diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ce33184..5cddde3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -397,5 +397,8 @@ FodyWeavers.xsd
 # JetBrains Rider
 *.sln.iml
 
+# Cargo build artifacts
+target/
+
 # Cargo lock
 Cargo.lock
diff --git a/examples/sample-app/src/main.rs b/examples/sample-app/src/main.rs
index e48ac74..58c92a7 100644
--- a/examples/sample-app/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/sample-app/src/main.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ async fn main() {
                 interval_secs: 1,
                 timeout: 5,
                 export_severity: Some(Severity::Error),
+                target_filters: None,
                 ca_cert_path: args.ca_cert_path,
                 bearer_token_provider_fn: Some(get_dummy_bearer_token),
             }];
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ async fn main() {
     };
 
     let mut otel_component = Otel::new(config);
+    let shutdown_handle = otel_component.shutdown_handle();
     // Start the otel running task
     let otel_long_running_task = otel_component.run();
     // initialize static metrics
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ async fn main() {
     });
 
     let _ = join!(instrumentation_task, otel_long_running_task);
-    otel_component.shutdown().await;
+    let _ = shutdown_handle.shutdown().await;
 }
 
 #[derive(Parser, Debug)]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 2cc0cef..59e232c 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,19 @@ pub struct Otel {
     shutdown_rx: mpsc::Receiver<()>,
 }
 
+pub struct ShutdownHandle {
+    sender: mpsc::Sender<()>,
+}
+
+impl ShutdownHandle {
+    /// Send a shutdown signal
+    /// # Errors
+    /// * `mpsc::error::SendError` - If the shutdown signal could not be sent
+    pub async fn shutdown(&self) -> Result<(), mpsc::error::SendError<()>> {
+        self.sender.send(()).await
+    }
+}
+
 impl Otel {
     #[must_use]
     pub fn new(config: Config) -> Otel {
@@ -144,28 +157,41 @@ impl Otel {
                 return Err(OtelError::PrometheusServerStopped)
             }
             _ = self.shutdown_rx.recv() => {
+                // Graceful shutdown that flushes any pending metrics and logs to the exporter.
                 info!("shutting down otel component");
+
+                if let Err(metrics_error) = self.meter_provider.force_flush() {
+                    warn!("encountered error while flushing metrics: {metrics_error:?}");
+                }
+                if let Err(metrics_error) = self.meter_provider.shutdown() {
+                    warn!("encountered error while shutting down meter provider: {metrics_error:?}");
+                }
+
+                if let Some(logger_provider) = self.logger_provider.clone() {
+                    logger_provider.force_flush();
+                    let _ = logger_provider.shutdown();
+                }
+
             }
         }
 
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    /// Graceful shutdown that flushes any pending metrics and logs to the exporter.
-    pub async fn shutdown(&self) {
-        if let Err(metrics_error) = self.meter_provider.force_flush() {
-            warn!("ecountered error while flushing metrics: {metrics_error:?}");
-        }
-        if let Err(metrics_error) = self.meter_provider.shutdown() {
-            warn!("ecountered error while shutting down meter provider: {metrics_error:?}");
-        }
-
-        if let Some(logger_provider) = self.logger_provider.clone() {
-            logger_provider.force_flush();
-            let _ = logger_provider.shutdown();
+    /// Get a shutdown handle that can be used to trigger shutdown from other contexts.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn shutdown_handle(&self) -> ShutdownHandle {
+        ShutdownHandle {
+            sender: self.shutdown_tx.clone(),
         }
+    }
 
-        let _ = self.shutdown_tx.send(()).await;
+    /// Convenience function to trigger shutdown from the Otel struct directly.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// * `mpsc::error::SendError` - If the shutdown signal could not be sent
+    pub async fn shutdown(&self) -> Result<(), mpsc::error::SendError<()>> {
+        self.shutdown_tx.send(()).await // Just sends signal, run() handles the rest
     }
 }
 
@@ -508,3 +534,51 @@ impl Interceptor for AuthIntercepter {
         Ok(modified_request)
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::time::Duration;
+    use tokio::time::timeout;
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_shutdown_approaches_both_work() {
+        // Test that both shutdown approaches trigger the same graceful shutdown behavior
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            let config = Config::default();
+            let mut otel = Otel::new(config);
+            let shutdown_handle = otel.shutdown_handle();
+
+            let run_task = tokio::spawn(async move { otel.run().await });
+
+            tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(50)).await;
+
+            // Act
+            shutdown_handle
+                .shutdown()
+                .await
+                .expect("Should be able to send shutdown signal");
+
+            // Assert
+            let result = timeout(Duration::from_secs(1), run_task).await;
+            assert!(
+                result.is_ok(),
+                "Run task should complete after direct shutdown"
+            );
+            assert!(result.unwrap().is_ok(), "Run task should exit cleanly");
+        }
+
+        {
+            // Arrange
+            let config = Config::default();
+            let otel = Otel::new(config);
+
+            // Act
+            let shutdown_result = otel.shutdown().await;
+
+            // Assert
+            assert!(shutdown_result.is_ok(), "Convenience shutdown should work");
+        }
+    }
+}