diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 7b63daa..c071430 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -343,11 +343,15 @@ class DHT extends EventEmitter {
     }
 
     // ask the user to handle it or reply back with a bad command
-    if (this.emit('request', req) === false) {
+    if (this.onrequest(req) === false) {
       req.sendReply(BAD_COMMAND, null, false, true)
     }
   }
 
+  onrequest (req) {
+    return this.emit('request', req)
+  }
+
   _onresponse (res, external) {
     this._addNodeFromNetwork(!external, res.from, res.to)
   }