diff --git a/vladiate/vlad.py b/vladiate/vlad.py
index c6f8a06..2f2aea0 100644
--- a/vladiate/vlad.py
+++ b/vladiate/vlad.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ def __init__(
         file_validation_failure_threshold=None,
         quiet=False,
         row_validators=[],
+        fieldnames=None,
     ):
         self.logger = logs.logger
         self.failures = defaultdict(lambda: defaultdict(list))
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.source = source
         self.validators = validators or getattr(self, "validators", {})
         self.row_validators = row_validators or getattr(self, "row_validators", [])
+        self.fieldnames = fieldnames or getattr(self, "fieldnames", None)
         self.delimiter = delimiter or getattr(self, "delimiter", ",")
         self.line_count = 0
         self.ignore_missing_validators = ignore_missing_validators
@@ -124,7 +126,7 @@ def _log_missing(self, missing_items):
         )
 
     def _get_total_lines(self):
-        reader = csv.DictReader(self.source.open(), delimiter=self.delimiter)
+        reader = csv.DictReader(self.source.open(), delimiter=self.delimiter, fieldnames=self.fieldnames)
         self.total_lines = sum(1 for _ in reader)
         return self.total_lines
 
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ def validate(self):
         self.logger.info(
             "\nValidating {}(source={})".format(self.__class__.__name__, self.source)
         )
-        reader = csv.DictReader(self.source.open(), delimiter=self.delimiter)
+        reader = csv.DictReader(self.source.open(), delimiter=self.delimiter, fieldnames=self.fieldnames)
 
         if not reader.fieldnames:
             self.logger.info(