diff --git a/lib/couchrest.rb b/lib/couchrest.rb
index ddd58fdd..92e666b3 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ def parse url
       }
     end
 
+    # set proxy for RestClient to use
+    def proxy url
+      RestClient.proxy = url
+    end
+
     # ensure that a database exists
     # creates it if it isn't already there
     # returns it after it's been created
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/core/couchrest_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/core/couchrest_spec.rb
index f802e2d6..2ed8bb9c 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/core/couchrest_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/core/couchrest_spec.rb
@@ -188,4 +188,14 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe "using a proxy for RestClient connections" do
+    it "should set proxy url for RestClient" do
+      CouchRest.proxy 'http://localhost:8888/'
+      proxy_uri = URI.parse(RestClient.proxy)
+      proxy_uri.host.should eql( 'localhost' )
+      proxy_uri.port.should eql( 8888 )
+      CouchRest.proxy nil
+    end
+  end
+
 end
\ No newline at end of file