diff --git a/requests/api.py b/requests/api.py
index aae4afc8..7f2ed419 100644
--- a/requests/api.py
+++ b/requests/api.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def request(method, url, **kwargs):
     :param config: (optional) A configuration dictionary.
     """
 
-    s = session or sessions.session()
+    s = kwargs.get('session') or sessions.session()
     return s.request(method=method, url=url, **kwargs)