diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ef5c5ce6..6b345265 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ single [`run()`](#run) call that is controlled by the user.
 * [Usage](#usage)
     * [Loop](#loop)
         * [Loop methods](#loop-methods)
+        * [Loop autorun](#loop-autorun)
         * [get()](#get)
     * [~~Factory~~](#factory)
         * [~~create()~~](#create)
@@ -76,8 +77,6 @@ Loop::addPeriodicTimer(5, function () {
     $formatted = number_format($memory, 3).'K';
     echo "Current memory usage: {$formatted}\n";
 });
-
-Loop::run();
 ```
 
 See also the [examples](examples).
@@ -98,8 +97,6 @@ Loop::addTimer(1.0, function () use ($timer) {
     Loop::cancelTimer($timer);
     echo 'Done' . PHP_EOL;
 });
-
-Loop::run();
 ```
 
 As an alternative, you can also explicitly create an event loop instance at the
@@ -127,12 +124,13 @@ In both cases, the program would perform the exact same steps.
 1. The event loop instance is created at the beginning of the program. This is
    implicitly done the first time you call the [`Loop` class](#loop) or
    explicitly when using the deprecated [`Factory::create() method`](#create)
-   (or manually instantiating any of the [loop implementation](#loop-implementations)).
+   (or manually instantiating any of the [loop implementations](#loop-implementations)).
 2. The event loop is used directly or passed as an instance to library and
    application code. In this example, a periodic timer is registered with the
    event loop which simply outputs `Tick` every fraction of a second until another
    timer stops the periodic timer after a second.
-3. The event loop is run at the end of the program with a single [`run()`](#run)
+3. The event loop is run at the end of the program. This is automatically done
+   when using [`Loop` class](#loop) or explicitly with a single [`run()`](#run)
    call at the end of the program.
 
 As of `v1.2.0`, we highly recommend using the [`Loop` class](#loop).
@@ -176,8 +174,6 @@ Loop::addTimer(1.0, function () use ($timer) {
     Loop::cancelTimer($timer);
     echo 'Done' . PHP_EOL;
 });
-
-Loop::run();
 ```
 
 On the other hand, if you're familiar with object-oriented programming (OOP) and
@@ -208,14 +204,50 @@ class Greeter
 $greeter = new Greeter(Loop::get());
 $greeter->greet('Alice');
 $greeter->greet('Bob');
-
-Loop::run();
 ```
 
 Each static method call will be forwarded as-is to the underlying event loop
 instance by using the [`Loop::get()`](#get) call internally.
 See [`LoopInterface`](#loopinterface) for more details about available methods.
 
+#### Loop autorun
+
+When using the `Loop` class, it will automatically execute the loop at the end of
+the program. This means the following example will schedule a timer and will
+automatically execute the program until the timer event fires:
+
+```php
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+Loop::addTimer(1.0, function () {
+    echo 'Hello' . PHP_EOL;
+});
+```
+
+As of `v1.2.0`, we highly recommend using the `Loop` class this way and omitting any
+explicit [`run()`](#run) calls. For BC reasons, the explicit [`run()`](#run)
+method is still valid and may still be useful in some applications, especially
+for a transition period towards the more concise style.
+
+If you don't want the `Loop` to run automatically, you can either explicitly
+[`run()`](#run) or [`stop()`](#stop) it. This can be useful if you're using
+a global exception handler like this:
+
+```php
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+Loop::addTimer(10.0, function () {
+    echo 'Never happens';
+});
+
+set_exception_handler(function (Throwable $e) {
+    echo 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage() . PHP_EOL;
+    Loop::stop();
+});
+
+throw new RuntimeException('Demo');
+```
+
 #### get()
 
 The `get(): LoopInterface` method can be used to
@@ -262,8 +294,6 @@ class Greeter
 $greeter = new Greeter(Loop::get());
 $greeter->greet('Alice');
 $greeter->greet('Bob');
-
-Loop::run();
 ```
 
 See [`LoopInterface`](#loopinterface) for more details about available methods.
diff --git a/examples/01-timers.php b/examples/01-timers.php
index a7bf3945..5f263b3e 100644
--- a/examples/01-timers.php
+++ b/examples/01-timers.php
@@ -11,5 +11,3 @@
 Loop::addTimer(0.3, function () {
     echo 'hello ';
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/02-periodic.php b/examples/02-periodic.php
index 4413870d..68533bd3 100644
--- a/examples/02-periodic.php
+++ b/examples/02-periodic.php
@@ -12,5 +12,3 @@
     Loop::cancelTimer($timer);
     echo 'Done' . PHP_EOL;
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/03-ticks.php b/examples/03-ticks.php
index 4b2077da..e32e67af 100644
--- a/examples/03-ticks.php
+++ b/examples/03-ticks.php
@@ -11,5 +11,3 @@
     echo 'c';
 });
 echo 'a';
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/04-signals.php b/examples/04-signals.php
index ceca3521..e841311b 100644
--- a/examples/04-signals.php
+++ b/examples/04-signals.php
@@ -15,5 +15,3 @@
 });
 
 echo 'Listening for SIGINT. Use "kill -SIGINT ' . getmypid() . '" or CTRL+C' . PHP_EOL;
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/11-consume-stdin.php b/examples/11-consume-stdin.php
index f567d84a..dfcb220d 100644
--- a/examples/11-consume-stdin.php
+++ b/examples/11-consume-stdin.php
@@ -24,5 +24,3 @@
 
     echo strlen($chunk) . ' bytes' . PHP_EOL;
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/12-generate-yes.php b/examples/12-generate-yes.php
index 4424b8ec..a57e8d6e 100644
--- a/examples/12-generate-yes.php
+++ b/examples/12-generate-yes.php
@@ -37,5 +37,3 @@
         $data = substr($data, $r) . substr($data, 0, $r);
     }
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/13-http-client-blocking.php b/examples/13-http-client-blocking.php
index efd8cc86..f0562c90 100644
--- a/examples/13-http-client-blocking.php
+++ b/examples/13-http-client-blocking.php
@@ -29,5 +29,3 @@
 
     echo $chunk;
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/14-http-client-async.php b/examples/14-http-client-async.php
index ceed3ec7..074a0eac 100644
--- a/examples/14-http-client-async.php
+++ b/examples/14-http-client-async.php
@@ -58,5 +58,3 @@
         echo $chunk;
     });
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/21-http-server.php b/examples/21-http-server.php
index e000eb51..61529240 100644
--- a/examples/21-http-server.php
+++ b/examples/21-http-server.php
@@ -32,5 +32,3 @@
     $formatted = number_format($memory, 3).'K';
     echo "Current memory usage: {$formatted}\n";
 });
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/91-benchmark-ticks.php b/examples/91-benchmark-ticks.php
index 452abbac..e3dc2b1c 100644
--- a/examples/91-benchmark-ticks.php
+++ b/examples/91-benchmark-ticks.php
@@ -9,5 +9,3 @@
 for ($i = 0; $i < $n; ++$i) {
     Loop::futureTick(function () { });
 }
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/92-benchmark-timers.php b/examples/92-benchmark-timers.php
index da381f16..dd42ec77 100644
--- a/examples/92-benchmark-timers.php
+++ b/examples/92-benchmark-timers.php
@@ -9,5 +9,3 @@
 for ($i = 0; $i < $n; ++$i) {
     Loop::addTimer(0, function () { });
 }
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/93-benchmark-ticks-delay.php b/examples/93-benchmark-ticks-delay.php
index ac5094f3..1976124f 100644
--- a/examples/93-benchmark-ticks-delay.php
+++ b/examples/93-benchmark-ticks-delay.php
@@ -16,5 +16,3 @@
 };
 
 $tick();
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/examples/94-benchmark-timers-delay.php b/examples/94-benchmark-timers-delay.php
index eb4fc5cb..dfe6c8c0 100644
--- a/examples/94-benchmark-timers-delay.php
+++ b/examples/94-benchmark-timers-delay.php
@@ -16,5 +16,3 @@
 };
 
 $tick();
-
-Loop::run();
diff --git a/src/Loop.php b/src/Loop.php
index fed27cba..7f1d962c 100644
--- a/src/Loop.php
+++ b/src/Loop.php
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ final class Loop
      */
     private static $instance;
 
+    /** @var bool */
+    private static $stopped = false;
 
     /**
      * Returns the event loop.
@@ -31,7 +33,29 @@ public static function get()
             return self::$instance;
         }
 
-        self::$instance = Factory::create();
+        self::$instance = $loop = Factory::create();
+
+        // Automatically run loop at end of program, unless already started or stopped explicitly.
+        // This is tested using child processes, so coverage is actually 100%, see BinTest.
+        // @codeCoverageIgnoreStart
+        $hasRun = false;
+        $loop->futureTick(function () use (&$hasRun) {
+            $hasRun = true;
+        });
+
+        $stopped =& self::$stopped;
+        register_shutdown_function(function () use ($loop, &$hasRun, &$stopped) {
+            // Don't run if we're coming from a fatal error (uncaught exception).
+            $error = error_get_last();
+            if ((isset($error['type']) ? $error['type'] : 0) & (E_ERROR | E_CORE_ERROR | E_COMPILE_ERROR | E_USER_ERROR | E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR)) {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (!$hasRun && !$stopped) {
+                $loop->run();
+            }
+        });
+        // @codeCoverageIgnoreEnd
 
         return self::$instance;
     }
@@ -195,6 +219,7 @@ public static function run()
      */
     public static function stop()
     {
+        self::$stopped = true;
         self::get()->stop();
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/BinTest.php b/tests/BinTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f8231b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/BinTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace React\Tests\EventLoop;
+
+class BinTest extends TestCase
+{
+    /**
+     * @before
+     */
+    public function setUpBin()
+    {
+        if (!defined('PHP_BINARY') || defined('HHVM_VERSION')) {
+            $this->markTestSkipped('Tests not supported on legacy PHP 5.3 or HHVM');
+        }
+
+        chdir(__DIR__ . '/bin/');
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithoutLoopRunRunsLoopAndExecutesTicks()
+    {
+        $output = exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 01-ticks-loop-class.php');
+
+        $this->assertEquals('abc', $output);
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithExplicitLoopRunRunsLoopAndExecutesTicks()
+    {
+        $output = exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 02-ticks-loop-instance.php');
+
+        $this->assertEquals('abc', $output);
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithExplicitLoopRunAndStopRunsLoopAndExecutesTicksUntilStopped()
+    {
+        $output = exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 03-ticks-loop-stop.php');
+
+        $this->assertEquals('abc', $output);
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithUncaughtExceptionShouldNotRunLoop()
+    {
+        $time = microtime(true);
+        exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 11-uncaught.php 2>/dev/null');
+        $time = microtime(true) - $time;
+
+        $this->assertLessThan(1.0, $time);
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithUndefinedVariableShouldNotRunLoop()
+    {
+        $time = microtime(true);
+        exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 12-undefined.php 2>/dev/null');
+        $time = microtime(true) - $time;
+
+        $this->assertLessThan(1.0, $time);
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithExplicitStopShouldNotRunLoop()
+    {
+        $time = microtime(true);
+        exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 21-stop.php 2>/dev/null');
+        $time = microtime(true) - $time;
+
+        $this->assertLessThan(1.0, $time);
+    }
+
+    public function testExecuteExampleWithExplicitStopInExceptionHandlerShouldNotRunLoop()
+    {
+        $time = microtime(true);
+        exec(escapeshellarg(PHP_BINARY) . ' 22-uncaught-stop.php 2>/dev/null');
+        $time = microtime(true) - $time;
+
+        $this->assertLessThan(1.0, $time);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/bin/01-ticks-loop-class.php b/tests/bin/01-ticks-loop-class.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f4fcedf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/01-ticks-loop-class.php
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+Loop::futureTick(function () {
+    echo 'b';
+});
+Loop::futureTick(function () {
+    echo 'c';
+});
+echo 'a';
diff --git a/tests/bin/02-ticks-loop-instance.php b/tests/bin/02-ticks-loop-instance.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57e58c92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/02-ticks-loop-instance.php
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+$loop = Loop::get();
+
+$loop->futureTick(function () {
+    echo 'b';
+});
+
+$loop->futureTick(function () {
+    echo 'c';
+});
+
+echo 'a';
+
+$loop->run();
diff --git a/tests/bin/03-ticks-loop-stop.php b/tests/bin/03-ticks-loop-stop.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d8b65946
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/03-ticks-loop-stop.php
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+$loop = Loop::get();
+
+$loop->futureTick(function () use ($loop) {
+    echo 'b';
+
+    $loop->stop();
+
+    $loop->futureTick(function () {
+        echo 'never';
+    });
+});
+
+echo 'a';
+
+$loop->run();
+
+echo 'c';
diff --git a/tests/bin/11-uncaught.php b/tests/bin/11-uncaught.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0655698b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/11-uncaught.php
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+Loop::addTimer(10.0, function () {
+    echo 'never';
+});
+
+throw new RuntimeException();
diff --git a/tests/bin/12-undefined.php b/tests/bin/12-undefined.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..66d0d726
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/12-undefined.php
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+Loop::get()->addTimer(10.0, function () {
+    echo 'never';
+});
+
+$undefined->foo('bar');
diff --git a/tests/bin/21-stop.php b/tests/bin/21-stop.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..038d9223
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/21-stop.php
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+Loop::addTimer(10.0, function () {
+    echo 'never';
+});
+
+Loop::stop();
diff --git a/tests/bin/22-stop-uncaught.php b/tests/bin/22-stop-uncaught.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f0c0ff8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bin/22-stop-uncaught.php
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?php
+
+use React\EventLoop\Loop;
+
+require __DIR__ . '/../../vendor/autoload.php';
+
+Loop::addTimer(10.0, function () {
+    echo 'never';
+});
+
+set_exception_handler(function (Exception $e) {
+    echo 'Uncaught error occured' . PHP_EOL;
+    Loop::stop();
+});
+
+throw new RuntimeException();