transport::{Ping, PingTransport, ReceivedPing};
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::net::IpAddr;
@@ -148,11 +148,14 @@ impl<T: PingTransport + 'static> Pinger<T> {
     ///
     /// This consumes the [`Pinger`] object and returns a new [`RunningPinger`]. The original
     /// [`Pinger`] may be obtained from [`RunningPinger::stop`].
-    pub fn run(mut self) -> RunningPinger<T> {
+    ///
+    /// An [`Err`] variant is returned if a thread can not be created for the [`Pinger`].
+    pub fn run(mut self) -> Result<RunningPinger<T>, Error> {
         let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
         let stop_inner = stop.clone();
         let targets = self.targets.clone();
-        let join_handle = thread::spawn(move || loop {
+        let builder = thread::Builder::new().name("pinger".into());
+        let join_handle = builder.spawn(move || loop {
             let start = Instant::now();
             // Work
             self.ping_once();
@@ -164,13 +167,13 @@ impl<T: PingTransport + 'static> Pinger<T> {
 
             // If we received all replies faster than the interval, wait
             thread::sleep(self.max_rtt.saturating_sub(start.elapsed()));
-        });
+        })?;
 
-        RunningPinger {
+        Ok(RunningPinger {
             stop,
             join_handle,
             targets,
-        }
+        })
     }
 
     fn await_replies(&self, timer: Instant, sent: usize) {
@@ -377,7 +380,7 @@ mod tests {
         let targets_len = pinger.targets.lock().unwrap().len();
         // Copy attributes of the original Pinger
         let max_rtt = pinger.max_rtt;
-        let stop_handle = pinger.run();
+        let stop_handle = pinger.run()?;
         let pinger = stop_handle.stop().unwrap();
         // Try to verify we have the same Pinger back. Other attributes can't be cloned.
         assert_eq!(max_rtt, pinger.max_rtt);
diff --git a/src/transport/pnet.rs b/src/transport/pnet.rs
index f2cef82..73b65fa 100644
--- a/src/transport/pnet.rs
+++ b/src/transport/pnet.rs
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ impl crate::transport::PingTransport for PingTransport {
             timer: Arc::new(RwLock::new(Instant::now())),
         };
 
-        start_listener(rx, rxv6, resp_sender, transport.timer.clone());
+        start_listener(rx, rxv6, resp_sender, transport.timer.clone())?;
         Ok(transport)
     }
 
@@ -163,18 +163,21 @@ fn start_listener(
     rxv6: TransportReceiver,
     resp_sender: Sender<ReceivedPing>,
     timer: Arc<RwLock<Instant>>,
-) {
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
     // start icmp listeners in the background and use internal channels for results
-    start_listener_v4(rxv4, resp_sender.clone(), timer.clone());
-    start_listener_v6(rxv6, resp_sender.clone(), timer.clone());
+    start_listener_v4(rxv4, resp_sender.clone(), timer.clone())?;
+    start_listener_v6(rxv6, resp_sender.clone(), timer.clone())?;
+
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 fn start_listener_v4(
     mut receiver: TransportReceiver,
     resp_sender: Sender<ReceivedPing>,
     timer: Arc<RwLock<Instant>>,
-) {
-    thread::spawn(move || {
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let builder = thread::Builder::new().name("pnet-v4-listener".into());
+    builder.spawn(move || {
         let mut iter = icmp_packet_iter(&mut receiver);
         loop {
             match iter.next() {
@@ -206,15 +209,18 @@ fn start_listener_v4(
                 }
             }
         }
-    });
+    })?;
+
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 fn start_listener_v6(
     mut receiver: TransportReceiver,
     resp_sender: Sender<ReceivedPing>,
     timer: Arc<RwLock<Instant>>,
-) {
-    thread::spawn(move || {
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let builder = thread::Builder::new().name("pnet-v6-listener".into());
+    builder.spawn(move || {
         let mut iter = icmpv6_packet_iter(&mut receiver);
         loop {
             match iter.next() {
@@ -246,5 +252,7 @@ fn start_listener_v6(
                 }
             }
         }
-    });
+    })?;
+
+    Ok(())
 }