diff --git a/lib/axios.js b/lib/axios.js
index 76efdae..cf25c86 100644
--- a/lib/axios.js
+++ b/lib/axios.js
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ Axios.prototype.request = function request(config) {
 
 var defaultInstance = new Axios(defaults);
 var axios = module.exports = bind(Axios.prototype.request, defaultInstance);
-module.exports.Axios = Axios;
+axios.request = bind(Axios.prototype.request, defaultInstance);
+
+// Expose Axios class to allow class inheritance
+axios.Axios = Axios;
 
 // Expose properties from defaultInstance
 axios.defaults = defaultInstance.defaults;
diff --git a/test/specs/api.spec.js b/test/specs/api.spec.js
index 48a77df..937f124 100644
--- a/test/specs/api.spec.js
+++ b/test/specs/api.spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 describe('static api', function () {
   it('should have request method helpers', function () {
+    expect(typeof axios.request).toEqual('function');
     expect(typeof axios.get).toEqual('function');
     expect(typeof axios.head).toEqual('function');
     expect(typeof axios.delete).toEqual('function');