diff --git a/lib/httparty.rb b/lib/httparty.rb
index 772ffcac..4a7529cf 100644
--- a/lib/httparty.rb
+++ b/lib/httparty.rb
@@ -591,6 +591,13 @@ def unlock(path, options = {}, &block)
       perform_request Net::HTTP::Unlock, path, options, &block
     end
 
+    def build_request(http_method, path, options = {})
+      options = ModuleInheritableAttributes.hash_deep_dup(default_options).merge(options)
+      HeadersProcessor.new(headers, options).call
+      process_cookies(options)
+      Request.new(http_method, path, options)
+    end
+
     attr_reader :default_options
 
     private
@@ -606,10 +613,7 @@ def ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects(options)
     end
 
     def perform_request(http_method, path, options, &block) #:nodoc:
-      options = ModuleInheritableAttributes.hash_deep_dup(default_options).merge(options)
-      HeadersProcessor.new(headers, options).call
-      process_cookies(options)
-      Request.new(http_method, path, options).perform(&block)
+      build_request(http_method, path, options).perform(&block)
     end
 
     def process_cookies(options) #:nodoc:
@@ -676,6 +680,10 @@ def self.head(*args, &block)
   def self.options(*args, &block)
     Basement.options(*args, &block)
   end
+
+  def self.build_request(*args, &block)
+    Basement.build_request(*args, &block)
+  end
 end
 
 require 'httparty/hash_conversions'
diff --git a/spec/httparty_spec.rb b/spec/httparty_spec.rb
index f1181b9c..b6055298 100644
--- a/spec/httparty_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/httparty_spec.rb
@@ -970,4 +970,13 @@ def self.inherited(subclass)
       end.to raise_error(URI::InvalidURIError)
     end
   end
+
+  describe "#build_request" do
+    it "should build a request object" do
+      stub_http_response_with('example.html')
+      request = HTTParty.build_request(Net::HTTP::Get, "http://www.example.com")
+      expect(request).to be_a(HTTParty::Request)
+      expect(request.perform.parsed_response).to eq(file_fixture('example.html'))
+    end
+  end
 end