diff --git a/lib/core/dispatchRequest.js b/lib/core/dispatchRequest.js
index 5aa86d9..9146f27 100644
--- a/lib/core/dispatchRequest.js
+++ b/lib/core/dispatchRequest.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 var utils = require('./../utils');
 var transformData = require('./transformData');
 var Cancel = require('../cancel/Cancel');
+var defaults = require('../defaults');
 
 /**
  * Throws a `Cancel` if cancellation has been requested.
@@ -14,8 +15,7 @@ function throwIfCancellationRequested(config) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Dispatch a request to the server using whichever adapter
- * is supported by the current environment.
+ * Dispatch a request to the server using the configured adapter.
  *
  * @param {object} config The config that is to be used for the request
  * @returns {Promise} The Promise to be fulfilled
@@ -47,47 +47,33 @@ module.exports = function dispatchRequest(config) {
     }
   );
 
-  var adapter;
+  var adapter = config.adapter || defaults.adapter;
 
-  if (typeof config.adapter === 'function') {
-    // For custom adapter support
-    adapter = config.adapter;
-  } else if (typeof XMLHttpRequest !== 'undefined') {
-    // For browsers use XHR adapter
-    adapter = require('../adapters/xhr');
-  } else if (typeof process !== 'undefined') {
-    // For node use HTTP adapter
-    adapter = require('../adapters/http');
-  }
+  return adapter(config).then(function onAdapterResolution(response) {
+    throwIfCancellationRequested(config);
 
-  return Promise.resolve(config)
-    // Wrap synchronous adapter errors and pass configuration
-    .then(adapter)
-    .then(function onFulfilled(response) {
+    // Transform response data
+    response.data = transformData(
+      response.data,
+      response.headers,
+      config.transformResponse
+    );
+
+    return response;
+  }, function onAdapterRejection(reason) {
+    if (!(reason instanceof Cancel)) {
       throwIfCancellationRequested(config);
 
       // Transform response data
-      response.data = transformData(
-        response.data,
-        response.headers,
-        config.transformResponse
-      );
-
-      return response;
-    }, function onRejected(reason) {
-      if (!(reason instanceof Cancel)) {
-        throwIfCancellationRequested(config);
-
-        // Transform response data
-        if (reason && reason.response) {
-          reason.response.data = transformData(
-            reason.response.data,
-            reason.response.headers,
-            config.transformResponse
-          );
-        }
+      if (reason && reason.response) {
+        reason.response.data = transformData(
+          reason.response.data,
+          reason.response.headers,
+          config.transformResponse
+        );
       }
+    }
 
-      return Promise.reject(reason);
-    });
+    return Promise.reject(reason);
+  });
 };
diff --git a/lib/defaults.js b/lib/defaults.js
index 162ffa7..1e10e9a 100644
--- a/lib/defaults.js
+++ b/lib/defaults.js
@@ -14,7 +14,21 @@ function setContentTypeIfUnset(headers, value) {
   }
 }
 
+function getDefaultAdapter() {
+  var adapter;
+  if (typeof XMLHttpRequest !== 'undefined') {
+    // For browsers use XHR adapter
+    adapter = require('./adapters/xhr');
+  } else if (typeof process !== 'undefined') {
+    // For node use HTTP adapter
+    adapter = require('./adapters/http');
+  }
+  return adapter;
+}
+
 module.exports = {
+  adapter: getDefaultAdapter(),
+
   transformRequest: [function transformRequest(data, headers) {
     normalizeHeaderName(headers, 'Content-Type');
     if (utils.isFormData(data) ||