diff --git a/django_dramatiq/apps.py b/django_dramatiq/apps.py
index 39ed220..6ac41c5 100644
--- a/django_dramatiq/apps.py
+++ b/django_dramatiq/apps.py
@@ -36,13 +36,12 @@ class DjangoDramatiqConfig(AppConfig):
     name = "django_dramatiq"
     verbose_name = "Django Dramatiq"
 
-    @classmethod
-    def initialize(cls):
+    def ready(self):
         global RATE_LIMITER_BACKEND
 
-        dramatiq.set_encoder(cls.select_encoder())
+        dramatiq.set_encoder(self.select_encoder())
 
-        result_backend_settings = cls.result_backend_settings()
+        result_backend_settings = self.result_backend_settings()
         if result_backend_settings:
             result_backend_path = result_backend_settings.get("BACKEND", "dramatiq.results.backends.StubBackend")
             result_backend_class = import_string(result_backend_path)
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ def initialize(cls):
             result_backend = None
             results_middleware = None
 
-        rate_limiter_backend_settings = cls.rate_limiter_backend_settings()
+        rate_limiter_backend_settings = self.rate_limiter_backend_settings()
         if rate_limiter_backend_settings:
             rate_limiter_backend_path = rate_limiter_backend_settings.get(
                 "BACKEND", "dramatiq.rate_limits.backends.stub.StubBackend"
@@ -64,11 +63,14 @@ def initialize(cls):
             rate_limiter_backend_options = rate_limiter_backend_settings.get("BACKEND_OPTIONS", {})
             RATE_LIMITER_BACKEND = rate_limiter_backend_class(**rate_limiter_backend_options)
 
-        broker_settings = cls.broker_settings()
+        broker_settings = self.broker_settings()
         broker_path = broker_settings["BROKER"]
         broker_class = import_string(broker_path)
         broker_options = broker_settings.get("OPTIONS", {})
-        middleware = [load_middleware(path) for path in broker_settings.get("MIDDLEWARE", [])]
+        middleware = [
+            load_middleware(path, **self.get_middleware_kwargs(path))
+            for path in broker_settings.get("MIDDLEWARE", [])
+        ]
 
         if result_backend is not None:
             middleware.append(results_middleware)
@@ -84,6 +86,14 @@ def rate_limiter_backend(self):
 
         return RATE_LIMITER_BACKEND
 
+    def get_middleware_kwargs(self, path):
+        if isinstance(path, str):
+            middleware_path = path.rsplit('.', 1)[1].lower()
+            middleware_kwargs_method = "middleware_{}_kwargs".format(middleware_path)
+            if hasattr(self, middleware_kwargs_method):
+                return getattr(self, middleware_kwargs_method)()
+        return {}
+
     @classmethod
     def broker_settings(cls):
         return getattr(settings, "DRAMATIQ_BROKER", DEFAULT_BROKER_SETTINGS)
@@ -104,6 +114,3 @@ def tasks_database(cls):
     def select_encoder(cls):
         encoder = getattr(settings, "DRAMATIQ_ENCODER", DEFAULT_ENCODER)
         return import_string(encoder)()
-
-
-DjangoDramatiqConfig.initialize()
diff --git a/django_dramatiq/utils.py b/django_dramatiq/utils.py
index 9024065..7da6653 100644
--- a/django_dramatiq/utils.py
+++ b/django_dramatiq/utils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from django.utils.module_loading import import_string
 
 
-def load_middleware(path_or_obj):
+def load_middleware(path_or_obj, **kwargs):
     if isinstance(path_or_obj, str):
-        return import_string(path_or_obj)()
+        return import_string(path_or_obj)(**kwargs)
     return path_or_obj