diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2977751..c0f3cb5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ Register a new route. The order in which routes are registered does not matter.
 Routes can register multiple callbacks. The callback can return values when
 called.
 
+### matchedRoute = router.match(route)
+Matches a route and returns an object. The returned object contains the properties `{cb, params, route}`. This method does not invoke the callback of a route. If no route matches, the default route will be returned. If no default route matches, an error will be thrown.
+
 ### val = router(route, [arg1, ...])
 Match a route and execute the corresponding callback. Alias: `router.emit()`.
 Returns a values from the matched route (e.g. useful for streams). Any
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 76990a3..97c5958 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ function Wayfarer (dft) {
   var _trie = trie()
 
   emit._trie = _trie
-  emit.emit = emit
   emit.on = on
+  emit.emit = emit
+  emit.match = match
   emit._wayfarer = true
 
   return emit
@@ -40,26 +41,32 @@ function Wayfarer (dft) {
   // match and call a route
   // (str, obj?) -> null
   function emit (route) {
-    assert.notEqual(route, undefined, "'route' must be defined")
+    var matched = match(route)
+
     var args = new Array(arguments.length)
+    args[0] = matched.params
     for (var i = 1; i < args.length; i++) {
       args[i] = arguments[i]
     }
 
-    var node = _trie.match(route)
-    if (node && node.cb) {
-      args[0] = node.params
-      var cb = node.cb
-      return cb.apply(cb, args)
-    }
+    return matched.cb.apply(matched.cb, args)
+  }
+
+  function match (route) {
+    assert.notEqual(route, undefined, "'route' must be defined")
+
+    var matched = _trie.match(route)
+    if (matched && matched.cb) return new Route(matched)
 
     var dft = _trie.match(_default)
-    if (dft && dft.cb) {
-      args[0] = dft.params
-      var dftcb = dft.cb
-      return dftcb.apply(dftcb, args)
-    }
+    if (dft && dft.cb) return new Route(dft)
 
     throw new Error("route '" + route + "' did not match")
   }
+
+  function Route (matched) {
+    this.cb = matched.cb
+    this.route = matched.cb.route
+    this.params = matched.params
+  }
 }
diff --git a/test/router.js b/test/router.js
index 5bcb6d1..0f64dec 100644
--- a/test/router.js
+++ b/test/router.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ var wayfarer = require('../')
 var noop = require('noop2')
 var tape = require('tape')
 
-tape('trie', function (t) {
+tape('router', function (t) {
   t.test('should match a path', function (t) {
     t.plan(1)
     var r = wayfarer()
@@ -62,6 +62,21 @@ tape('trie', function (t) {
     r('/foo/baz')
   })
 
+  t.test('.match() should match paths', function (t) {
+    t.plan(2)
+    var r = wayfarer()
+    r.on('/foo/bar', function () {
+      t.fail('should not call callback')
+    })
+    r.on('/foo/baz', noop)
+
+    var bar = r.match('/foo/bar')
+    t.equal(bar.route, '/foo/bar')
+
+    var baz = r.match('/foo/baz')
+    t.equal(baz.route, '/foo/baz')
+  })
+
   t.test('.emit() should match partials', function (t) {
     t.plan(1)
     var r = wayfarer()
@@ -71,6 +86,14 @@ tape('trie', function (t) {
     r('/tobi')
   })
 
+  t.test('.match() should match partials', function (t) {
+    t.plan(1)
+    var r = wayfarer()
+    r.on('/:user', noop)
+    var toby = r.match('/tobi')
+    t.equal(toby.params.user, 'tobi')
+  })
+
   t.test('.emit() should match paths before partials', function (t) {
     t.plan(1)
     var r = wayfarer()
@@ -84,7 +107,9 @@ tape('trie', function (t) {
   t.test('.emit() should allow path overriding', function (t) {
     t.plan(1)
     var r = wayfarer()
-    r.on('/:user', noop)
+    r.on('/:user', function () {
+      t.fail('wrong callback called')
+    })
     r.on('/:user', function () {
       t.pass('called')
     })
@@ -170,6 +195,16 @@ tape('trie', function (t) {
     // r10('/foo/bin/bar/baz')
   })
 
+  t.test('.match() returns a handler of a route', function (t) {
+    t.plan(1)
+    var r = wayfarer()
+    r.on('/:user', function () {
+      t.pass('called')
+    })
+    var toby = r.match('/tobi')
+    toby.cb()
+  })
+
   t.test('nested routes should call parent default route', function (t) {
     t.plan(4)
     var r1 = wayfarer('/404')
@@ -281,7 +316,7 @@ tape('trie', function (t) {
     r('/test/hel%"Flo')
   })
 
-  t.test('should expose .router property', function (t) {
+  t.test('should expose .route property', function (t) {
     t.plan(1)
     var r = wayfarer()
     r.on('/foo', function () {