diff --git a/lib/core/base/audit.js b/lib/core/base/audit.js
index 4f56c27f52..81796f9207 100644
--- a/lib/core/base/audit.js
+++ b/lib/core/base/audit.js
@@ -32,8 +32,16 @@ function Audit(audit) {
 	// defaults
 	this.brand = 'axe';
 	this.application = 'axeAPI';
+	this.defaultConfig = audit;
+	this._init();
+}
 
-	audit = setDefaultConfiguration(audit);
+/**
+ * Initializes the rules and checks
+ */
+Audit.prototype._init = function () {
+	'use strict';
+	var audit = setDefaultConfiguration(this.defaultConfig);
 
 	axe.commons = commons = audit.commons;
 
@@ -49,8 +57,8 @@ function Audit(audit) {
 	this.data.rules = (audit.data && audit.data.rules) || {};
 	this.data.failureSummaries = (audit.data && audit.data.failureSummaries) || {};
 	this._constructHelpUrls(); // create default helpUrls
-}
 
+};
 
 /**
  * Adds a new command to the audit
@@ -186,3 +194,13 @@ Audit.prototype._constructHelpUrls = function () {
 			'application=' + that.application;
 	});
 };
+
+
+/**
+ * Reset the default rules, checkas and meta data
+ */
+
+ Audit.prototype.resetRulesAndChecks = function () {
+	'use strict';
+ 	this._init();
+ };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/core/public/reset.js b/lib/core/public/reset.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0cb75f0c30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/core/public/reset.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*global axe */
+
+axe.reset = function () {
+	'use strict';
+	var audit = axe._audit;
+	if (!audit) {
+		throw new Error('No audit configured');
+	}
+	audit.resetRulesAndChecks();	
+};
diff --git a/lib/core/public/run-rules.js b/lib/core/public/run-rules.js
index 1624dce857..5f0c35eaaf 100644
--- a/lib/core/public/run-rules.js
+++ b/lib/core/public/run-rules.js
@@ -64,3 +64,4 @@ axe.a11yCheck = function (context, options, callback) {
 		reporter(results, callback);
 	}, function () {});
 };
+
diff --git a/test/core/base/audit.js b/test/core/base/audit.js
index 3ced07e410..5cc3984a15 100644
--- a/test/core/base/audit.js
+++ b/test/core/base/audit.js
@@ -212,6 +212,22 @@ describe('Audit', function () {
 
 	});
 
+	describe('Audit#resetRulesAndChecks', function () {
+		it('should override newly created check', function () {
+			var audit = new Audit();
+			assert.equal(audit.checks.target, undefined);
+			audit.addCheck({
+				id: 'target',
+				selector: 'bob',
+				options: 'jane'
+			});
+			assert.ok(audit.checks.target);
+			assert.equal(audit.checks.target.selector, 'bob');
+			audit.resetRulesAndChecks();
+			assert.equal(audit.checks.target, undefined);
+		});
+	});
+
 	describe('Audit#addCheck', function () {
 		it('should create a new check', function () {
 			var audit = new Audit();
diff --git a/test/core/public/reset.js b/test/core/public/reset.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f473d0fb09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/core/public/reset.js
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*global Rule*/
+describe('axe.reset', function () {
+	'use strict';
+
+	it('should throw if no audit is configured', function () {
+		axe._audit = null;
+
+		assert.throws(function () {
+			axe.reset();
+		}, Error, /^No audit configured/);
+	});
+
+	it('should restore the default configuration', function () {
+		axe._load({
+			data: {
+				rules: [{
+					bob: 'not-joe'
+				}]
+			},
+			rules: [{
+				id: 'bob',
+				selector: 'fail'
+			}]
+		});
+		assert.lengthOf(axe._audit.rules, 1);
+		assert.instanceOf(axe._audit.rules[0], Rule);
+		assert.equal(axe._audit.rules[0].id, 'bob');
+		assert.equal(axe._audit.rules[0].selector, 'fail');
+		axe.configure({
+			rules: [{
+				id: 'bob',
+				selector: 'pass',
+			}]
+		});
+		assert.lengthOf(axe._audit.rules, 1);
+		assert.instanceOf(axe._audit.rules[0], Rule);
+		assert.equal(axe._audit.rules[0].id, 'bob');
+		assert.equal(axe._audit.rules[0].selector, 'pass');
+		axe.reset();
+		assert.lengthOf(axe._audit.rules, 1);
+		assert.instanceOf(axe._audit.rules[0], Rule);
+		assert.equal(axe._audit.rules[0].id, 'bob');
+		assert.equal(axe._audit.rules[0].selector, 'fail');
+	});
+});