diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index af9cd465..76d4709a 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1927,6 +1927,7 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "tower-batch"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "color-eyre",
  "ed25519-zebra",
  "futures",
  "futures-core",
diff --git a/tower-batch/Cargo.toml b/tower-batch/Cargo.toml
index d1fda004..59753c21 100644
--- a/tower-batch/Cargo.toml
+++ b/tower-batch/Cargo.toml
@@ -21,3 +21,4 @@ tokio = { version = "0.2", features = ["full"]}
 tracing-error = "0.1.2"
 tracing-subscriber = "0.2.5"
 tracing = "0.1.15"
+color-eyre = "0.3.4"
diff --git a/tower-batch/src/error.rs b/tower-batch/src/error.rs
index 418957fc..7d35a8a1 100644
--- a/tower-batch/src/error.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/src/error.rs
@@ -1,47 +1,12 @@
 //! Error types for the `Batch` middleware.
 
-use crate::BoxError;
-use std::{fmt, sync::Arc};
-
-/// An error produced by a `Service` wrapped by a `Batch`.
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct ServiceError {
-    inner: Arc<BoxError>,
-}
+use std::fmt;
 
 /// An error produced when the batch worker closes unexpectedly.
 pub struct Closed {
     _p: (),
 }
 
-// ===== impl ServiceError =====
-
-impl ServiceError {
-    pub(crate) fn new(inner: BoxError) -> ServiceError {
-        let inner = Arc::new(inner);
-        ServiceError { inner }
-    }
-
-    // Private to avoid exposing `Clone` trait as part of the public API
-    pub(crate) fn clone(&self) -> ServiceError {
-        ServiceError {
-            inner: self.inner.clone(),
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Display for ServiceError {
-    fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        write!(fmt, "batching service failed: {}", self.inner)
-    }
-}
-
-impl std::error::Error for ServiceError {
-    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn std::error::Error + 'static)> {
-        Some(&**self.inner)
-    }
-}
-
 // ===== impl Closed =====
 
 impl Closed {
diff --git a/tower-batch/src/future.rs b/tower-batch/src/future.rs
index ed96ce3f..300f79bf 100644
--- a/tower-batch/src/future.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/src/future.rs
@@ -4,47 +4,68 @@ use super::{error::Closed, message};
 use futures_core::ready;
 use pin_project::pin_project;
 use std::{
+    fmt::Debug,
     future::Future,
     pin::Pin,
     task::{Context, Poll},
 };
+use tower::Service;
 
 /// Future that completes when the batch processing is complete.
 #[pin_project]
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct ResponseFuture<T> {
+pub struct ResponseFuture<T, E, R>
+where
+    T: Service<crate::BatchControl<R>>,
+{
     #[pin]
-    state: ResponseState<T>,
+    state: ResponseState<T, E, R>,
 }
 
 #[pin_project(project = ResponseStateProj)]
-#[derive(Debug)]
-enum ResponseState<T> {
-    Failed(Option<crate::BoxError>),
-    Rx(#[pin] message::Rx<T>),
-    Poll(#[pin] T),
+enum ResponseState<T, E, R>
+where
+    T: Service<crate::BatchControl<R>>,
+{
+    Failed(Option<E>),
+    Rx(#[pin] message::Rx<T::Future, T::Error>),
+    Poll(#[pin] T::Future),
 }
 
-impl<T> ResponseFuture<T> {
-    pub(crate) fn new(rx: message::Rx<T>) -> Self {
+impl<T, E, R> Debug for ResponseState<T, E, R>
+where
+    T: Service<crate::BatchControl<R>>,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, _f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        todo!()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, E, R> ResponseFuture<T, E, R>
+where
+    T: Service<crate::BatchControl<R>>,
+{
+    pub(crate) fn new(rx: message::Rx<T::Future, T::Error>) -> Self {
         ResponseFuture {
             state: ResponseState::Rx(rx),
         }
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn failed(err: crate::BoxError) -> Self {
+    pub(crate) fn failed(err: E) -> Self {
         ResponseFuture {
             state: ResponseState::Failed(Some(err)),
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<F, T, E> Future for ResponseFuture<F>
+impl<S, E2, R> Future for ResponseFuture<S, E2, R>
 where
-    F: Future<Output = Result<T, E>>,
-    E: Into<crate::BoxError>,
+    S: Service<crate::BatchControl<R>>,
+    S::Future: Future<Output = Result<S::Response, S::Error>>,
+    S::Error: Into<E2>,
+    crate::error::Closed: Into<E2>,
 {
-    type Output = Result<T, crate::BoxError>;
+    type Output = Result<S::Response, E2>;
 
     fn poll(self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
         let mut this = self.project();
diff --git a/tower-batch/src/layer.rs b/tower-batch/src/layer.rs
index 8fda7ba3..a7631ac5 100644
--- a/tower-batch/src/layer.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/src/layer.rs
@@ -9,13 +9,14 @@ use tower::Service;
 /// which means that this layer can only be used on the Tokio runtime.
 ///
 /// See the module documentation for more details.
-pub struct BatchLayer<Request> {
+pub struct BatchLayer<Request, E> {
     max_items: usize,
     max_latency: std::time::Duration,
     _p: PhantomData<fn(Request)>,
+    _e: PhantomData<E>,
 }
 
-impl<Request> BatchLayer<Request> {
+impl<Request, E> BatchLayer<Request, E> {
     /// Creates a new `BatchLayer`.
     ///
     /// The wrapper is responsible for telling the inner service when to flush a
@@ -28,25 +29,28 @@ impl<Request> BatchLayer<Request> {
             max_items,
             max_latency,
             _p: PhantomData,
+            _e: PhantomData,
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<S, Request> Layer<S> for BatchLayer<Request>
+impl<S, Request, E> Layer<S> for BatchLayer<Request, E>
 where
     S: Service<BatchControl<Request>> + Send + 'static,
     S::Future: Send,
-    S::Error: Into<crate::BoxError> + Send + Sync,
+    S::Error: Clone + Into<E> + Send + Sync,
     Request: Send + 'static,
+    E: Clone + Send + 'static,
+    crate::error::Closed: Into<E>,
 {
-    type Service = Batch<S, Request>;
+    type Service = Batch<S, Request, E>;
 
     fn layer(&self, service: S) -> Self::Service {
         Batch::new(service, self.max_items, self.max_latency)
     }
 }
 
-impl<Request> fmt::Debug for BatchLayer<Request> {
+impl<Request, E> fmt::Debug for BatchLayer<Request, E> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
         f.debug_struct("BufferLayer")
             .field("max_items", &self.max_items)
diff --git a/tower-batch/src/message.rs b/tower-batch/src/message.rs
index dc73a6ad..7e433592 100644
--- a/tower-batch/src/message.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/src/message.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
-use super::error::ServiceError;
 use tokio::sync::oneshot;
 
 /// Message sent to the batch worker
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub(crate) struct Message<Request, Fut> {
+pub(crate) struct Message<Request, Fut, E> {
     pub(crate) request: Request,
-    pub(crate) tx: Tx<Fut>,
+    pub(crate) tx: Tx<Fut, E>,
     pub(crate) span: tracing::Span,
 }
 
 /// Response sender
-pub(crate) type Tx<Fut> = oneshot::Sender<Result<Fut, ServiceError>>;
+pub(crate) type Tx<Fut, E> = oneshot::Sender<Result<Fut, E>>;
 
 /// Response receiver
-pub(crate) type Rx<Fut> = oneshot::Receiver<Result<Fut, ServiceError>>;
+pub(crate) type Rx<Fut, E> = oneshot::Receiver<Result<Fut, E>>;
diff --git a/tower-batch/src/service.rs b/tower-batch/src/service.rs
index 28c4e713..cba07b60 100644
--- a/tower-batch/src/service.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/src/service.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ use super::{
 };
 
 use futures_core::ready;
-use std::task::{Context, Poll};
+use std::{
+    marker::PhantomData,
+    task::{Context, Poll},
+};
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot};
 use tower::Service;
 
@@ -14,18 +17,23 @@ use tower::Service;
 ///
 /// See the module documentation for more details.
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct Batch<T, Request>
+pub struct Batch<T, Request, E = crate::BoxError>
 where
     T: Service<BatchControl<Request>>,
 {
-    tx: mpsc::Sender<Message<Request, T::Future>>,
-    handle: Handle,
+    tx: mpsc::Sender<Message<Request, T::Future, T::Error>>,
+    handle: Handle<E>,
+    _error_type: PhantomData<E>,
 }
 
-impl<T, Request> Batch<T, Request>
+impl<T, Request, E> Batch<T, Request, E>
 where
     T: Service<BatchControl<Request>>,
-    T::Error: Into<crate::BoxError>,
+    T::Error: Into<E>,
+    E: Send + 'static,
+    crate::error::Closed: Into<E>,
+    // crate::error::Closed: Into<<Self as Service<Request>>::Error> + Send + Sync + 'static,
+    // crate::error::ServiceError: Into<<Self as Service<Request>>::Error> + Send + Sync + 'static,
 {
     /// Creates a new `Batch` wrapping `service`.
     ///
@@ -41,29 +49,35 @@ where
     where
         T: Send + 'static,
         T::Future: Send,
-        T::Error: Send + Sync,
+        T::Error: Send + Sync + Clone,
         Request: Send + 'static,
     {
         // XXX(hdevalence): is this bound good
         let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel(1);
         let (handle, worker) = Worker::new(service, rx, max_items, max_latency);
         tokio::spawn(worker.run());
-        Batch { tx, handle }
+        Batch {
+            tx,
+            handle,
+            _error_type: PhantomData,
+        }
     }
 
-    fn get_worker_error(&self) -> crate::BoxError {
+    fn get_worker_error(&self) -> E {
         self.handle.get_error_on_closed()
     }
 }
 
-impl<T, Request> Service<Request> for Batch<T, Request>
+impl<T, Request, E> Service<Request> for Batch<T, Request, E>
 where
     T: Service<BatchControl<Request>>,
-    T::Error: Into<crate::BoxError>,
+    crate::error::Closed: Into<E>,
+    T::Error: Into<E>,
+    E: Send + 'static,
 {
     type Response = T::Response;
-    type Error = crate::BoxError;
-    type Future = ResponseFuture<T::Future>;
+    type Error = E;
+    type Future = ResponseFuture<T, E, Request>;
 
     fn poll_ready(&mut self, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Result<(), Self::Error>> {
         // If the inner service has errored, then we error here.
@@ -113,6 +127,7 @@ where
         Self {
             tx: self.tx.clone(),
             handle: self.handle.clone(),
+            _error_type: PhantomData,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/tower-batch/src/worker.rs b/tower-batch/src/worker.rs
index 8d4ab367..8b314ed7 100644
--- a/tower-batch/src/worker.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/src/worker.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 use super::{
-    error::{Closed, ServiceError},
+    error::Closed,
     message::{self, Message},
     BatchControl,
 };
 use futures::future::TryFutureExt;
 use pin_project::pin_project;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::{
+    marker::PhantomData,
+    sync::{Arc, Mutex},
+};
 use tokio::{
     stream::StreamExt,
     sync::mpsc,
@@ -23,36 +26,37 @@ use tracing_futures::Instrument;
 /// implement (only call).
 #[pin_project]
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct Worker<T, Request>
+pub struct Worker<T, Request, E>
 where
     T: Service<BatchControl<Request>>,
-    T::Error: Into<crate::BoxError>,
+    T::Error: Into<E>,
 {
-    rx: mpsc::Receiver<Message<Request, T::Future>>,
+    rx: mpsc::Receiver<Message<Request, T::Future, T::Error>>,
     service: T,
-    failed: Option<ServiceError>,
-    handle: Handle,
+    failed: Option<T::Error>,
+    handle: Handle<E>,
     max_items: usize,
     max_latency: std::time::Duration,
+    _error_type: PhantomData<E>,
 }
 
 /// Get the error out
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub(crate) struct Handle {
-    inner: Arc<Mutex<Option<ServiceError>>>,
+pub(crate) struct Handle<E> {
+    inner: Arc<Mutex<Option<E>>>,
 }
 
-impl<T, Request> Worker<T, Request>
+impl<T, Request, E> Worker<T, Request, E>
 where
     T: Service<BatchControl<Request>>,
-    T::Error: Into<crate::BoxError>,
+    T::Error: Into<E> + Clone,
 {
     pub(crate) fn new(
         service: T,
-        rx: mpsc::Receiver<Message<Request, T::Future>>,
+        rx: mpsc::Receiver<Message<Request, T::Future, T::Error>>,
         max_items: usize,
         max_latency: std::time::Duration,
-    ) -> (Handle, Worker<T, Request>) {
+    ) -> (Handle<E>, Worker<T, Request, E>) {
         let handle = Handle {
             inner: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
         };
@@ -64,15 +68,16 @@ where
             failed: None,
             max_items,
             max_latency,
+            _error_type: PhantomData,
         };
 
         (handle, worker)
     }
 
-    async fn process_req(&mut self, req: Request, tx: message::Tx<T::Future>) {
-        if let Some(ref failed) = self.failed {
+    async fn process_req(&mut self, req: Request, tx: message::Tx<T::Future, T::Error>) {
+        if let Some(failed) = self.failed.clone() {
             tracing::trace!("notifying caller about worker failure");
-            let _ = tx.send(Err(failed.clone()));
+            let _ = tx.send(Err(failed));
         } else {
             match self.service.ready_and().await {
                 Ok(svc) => {
@@ -80,12 +85,11 @@ where
                     let _ = tx.send(Ok(rsp));
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
-                    self.failed(e.into());
+                    self.failed(e);
                     let _ = tx.send(Err(self
                         .failed
-                        .as_ref()
-                        .expect("Worker::failed did not set self.failed?")
-                        .clone()));
+                        .clone()
+                        .expect("Worker::failed did not set self.failed?")));
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -98,7 +102,7 @@ where
             .and_then(|svc| svc.call(BatchControl::Flush))
             .await
         {
-            self.failed(e.into());
+            self.failed(e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -165,7 +169,7 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    fn failed(&mut self, error: crate::BoxError) {
+    fn failed(&mut self, error: T::Error) {
         // The underlying service failed when we called `poll_ready` on it with the given `error`. We
         // need to communicate this to all the `Buffer` handles. To do so, we wrap up the error in
         // an `Arc`, send that `Arc<E>` to all pending requests, and store it so that subsequent
@@ -178,7 +182,6 @@ where
         // request. We do this by *first* exposing the error, *then* closing the channel used to
         // send more requests (so the client will see the error when the send fails), and *then*
         // sending the error to all outstanding requests.
-        let error = ServiceError::new(error);
 
         let mut inner = self.handle.inner.lock().unwrap();
 
@@ -187,7 +190,7 @@ where
             return;
         }
 
-        *inner = Some(error.clone());
+        *inner = Some(error.clone().into());
         drop(inner);
 
         self.rx.close();
@@ -200,19 +203,21 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl Handle {
-    pub(crate) fn get_error_on_closed(&self) -> crate::BoxError {
+impl<E> Handle<E>
+where
+    crate::error::Closed: Into<E>,
+{
+    pub(crate) fn get_error_on_closed(&self) -> E {
         self.inner
             .lock()
             .unwrap()
-            .as_ref()
-            .map(|svc_err| svc_err.clone().into())
+            .take()
             .unwrap_or_else(|| Closed::new().into())
     }
 }
 
-impl Clone for Handle {
-    fn clone(&self) -> Handle {
+impl<E> Clone for Handle<E> {
+    fn clone(&self) -> Handle<E> {
         Handle {
             inner: self.inner.clone(),
         }
diff --git a/tower-batch/tests/ed25519.rs b/tower-batch/tests/ed25519.rs
index d1599fc5..e28bbeff 100644
--- a/tower-batch/tests/ed25519.rs
+++ b/tower-batch/tests/ed25519.rs
@@ -131,31 +131,31 @@ where
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn batch_flushes_on_max_items() {
+async fn batch_flushes_on_max_items() -> color_eyre::Result<()> {
     use tokio::time::timeout;
     install_tracing();
 
     // Use a very long max_latency and a short timeout to check that
     // flushing is happening based on hitting max_items.
-    let verifier = Batch::new(Ed25519Verifier::new(), 10, Duration::from_secs(1000));
-    assert!(
-        timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), sign_and_verify(verifier, 100))
-            .await
-            .is_ok()
-    )
+    let verifier = Batch::<_, _, color_eyre::Report>::new(
+        Ed25519Verifier::new(),
+        10,
+        Duration::from_secs(1000),
+    );
+    Ok(timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), sign_and_verify(verifier, 100)).await?)
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn batch_flushes_on_max_latency() {
+async fn batch_flushes_on_max_latency() -> color_eyre::Result<()> {
     use tokio::time::timeout;
     install_tracing();
 
     // Use a very high max_items and a short timeout to check that
     // flushing is happening based on hitting max_latency.
-    let verifier = Batch::new(Ed25519Verifier::new(), 100, Duration::from_millis(500));
-    assert!(
-        timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), sign_and_verify(verifier, 10))
-            .await
-            .is_ok()
-    )
+    let verifier = Batch::<_, _, color_eyre::Report>::new(
+        Ed25519Verifier::new(),
+        100,
+        Duration::from_millis(500),
+    );
+    Ok(timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), sign_and_verify(verifier, 10)).await?)
 }