diff --git a/service.go b/service.go
index 5c5e78f..2cc88a5 100644
--- a/service.go
+++ b/service.go
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ func WithLocation(location string) Option {
 
 // WithHandlers sets custom handlers (replaces default handlers).
 func WithHandlers(handlers ...KeyHandler) Option {
-	return func(s *Service) { s.handlers = handlers }
+	return func(s *Service) {
+		s.handlers = append([]KeyHandler(nil), handlers...)
+	}
 }
 
 // WithDefaultHandlers adds the default i18n.* namespace handlers.
diff --git a/service_test.go b/service_test.go
index f6e393b..c36d2a5 100644
--- a/service_test.go
+++ b/service_test.go
@@ -33,6 +33,16 @@ func (h serviceMutatingHandler) Handle(key string, args []any, next func() strin
 	return "mutated"
 }
 
+type serviceStubHandler struct{}
+
+func (serviceStubHandler) Match(key string) bool {
+	return key == "custom.stub"
+}
+
+func (serviceStubHandler) Handle(key string, args []any, next func() string) string {
+	return "stub"
+}
+
 type underscoreLangLoader struct{}
 
 func (underscoreLangLoader) Languages() []string {
@@ -137,6 +147,20 @@ func TestServiceTranslateMissingKey(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNewWithHandlersCopiesInputSlice(t *testing.T) {
+	handlers := []KeyHandler{serviceStubHandler{}}
+	svc, err := New(WithHandlers(handlers...))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New() failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	handlers[0] = LabelHandler{}
+
+	if got := svc.T("custom.stub"); got != "stub" {
+		t.Fatalf("T(custom.stub) = %q, want %q", got, "stub")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestServiceTDirectKeys(t *testing.T) {
 	svc, err := New()
 	if err != nil {