diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b221b58..d771ee4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ server.register([
       },
       plugins: ['registry'], // Required
       models: '../path/to/models/directory',
-      base: require('../path/to/model/base')
+      base: require('../path/to/model/base') // optional
     }
   }
 ], function (err) {
@@ -42,15 +42,10 @@ server.register([
 - ```knex``` [Knex Confuration Object](http://knexjs.org/#Installation-client)
 - ```plugins``` [Bookshelf.js Plugins](http://bookshelfjs.org/#Plugins) the _registry_ plugin is required
 - ```models``` directory where you Bookshelf.js models are defined
-- ```base```options that will be passed to the Bookshelf.js [extend method](http://bookshelfjs.org/#Model-extend), example below.
+- ```base``` (optional) function that applies the Bookshelf.js [extend method](http://bookshelfjs.org/#Model-extend) and returns the extended model, example below.
 
 ### Example ```base```
 ```javascript
-// Basic, No Extension
-base: function (bookshelf) {
-  return bookshelf.Model.extend({});
-}
-
 // Add timestamps to all models
 base: function (bookshelf) {
   return bookshelf.Model.extend({
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 6bcd6a2..27f11c5 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ exports.register = function (server, options, next) {
     knex: Joi.object().required(),
     plugins: Joi.array().includes(Joi.string()).default([]),
     models: Joi.string().required(),
-    base: Joi.func().required()
+    base: Joi.func().optional()
   };
 
   try {
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@ exports.register = function (server, options, next) {
     bookshelf.plugin(plugin);
   });
 
-  var baseModel = options.base(bookshelf);
+  var baseModel;
+  if (options.base) {
+    baseModel = options.base(bookshelf);
+  } else {
+    baseModel = bookshelf.Model.extend({});
+  }
 
   fs.readdirSync(options.models).forEach(function (model) {
     var modelName = path.basename(model).replace(path.extname(model), '');
diff --git a/test/index.test.js b/test/index.test.js
index 9e9b5da..0759d3f 100644
--- a/test/index.test.js
+++ b/test/index.test.js
@@ -63,13 +63,41 @@ describe('bookshelf plugin', function () {
           plugins: ['registry'],
           models: path.join(__dirname + '/models'),
           base: function (bookshelf) {
-            return bookshelf.Model.extend({});
+            return bookshelf.Model.extend({
+              test: 'test'
+            });
           }
         }
       }
     ], function (err) {
       expect(err).to.be.undefined;
       expect(server.plugins.bookshelf.model('User')).to.be.a('function');
+      var User = server.plugins.bookshelf.model('User').forge({ id: 1 });
+      expect(User.test).to.eql('test');
     });
   });
+
+  it('should load a good configuration without base', function () {
+    var server = new Hapi.Server();
+
+    server.register([
+      {
+        register: require('../lib/'),
+        options: {
+          knex: {
+            client: 'sqlite3',
+            connection: {
+              filename: './database.sqlite'
+            }
+          },
+          plugins: ['registry'],
+          models: path.join(__dirname + '/models')
+        }
+      }
+    ], function (err) {
+      expect(err).to.be.undefined;
+      expect(server.plugins.bookshelf.model('User')).to.be.a('function');
+    });
+  });
+
 });