diff --git a/pkg/kgo/consumer.go b/pkg/kgo/consumer.go
index 0f835469..13b425e7 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/consumer.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/consumer.go
@@ -340,7 +340,9 @@ func (c *consumer) addFakeReadyForDraining(topic string, partition int32, err er
 	c.sourcesReadyCond.Broadcast()
 }
 
-func errFetch(err error) Fetches {
+// NewErrFetch returns a fake fetch containing a single empty topic with a
+// single zero partition with the given error.
+func NewErrFetch(err error) Fetches {
 	return []Fetch{{
 		Topics: []FetchTopic{{
 			Topic: "",
@@ -408,7 +410,7 @@ func (cl *Client) PollRecords(ctx context.Context, maxPollRecords int) Fetches {
 	if ctx != nil {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return errFetch(ctx.Err())
+			return NewErrFetch(ctx.Err())
 		default:
 		}
 	}
@@ -511,10 +513,10 @@ func (cl *Client) PollRecords(ctx context.Context, maxPollRecords int) Fetches {
 	select {
 	case <-cl.ctx.Done():
 		exit()
-		return errFetch(ErrClientClosed)
+		return NewErrFetch(ErrClientClosed)
 	case <-ctx.Done():
 		exit()
-		return errFetch(ctx.Err())
+		return NewErrFetch(ctx.Err())
 	case <-done:
 	}