diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index f9b8445..4e7ce1d 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
-    decanter (3.5.0)
+    decanter (3.5.1)
       actionpack (>= 4.2.10)
       activesupport
       rails-html-sanitizer (>= 1.0.4)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index df77f05..8d98140 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ If this option is not provided, autodetect logic is used to determine if the pro
 - `nil` or not provided: will try to autodetect single vs collection
 - `true` will always treat the incoming params args as *collection*
 - `false` will always treat incoming params args as *single object*
+- `truthy` will raise an error
 
 ### Nested resources
 
diff --git a/lib/decanter.rb b/lib/decanter.rb
index b189d72..989173e 100644
--- a/lib/decanter.rb
+++ b/lib/decanter.rb
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ def config
 
 require 'decanter/version'
 require 'decanter/configuration'
-require 'decanter/core'
 require 'decanter/base'
 require 'decanter/extensions'
 require 'decanter/exceptions'
diff --git a/lib/decanter/base.rb b/lib/decanter/base.rb
index 84a6386..c45f0c1 100644
--- a/lib/decanter/base.rb
+++ b/lib/decanter/base.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 require 'decanter/core'
+require 'decanter/collection_detection'
 
 module Decanter
   class Base
     include Core
+    include CollectionDetection
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/decanter/collection_detection.rb b/lib/decanter/collection_detection.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5d47e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/decanter/collection_detection.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+module Decanter
+  module CollectionDetection
+    def self.included(base)
+      base.extend(ClassMethods)
+    end
+
+    module ClassMethods
+      def decant(args, **options)
+        return super(args) unless collection?(args, options[:is_collection])
+
+        args.map { |resource| super(resource) }
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      # leveraging the approach used in the [fast JSON API gem](https://github.com/Netflix/fast_jsonapi#collection-serialization)
+      def collection?(args, collection_option = nil)
+        raise(ArgumentError, "#{name}: Unknown collection option value: #{collection_option}") unless [true, false, nil].include? collection_option
+
+        return collection_option unless collection_option.nil?
+
+        args.respond_to?(:size) && !args.respond_to?(:each_pair)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/decanter/extensions.rb b/lib/decanter/extensions.rb
index 85db15a..b2eb73c 100644
--- a/lib/decanter/extensions.rb
+++ b/lib/decanter/extensions.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 module Decanter
   module Extensions
-
     def self.included(base)
       base.extend(ClassMethods)
     end
@@ -34,29 +33,13 @@ def decant_create!(args, **options)
             .save!(context: options[:context])
       end
 
-      def decant(args, options={})
-        is_collection?(args, options[:is_collection]) ? decant_collection(args, options) : decant_args(args, options)
-      end
-
-      def decant_collection(args, options)
-        args.map { |resource| decant_args(resource, options) }
-      end
-
-      def decant_args(args, options)
-        if specified_decanter = options[:decanter]
+      def decant(args, options = {})
+        if (specified_decanter = options[:decanter])
           Decanter.decanter_from(specified_decanter)
         else
           Decanter.decanter_for(self)
         end.decant(args)
       end
-
-      private
-
-      # leveraging the approach used in the [fast JSON API gem](https://github.com/Netflix/fast_jsonapi#collection-serialization)
-      def is_collection?(args, collection_option=nil)
-        return collection_option[:is_collection] unless collection_option.nil?
-        args.respond_to?(:size) && !args.respond_to?(:each_pair)
-      end
     end
 
     module ActiveRecordExtensions
diff --git a/lib/decanter/version.rb b/lib/decanter/version.rb
index 0ce328d..45d83ab 100644
--- a/lib/decanter/version.rb
+++ b/lib/decanter/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module Decanter
-  VERSION = '3.5.0'.freeze
+  VERSION = '3.5.1'.freeze
 end
diff --git a/spec/decanter/decanter_collection_detection_spec.rb b/spec/decanter/decanter_collection_detection_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36bb7a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/decanter/decanter_collection_detection_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Decanter::CollectionDetection do
+  let(:base_decanter) {
+    stub_const('BaseDecanter', Class.new)
+  }
+
+  let(:decanter) {
+    stub_const('TripDecanter', base_decanter.new)
+    TripDecanter.class_eval { include Decanter::CollectionDetection }
+  }
+  let(:args) { { destination: 'Hawaii' } }
+
+  before(:each) {
+    allow(base_decanter).to receive(:decant)
+  }
+
+  describe '#decant' do
+    context 'when args are a single hash' do
+      it 'calls decant on the entire element' do
+        decanter.decant(args)
+        expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).once.with(args)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when no collection option is passed' do
+      context 'and args are a collection' do
+        let(:args) { [{ destination: 'Hawaii' }, { destination: 'Denver' }] }
+
+        it 'calls decant with each element' do
+          decanter.decant(args)
+          expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).with(args.first)
+          expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).with(args.second)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'and args are not a collection' do
+        let(:args) { { "0": [{ destination: 'Hawaii' }] } }
+        it 'calls decant on the entire element' do
+          decanter.decant(args)
+          expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).once.with(args)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when the collection option is passed' do
+      let(:fake_collection) { double('fake_collection') }
+      let(:args) { fake_collection }
+
+      before(:each) do
+        allow(fake_collection).to receive(:map).and_yield(1).and_yield(2)
+      end
+
+      context 'and the value is true' do
+        it 'is considered a collection' do
+          decanter.decant(args, is_collection: true)
+          expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).with(1)
+          expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).with(2)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'and the value is false' do
+        it 'is not considered a collection' do
+          decanter.decant(args, is_collection: false)
+          expect(base_decanter).to have_received(:decant).once.with(args)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'and the value is truthy' do
+        it 'raises an error' do
+          expect { decanter.decant(args, is_collection: 'yes') }.to raise_error(ArgumentError)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/decanter/decanter_core_spec.rb b/spec/decanter/decanter_core_spec.rb
index 26961e8..113f592 100644
--- a/spec/decanter/decanter_core_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/decanter/decanter_core_spec.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 describe Decanter::Core do
 
-  let(:dummy) { Class.new(Decanter::Base) }
+  let(:dummy) { Class.new { include Decanter::Core } }
 
   before(:each) do
     Decanter::Core.class_variable_set(:@@handlers, {})
@@ -576,7 +576,8 @@ def self.name
 
       context 'when inputs are required' do
         let(:decanter) {
-          Class.new(Decanter::Base) do
+          Class.new do
+            include Decanter::Core
             input :name, :pass, required: true
           end
         }
@@ -604,7 +605,8 @@ def self.name
 
       context 'when params keys are strings' do
         let(:decanter) {
-          Class.new(Decanter::Base) do
+          Class.new do
+            include Decanter::Core
             input :name, :string
             input :description, :string
           end
@@ -621,7 +623,8 @@ def self.name
 
         context 'and when inputs are strings' do
           let(:decanter) {
-            Class.new(Decanter::Base) do
+            Class.new do
+              include Decanter::Core
               input 'name', :string
               input 'description', :string
             end
@@ -650,7 +653,8 @@ def self.name
 
     context 'with missing non-required args' do
       let(:decanter) {
-        Class.new(Decanter::Base) do
+        Class.new do
+          include Decanter::Core
           input :name, :string
           input :description, :string
         end
@@ -665,7 +669,8 @@ def self.name
 
     context 'with key having a :default_value in the decanter' do
       let(:decanter) {
-        Class.new(Decanter::Base) do
+        Class.new do
+          include Decanter::Core
           input :name, :string, default_value: 'foo'
           input :cost, :float, default_value: '99.99'
           input :description, :string
diff --git a/spec/decanter/decanter_extensions_spec.rb b/spec/decanter/decanter_extensions_spec.rb
index 703510f..e26b322 100644
--- a/spec/decanter/decanter_extensions_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/decanter/decanter_extensions_spec.rb
@@ -3,61 +3,6 @@
 describe Decanter::Extensions do
 
   describe '#decant' do
-    let(:options) { { } }
-    let(:dummy_class) { Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions } }
-
-    context 'when args is a single resource' do
-      let(:args) { { } }
-
-      before(:each) do
-        allow(dummy_class).to receive(:decant_args).and_return(true)
-      end
-
-      it 'calls decant_args with the args and options' do
-        dummy_class.decant(args, options)
-        expect(dummy_class)
-          .to have_received(:decant_args)
-          .with(args, options)
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'when args is a collection' do
-      let(:args) { [{}, {}] }
-
-      before(:each) do
-        allow(dummy_class).to receive(:decant_collection).and_return(true)
-      end
-
-      it 'calls decant_collection with the args and options' do
-        dummy_class.decant(args, options)
-        expect(dummy_class)
-          .to have_received(:decant_collection)
-          .with(args, options)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  describe '#decant_collection' do
-    let!(:args) { [{ foo: 'bar' }, { foo: 'baz' }] }
-    let(:options) { { } }
-    let(:dummy_class) { Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions } }
-
-    before(:each) do
-      allow(dummy_class).to receive(:decant_args).and_return(true)
-    end
-
-    it 'calls decant_args on each element in the collection' do
-      dummy_class.decant_collection(args, options)
-      expect(dummy_class)
-        .to have_received(:decant_args)
-        .with(args[0], options)
-      expect(dummy_class)
-        .to have_received(:decant_args)
-        .with(args[1], options)
-    end
-  end
-
-  describe '#decant_args' do
     let(:args) { { } }
     let(:decanter) { class_double('Decanter::Base', decant: true) }
 
@@ -70,7 +15,7 @@
 
       it 'calls Decanter.decanter_from with the specified decanter' do
         dummy_class = Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions }
-        dummy_class.decant_args(args, options)
+        dummy_class.decant(args, options)
         expect(Decanter)
           .to have_received(:decanter_from)
           .with(options[:decanter])
@@ -78,7 +23,7 @@
 
       it 'calls decant on the returned decanter with the args' do
         dummy_class = Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions }
-        dummy_class.decant_args(args, options)
+        dummy_class.decant(args, options)
         expect(decanter)
           .to have_received(:decant)
           .with(args)
@@ -94,7 +39,7 @@
 
       it 'calls Decanter.decanter_for with self' do
         dummy_class = Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions }
-        dummy_class.decant_args(args, options)
+        dummy_class.decant(args, options)
         expect(Decanter)
           .to have_received(:decanter_for)
           .with(dummy_class)
@@ -102,7 +47,7 @@
 
       it 'calls decant on the returned decanter with the args' do
         dummy_class = Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions }
-        dummy_class.decant_args(args, options)
+        dummy_class.decant(args, options)
         expect(decanter)
           .to have_received(:decant)
           .with(args)
@@ -110,33 +55,7 @@
     end
   end
 
-  describe '#is_collection?' do
-    let(:singular_args) { { foo: 'bar' } }
-    let(:collection_args) { [{ foo: 'bar' }, { foo: 'baz' }] }
-    let(:dummy_class) { Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions } }
-
-    context 'true' do
-      it 'when options[:is_collection] is nil and collection is provided' do
-        expect(dummy_class.send(:is_collection?, collection_args)).to be(true)
-      end
-
-      it 'when options[:is_collection] is true' do
-        expect(dummy_class.send(:is_collection?, singular_args, { is_collection: true })).to be(true)
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'false' do
-      it 'when options[:is_collection] is nil and single object is provided' do
-        expect(dummy_class.send(:is_collection?, singular_args)).to be(false)
-      end
-
-       it 'when options[:is_collection] is false' do
-        expect(dummy_class.send(:is_collection?, collection_args, { is_collection: false })).to be(false)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  context '' do
+  context 'ActiveRecord::Persistence' do
     let(:dummy_class)    { Class.new { include Decanter::Extensions } }
     let(:dummy_instance) { dummy_class.new }
 
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index db8a689..0a834d8 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@
 
 $LOAD_PATH.unshift File.expand_path('../../lib', __FILE__)
 require 'decanter'
+
+RSpec.configure do |config|
+  config.filter_run_when_matching focus: true
+end