diff --git a/itchat/components/login.py b/itchat/components/login.py
index 5663c7f..709b830 100644
--- a/itchat/components/login.py
+++ b/itchat/components/login.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def show_mobile_login(self):
     r = self.s.post(url, data=json.dumps(data), headers=headers)
     return ReturnValue(rawResponse=r)
 
-def start_receiving(self, exitCallback=None):
+def start_receiving(self, exitCallback=None, getReceivingFnOnly=False):
     self.alive = True
     def maintain_loop():
         retryCount = 0
@@ -229,9 +229,12 @@ def start_receiving(self, exitCallback=None):
             exitCallback()
         else:
             logger.info('LOG OUT!')
-    maintainThread = threading.Thread(target = maintain_loop)
-    maintainThread.setDaemon(True)
-    maintainThread.start()
+    if getReceivingFnOnly:
+        return maintain_loop
+    else:
+        maintainThread = threading.Thread(target=maintain_loop)
+        maintainThread.setDaemon(True)
+        maintainThread.start()
 
 def sync_check(self):
     url = '%s/synccheck' % self.loginInfo.get('syncUrl', self.loginInfo['url'])
diff --git a/itchat/components/register.py b/itchat/components/register.py
index 3afe8c3..47bd356 100644
--- a/itchat/components/register.py
+++ b/itchat/components/register.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import logging, traceback, sys
+import logging, traceback, sys, threading
 try:
     import Queue
 except ImportError:
@@ -84,14 +84,21 @@ def msg_register(self, msgType, isFriendChat=False, isGroupChat=False, isMpChat=
                 self.functionDict['FriendChat'][_msgType] = fn
     return _msg_register
 
-def run(self, debug=False):
+def run(self, debug=False, blockThread=True):
     logger.info('Start auto replying.')
     if debug:
         set_logging(loggingLevel=logging.DEBUG)
-    try:
-        while self.alive: self.configured_reply()
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        if self.useHotReload: self.dump_login_status()
-        self.alive = False
-        logger.debug('itchat received an ^C and exit.')
-        print('Bye~')
+    def reply_fn():
+        try:
+            while self.alive: self.configured_reply()
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            if self.useHotReload: self.dump_login_status()
+            self.alive = False
+            logger.debug('itchat received an ^C and exit.')
+            print('Bye~')
+    if blockThread:
+        reply_fn()
+    else:
+        replyThread = threading.Thread(target=reply_fn)
+        replyThread.setDaemon(True)
+        replyThread.start()
diff --git a/itchat/core.py b/itchat/core.py
index 44ee1e7..3ce410d 100644
--- a/itchat/core.py
+++ b/itchat/core.py
@@ -112,11 +112,12 @@ class Core(object):
             it is defined in components/login.py
         '''
         raise NotImplementedError()
-    def start_receiving(self, finishCallback=None):
+    def start_receiving(self, exitCallback=None, getReceivingFnOnly=False):
         ''' open a thread for heart loop and receiving messages
             for options:
-                - finishCallback: callback after logged out
+                - exitCallback: callback after logged out
                     - it contains calling of logout
+                - getReceivingFnOnly: if True thread will not be created and started. Instead, receive fn will be returned.
             for processing:
                 - messages: msgs are formatted and passed on to registered fns
                 - contact : chatrooms are updated when related info is received
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ class Core(object):
             return a specific decorator based on information given
         '''
         raise NotImplementedError()
-    def run(self, debug=True):
+    def run(self, debug=True, blockThread=True):
         ''' start auto respond
             for option
                 - debug: if set, debug info will be shown on screen