diff --git a/include/cppkafka/consumer.h b/include/cppkafka/consumer.h
index 605af93..478cc5d 100644
--- a/include/cppkafka/consumer.h
+++ b/include/cppkafka/consumer.h
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <chrono>
 #include "kafka_handle_base.h"
-#include "topic_partition_list.h"
 #include "message.h"
 
 namespace cppkafka {
@@ -35,14 +34,12 @@ public:
     TopicPartitionList get_subscription();
     TopicPartitionList get_assignment();
 
-
     Message poll();
 private:
     static const std::chrono::milliseconds DEFAULT_TIMEOUT;
 
     void commit(const Message& msg, bool async);
     void commit(const TopicPartitionList& topic_partitions, bool async);
-    void check_error(rd_kafka_resp_err_t error);
 
     std::chrono::milliseconds timeout_ms_;
 };
diff --git a/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h b/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h
index 76fad22..ee08739 100644
--- a/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h
+++ b/include/cppkafka/kafka_handle_base.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <memory>
 #include <librdkafka/rdkafka.h>
+#include "topic_partition_list.h"
 
 namespace cppkafka {
 
@@ -18,6 +19,9 @@ public:
     KafkaHandleBase& operator=(const KafkaHandleBase&) = delete;
     KafkaHandleBase& operator=(KafkaHandleBase&&) = delete;
 
+    void pause_partitions(const TopicPartitionList& topic_partitions);
+    void resume_partitions(const TopicPartitionList& topic_partitions);
+
     rd_kafka_t* get_handle();
     Topic get_topic(const std::string& name);
     Topic get_topic(const std::string& name, TopicConfiguration config);
@@ -26,6 +30,7 @@ protected:
     KafkaHandleBase(rd_kafka_t* handle);
 
     void set_handle(rd_kafka_t* handle);
+    void check_error(rd_kafka_resp_err_t error);
 private:
     using HandlePtr = std::unique_ptr<rd_kafka_t, decltype(&rd_kafka_destroy)>;
 
diff --git a/src/consumer.cpp b/src/consumer.cpp
index 1d82fe1..e5ea373 100644
--- a/src/consumer.cpp
+++ b/src/consumer.cpp
@@ -117,10 +117,4 @@ void Consumer::commit(const TopicPartitionList& topic_partitions, bool async) {
     check_error(error);
 }
 
-void Consumer::check_error(rd_kafka_resp_err_t error) {
-    if (error != RD_KAFKA_RESP_ERR_NO_ERROR) {
-        throw HandleException(error);
-    }
-}
-
 } // cppkafka
diff --git a/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp b/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp
index 3b38343..58626e5 100644
--- a/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp
+++ b/src/kafka_handle_base.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,18 @@ KafkaHandleBase::KafkaHandleBase(rd_kafka_t* handle)
 
 }
 
+void KafkaHandleBase::pause_partitions(const TopicPartitionList& topic_partitions) {
+    rd_kafka_resp_err_t error = rd_kafka_pause_partitions(get_handle(), 
+                                                          topic_partitions.get_handle());
+    check_error(error);
+}
+
+void KafkaHandleBase::resume_partitions(const TopicPartitionList& topic_partitions) {
+    rd_kafka_resp_err_t error = rd_kafka_resume_partitions(get_handle(), 
+                                                           topic_partitions.get_handle());
+    check_error(error);
+}
+
 rd_kafka_t* KafkaHandleBase::get_handle() {
     return handle_.get();
 }
@@ -41,4 +53,10 @@ Topic KafkaHandleBase::get_topic(const string& name, rd_kafka_topic_conf_t* conf
     return Topic(topic);
 }
 
+void KafkaHandleBase::check_error(rd_kafka_resp_err_t error) {
+    if (error != RD_KAFKA_RESP_ERR_NO_ERROR) {
+        throw HandleException(error);
+    }
+}
+
 } // cppkafka