diff --git a/packages/identity/src/id-resolver.ts b/packages/identity/src/id-resolver.ts
index e400e201832..ccf42ca9574 100644
--- a/packages/identity/src/id-resolver.ts
+++ b/packages/identity/src/id-resolver.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ export class IdResolver {
 
   constructor(opts: IdentityResolverOpts = {}) {
     const { timeout = 3000, plcUrl, didCache } = opts
-    this.handle = new HandleResolver({ timeout })
+    this.handle = new HandleResolver({
+      timeout,
+      backupNameservers: opts.backupNameservers,
+    })
     this.did = new DidResolver({ timeout, plcUrl, didCache })
   }
 }