diff --git a/lib/guard/rails-assets.rb b/lib/guard/rails-assets.rb
index a8a4cfc..8f2e72b 100644
--- a/lib/guard/rails-assets.rb
+++ b/lib/guard/rails-assets.rb
@@ -7,24 +7,17 @@ module Guard
     def initialize(watchers=[], options={})
       super
       @options = options || {}
-    end
-
-    def create_rails_runner
+      @run_on = @options[:run_on] || [:start, :change]
+      @run_on = [@run_on] unless @run_on.respond_to?(:include?)
       @rails_runner = RailsRunner.new
     end
 
-    def rails_runner
-      @rails_runner ||= create_rails_runner
-    end
-
     def start
-      create_rails_runner
-
       compile_assets if run_for? :start
     end
 
     def reload
-      rails_runner.restart_rails
+      @rails_runner.restart_rails
 
       compile_assets if run_for? :reload
     end
@@ -39,7 +32,7 @@ module Guard
 
     def compile_assets
       puts 'Compiling rails assets'
-      result = rails_runner.compile_assets
+      result = @rails_runner.compile_assets
 
       if result
         Notifier::notify 'Assets compiled'
@@ -49,10 +42,7 @@ module Guard
     end
 
     def run_for? command
-      run_on = @options[:run_on]
-      run_on = [:start, :change] if not run_on or run_on.to_s.empty?
-      run_on = [run_on] unless run_on.respond_to?(:include?)
-      run_on.include?(command)
+      @run_on.include?(command)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/guard/rails-assets/rails_runner.rb b/lib/guard/rails-assets/rails_runner.rb
index f94f5a2..1916708 100644
--- a/lib/guard/rails-assets/rails_runner.rb
+++ b/lib/guard/rails-assets/rails_runner.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 module Guard
-  
-  # Keeps rails loaded in a thread waiting to run the asset pipeline compiler
+
   class RailsAssets::RailsRunner
 
     def initialize
@@ -29,6 +28,10 @@ module Guard
       end
     end
 
+    def boot_rails
+      require "#{Dir.pwd}/config/environment.rb"
+    end
+
     def run_compiler
       begin
         @failed = false
@@ -40,10 +43,6 @@ module Guard
       end
     end
 
-    def boot_rails
-      require "#{Dir.pwd}/config/environment.rb"
-    end
-
     # Runs the asset pipeline compiler.
     #
     # @return [ Boolean ] Whether the compilation was successful or not
diff --git a/spec/guard/rails-assets_spec.rb b/spec/guard/rails-assets_spec.rb
index fe336f0..a5baf03 100644
--- a/spec/guard/rails-assets_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/guard/rails-assets_spec.rb
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ require 'guard/rails-assets'
 
 describe Guard::RailsAssets do
   let(:options) { {} }
-  let(:rails_thread) { mock(Guard::RailsAssets::RailsThread) }
+  let(:rails_runner) { mock(Guard::RailsAssets::RailsRunner) }
   subject { Guard::RailsAssets.new(['watchers'], options) }
 
   before do
-    Guard::RailsAssets::RailsThread.stub(:new => rails_thread)
-    rails_thread.stub(:compile_assets => true, :restart_rails => true)
+    Guard::RailsAssets::RailsRunner.stub(:new => rails_runner)
+    rails_runner.stub(:compile_assets => true, :restart_rails => true)
   end
 
   describe '#start' do
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe Guard::RailsAssets do
 
   describe 'asset compilation using CLI' do
     def stub_system_with result
-      rails_thread.should_receive(:compile_assets).and_return result
+      rails_runner.should_receive(:compile_assets).and_return result
     end
 
     it 'should notify on success' do