diff --git a/requests/api.py b/requests/api.py
index a139f3d5..bc9fde7e 100644
--- a/requests/api.py
+++ b/requests/api.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ def request(method, url,
     proxies=None,
     hooks=None,
     return_response=True,
+    prefetch=False,
     config=None):
     """Constructs and sends a :class:`Request <Request>`.
     Returns :class:`Response <Response>` object.
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ def request(method, url,
     return s.request(
         method, url, params, data, headers, cookies, files, auth,
         timeout, allow_redirects, proxies, hooks, return_response,
-        config
+        config, prefetch
     )
 
 
diff --git a/requests/sessions.py b/requests/sessions.py
index ddac7860..83bfe129 100644
--- a/requests/sessions.py
+++ b/requests/sessions.py
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ class Session(object):
         proxies=None,
         hooks=None,
         return_response=True,
-        config=None):
+        config=None,
+        prefetch=False):
 
         """Constructs and sends a :class:`Request <Request>`.
         Returns :class:`Response <Response>` object.
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ class Session(object):
         :param proxies: (optional) Dictionary mapping protocol to the URL of the proxy.
         :param return_response: (optional) If False, an un-sent Request object will returned.
         :param config: (optional) A configuration dictionary.
+        :param prefetch: (optional) if ``True``, the response content will be immediately downloaded.
         """
 
         method = str(method).upper()
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ class Session(object):
             return r
 
         # Send the HTTP Request.
-        r.send()
+        r.send(prefetch=prefetch)
 
         # Send any cookies back up the to the session.
         self.cookies.update(r.response.cookies)